I went to the DMV a few days ago and got my New York license. Well, I renewed it. Technically, I had one from when I lived there years ago, even though I rarely drove. It has Jade’s address on it.Myaddress.
I haven’t told Jade yet, partly because I want to surprise her, but also because I can tell a part of her is still scared to admit how real this is. Not because she doesn’t want it but because she’s afraid of getting hurt.
Which I understand. I didn’t make my intentions clear enough at the beginning because I didn’t want to scare her. Now, I’m doing everything I can to help her see she’s all I want. I can tell she wants to ask why, but I don’t even want to dignify that potential question with a response.
Those are her insecurities talking, and I refuse to let them get in the way.
She’s beautiful, brilliant, witty, playful, and the worlds she can create in her mind and the stories she can tell astound me. I’m the luckiest man alive that she wants me too.
And I just want to love her. It’s as simple as that.
As simple as love.
That word has been popping up both internally and externally a lot lately.
We’re headed there, no doubt. I’ve never been as twisted up in someone as I am in her. She doesn’t seem to see the way she supports me, cares for me, and brings me joy. Maybe because it’s often in the softest, simplest ways, but she does it all and more.
“Love is not coming for me,” Hallie says firmly.
Still my little anti-love girl.
“Baby girl, I don’t think you get to choose that,” Hardy says.
“He’s right,” Brian says, voice soft, almost haunted.
Hardy looks at him tenderly, and I elbow Jade.
She squeezes my thigh, though we try not to openly stare at them.
“You will find it when the time is right. When the person is right,” Hardy says to him.
Brian smiles, but it’s almost… bitter. Which is strange for him. He’s usually the gentlest, kindest person in the room.
He grabs his drink and downs it, and everything else disappears. The smile he gives Hardy is genuine. “Yeah. You’re right. And I don’t need to mope, so let’s go grab another drink.”
Hallie lets them out of the booth, but as she’s sitting back down, her eyes go to the door, and she watches as a tall guy withdark hair and a scruffy jaw, dressed in suit pants and a dress shirt—and looking like he’d like to rip them off—walks in.
Hallie sits down, a troublesome smile on her face. “Nowthatis what I want to fall into.”
I nod toward the bar. “Go make your move.”
She arches a brow. “Please. Have you forgotten how this works? I have to let him see me as I walk by first, then I’ll go get a drink, brush his arm…”
Jade laughs. “You have a system.”
“Yep.”
I glance over at Hardy and Brian at the bar.
“Random question?—”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but yes, I think there’s something,” Hallie says. “The way Brian talks sometimes… I think he has feelings for Hardy.”
“But Hardy is oblivious,” Jade says.
“Well, maybe it leads to a bi-awakening situation,” I say.
Hallie’s brow furrows. “Not everyone is a living romance trope.”
