Shattered Ties(66)

After eating the food I had ordered from room service, I got dressed and walked downstairs. The doorman held the door open to let me pass. Once I was on the streets, I started wandering.

I had no destination in mind. I just wanted to explore. I walked down Carlos Place until I hit Grosvenor Square. There was some kind of park there—Grosvenor Square Gardens according to the sign—and I wandered into it. Santa Monica had nothing on the scenery here. While I loved the ocean, there was just something about the landscape here that drew me in. I was amazed at just how large the trees were that surrounded me as I walked down the stone path. It was incredible to see trees this big right in the middle of London.

I finally made it back to the street and continued to explore. I had a thing for architecture, and I couldn’t help but be amazed by the obvious age of some of the buildings here. I hoped that Emma and I would have time to explore part of London together before we had to leave.

I continued to wander through the street until I found myself back at The Connaught. I glanced down at my phone to realize that I’d be walking for hours.

I made my way back up to the room and turned on the television to wait for Emma to get back. She didn’t disappoint me. After only an hour or so, I heard her key unlocking the door.

“Hey, did you have fun?” I asked as I watched her put her key card on the dresser.

She started pulling off her shoes. “I had a blast. Dad and I went to this cute little cafe to eat, and then we spent the rest of the day going to places he likes to visit every time he comes to London. I wish you could have come with us.”

“I’m glad you had fun. And I didn’t need to go. You and your dad needed some time alone together.”

“True, but I still missed you.” She walked over to the bed and kissed me.

“I missed you, too.”

“So, what did you do all day? Please tell me that you didn’t hide out in our room, or I’m going to feel even worse.”

“I didn’t. I went out and explored. It was kind of cool actually. Thank you for bringing me along.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want anyone else with me.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m going to go shower and head to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“Me, too,” Emma said before she yawned.

I grabbed a pair of shorts and walked into the bathroom to shower. After a quick shower, I went back into the bedroom to see Emma had passed out on the bed. I smiled as I watched her roll over in her sleep. She looked so peaceful. I hated to wake her up, but she was lying across the bed, and there was no way I could go to sleep. I picked her up gently, hoping that she wouldn’t wake up.

“What are you doing?” she mumbled.

“Shh, I’m just moving you. Go back to sleep.”

“Okay.”

I laid her down and settled next to her. As soon as we were both under the covers, she curled up against me and rested her head on my chest.

“Night, Emma,” I whispered, and I kissed her hair.

“Love you, Jesse,” she mumbled in her sleep.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Jesus, she loves me. I stared down at her sleeping figure as I thought about her words, thinking that I loved her, too. I just didn’t think I’d ever be able to say it.



I’d been awake for just over an hour. Emma was still on my chest, sound asleep. She was so damn beautiful to look at that it actually hurt. How the hell did I manage to end up with this beautiful girl?

She stirred in her sleep as her eyes slowly opened.

“Morning,” I whispered into her hair.

“Morning,” she replied as she stretched. “Can we just stay like this for the rest of the day? You’re kind of comfortable.”

“Fine by me.”

She smiled as she rested her head back on my chest. Her fingers started tracing the tattoos covering my left arm. “I’ve never really taken the time to look at your tattoos. I thought it was just one big tattoo, but it’s not. It’s a bunch of smaller ones.”

“It is.”

“What do they mean?” she asked.

“A lot of different things. Most of them are reminders of things in my life that I don’t want to forget. Others are just designs that I drew and liked enough to tattoo permanently on myself.”

“Did you do them all yourself?”

“Most of them. The ones that I couldn’t reach I had my friend from the shop do. Tony is wicked talented.”

“That’s incredible.”

“You told me you loved me last night in your sleep,” I blurted out.

Her body tensed up at my words. Finally, she said, “It’s because I do. I know we’re young, and there are so many things fighting against us, but I don’t care. I know what I feel, Jesse. I love you.”

“You know when I saw you that first day of school in the parking lot?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“That wasn’t the first time we met.”

She raised her head to look at me. “I’m pretty sure it was. I think I’d remember meeting you before then.”

“It was a long time ago, but I never forgot you. You were the first person who ever told me I wasn’t good enough.”

“What on earth are you talking about? I would never say that to you.”