Mine Would Be You (92)

“You’re so mean to me,” I pout.

“Oh, shut up. I love you.”

I roll my eyes. “I love you too. Now go or you’re gonna be late. Leave me alone to wallow.” I wave my hand at her as she throws her trench coat on over her sweater. Roman is taking her somewhere tonight, got tickets on sale to a concert, I think.

“No more cookies. I counted. I know how many are left.”

I stand up and grab another just to spite her. “Do not judge me and my emotional eating. Now go.” I practically shove her towards the door. She stumbles as I push her forward and stops to slip on her shoes.

“God, you are pushy when you’re emotional,” she says, grinning, and I roll my eyes again.

“You’re annoying.”

She winks and stands up, adjusting her purse over her shoulder as she wraps her hand around the door. “All right, well, if you spiral just send me a text or call Sloan. I expect all the tissue boxes to be full when I get back,” she says, and I close my eyes and rest my head on the wall, waiting for her lecture to end. Her eyes soften, just briefly. “Love you. You’ll be fine.”

I head back to my laptop as the door opens and closes. The music in the background fills the space, a soft melody as I pull up an article I need to be working on. My phone buzzes next to me, Jackson’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hello?”

Jackson’s voice comes through the speakers. “Hey, are you busy?”

“No, not at all, why?”

“Can you do something for me really quick?”

I furrow my brows in confusion, eating yet another cookie. “Yeah, of course, anything. Is everything okay?”

He chuckles lightly. “Yeah, it’s fine. I sent you something and it should be at your place by now. Can you check?”

I stand. “Yeah, Harper just left though, so she would’ve told me about a package, but I’m looking now.” I free my hand from where it’s tucked into my sweatshirt sleeve as I walk to the door.

I pull it open, and instead of a package, there’s a Jackson in front of me. Shock floods my veins. Harper is walking backward behind him in the hallway, making a heart with her hands. I would laugh except I’m too surprised.

He has a soft smile on his face and two bags with him and his phone held against his ear. “Hi.” At my appearance, he hangs up the phone.

I’m speechless for a second, my mind trying to catch up with what I’m seeing—that he’s really here. “Hi. What are you doing here?” I ask. Standing nervously in the doorway.

His dimples fight to appear. “Landed about forty minutes ago. Came straight here.”

“How was the flight? Come in, I’m sorry, please come in.” I want to smack myself at my rambling, and I know he’s amused because I can see the upturn of his lips as he enters, shutting the door behind him.

The music I had on plays in the background as I stop awkwardly in my kitchen, waiting for him to enter behind me. I hop up and sit on the counter simply to stop my fidgeting.

He walks closer to me, dropping his bags gently, until he’s standing in front of me, and his hands lazily rest in his pockets.

“So, it’s soon. Why are you back already?”

“Would you like me to go?” he asks, and I blush deeply, hearing the joke in his tone.

“No, no, stop. I just—I don’t know.” I sigh, realizing I’m rambling.

Jackson shrugs, but his eyes are light with humor, and he ignores my jumbled words. “You got something—” He reaches out with his thumb and swipes right beside my lips. He surrounds me fully now. “That kiss you gave me in the airport wasn’t really a good enough goodbye.”

My entire body heats and the blush pools in my cheeks as I cast my eyes down. His left hand rests on my thigh, drawing little patterns with his thumb as his other cups my chin and forces my eyes up to his. I don’t have time for a breath before he’s leaning down and kissing me, and it takes only milliseconds before I relax into it.

I’m not sure why I was scared at all.

“I got home, and it just felt empty. Dad isn’t there, and you weren’t there.” He shrugs, tugging a loose hair of mine before dropping it. “You told me to come back when I was ready. I was ready.”

My entire body goes weightless at his words.

Jackson leans in and kisses me again, cupping my cheeks softly. He pulls back, his lips resting over mine. “I love you, Valentina Scott.”

Now my heart stops for a whole different reason.

His lips brush against my ear, my neck, everywhere. “I love you so much more than I can ever explain.”

The words from his lips wrap around my body, my heart, and imprint on my skin. My eyes stay closed because I’m scared that if I open them, I’ll realize this is a big dream and he won’t really be there. But he kisses me again, softer this time, and I open them when he pulls back, his blue eyes trained on mine. Because I am so in love with Jackson Ross that it hurts, and hearing him say it practically makes my heart burst.

“This would be about the time you say it back,” he whispers playfully and pinches my side, causing me to squeal as my entire body comes to life.

I purse my lips and shrug, playing along. Happy to see him in such a good mood.

He narrows his eyes playfully, hands still on my side. “Is it ‘cause I made you cry?”