Fated Shot

Chapter 34

Jack

It’s late evening by the time Mia and I make it home from the hospital.

My girl survived a whole day with the Brooks family, and by the end of it, I didn’t think they’d give her back to me. It’s still so crazy to me how she fits so well into my life. I didn’t think anything like this was ever out there for me, even if part of me hoped it would be. She’s infectious. Everything she touches, every essence of her being, I crave more of.

We settle in together on the couch as the sun sets over the city. Bean comes trotting over, taking his usual place between us. Cuddled together like this, the three of us feel like home.

“Thank you for everything today,” I say appreciatively. “I’m so happy you came with me, Mia.”

“Of course I came. We’re a team.”

A team? I can’t stop the smile from forming. I like the sound of that. I love the sound of that, actually. I love her .

“I told you so, by the way.” A cute little smirk spreads across her face.

“What did you tell me, wise guy?” I tickle her stomach teasingly as she squirms away.

“I told you they loved you,” she says between squeals, wholly disrupting Bean, who shimmies over to the far end of the couch.

“Mmm, I don’t recall you saying that to me at all, actually,” I goad her on .

“OH KAY.” Got her. “I see how you want to play this.”

She’s on her knees now, dodging my tickle attacks, hands flailing around, batting me away. “Acting as if you weren’t being a giant man-baby, huh?”

That gets me. I turn my head to the side to laugh, man-baby .

She seizes her opportunity, leaping onto my lap like a ninja cat. Big mistake on her part. I lock my arms around her waist holding her down against my body, exactly where I want her.

She wiggles over top of me, a sexy giggle that makes me lose all my senses. I’m zoned in, completely unable to think of anything but needing to feel connected to her.

“If you wanted to have a serious conversation, Wyndham, you shouldn’t have climbed on top of me.”

She pauses for a moment, wild green eyes meeting mine in a heated glance when she feels me.

“I’m having flashbacks to our first time together, when you decided to climb me like a tree, unable to contain your lust for me.”

“Oh please, you were basically obsessed with me.” I still am .

“Can’t blame a guy. I pretty much fell in love with you the second you walked into Cordelia’s.”

I feel my cheeks flame as soon as the words leave my mouth. I didn't mean to say that. Well, I meant to say it, just not out loud, not yet. Her eyes widen, so I know she heard me. I avert my gaze immediately.

“Uhh, it’s still nice out, do you wanna go for a walk?—or um, maybe we could—”

“Jack?” Her voice pulls me in, and I can’t seem to look away from her face. I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful.

“Yes, Mia?” Embarrassed as hell or not, I’d stare at her all day if I could.

She takes a moment, softly closing her eyes before re-opening them .

“I love you.” Her small but mighty voice causes me to pause.

I blink twice, unable to formulate words as my heart starts thundering in my chest. It’s like a weight is lifting off of my body in the relief that comes flooding in. Did she just say she loves me? She loves me?

“You—love me?”

Her smile, the one with the ability to shatter me into a million pieces, draws my eyes as she gives a certain nod.

“W-why?” I don’t mean to ask it, but the disbelief just slips out.

“You’re kind.” She kisses my right cheek.

“Considerate.” Kissing my left cheek.

“Fiercely protective,” she whispers against my forehead before marking it with another kiss.

“Generous.” This time, her lips brush the tip of my nose. “And everything I didn’t know I could have.”

She says it so convincingly I almost believe her words. This angel on earth, my sunshine, my everything, just said she loves me.

“You don’t need to say anything, I just wanted you to know,” she adds before wrapping her arms around me and nuzzling into my neck. I breathe in her fruity scent, her hair falling around my face.

Wrapping her tighter, I cement her against my body.

“I feel like I can’t fucking breathe when you’re not around. I want to spend every day with you, every moment with you.”

At my words, her heart starts hammering in her chest.

“I knew it from the first moment I saw you. Something just clicked, it was like you were made just for me.” She looks at me once again with those brilliant, breathtaking eyes. “By some fucking miracle, you were sent to me. My own little sunshine, lighting up my world one quiet morning in Wyndham. I still can’t believe it, but I will never take it for granted. ”

I cup her face, swiping a single tear rolling down her freckled cheek.

It’s unbelievable I don’t melt from the way she’s looking at me. There’s so much sincerity and vulnerability in her expression. She smiles her beautiful smile, the one that I’d rather die than take away, and I know I’m done for.

“I am so madly in love with you, Mia.”