Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
J ed wrapped protectively around Jami’s shoulders as he glared between the television where Monica and Derek were celebrating, and Rick. The room was still buzzing from the displeasure of the townsfolk at the unexpected announcement. Jed felt the weight of their disappointment, the sting of what should have been his and Jami's moment, and the tension of what would come next.
“You promised Jami a show when we won.”
Rick opened his mouth, but Jed didn't hear what the producer said. His wife was speaking. Her voice was a soft, almost broken whisper. But her words to him were clear.
"I don't care about the show. I care about you. All I want is you."
Jed's heart stopped. The noise of the room faded into nothingness. He blinked, looking into her eyes, his own heart hammering against his chest. Was this real? Had he heard her correctly?
He searched her face, desperately looking for any hint of hesitation or doubt. There was none. Her eyes were steady, clear, and filled with a truth that struck him like a bolt of lightning. She wasn’t running. Not anymore.
Jami took a breath, her gaze never wavering from his. “I realize now that traveling the world won’t fulfill me the way I thought it would. I’ve been chasing something, always thinking it was out there—somewhere else. But it’s right here.” She placed her hand over his heart, and he felt the warmth of her touch seep into his chest. “It’s you, Jed. It’s us. It's my family. It’s this community. This is where I belong.”
Jed couldn't breathe. His throat tightened, his chest aching with the sheer force of what he was feeling. Jami wasn’t just saying it; she believed it. He saw it in her eyes, in the way her shoulders had relaxed, in the way her gaze held his with such raw, unguarded honesty.
He didn’t hesitate. He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against him. His mouth found hers in a kiss that was all-consuming. It was a kiss that spoke of every unspoken word, every fear, every hope. It was the kind of kiss that made the world disappear, that made time stop.
Jami melted against him, her arms winding around his neck, her fingers threading through his hair. He poured everything into that kiss—the relief, the joy, the love that had been building inside him for so long. Maybe it had been there all his life. It was as if they were both finally letting go, allowing themselves to be vulnerable, to be real.
The restaurant erupted into cheers. The sound drowned out the television and the celebration going on there. It was clear who had truly won this night. But for Jed, the applause, the shouting—it was all just background noise. The only thing that mattered was the woman in his arms, the feel of her lips against his, the way her body pressed against his own.
It could've been moments. It could've been hours. It could've been days later when he finally pulled away from his wife. They were both breathless. Jed's forehead rested against Jami's. Her fingers trembled, her breath coming in quick, shallow pants. He cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek, wiping away a tear.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough and unsteady. “I’ve been so scared of losing you that I tried to control everything. But I can’t do that. I won’t do that. I’m willing to travel with you, to go wherever you want to go, as long as I’m with you. I’ll give up the restaurant if that’s what it takes. I’ll?—”
Jami pressed her fingers to his lips, silencing him. Her eyes shone with more unshed tears, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You’re not giving up anything,” she whispered. “And neither am I.”
Jed’s heart clenched, a swell of emotion rising in his chest. “Jami…”
She shook her head, her fingers trailing down his jawline, her touch soft and tender. “I want to stay, Jed. I want to stay and build a life with you. I want to be a part of this community, to make it my home. Our home.” She took a shaky breath. “I’ve spent so much time running away because I was afraid of losing myself. But being with you has shown me that love doesn’t take away who I am. It adds to it. It makes me more.”
Jed couldn’t speak. His throat was too tight, his heart too full. He just pulled her close, burying his face in her hair, breathing in the scent of her, feeling the reality of her in his arms. She wasn’t leaving. She wasn’t running. She was choosing him, choosing them.
The crowd around them continued to cheer, their voices full of joy and celebration, as though they had just been announced the winners of the competition. But Jed knew they had won something far more important. They had won each other.
“You’re sure?” he asked, needing to hear Jami say it again, needing the reassurance.
She smiled up at him, that smile that always made his heart do funny things. “I’m sure. I want you, Jed Winchester. I want this life with you.”
He laughed, a sound that was a mixture of relief and happiness, and kissed her again. And then again, deeply and passionately. The crowd around them hooted and hollered, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was this moment, this woman, this love that they had fought so hard for.
“We’re going to make one hell of a team, Mrs. Winchester.”
Jami laughed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “Yes, we are,” she agreed, resting her head against his chest where the steady thump of his heart beat beneath her ear.
Rick approached them cautiously, clapping slowly with a look of respect and something akin to admiration. “Well, I guess we don’t need a food fight to get good TV moments, do we?”
Jed glanced at Rick, but his focus quickly returned to Jami, to the woman who had just changed his entire world with her words. He didn’t need a travel show; he didn’t need a competition win. He had everything he needed right here in his arms.
“Yeah,” Jed said, his voice soft as he gazed down at Jami. “We’ve got all the drama we need.”
Jami snorted, leaning into him, her laughter vibrating against his chest. “Who knew my life would turn into a real-life Hallmark movie?” she teased.
Jed chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “Happy endings are the best kind of endings,” he murmured.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and certainty. “No,” she said softly. “This isn't an ending. It's just the beginning.”
And as he held her close, surrounded by the warmth of their friends, their family, and their community, Jed knew she was right. This was just the beginning of the rest of their lives. Together.