Chapter 27
Mia
I stand in front of the full length mirror, staring at his reflection behind me. He’s sitting at the edge of the bed, his gaze fixated on me as I step into my dress.
He suggested I wear something comfortable for the surprise he has for me, so I chose a white skater style mini dress. It’s sleeveless with a square neckline and a corset top that hugs my body. The skirt flares out at the thighs, short enough that bending over might reveal my white lace thong underneath.
He stands and approaches me slowly, his hands gently tightening the lace at my back. Our eyes meet in the mirror.
“You’re exquisite.” His words cascade over my skin, cool droplets of water thrilling me with anticipation.
He’s wearing a white short-sleeve button up with the top buttons undone, revealing his collarbone. Khaki shorts and pairs with white Vans. He chuckles lightly as I pick up my pink converse. “No heels?” he grins at me.
“You said wear something comfortable,” I remind him, smiling, excitement and nerves for the evening ahead mixing within me. And I hate heels.
“It’s perfect,” he assures me, guiding me down to sit on the bed. Kneeling before me, as he puts the shoes on my feet. His fingers brush my ankles, sending a pleasant shiver through me.
Once he finishes, he gets up, offers me his hand, and spins me around. “Fucking gorgeous,” he breathes out, and I laugh to hide the flurry of butterflies in my stomach.
No, not butterflies, but something more fervent, like birds fluttering wildly in my chest.
“Thank you,” I say. His hand is steady as he leads me out, though mine trembles as I think about the surprise awaiting us.
Once we’re outside, he opens the passenger door for me. “Thank you,” I say before he closes the door and joins me in the driver’s seat. I try to ignore the way his muscles subtly flex as he shifts gears, not an easy task when I’m acutely aware of every movement he makes. My dress is pristine white, and I’m determined to keep it that way, so I turn my attention to the blur of trees lining the road. “Where are we going?” I ask, partly to distract myself from him.
His chuckle is light, teasing. “If I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise,” he says. “Just wait and see.” The anticipation builds as we drive along the scenic road, and my thoughts drift to the pottery making class we took last week, the memory a pleasant diversion.
“So, I’ve been talking with my grandmother,” I begin, needing something to distract myself. “She’s insisting I come visit her in Paris. She lives in a vineyard, and I think I might take her up on the offer once summer ends.” Just mentioning the end of summer sends a pang through me, the realization of how much I’ll miss moments like these. How much I will miss him.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Jake says, glancing over at me briefly before his eyes return to the road. “You guys will have a chance to fix, or build, your relationship.”
I nod, glancing at him. Looking for any clues that tell me he might change his mind about us, that he’s going to miss me as much I’m going to miss him.
“I realized, no matter how angry I was with my dad, and still am, I…” He sighs, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “I wish I had tried to mend our relationship. But now, I’ll never get that chance.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, placing my hand over his on the gear shift. My touch is light, hoping to offer some comfort, yet knowing full well the complexities of family and regret.
The crunch of gravel under the tires signals our turn off the main road onto a more secluded path, surrounded by a dense pine forest. The air turns cooler, filled with the scent of pine and probably nearby water. Which means his surprise involves the lake.
He parks the car and helps me out of the truck, leading me down a wood path, the sounds of water lapping at the docks. I’m greeted by the sight of a small yacht. “Is that for us?” I ask wide-eyed.
“Yes,” he chuckles, clearly amused by my surprise face. He steps in first, then holds out his hand for me to get in. He guides me to the deck where there’s a picnic set up. I gasp and cover my mouth in awe.
A white fluffy blanket covers the deck, and pink, white, and beige pillows are scattered around. A vase of orange tulips sit in the middle with a gold bucket of two bottles of champagne and two glasses. The picnic spread includes a large pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom pizza. A tray of fruits with grapes, strawberries, and cantaloupe, alongside cheese and bread. Another tray offers a variety of sweets.
I watch him thank a woman who leaves the boat before he comes over to join me. She must have been the one to set everything up.
“This is… It’s beautiful.” The words catch in my throat. I’ve always wanted this, intimate romantic dates, and thoughtfulness. Not the fancy restaurant. Even though this is not exactly a date, I love it. “You really didn’t have to do all this. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“I know but we’ve been having an amazing time together, and since our time together is almost over, I wanted to do something nice for you.” He tucks a stray curl behind my ear, and I don’t realize I’m crying until he wipes a few tears from my face. I laugh, a light, nervous sound to mask the real reason behind my tears.
“Sorry, this is just so nice,” I say between chuckles. “I guess I’m a bit of a cry baby.”
“You’re an adorable cry baby,” he laughs.
We settle down on the plush blanket, ready to enjoy our evening together.
I grab a slice of pizza and take a small bite. My gaze draws to the cliffs where the sun begins to set.
“This is so beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like it,” I say, eyes wide as I take in the view. The sky transitions from blue to a canvas of orange and pink. Their reflections simmer on the water’s surface.
Turning, I find Jake's eyes already on me. “It is,” he agrees, his eyes softening, and my stubborn heart swells just a bit more.
I snuggle closer to him as the air grows colder, my head resting on his shoulder. He drapes a blanket around us, our fingers intertwining naturally as they were always meant to fit together like this. Goosebumps form on my skin, but not from the cool air, but from his touch.
I wish I could stay here like this forever.
We continue eating our pizza, and Jake pours me a glass of champagne. I take a sip and set it down as he starts to tease. “You owe me a secret from last time. I told you one and you didn’t tell me yours,” he reminds me, his eyebrows raised expectantly.
“I don’t know, I don’t think I have any more secrets you don’t already know,” I hedge, trying to deflect. Except for the one where the person I’m falling in love with might never love me back.
