Page 64 of Trustfall
“No, he didn’t survive the crash.”
A chill scored down my spine as the unforgiving cold from my nightmare returned.
“Crash?” I questioned. “I remember waking up tied to a chair, Dixon getting mad and drugging me again, and then theplace he held me at exploded. After that, everything became hazy and confusing. I can’t make sense of the nightmare that woke me up before—everything was freezing cold and cloaked in darkness.”
“Jaxon, Boden, and I, along with some special ops team my brother called in, were planning our breach of the cabin when Dixon started acting erratic.”
“I thought I heard Boden’s voice when we were outside but assumed I was imagining things.”
“No, our presence must have triggered an alarm on the property because an ear-piercing shrill brought us to our knees right before the cabin exploded.”
“Oh my God, were any of you hurt?” I scanned Jameson from head to toe, searching for any signs of injury, but his sweater and jeans made it hard to tell.
“No, thankfully, the guys were good. Regardless, you were still our priority. I was running toward the cabin when Boden spotted Dixon carrying you toward the lake. He had you over his shoulder when he took off on a jet ski. He was driving blind as the clouds partly covered the moon, so he never saw the raised rock bed until it was too late. The force of the abrupt stop must have trapped his body against the steering column, so on impact when it flipped over, his head took the brunt. You, on the other hand, went airborne before plunging into the lake, and I swear to God, Ari, my heart stopped. I jumped off the dock, terrified beyond reason.”
“Jameson,” I sobbed, my heart hurting for him.
“Thankfully, help was on standby, and divers with proper gear found you before it was too late. I helped them get you on the boat, and then you were airlifted here.”
“The lengths you went to to save my life.” My throat was thick with appreciation, but I was also beyond thankful he wasn’t hurt or worse.
“Ari, there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you in this world.” He caressed the side of my cheek with care.
“I know, and I’m so incredibly thankful to have you by my side.”
“Same. I’m just so sorry again that all of this started because of me.” Jameson’s voice cracked with guilt that was still eating away at him.
“No, you already apologized, and I won’t have you feeling guilty when I wouldn’t be here now without you. If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it reminded me just how fragile and fleeting life can be. We only get one go at it, and I want to spend our time together, not letting past mistakes, regrets, or errors in judgment weigh us down. I want to shout from the rooftops how happy you make me and move forward together as a team from here on out.”
“Glad you’re finally on board with my life’s plan for us, Red.”
My heart warmed with love for the man I once foolishly considered my enemy. “I love you, Jameson.”
His eyes widened as the corners of his lips lifted into an enormous smile. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of hearing those words from you, Ari. I love you too, more than anything.”
He leaned in closer and gently pressed his lips against mine, marking me in a way that only he could as we basked in the bliss of our shared feelings. Our kiss was soft and sweet, a silent expression of a promise as our hearts beat together in unison.
“I’ve never experienced such peace or felt more aligned with my life’s path than when I’m with you. My heart aches like a part of me is missing when we’re not together. When I was”—I swallowed roughly—“I was overwhelmed with worry, hoping and praying that you knew in your heart how I felt deep down in mine. The thought of leaving this world without telling you how much you truly mean to me was devastating, but in the samebreath, it also fueled my will to keep fighting. I couldn’t stand the idea of you and my dad?—”
“You’ll never have to, Ari. In a sense, I’ve always known. I was waiting for you to play catch-up.”
“I promise always to tell you how much you mean to me; I never want there to be any doubt.”
“How did I get so lucky?” He grinned with his signature devastating flair that once infuriated me to no end and now, under a new lens, was dangerously magnetic and addictive.
“Because you never gave up on me.”
“You were always meant for me, Ari. You’re mine to love, cherish, and protect always.”
Understanding the depth of his feelings was truly empowering, and I could no longer deny my own emotions; I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
“I like that I’m yours,” I whispered as he kissed my neck.
“One day, I’m going to give you my name.”
“And one day, I might just say yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
