Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
I clasp my hands tight to my lap to curb the temptation to reach for his hand and lace our fingers together.
“I’ve been thinking,” he starts, his voice a bit husky.
“Okay. What about?”
Jack glances over at me. “How do you feel about coming to Sydney with me for spring break?”
48
IT COMES FROM SO FAR IN LEFT FIELD I DON’T QUITE UNDERSTAND what he’s asking at first.
“Sydney?” I echo dumbly.
Jack runs a hand through his hair, clearly nervous. “Yeah. I leave Friday at midnight from Gatwick. If you’d like to join me.”
I stare at him. “Why would I do that?”
“Ah, right. I haven’t asked for forgiveness yet.” His face is sheepish. “I fucked up the order.”
“What order?”
Resting his palms on his knees, he angles his body so he’s facing me. “The order I wanted to say things.”
Despite myself, I snort out a laugh.
“Let me start again?” he pleads.
I nod and gesture for him to continue.
“I know I’ve apologized over and over again, and I reckon you’re bloody sick of hearing the words I’m and sorry exit my mouth. But I need to say them again.” Sincerity shines on his face. “I should have told you about your dad’s emails. I should have come clean the moment we had breakfast together that first morning or at the very least the moment I realized how much I liked you. I’m never going to stop apologizing, not until you stop hating me for it.”
My heart lurches into my throat. “I don’t hate you.”
“You don’t?”
“Of course not. I could never hate you.”
A spark of hope lights his eyes. “Does that mean I’ve a chance at earning your forgiveness?”
He’s not a bad bloke.
Of course he wasn’t pretending. Everybody could see Jack was besotted with you.
I swallow, hesitating, as Celeste’s words poke at the back of my brain.
Rather than address his question, I pose one of my own. “Why do you want me to come to Sydney with you?”
He shifts, his elbow jolting mine. “Ah, well, the family’s been asking about you, and I thought maybe you’d like to meet them.”
“You talk about me to your family?”
He nods.
“Let me get this straight. You’re asking me to go home with you? To meet your mom?”
As in the mom no other girl has ever met?
The reminder sends my mind reeling.
“Why?” I push, because he’s yet to provide an adequate explanation for this unexpected offer.
The corners of his mouth tip upward. “See, I’ve been giving it some thought, and I think I figured out my problem.”
“Oh?” I smother another laugh. “I’m dying to know.”
“It’s possible I’m in love with you.”
I’m sorry. What?
I blink at him. This must be a hallucination.
“I reckon if I’d managed to tell you that, it could have helped.” Jack lets out a harried breath. “Helped to convince you I don’t view you as a little kid. Far from it, Abbey. I do view you as a woman. A bloody amazing woman.”
I’m still gaping at him, my mind still tripping over the words I’m in love with you.
Then I remember something he said to me ages ago.
I’d have to be head over heels for someone to introduce them to Mum.
God, I think he’s being sincere right now.
He’s got me at a total loss. To say I’ve been sideswiped by this revelation is an understatement.
“You love me?” I finally utter. “When did all this happen?”
“Guess I figured it out when I looked at my phone and it said you were trapped in Ben Tulley’s penthouse.”
“That might have been a bit overdramatic of me.” In hindsight, I’m sure I overreacted to the situation with Ben. At the time, though, it felt quite urgent.
“I was out the door and halfway down the street before the others even checked their phones,” Jack confesses. “I didn’t say a word, just ran out of the pub. Practically sprinting down the street until I realized I had no idea where I was going. Took me a minute to notice you hadn’t texted only me.”
Guilt tugs at me. “Sorry I put you all through that.”
“I’m not.”
The conviction in his voice rocks me back. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d have ripped the door from its hinges with his bare hands to get to me. That’s the kind of guy Jack is. Fiercely loyal.
“I’m happy you asked for help instead of being all stubborn and trying to get out of the situation on your own. I like how honest you are, Abbs. Genuine. I like that you can laugh at yourself.” He gives an adorable shrug. “I like everything about you.”
“So…Sydney, huh?” Because I’m still stuck on the idea of him taking me home to the family. To his mother. “You said you’ve never brought a girl home.”
“I haven’t.”
“So if I came home with you…that would make us, what?”
“My girlfriend. If that’s not too presumptuous.”