“Come on, there must be something,” he insists, his eyes locked on mine, not letting it go.
I pause, taking a deep breath to steady the nerves. “Well, it’s not really a secret, but I’ve never really told anyone close to me… My first boyfriend in college cheated on me after taking my virginity, all in the same night. Apparently, it was just a bet to sleep with the new quiet freshman.” I sit up, feeling uncomfortable as the words spill out, not even sure why I’m telling him this. My best friend Rylee doesn’t even know about this. It would be easy to pretend it’s because we won’t see each other after this summer, but it’s something more. There’s always been this connection between us that’s hard to explain, like he knows me and I know him.
“I was so naive, thinking he actually liked me,” I admit with a bitter laugh. There hasn’t been anyone else since then. I went on a couple of dates, but it seemed like they all just wanted one thing without bothering to really know me.” I look down at my hands as a knot forms in my stomach. Why did I tell him that?
He turns to face me, his eyes tightening. “I’m so sorry,”he says, and his brows furrow deeply. “People can be so cruel…”
He trails off, catching himself from saying more, his jaw clenching tightly.
“ I want you to know I would never do that to you,” he continues, reaching out to touch my arm. “I haven’t been with anyone else since we agreed… And this is not just about the sex for me.” He squeezes my hand.
“It’s kinda about the sex, but at least you didn’t pretend,” I say, holding his gaze.
I know about his dad and Jessie, but that shouldn’t be the only reason. I need to know why he won’t even give us a chance. He insists this is casual, but is treating it more like a relationship. He’s been the perfect boyfriend.
“Can I ask why you hate relationships so much?”
He inhales, bringing his legs towards his chest. “Climbing has always been my thing. There’s nothing like being hundreds of feet up, hanging by your fingers, relying on your strength and skills.” He glances my way before turning his eyes to the dark mountains in front of us. “It gives me this high, this adrenaline that courses through my veins, this unbeatable feeling of conquering the world. Once I’m down, the thrill is gone, and I’m left craving more, looking for the next mountain to climb, the next peak to conquer.” He pauses. “Relationships, love, however you want to call it, are much the same. It’s just another adrenaline rush, promising this peak of happiness, but then it fades away. Just like the descent after a climb, leaving people chasing that initial high again somewhere else.” I stay quiet, letting him finish while absorbing every single word. “In climbing, I’m in control. I can manage the risk carefully. But love… it’s unpredictable, and someone always gets hurt.”
I understand him completely, and everything makes sense. After everything that happened between his parents and Jessie, he’s afraid of giving someone the power to hurt him. “Is that what you’re afraid of? Getting hurt?”
He turns to face me. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t believe in happily ever after . And if there’s no happily ever after, what’s the whole point?”
“I understand your fear, but doesn’t climbing come with its own risks?” My eyes lock on the side of his face. He’s still staring at the dark water. “Despite the risk, the potential of falling and getting hurt, you climb anyway because the journey, the entire experience, is worth it..”
I reach for his hands, forcing him to look at me.
“You’re right, love is a lot like climbing. Yes, there’s the fear of falling, of hurting, but there’s also the possibility of reaching new heights, of conquering a new peak.”
I pause, taking a deep breath, begging myself not to cry.
“And perhaps the risk, the very chance of falling, is what makes the climb, love, so incredibly worthwhile. I really hope one day you meet that person worth falling for.” The words squeeze my heart. I wish I could be that person for him.
“Mia, you’re worth everything…” A slight tremor betrays his usually composed demeanor. “It’s just, I can’t give you more… I can’t promise you more.”
“I know what we agreed to. I just wish my heart would listen.” The tears I’m trying so hard to hold back spill over. I turn away to hide them, but his hand pulls my chin towards him. He gently wipes them from my cheeks. His fingers linger on my skin.
“I’m sorry, moonie. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know,” I sniff, my voice breaking. “You’re the most fearless person I know,” I say, reaching up to brush a lock of blonde hair away from his face. My fingers trace his jaw, feeling the stubble beneath my touch. “But you’re scared of love… Of what it means to really let someone in. To give them power to hurt you.”
“I’m not scared, it's just the love that you believe in, the one you read in your books or the ones you write about. It doesn’t exist.”
“I’m not six years old, Jake… I know love isn’t all flowers and rainbows. And sometimes it requires work, patience, and it comes with the risk of getting hurt, but that’s how it is for anything that is worth fighting for.” I pause, thinking about my parents. “And maybe you’re right, and it fades away sometimes, or people just don’t put in the work. What happens if you buy a plant and just let it sit there? Eventually, it will die.” I smile, thinking of my parents again. “Even after years of marriage, my dad would bring my mom flowers, not because it’s Valentine’s Day or her birthday. Sometimes, I would find them just dancing in the living room, or he would cook for her.” The memories bring more tears to my eyes. “He might not be the best dad, but he showed me what it means to love someone, care for them, show up for them. One day, I wish to find the same thing.” He’s watching me intensely as I continue. “It wasn’t all rainbows. They argued, sometimes about me, or when my dad leaves his socks on the floor or doesn’t wipe the sink after using it. Even when they’re mad at each other, they would still show each other love.”
He looks away, pain etched deeply across his features. “That sounds nice and all, but I’m sorry…I—” His words trail off, incomplete.
“Let’s not ruin tonight,” I whisper, easing onto his lap, my hands wrapping gently around his neck. I lean in, my breath quickening as I inhale the blend of lake air and his subtle cologne. “Tonight, under the stars, I want to pretend you’re mine.”
He exhales, and his arms tighten around me. His gaze locks onto mine, the corner of his eyes soften with a look that stirs a warmth that spreads from my chest to the tips of my fingers.
“For tonight, I am.”