Y
O
U
The final bursts of color fade from the sky, leaving behind a smoky haze. My eyes remained glued to Jackson. With my heart hammering against my sternum, I say, “Jackson?”
His expression hasn’t changed at all. For a split second, I panic that I’ve dropped the L-bomb too early. I have a way of misreading situations with him.
He swallows, turns to me, and grins. “You’re freaking out right now, aren’t you?”
“A bit a lot,” rushes out of me.
He runs his hands up my chest up to my face, holding it like it’s something precious. Even with his deteriorating vision, his eyes still hold that piercing quality that intrigued me from the moment I met him.
He smiles, and it lights up his face more beautifully than fireworks ever could. “I love you, too, Maverick.”
I descend on his lips, my fingers digging into his coat as his fingers tangle through my hair. Our tongues collide, sendingwaves of heat pulsing through my body. Every press of his lips against mine feels so perfect, so right.
It hasn’t been easy—he made sure of that—but it sure as hell has been worth it.
He pulls away, pressing his palm to my chest. “Can we go inside now? My balls are freezing.”
I soak up every little thing I love about his face. His cute, upturned nose. His freckled cheeks. His delicious lips. Then I trace my fingers along the length of his jaw. “Well, we can’t have that now.”
I stand up first and scoop up the blanket under one arm, hand him his white cane, then take hold of his other hand.
We walk back to the new cabin in silence. Even with Jackson using the cane, I know he still likes counting out the paces in his head. His vision has faded into almost complete blackness. The past six nights, he hasn’t been able to see the color of the fireworks anymore. My heart breaks for him, and at the same time, I’m in awe of his strength and how well he’s adjusting.
My heart also breaks for Clancy and Grandpa Rick. Jackson and I, despite our many, many,manyobstacles, found a way to be together. Clancy and Grandpa Rick never did.
Jackson’s been saying he thinks Pip and Ollie would be a good match if Ollie decides to leave Derek, but if we’re going to be interfering and playing matchmaker, I think we should focus our efforts on Clancy.
For now, though, I’m perfectly happy shutting the outside world out and enjoying every single precious moment I have with Jackson. We reach the cabin. I open the door for him.
“Thanks,” he says, stepping inside.
“No problem.” I follow him in and head straight for the thermostat.
“Don’t you dare,” he says.
My pointer finger hovers over the up arrow button. “How do you know what I’m doing?”
“Because you’re that predictable. You’re cranking up the heat, aren’t you?”
“It’s freezing in here,” I protest.
“It’s a sauna in here,” he counters.
“Compromise?”
He sighs dramatically. “I suppose so.”
“Thank you,” I say, nudging the thermostat to a slightly warmer temperature. “You ready for bed?”
“Yeah. I’m beat.”
“Can I help you with anything?”
