Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
JENSEN
By the time we get back from skiing, it’s close to nine. Alley hasn’t answered any of my texts for hours, and the worry’s eating at me. Maybe she read my letters and got upset. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked her to make a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep.
We were flirting earlier—dirty texts, back and forth, laughing—and then suddenly, nothing. Radio silence.
I step inside, eyes sweeping the living room, then the kitchen.
No Alley. My gaze lands on Megan and Amber sprawled across the couch, wine glasses in hand.
A bottle of red and another of white sit open on the table, and some show’s playing in the background.
But Alley not being here with them sends my nerves into overdrive.
Heat rushes through my chest, every breath heavier than the last.
Megan looks up. “Hey. Did you guys have fun?”
“Where’s Al?” The words tumble out before I can even think. My coat and gloves hit the floor, and I kick off my boots in a rush. Panic’s rising, and I’m trying not to shit my pants here.
Megan arches a brow. “Wow. Rude. Nice to see you too. We had a great day, by the way, thanks for asking.”
I straighten as Matt, Jeff, and Kevin mosey in behind me, stripping off their gear. “Sorry, I need to talk to Al. Is she in our room? Has she seemed okay to you?”
Megan sits up abruptly. “Yeah, why? What’s wrong?”
“Meg.” Frustration spikes. “Have you seen her?”
“Yeah, she’s good. She’s in your room. Was a little quiet at dinner, then said she wanted to read. But that’s not out of character. What’s going on?”
I’m halfway down the hall before she even finishes.
I push the bedroom door open, and Alley’s gaze lifts to mine with a soft smile. “Hey, babe. How was your day? You have fun?”
Fuck. Relief rushes through me, loosening every muscle.
I step inside and close the door. She’s curled up in bed, wearing my favorite jersey—the one I proposed to her in.
A lamp casts a warm glow across the room, just enough to read.
Her hair’s down, one side tucked behind her ear, the other falling across her face, Kindle in hand.
“It was good. Great, actually. Jeff and I even had a heart-to-heart.” My eyes land on the manila envelope beside her, and panic flickers again, but I force it down. She’s here. She’s talking to me. And she seems… happy.
“Really? That’s unusual. Like a real heart-to-heart?”
I nod. “Yep. He even got emotional.”
Her brows shoot up. “No way!” She sets her Kindle on the nightstand and pats my side of the bed. “Come sit. I need all the details.”
I unzip my snow pants and shove them down, leaving me in just my thermals. The shower’s calling, but so is stripping every layer off and climbing in next to Alley.
I kick my pants aside and slide into bed next to her. She greets me with a kiss. “So? What did Jeff say? How did it even come up?”
I give her the cliff notes from the bar, about Jeff getting emotional.
She gasps in all the right places, asks a million questions.
She’s locked in, and not just about Jeff, but every piece of my day.
Which runs I did, which were my favorite, if I beat Matt at any of them.
We laugh over all the stupid shit Matt and I joked about.
I even tell her about the number he scored from some woman he ditched me mid-run to chase.
It’s easy. Natural. Feels like us. But the whole time, my eyes keep drifting to the manila envelope sitting between us, a big-ass elephant in the room just waiting to be recognized.
“Tell me about your day. How was the spa?”
“It was so great. God, it felt amazing. I feel like a new woman.” Her grin widens as she leans in, planting a soft kiss on my lips. “Thank you for planning that for me.”
“Mmm.” I savor the warmth of her mouth and go in for another kiss. “I didn’t plan it, Megan and Amber did.”
“I know, but you put the deposit down. You made sure I had an appointment before you even knew if I’d come.” Her hand finds mine, weaving our fingers together. When she looks back up, there’s something in her eyes that’s new, something I can’t place. “Thank you for that. For not giving up on me.”
“I’d never give up on you.”
“I know.” She pauses, studying me, taking her time.
“But I don’t know if I deserved that kind of loyalty.
I gave up on you.” I open my mouth to argue, but she cuts me off.
“I know, I know. I had every right to leave you, to do what I did. But you…” Her voice cracks.
“You never gave up on us. You just lost your way.”
“Babe,” I murmur.
She takes a moment to collect herself. “I read your letters.” Her lips press together as she swallows, fighting to keep it together.
“And I wish I’d read them sooner.” Her eyes glisten, and her cheeks flush.
“I’m sorry I didn’t want to know. That I wouldn’t hear you.
” Her voice is steady, but it’s threaded with emotion.
