Page 216 of So Not Meant To Be
“‘Thank you so much for having me. Huge fan. My favorite episode had to be Jason and Dottie.’”
I’m smiling so hugely, I can barely speak. “‘Yeah, that potato salad was what miracles are made of.’” I laugh, a wet snort popping out.
“‘I can’t wait to get my own tub.’”
“‘Coming to stores near you soon. But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about the love of your life, Kelsey.’” A tear falls past my cheek, and before I can wipe it, JP whips a box of tissues out of nowhere and sets it in front of me. I take one and dab at my eye. “‘How did you two meet?’”
“‘You see, my brother Huxley, he got our company into a bit of trouble. It’s a long story, but because he made a promise to this girl he struck a deal with, we had to sit down with her and her sister and listen to them pitch us a business proposition. I was kind of annoyed, you know, because Huxley was making decisions without us, so when we lined up for the pitch, I didn’t expect this smoke-show of a woman to walk off the elevator. Immediately, I felt something change in me, something so deep, so profound, that I could’ve sworn a puzzle piece that’s been missing my whole life finally found its home.’”
My lip quivers. “‘Are you referring to Kelsey?’”
“‘I am. Unfortunately, her sister ruined the entire meeting but, that whole time, while she was making a show of it, I watched Kelsey. I watched her face turn red with embarrassment, but I also watched how she kept herself composed even though her hopes of bringing her business to the next level were vanishing right in front of her. There was something so raw about that moment that I’ve never forgotten. And I knew I had to see her again.’”
I wipe at my eyes. “‘So, it seems like you did.’”
“‘Yeah, they were able to pitch again, and her idea was absolutely brilliant. We’d have been idiots if we said no. Lucky for me, the new business fell under my management, and that’s when I got to spend more time with her. It started off as playful, but the more I hung out with her, got to know her, the more I knew this girl was meant for me. The only problem, though—I had to prove to her that I was meant for her too.’”
“‘How... how did you do that?’”
“‘Tried to be her friend, even though I told her that was impossible. And when the moment was right, I planned this entire night where I’d tell her how much I wanted to be with her. But, to my horror, she was going out with someone else that night.’”
My heart sinks just thinking about it. My eyes fixate on the paper in front of me. “‘Wow, what a harlot ...’” I glance up at him and he chuckles.
“‘Nah, I didn’t give her sufficient hints that I was interested in taking things further. I don’t blame her, but I did beg and plead for her to not leave with him.’”
“‘Did she?’” I tilt my head, watching him as the largest smile spreads across his face.
“‘She didn’t. She stayed with me, and at that moment, when she kissed me for the first time, I felt whole again. I felt like all the stars aligned and I was exactly where I needed to be, with the girl of my dreams. It wasn’t easy, and it took some convincing on my end, but we started as co-workers, then enemies, then friends... and now, I’m hoping we can continue as more than friends, if she’ll have me.’”
He sets his paper down and I set mine down too right before he takes my hand in his. “What I’m about to say to you isn’t a moment in time to simply rectify our relationship. It’s me, speaking from the heart, letting you know how I feel, because I can’t go another day without you knowing.” He wets his lips and says, “I love you, Kelsey. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you from the moment I watched your face fall during that first pitch. And I know, for the rest of my life, I won’t stop loving you, ever, because you were meant to be with me. I know, deep in my soul, to the very marrow of my bones, that you’re my girl, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
My hands are shaking. My lips won’t stop trembling as I lean forward and, with my free hand, press my palm to his cheek, look him in the eyes, and say, “I love you, Jonah. I’m so sorry that it took me this long to say it to you.” I rub my thumb over his cheek. “But I do, I love you so much, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.”
The corners of his mouth lift as he gives me the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. “Christ.” He blinks a few times as he moves even closer. “Come here.” He pulls me onto his lap, and his arm goes around my waist as I settle my hands on his shoulders. “You love me?”
I nod. “I really do. I’ve known for a while. I’ve just been scared. This feeling I have for you, it’s so powerful, it’s so real, I was afraid that maybe you didn’t return the feeling.”
He chuckles. “You don’t need to worry about that. Pretty sure I loved you before you even considered looking my way.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Is it too soon to beg you to move in with me?”
I laugh as tears fall from my eyes. “How about we go on a date first?”
“Okay, date first, then you move in with me.”
“Date first, the bedroom next, and then we talk about possibly moving in.”
He smirks. “Sounds like a plan, baby.”
He closes the space between us and kisses me. A searing kiss that tears through me from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. His kiss claims me, showing me that no matter what happens, no matter what journey we take, I’m his. He’s mine. And together, we’re so meant to be.
Epilogue
JP
“I’m so nervous. What if I say the wrong thing?” I ask Kelsey as my leg bounces up and down in the back of the car while we wait to be called upon.
“I don’t think you can say the wrong thing in this moment.” She brushes my hair to the side. “I think you should just speak with your heart.”
I rub my sweaty palms on my leg. “That’s what I’m afraid of. If I speak with my heart, I might sound crazy.”
