Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(63)

“Trust this.” I tenderly touched my lips to hers. “What do you feel?”

“Tenderness, warmth…desire,” she answered.

“Go deeper,” I instructed before kissing her again. I gave her everything in that kiss—my heart, soul, and future.

When I pulled back, she was smiling.

“Happiness…pink flamingos…love.”

“That’s my girl,” I said gently. “Welcome to the other side.”

We spent the rest of the night together discovering just how much love could be found in each other’s arms.





Jackson

“I need a drink,” I said, feeling defeated.

Liv sat down next to me on the couch. “It’s not that bad, Jackson.”

“Says you.”

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I caressed her thigh as I listened to her breathe.

“You knew this day would eventually happen,” she reminded me.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think it would actually ever really happen. It was someday and always so far in the future that I didn’t need to think about it.”

“And this summer? What kept you from thinking about it over the summer?” she asked.

“Moving, new job…you.”

“Don’t blame this on me!” She laughed.

“Can’t he be a kid just for a little longer?” I moaned.

“Jackson, he’s still a kid.”

“No, he’s a tween. They’re like mutant kids—pint-sized teenagers who listen to weird bands and talk funny. It’s f*cking scary.”

She giggled, pulling my face toward hers.

God, I loved her.

Since the night, so many weeks ago that I had put everything on the line and fought to keep her, fought to stay in her life, I’d watched her blossom into the woman I knew I couldn’t live without.

It wasn’t that she’d changed really. By revealing her feelings for me, she was finally able to relax and be completely herself around me without any more walls or hesitation.

It was just her, me, and whatever came next.

“He’s still your kid, Jackson, regardless of what school he’s starting. So, let’s put on our brave faces and go see how our little middle-schooler is fairing the eve before his big day.”

“Yeah, okay,” I grumbled.

She pulled me off the couch, and we climbed up the stairs to Noah’s room. I gently knocked on the open door, giving him a heads-up of our arrival, and found him shoving a few pencils into his backpack.

“Almost ready?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” he answered quietly.

Liv took a seat on the bed next to him. “Did I ever tell you about my first day of middle school?” she asked.

He shook his head, placing the backpack on the floor beside his feet.

“My dad was up for re-election for state senate, and there was talk of him running for the US Senator seat. My parents decided it was no longer safe for me to continue attending the public school where I’d been going.”

“You went to a private school, too?”

“I did,” she answered. “Not the same one as you but very similar.”

“Was it horrible—your first day?” he asked hesitantly.

“I thought it would be. I begged my mother to reconsider. I even told her I’d be okay with a bodyguard if she’d just let me go back to the public school. For the record, we were not cool enough to have bodyguards. I was just being melodramatic.”

“Girls are like that,” he added.

“Tell me about it.” I laughed.

I got the evil eye for that remark, but she threw a wink in my direction as well.

“When I arrived, I got snide looks, and people were shy to come up to me. I was new and mysterious, and of course, I was the Senator’s daughter. Eventually, as the day went on, people started to warm up to me, and I began to find my niche.”

“I hope I can,” he said quietly.

“You will. Just take it one day at a time. Besides, you always have Fridays to fall back on.”

Both Noah and I looked at her in confusion.

“Dress-down days! Come on, do you guys not remember all those dope clothes we got you? When you’re finally able to bust out of that uniform at the end of the week, those kids will be hanging on your every word. And you’ll be thanking me because of it!”

“Ah, yes, because that’s exactly how to make friends.” I chuckled.

“Hey, whatever works. They’re eleven.” She shrugged.

We said good night, and I took one last look at my little boy before walking toward the door. Liv and I stepped over the threshold.

“Liv?” Noah said.

“Yeah?” she answered, swiveling back around.

“Do you think…you could maybe—”

“I’ll be here in the morning. Don’t worry.” She smiled, reaching out for my hand.

“Thanks,” he answered, a touch of obvious relief coming out in his slow exhale.

I followed her as she moved toward the stairs, our hands still tightly joined together. As she took the first step, I stopped. She turned around, grinning, and met my gaze.

“Stay,” I said.