Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Jaymes . . . ,” Melissa whispers. Though she’s on the other side of the country, I feel her voice. I feel her arms around me. I see the tears in her eyes. And I know how badly she wants to make this better for me. However, her silence says it all.
Nothing can make this better.
Chapter Forty-Two
CALVIN
In two days, Jamie’s arriving in Missoula with my grandma. And I’m pretty sure she’s still upset about Halloween because we haven’t talked more than a handful of times in the past few weeks. She’s been busy or tired or any number of other excuses that haven’t sat right with me.
It’s time to jump. Go big. Show her my whole fucking heart. She needs to know that the only thing I fear now is not being with her.
But first, I need a little moral support.
While Maren and Will dig into their Chinese takeout, I set my phone on the counter between them. I’ve pulled up an old article about the fire that took my family’s lives.
“What are we looking at?” Maren asks, wiping her mouth.
Taking a deep breath, I push past the tightness in my chest. Opening up has never been easy, but Maren and Will are family to me. It’s time I trust them. “I wasn’t raised by wolves. And I wasn’t abused. I was orphaned after my parents and my sister died in this fire. It’s why I became a firefighter. It’s why I’ve avoided close relationships.”
Will’s eyes narrow at the article briefly before glancing up at me. “I’m sorry, man.”
I shrug. “I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me.”
“Can I ask why you’re showing this to us now?” Maren asks.
“Because Jamie knows.”
Maren returns a sad smile, or maybe it’s a sincere one. “What are you going to do, Fitz?”
I pull the ring from my pocket and slide it onto the counter.
Maren’s eyes widen as she gasps and covers her mouth. It only takes one blink for her to cry. One blink for her to stand and throw her arms around me. “I love you, Calvin Fitzgerald. I’m thrilled for you.”
Will smirks. He’s not crying, but I imagine the expression on his face is the same as my father’s would have been if he were still alive.
Pride.
Love.
And maybe a little relief that I am, in fact, not broken.
Will shakes his head at Maren when she releases me and plops back into her chair.
“What? You are a heartless, emotionless man, William Landry.”
He bear-hugs her until she wriggles out of his hold. “I’m emotionally stable. That’s all.”
“Pfft. When are you proposing, Fitz?”
I tuck the ring back into my pocket. “On Thanksgiving, in front of my grandma. I’m not expecting Jamie to abandon her dreams of traveling. And I’m not going to stop jumping out of planes. But at some point, when she’s ready to put down real roots, I want them to be with me.”
“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Will scratches his chin.
“Shut up, Will.” Maren elbows him; he bobbles his chopsticks. “Of course she’ll say yes. But seriously, Fitz, you better have a long spiel of romantic things to say first. And don’t think getting down on one knee is too cliché. It’s timeless. In her heart, every girl wants her man to get down on one knee.”
“It’s symbolic of the rest of your life, buddy. She will break you like a horse. And you will be brought to your knees.”
I chuckle at Will. Jaymes has already brought me to my knees. She’s broken me. But she’s also put me back together. She is the best I’ve ever had—the best there ever will be. And I’m clueless about what this means.
Marriage.
Commitment.
Accountability.
Yet I’m not nervous. No second thoughts. I trust her. Wherever she leads, I will follow.
My two favorite ladies.
I grin.
Grandma putters her way toward me at the airport with Jaymes several steps behind, pulling both roller bags. “Calvin.”
I hug my grandma and kiss her cheek. “Did you have a good flight?”
“It was fine, dear.”
I release her, and Jamie smiles, zipping her white jacket. She’s painfully reserved. My hand slides along her neck until my fingers graze her tattoo.
She flinches.
I narrow my eyes for a second before bending to kiss her. When our lips touch, she stiffens. I’ve sorely underestimated how upset she was on Halloween. I’d hoped she’d be over it by now. Maybe it will make the proposal even more meaningful. It will be the ultimate apology.
“You good?” I narrow my eyes.
“Mm-hmm.” A smile has never looked so fabricated. She averts her gaze.
I bite my tongue because this isn’t the place to push her on it. So I take the suitcases and lead the way to the parking lot.
When we arrive at the house, I help my grandma out of the truck while Jamie retrieves the suitcases.
“I’ll get those, Jaymes.”
“I’ve got them.” She wheels them toward the front door.