Page 15 of Jack's Legacy
Rachel's voice held a hint of amusement. “You kept looking up into the stands to see if I was watching.”
“I was too busy trying to find you.” Jack shook his head at the memory. “Coach almost pulled me.”
“But then you found me.”
“Yeah.” He could still see it perfectly. Rachel sat with Cindy, wearing his extra jersey, which was three sizes too big for her. When their eyes had met, she smiled and waved, and something in his chest had settled. “And then I pitched the best game of my life.”
“Because I was there?”
“Because you were there,” he confirmed. “Because knowing you were watching, that you cared, made me want to be better. To work harder. To prove I was worth your time.”
Rachel tilted her head up to look at him. “You never had to prove that. You were always worth my time.”
“Took me a while to believe that.” Jack traced patterns on her arm. “You were this incredible girl who'd survived things I couldn't even imagine. And I was just some kid who was good at throwing a ball.”
“You were never just some kid.” Rachel's voice was fierce. “You saved me, Jack. You showed me what it felt like to be chosen.”
Jack swallowed hard. “You saved me too.”
“I did?”
“Yeah.” He kissed the top of her head. “You taught me that being strong doesn't mean never being scared. You made me want to be the kind of man who deserves someone like you.”
“You already are that man.” Rachel's hand found his over her arm, their fingers tangling together. “You've always been him.”
They lapsed into comfortable silence again, watching the sun begin to paint the sky.
“Jack?” Rachel's voice was muffled against his shirt.
“Yeah?”
“I need to tell you something.” She pulled back enough to look at him, and he saw a mix of nervousness and determination in her eyes. “About what I've been thinking.”
Jack's heart kicked up its pace. He wasn’t sure what her expression held. “You can tell me anything,” he said. “You know that.”
Rachel took a shaky breath. “I've been thinking about us. About the future. About what happens when you leave.”
“Okay.”
“And I realized something.” Her hands moved to rest on his shoulders. “I've spent so much of my life being afraid. Afraid of being hurt, afraid of losing the people I love. But being with you taught me that fear doesn't have to control me.”
Jack wasn't sure where she was going with this, but he could see the courage it was taking her to say it.
“I thought I wanted to wait,” she continued. “For everything… for us to be older, more settled. For you to finish the Academy, for me to finish college. For all the perfect moments and perfect timing.”
Jack's throat went dry. “And now?”
“I don't want to wait anymore.” Rachel's eyes locked on his. “Not for the things that matter. Not for you.”
The air between them felt charged, heavy with meaning. Jack's hands tightened on her waist, his mind racing to understand what she was saying.
“I turned eighteen two weeks ago,” she said. “And I've been thinking about what I want. Not what I'm supposed to want, or what's proper, or what anyone else thinks I should do. What I want.”
“What do you want?” Jack's voice came out barely above a whisper.
“I’ve always wanted you to be my first.” The words hung in the air between them, brave and vulnerable all at once. “I want it to be you, Jack. Not someday, not eventually. You. Now. Before you leave.”
Jack's heart hammered against his ribs. He'd thought about this—of course he had. He was eighteen and in love with a beautiful girl who meant everything to him. But he'd also been so careful, so conscious of Rachel's needs. He'd never wanted to push or for her to feel pressured or scared.
