Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
JACE
I think it’s fair to say that I’m the luckiest man on earth.
Fuck that. I’m the luckiest bloke in the universe.
Why do I think this? Oh, well, because I’m on a date with an angel.
I smile up at her as she skips down the steps of her house. She jumps into my arms when she’s within reach and I catch her, holding her tight.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi,” I echo before taking her lips in a soft kiss.
She hums and I set her back on her feet. I tuck her into the car before striding over to the driver’s side and sliding behind the wheel.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going this time, or…” Her words drift off as she raises her eyebrows, looking at me expectantly.
I chuckle, turning on the car. “It’s a surprise.”
“How did I know you were going to say that?” she grumbles.
Leaning on the center console, I pull her head to the side with a gentle touch on her chin. The light of the street lamps dance over her face and I can’t help but brush my thumb over her cheek.
“Trust me?”
Her eyes don’t waver as she shifts closer. “Of course.”
My lips twitch and I close the distance between us. She sighs into the kiss and grabs onto the front of my shirt.
A car drives by and I pull back, our shallow breaths playing a symphony with the purr of the engine. She giggles and lifts her hand, her thumb wiping my bottom lip. Her eyes heat as she stares at my mouth.
“You should stop looking at me like that, angel.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m two seconds away from throwing all the plans I made for tonight out the window and taking you home.”
She tsks. “That’s not very gentlemanly of you, Mr. Collins.”
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. “The way you’re looking at me makes me think you want anything but gentle right now, sweetheart. And I’ll always do whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy.”
She studies me a moment before leaning over and placing a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I’m always happy when I’m with you, but I have been looking forward to tonight. So, let’s go before I drag you home.”
She flops back into her seat, securing her seatbelt with a devious smirk and I shift in my seat, spreading my legs to give my hardening cock some much needed breathing room.
She smothers a laugh when I stiffly shift the car into drive and speed down the street, my knuckles white from my grip on the wheel.
“Evil,” I whisper.
“Thought I was an angel?”
I glance at her. “You are. You’re my angel.”
Her cheeks flush pink and she reaches out, placing her hand on my thigh and resting her head against my bicep. We drive down the darkened streets listening to our playlist, Kinsley softly humming along to each song.
When we reach the park, I find an available spot and pull in, turning the car off. Climbing out, I look over the decent sized crowd as people walk around, settling in their spots on the grass.
“Another festival?” Kinsley asks as I help her out of the car and we grab the small bag and blanket I brought along with us.
“Something like that.” My lips tilt and she threads our fingers as I lead her through the park to a less populated area on a small hill with a tree.
She looks around at the people situating themselves over the lawn. I watch as it clicks into place when she spots the big screen at the front.
“Oh my gosh. This is that movie in the park thing, isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to come to one of these.”
She spins to me and I shuffle on my feet. “I remember you saying something about how you and Lily were coming to the last one but it got canceled because of rain.”
She steps in close, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thank you.”
I cup her face, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Did I do good?”
She presses up on her toes for a kiss, speaking against my lips. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
With one last kiss, we set up our little area. Kinsley unpacks our snacks as I situate myself with my back against the tree.
We have a perfect view of the screen with couples scattered across the lawn all around us. When I saw the announcement a couple days ago, I bought tickets without a second thought.
Hoping that even though she was going to come here with her best friend, she’d still be just as happy if it was with me instead. And as she looks over at me with a smile, I breathe a little easier knowing that I’m the one who put it there.
She sits down next to me and I scoff, reaching for her. She squeals when I pick her up, settling her between my legs and holding her against my chest.
“You could have just asked,” she laughs and I nuzzle my face into her neck.
Giggling, she shuffles until she’s comfortable and completely relaxes in my arms. Her fingers trace my forearm and I hum, brushing my lips over her shoulder.
“Uh, Jace?”
“Yeah?” I grunt, dotting her neck with kisses.
