Page 84 of One Time Only (One Time Only 1)
I squeeze my eyes shut as a sharp pang rips through me. “Yes. So much.”
Her voice trembles. “Then find a way, Jackson. That is what you’ll regret more than not taking a chance.”
“How are you so wise about love?”
“Easy. Music. I’m in Rent right now. It’s all about living without regret.”
I don’t know if she is right.
I don’t know if I’m wrong.
All I know is—I miss him more than I ever imagined.A little later, Cruz works out with me, and when we finish, we grab a bite to eat at our favorite diner.
As we’re waiting for our lunch, he sets his phone on the table, opens the camera roll, and shows me a picture of his daughter. She’s riding a bike, and she’s utterly adorable.
“She’s so damn cute,” I say.
He nods, but his brown eyes are wet. Like he’s on the cusp of tears.
“You okay, man?”
He shakes his head. “I missed it—her riding a bike for the first time. That’s the problem. I keep missing all of these milestones.”
“That must be hard for you,” I say with a sigh.
He swipes his hand across his cheek. “I can’t take being on the road much longer.”
“Terrence was saying the same thing.”
“This job, it’s for younger men than me. I want to be back home in Los Angeles.”
“So does Terrence,” I say, and the second I say those words, a light bulb goes on above my head. It flashes bright and brilliant. It’s studio wattage. It’s all the lights in a TV station. It’s the entire electrical grid of Las Vegas.
I beam. “I know what to do,” I say, practically giddy.
“About you and Stone?”
“Yes. No. Mostly I mean about everything.”
“You mean the million issues?” he asks with a laugh.
“Yes. The million issues.” I laugh too because, holy hell, I’ve got it. I can see a way through.
I can see it because all the reasons come down to one reason— you don’t let a second chance at love pass you by.
And not just any love.
But big love.
Epic love.
Love that touches your mind, body, and heart.
Love with someone you trust.
Someone who trusts you.
Who adores you.
Who you adore in return.
I adore that man.
Emotion grips my throat as I replay all the nights I’ve spent with him, including the last one, and the things we said under the covers.
I should never have doubted how Stone feels.
He wears his heart on his sleeve.
He lets his feelings show.
He feels the same way I do.
The way we are together is all the proof I’ll ever need.
I’m no more a hookup to him than he is to me. We’ve never been a hookup. We’ve always been real.
Every day, every night, every morning.
All of it has been happening to both of us. All this falling, all this feeling.
We’re in it. All the way.
But there’s only one of us who can make the decision. The choice—that’s in my power.
And I’m going to do it.35StoneI don’t tell him at the start of his shift, because we aren’t alone.
I don’t tell him at the charity event, because I have to shake hands with everyone, smile for the cameras, and make a speech.
I don’t tell him when we arrive at the theater, because my whole entourage is there.
When I reach my dressing room, all I want is to grab him, tug him inside, and tell him he owns my heart.
But when we arrive at the door and I motion for him to come in, adding a please, he shakes his head.
My heart plummets twenty floors—then slingshots back up when he shoots me a smile as he hands me back my phone. He’s had it for the last few hours, keeping it safe.
“Jackson,” I say, desperate and excited all at once.
His voice is firm. “Read my email.” He presses the phone tightly into my hand, curling my fingers around it then squeezing his hand over mine.
Sparks tear through me.
He runs his thumb over my hand, and it’s a miracle I don’t grab him and kiss him right now.
But this is a time for words. He wants me to read whatever he’s sent to me.
I step inside. He shuts the door after me, and I’m alone.
My pulse spikes. My nerves rocket to the sky.
I offer all the pleas in the world to the universe, and I click open my email.
Then, I read.Stone,I hereby tender my resignation from my position as your bodyguard. Please consider this my two weeks’ notice. I would like to tell you why after the show. I hope you have a fantastic one, and that you play your heart out like you do every night. I will be in the wings, watching you, enjoying every second of watching you, like I have done for the last several months.Like I’ve enjoyed every night we’ve worked together.Every night we’ve been together.Then, when you’re done, if you want to know why I’ve quit, you know where to find me. I’ll be the guy by your side.
