Page 102 of Dare to Hold


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Jack smirks. “Still clinging to that insult, huh? Pretty sure I’ve earned ‘wise’ by now.”

“Wise men don’t wear socks with sandals,” I mutter, eyeing his feet.

He barks a laugh. “You came in with attitude today. What’s up?”

I shrug, leaning my elbows on the table. “Didn’t sleep much.”

“Something on your mind?”

I stare down at my coffee. “Yeah. Ivy.”

Jack raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything, which is how I know he’s listening.

“She’s…incredible,” I say slowly, like I’m trying the words out. “She’s kind and bold and real in a way I didn’t know I needed. I told her I loved her last night, but…”

Jack’s smile is soft but knowing. “But?”

I let out a breath. “Last night we were at her apartment. Nothing happened—nothing we’d regret. But it got…close. Like, too close.”

Jack’s expression doesn’t change, but I can tell he’s taking that in.

“I stopped it,” I add quickly. “I told her I’m waiting until marriage. Even told her I haven’t always, but I am now.”

“And how’d she take it?”

“Better than I expected.”

Jack nods slowly. “So what’s the problem?”

“I’m proud of us. I am. But it scared me, Jack. Because it wouldn’t have taken much for things to go the other way.”

Now Jack’s expression hardens—not unkindly, but like he’s shifting into mentor mode.

“Gray,” he says carefully, “you shouldn’t be spending time alone at her apartment.”

My brows furrow. “What? You think I shouldn’t hang out with her?”

“I think you’re playing with fire. You’re a man. You just said how close it got. Next time? You might not stop.”

I bristle, sitting back in the booth. “You don’t get it. We love each other. We’re careful. I’m not gonna throw the whole relationship in the trash just because of one close call.”

“I’m not telling you to throw it away,” Jack says, calm but firm. “I’m telling you to protect it.”

I don’t answer. Not right away.

He leans in a little. “You think boundaries are about restriction. But they’re not. They’re about vision. You’ve got a vision for this relationship, right? For something holy and real and built to last?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then act like it. Set yourselves up to win. That doesn’t happen by accident.”

I stare out the window, jaw clenched.

Jack lets the silence sit for a beat before adding, “Look. You don’t have to decide right now. Just…pray about it.”

I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Yeah. Okay.”

Jack softens again, tapping his fingers on his mug. “I know it feels like you’re being told to walk away from something good, but that’s not it. You’re just being invited to guard it differently.”