Because haven't I loved her forever?
Even before she let herself look at me the way she did now—I was already hers.
Even if she still doesn't quite know how to be mine.
I swallow hard, pushing past the lump in my throat. Instead, I squeeze her hand, smirking just enough to soften the weight in the air.
"Might be a little cheesy," I murmur. "And probably something I should've asked before what just happened back at your place, but…I guess I never really made this official, did I?"
Her lips part slightly, like she wasn't expecting that. "Oh."
I raise a brow. "Oh? Oh, as in, yes, or oh, as in no?"
She tilts her head, studying me, hesitation flickering across her face before something softer takes its place. "Well…do you want me to be your girlfriend?"
I smirk, my thumb brushing along her knuckles. "I want you to be whatever you want to be."
She exhales, her lips pressing together, like she's trying to find the right words. But there's something in her eyes—something nervous, something raw.
Quietly, she murmurs, "I don't want to hurt you, Jax."
I still, and her fingers squeeze mine before she keeps going.
"I want to be with you. Trust me, I do. This is just…new for me. And scary. I might mess up a lot. We both know I like to push people away, but…" She pauses, licking her lips, voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. I'd like to try."
The tightness in my chest eases, something lighter settling in its place.
I don't even think before I lean in, brushing my lips against hers—slow and sure, like a promise I intend to keep.
She exhales into me, her grip on my hand tightening as she kisses me back, hesitant at first, then more.
I pull away just enough to murmur against her lips, "Good. Because I wasn't planning on letting you go anyway."
A soft, breathy laugh escapes her, shaking her head like I'm impossible. Then, I'm kissing her again.
But she doesn't pull away.
And that's enough for now.
The rest of the drive flies by.
Madison eventually relaxes, leaning her head against the window as she scrolls through her phone, our hands still lazily tangled. I steal glances at her every so often, watching the way the sunlight catches in her hair, the way her fingers absently trace patterns along the back of my hand.
She has to know what she's doing to me, but I don't think she really has the slightest clue.
We listen to music, talk about nothing and everything, and before I know it, we're pulling into my parents' neighborhood, the streets lined with familiar houses, each one dressed in subtle fall decorations.
But nothing is as familiar as this one.
As I park in the driveway, I glance at Madison.
She's staring at the house, her fingers playing with the hem of her sweater. There's something in her eyes—a mix of nostalgia and uncertainty that makes me want to wrap her up and never let go.
She swallows. "Feels like it hasn't changed at all."
I smirk, shutting off the engine. "Probably because it hasn't."
She exhales, shaking her head with a small, nostalgic smile. "I forgot how much I missed this place. All those summer nights onthe porch, your mom teaching me to bake in the kitchen..." She trails off, lost in memories for a moment.
