My cheeks instantly warm. “Thank you. You look very handsome yourself. It’s hard to picture you in anything other than a casual shirt and jeans these days.”
He releases a low, breathy chuckle, and it resonates deep within me. “Yeah. Well, I promised a very nosey little six-year-old that I would try my best to impress you.”
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. “You can tell him I’m highly impressed.”
“Phew!” Jason sweeps the back of his hand across his forehead with a playful sigh, feigning relief. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint him now, would we?”
“Oh, definitely not. Where is Jake tonight, by the way?” I ask curiously.
“He’s spending the weekend with his other grandparents.”
I nod silently and take a sip of water.
“I hope this place is okay?”
Taking my time, I let my gaze sweep across the room, soaking in the ambience and the calm, welcoming energy. A wide smile slowly spreads across my face. “I couldn’t have picked a more perfect place. You really outdid yourself, Jase.”
“I thought you’d like it,” he says, fidgeting with the napkin in front of him. “When it first opened a few months ago, I knew right away I wanted to take you here.”
“Is that so?” I reply, a playful grin tugging at my lips. “You were that certain, huh?”
“I was hopeful. And I knew sooner or later you’d give in to my irresistible charm… and this.” He runs his hand down his abs.
I burst out laughing. “You’re so full of it,” I tease, shaking my head.
A tingle of heat courses through me as he winks.
“I miss that,” he murmurs.
“Miss what?”
“The sound of your laugh. Your smile.” His gaze drops to my mouth.
I lower my eyes to the table, needing a moment away from his gaze. The room suddenly feels warmer, and it has nothing to do with the heating.
When I glance back at him, he’s staring intently, as if trying to decipher my thoughts. I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.
“To be honest with you, I’ve been dreaming about this day.” He exhales softly. “There were so many times I thought I’d never see you again, and that kind of terrified me. Just having you here, sitting across from me… It’s the best thing that’s happened in a long time.”
I nod slowly and smile, letting his words process. “I just needed time, that’s all. And I’m glad I had it. Because it made me realise a few things.”
“Like?”
“Like how jumping into a new relationship was mostly because of the safety I felt with you. I practically craved it. You were the first man who made me feel truly secure after everything that happened, and I guess I clung to that like a life raft. It was like I needed you in order to survive, in order to function. And when I didn’t get the reassurance I needed, that sent me spiralling down a very dark path.”
Jason reaches for my hand, his thumb gently brushing over the skin of my knuckles. He doesn’t say a word, silently encouraging me to keep going.
“My therapist explained that this is common among survivors of domestic abuse—the need for safety and constant reassurance. She helped me realise just how overdependent I had become on you, and that if I had continued down that path without getting the proper help, it would have eventually destroyed our relationship.”
Jason nods in understanding. “What would you say was your breakthrough moment?”
“I’d say it was the long road trip I took on my own from Sydney to Cairns. It was during that ten-day journey that I discovered parts of myself I never really knew about. My strength. My courage. My willpower. It taught me to rely solely on myself and to face every feeling head-on, no matter how overwhelming. It was fucking hard, I won’t lie. But I was determined to see how far I could go. And when I finally reached my destination, I literally broke down in tears—not from fear or sadness, but most because I finally did it. I got there, all on my own. That was some pretty powerful shit.”
He smiles, his expressionbeamingwith warmth and admiration. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Mila. Seriously. Not many people can say they’ve done what you did. You’ve come such a long way.” He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss before pulling away, his eyes full of affection never leaving mine.
“Thank you. I like to think so too.”
The moment is interrupted when the waiter arrives with our food and drinks. We watch in silence as he sets our meals on the table with care. As soon as he leaves, Jason raises his glass in a toast. “Here’s to you—the bravest, strongest, most resilient woman I know.”
