35. Chapter 35
Jake
About an hour after piercing gate, I’m parking up at Lottie’s.
Opening the front door, I find my girl sitting on the couch with her tablet, working on her latest commission.
She’s got those sexy as fuck glasses on and her hair is up in a messy bun—she’s giving librarian vibes and I’m here for it.
Bella’s weaving in between my feet, whipping me with her tail as she goes.
“Hey, Bella boo, I’ll take you for a walk in a minute.
Let me just go and say hi to your mama.”
I move toward Lottie as she glances up from her work and greets me with the brightest smile.
She puts her tablet down as I come to sit next to her, pulling her onto my lap as I do and snuggling in close. “Hey, baby, you had a good day?”
“It’s been great, thank you. Kayla came over for mimosas. She then had a call from Louis and was screaming down the phone at him. Any ideas what that’s about?”
She nestles further into me as I recall the events that happened earlier. My body’s still shuddering at what I’ve witnessed, and my hand is bruised to fuck. “It’s probably best you don’t ask.”
I bury my head back in Lottie’s neck, where her scent is the strongest, and begin kissing her.
I won’t take it far; I know she’s new to all of this and is skittish at best, but from the mewls coming from her, she’s enjoying it.
I pull back and look into her beautiful grey eyes—there’s a longing in them that wasn’t there before.
“Can I take you out on a date? Somewhere nice, that’s if you’d like to?”
She cuts me off before I can finish, “I’d love that. Maybe somewhere private would be good?”
She’s obviously thinking about us being mobbed by fans. “Consider it done.”
I’m so gone for this girl; I’d do anything she asked of me. “I didn’t know you and Kayla had plans today.”
She looks at me sheepishly whilst tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ears. “I started spiraling again after you left, so she came over and talked some sense into me.”
“What did she say?” I’m curious, with Kayla you never know what’s going to come out of her mouth.
“She actually told me something very interesting. She told me before my accident I was in love with you, and she thought you may have felt the same, with each of us totally oblivious to it.”
Fucking Kayla.
“Well, if we’re getting things all out in the open, then yeah, she’s right. I have been in love with you for a long time, but I never made a move. I thought you only ever saw me as a friend.”
I take a breath, gathering myself before I continue. “The night of your birthday, the one before the accident, I decided to make my move. Then shit hit the proverbial fan and you ran away. You wouldn’t talk to me after, so I left you a voicemail…”
I’m cut off by Lottie clutching her head. “In my nightmares about the accident, I’m listening to a voicemail. It’s yours, isn’t it?” Tears streak across her pale face as she brings her hands to my cheek.
“You wouldn’t talk to me, and I needed you to hear me out.” I bring my lips to her temple and just hold them there, soaking in this moment. She finally knows my truth.
“I need to be honest, Jake. I know Kayla told me how I felt before the accident, and I don’t doubt her because you are so wonderful, but I need to rediscover those feelings, so I can fall in love with you all over again.
Because what if my memories don’t come back?
” Therapy has been a bust so far, so I’m not holding out much hope.
“I’ll wait however long you need me to. Fuck, I’ve waited this long. Just the fact you’re willing to try is more than I could have hoped for. What else did you guys talk about?”
“I was worried about my inexperience, that I wouldn’t be enough for you and you wouldn’t…like it.” She tries to turn away from me, but I grip her chin.
“I love that you haven’t been with anyone else and your experiences will be all mine,” I groan into her ear.
“Now I’ve got you, I’m not ever letting you go.
You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Lottie.
” Taking her lips in a claiming kiss, my need for her is burning through me like wildfire.
I have to keep reminding myself to take this slow.
We have all the time in the world, and what's that saying? The longer the wait, the sweeter the reward? Well, I’m going to be the king of delayed gratification.