Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
He still doesn’t say anything.
I can feel the tears start to well in my eyes. “If you want to break up with me, then you just have to tell me. I’m not going to chase someone that doesn’t want me.”
He pushes his hand through his hair in frustration. “I wasn’t trying to break up with you, Liv. I thought I was doing you a favor. I meant what I said when I said I wouldn’t be good company. I got some… bad news today, and I didn’t feel like going to a party. Davis understood.”
I toss a hand in the air. “And what? I wouldn’t understand?”
“No, I mean yeah, you would understand, but I didn’t want to put that on you, Liv. This is my shit. I didn’t want to drag you into it.”
I clutch my stomach. It feels as if he just raised his foot and kicked me in it. I rise slowly to my feet. I’m trying to remain calm even though it’s the last thing I’m feeling. “You don’t want to drag me into it?”
He starts to talk, and I hold my hand up. “No, it’s my turn. Was I the only one here last night and this morning? I’m in it, Jason Hawk. I told you I didn't want a relationship and I just wanted a good time. But you made me fall in love with you, dammit. And what? Now you’re pushing me away.”
He moves toward me. “You love me?”
“Geez, Jason, how can you even doubt it? Even though you never said it, I know you felt something for me too.”
“I did. I do,” he says.
When there is a silence, I ask him, “What doctors appointment did you not tell me about? What doctors appointment did you keep to yourself and not let me go to so I could be there with you? I’m assuming it was bad news. Well, give it to me. Whatever it is, we can work through it.”
He juts his chin at me. “I’m blind… and I won’t be getting my eyesight back.”
I wait for the rest of it, and when he doesn’t continue, I realize I sound like a bitch as soon as the words leave my mouth. “Is that it?”
“Is that it?” he repeats. “Yeah, that’s it. I told you that my eyesight would be coming back, but I found out today that’s not possible. Well, that’s not completely true. If I have a surgery, which has a really high risk that comes along with it, my chances of getting my sight back would be 25 percent.”
“You’re not getting the surgery,” I say and then realize I may be overstepping. “I mean, ultimately the decision is yours, but I hope you don’t. I’d rather have you here with me than you do something crazy, Jason.”
He comes near me, and this time I don’t move. “So you’re telling me that the fact I will always be blind doesn’t freak you out.”
I shrug. “Honestly, Jason, I should have paid more attention. I know you mentioned at one time you could get your eyesight back, but sight or no sight doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders. “And you love me?”
When I don’t say anything in return, he pulls me in closer. “You can’t take it back now, Olivia. You said it, and I’m holding you to it.”
I let out a sigh. “Yes. I love you.”
I wait, expecting myself to freak out or something, but I don’t. There’s a calm that comes over me, and I know there’s no doubt that I love this man. He hugs me, holding me to him like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever held in his arms. I pull back, but he doesn’t let me go far. “Jason, you can’t do this to me again. If you have an important appointment, you tell me. If you can’t do something you had planned with me, you tell me. I can only do this if we have complete honesty and you don’t push me away.”
He laughs huskily. “I promise. Fuck, Olivia. I promise.”
I loop my arms around his neck and go to my tiptoes. “Okay, so maybe we should seal it with a kiss.”
He doesn’t make me wait. His lips press to mine. He catches me off guard when he picks me up and carries me to the couch, settling me on his lap. I move so we’re in our favorite position, and once I’m straddling him, I whisper in his ear, “I love you, Jason Hawk.”
He squeezes me a little tighter. His voice is filled with emotion. “I love you too.”
EPILOGUE
JASON
The wedding reception is in full swing. I’ve already had to endure knowing that Olivia walked down the aisle with another man. Kanan is one of my best friends and I trust him, but I don’t like the idea of my woman on another man’s arm.