I squeeze her hand. I don’t need to say anything. I just want to be here, in this moment with her. I close my eyes and let the weight of her words sink in, settle deep.
She clears her throat. “I have something for you.”
My brows pull together, curiosity sparking. Before I can ask, she’s reaching for the nightstand. She picks up an envelope and hands it to me.
I take it, cautious, a little nervous.
“Open it,” she says, a grin ghosting her lips.
“Alright.” I flip it over and slide a finger under the seal.
“Read the letter first.”
I open it and pull out the folded piece of paper, glancing up at her. She’s sitting cross-legged, leaning toward me, hands pressed into the mattress. Her bottom lip’s caught between her teeth, but it doesn’t hide the smile tugging at her mouth.
I unfold the paper.
It reads:
I love you, too.
Look inside the envelope.
I tip the envelope and peer inside. Her wedding ring stares back at me, and my heart constricts, chest squeezing tight.
I reach inside, letting my fingers curl around it.
Emotion floods in, and my eyes sting as I realize she’s giving me back more than just a ring.
She’s giving me us—our marriage, our life together.
“Now look up,” she whispers.
I lift my gaze.
Her hand is out in front of me, palm down, fingers spread wide.
“Now ask me to be your wife,” she says softly.
God. I can’t even speak. My throat burns, thick with everything I wish I could take back. My next breath is forced, years of weight pressing down, then lifting in the same heartbeat. It’s the lightest breath I’ve taken in forever, and still, it nearly breaks me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, clutching the ring so hard it bites into my palm.
“Babe. Look at me.”
I draw in a shaky breath, force my eyes open, and lock them on hers. I’m terrified to move. To blink. To speak. To fuck this up.
“Ask me to be your wife,” she whispers, softer than before.
I shake my head, my lip trembling. I can’t. If I say it, I’ll lose it. I’ll fucking cry.
Her palm cups my cheek. “Eyes on me, babe. Remember?”
Words fail me. I’m too overwhelmed. Goddamn. My chin trembles, and I press my lips tight as I slide the ring onto her finger.
I lace our hands together and crush my mouth against hers.
I kiss her like I’ve never kissed anyone.
A fire rips through me, freshly lit, and she’s the match that sparked it.
She climbs into my lap, her thighs locking around me as our lips collide.
We devour each other, pouring everything we feel into this one kiss.
“I love you.” Her whisper’s soft, breath hot against my skin.
She pulls back, eyes locking on mine as her hands slide up my chest. “And I’m so proud of you.
” Her voice shakes, and a tear slips free.
“And I’d be honored to stand next to you.
” A sob falls from her quivering lip. “And I’m so damn grateful to be your wife. ”
“Jesus, babe.” My voice is rough, choked. “Don’t make me cry.” I huff out a laugh that’s half sob.
She laughs through her own tears.
“Will you be my wife… again?” I ask, lifting the corner of my mouth.
She presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Hell yeah.” Then another, and another, before tucking both hands into my shirt and whispering in my ear, “And now I want you to deliver on everything you promised me in those texts today.”
A groan rumbles out of me, low and amused. “Oh, you’re gonna get it.”
“Good.” She grinds down, trailing kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I tug at her shirt and she lifts her arms, quick and eager. Mine’s off next. I rip it off and toss it. Her warm skin slides against mine, and my greedy hands roam every curve I can touch.
Her fingers toy with the waistband of my thermals, slipping just beneath.
“Shit, babe,” I groan, half-laughing. “I need a shower. Been sweating in these all day.”
Her mouth skims over my chest, teasing. “Mmm. Guess we better take care of that.” Her hand slips inside my underwear, cupping me, soft and torturous.
“Fuuuck,” I growl, cock already throbbing. “You’re killing me.”
She pulls away, grinning as she stands suddenly. “Come on. Let’s shower. Your balls are sticky as hell.” Her laugh bubbles out, softening the jab, and she tosses me a look over her bare shoulder that nearly undoes me.
“Jesus.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Calling me out when I’m this vulnerable?”
She’s still laughing when I shove my pants down and stand. She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the bathroom.
I crank the water on but don’t wait for it to warm. I pull her in with me.
She shrieks as the icy spray hits her skin, and I swallow the sound with my mouth, teeth scraping her bottom lip. “Told you you were gonna get it.”
Her laugh ricochets off the tile as she backs against the wall, arms folding around my neck, leaving the water to pound me instead.
It takes fucking forever to heat up, but I don’t care, because her fingers just wrapped around the base of my cock.
She gives me a slow, firm stroke and moans into my mouth.