“Isn’t that your sister?”
My head shoots up and I look in the direction she’s pointing. “What the?—”
Sydney runs over with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry. Apparently they already had tickets to the film and I may have let it slip that you were bringing Kinsley here.”
I look around her, and find my mum and dad strutting up the small hill with a blanket and picnic basket under each arm. Mum waves and I raise a hand before glowering up at my little sister.
“You didn’t think to keep them on the opposite side of the park from us?”
“They saw you. What was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. Tell them they’re old and seeing things?”
Kinsley’s shoulders shake with a laugh and I squeeze her hip, pouting. “Think this is funny, angel? My family crashing our first date?”
She twists to look at me, eyes filled with amusement. “If I remember correctly, this isn’t our first date. Your friends tagged along for that one, remember?”
I bark out a laugh as my parents reach us.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Mum sing-songs. “Mind if we join?”
I drop my head back against the tree. “If you must.”
Kinsley nudges my ribs with her elbow and I lean forward, nipping at her shoulder. “Be nice,” she whispers.
Mum glances over at us as her and Dad set up on our right. I catch her gaze and match her smile, pulling Kinsley closer.
We all settle in for the film and I fail at hiding my jealousy when the girls talk about their mutual love for Hugh Grant. Sydney pokes fun and Kinsley tames the beast with soft touches and short kisses.
The lights around the pathways shut off and we’re plunged into darkness, the only visibility coming from the projector screen as the opening airport scene of Love Actually plays.
I glance over at my parents, my heart humming when Dad presses his lips to Mum’s head as she cuddles into his side. He looks over at me and winks. A chuckle vibrates through my chest and Kinsley burrows deeper into my hold, pulling my arms tighter around her.
For two hours I breathe her in and cuddle into her warmth, stowing away every sigh, giggle, and sniffle that comes from her. And when the end credits roll, I’m nowhere near ready to let go.
“Look,” Sydney whispers and we all watch as various couples stand, swaying to the end credits soundtrack.
Mum sighs and Dad gets to his feet. Dusting his pants off, he makes a grand display of holding out his hand for her. “My love.”
Mum places her hand over her heart before slipping her hand into his and we watch them walk over to an open area. Her light laugh flits through the air as he twirls her before pulling her into his chest and a small smile tilts my lips as they sway to the music.
“I want a love like that one day.” My sister sighs and I glance over at her, a Twizzler hanging from her mouth as she watches our parents.
Kinsley hums. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“I think some more than others,” she mumbles, looking down at her lap and spinning her worn bracelet around her wrist.
“I do too,” I say, my arms instinctively tightening around Kinsley.
For the longest time, I never thought I’d experience love like my parents.
It doesn’t help that they set the bar in the stratosphere.
But lord help me, I want it.
I want the love that comes out of nowhere and knocks you on your arse. That doesn’t fit societal norms because what you feel is extraordinarily not. Where the timeline doesn’t matter because you have forever.
I want the kind of love that feels right without even trying. Where you can be exactly who you are and it’ll always be enough. Where the bad days don’t stand a chance because they’re waiting for you at the end of them. And the good days are made that much better.
I want a love where you fall all over again, every single day.
And as Kinsley lays her head back against my chest, the same girl who’s had a chokehold on my every thought from the moment she stumbled into my life, I feel like maybe what I once thought was unreachable, could be mere inches away.
After the screen has gone dark and the music has faded, we pack up and say goodnight to my family. I turn on the car and Kinsley snuggles into the seat, humming. “Is there anywhere that’s open for food? I’m kind of hungry.”
“What are you feeling?”
“Spaghetti.” My head whips in her direction and she bursts out laughing. “Don’t judge me.”
“I’m not judging. I’m just—spaghetti?”
She bites her lip and shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a carbs kind of girl.”
I chuckle and pull out of the parking spot. “Okay, then. My girl wants spaghetti, we’re going to get spaghetti.”