“No!” Jackson dropped down to one knee. “Belle, this is about you. This is about us. I love you, Belle. I’m so sorry for all of the times I treated you badly. I’m sorry for saying everything and for hurting you. I never thought I could love anyone, Belle, but when I woke up and saw that you were gone…” His voice was choked with genuine emotion. “It hurt so much.”
I swallowed hard.
“And I’ve fallen in love with you, your kindness, your goodness...” Jackson trailed off. “Your willingness to do anything for your family. I’ve never seen that before. I never even thought people like that existed.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But they do. You do, Belle. You’re too good to be real.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I said softly.
“Say you’ll be with me.” Jackson pulled a box out of his pocket and I gasped. Just as I was about to slap his hand away, he grinned. “This isn’t a ring,” he said, opening the familiar, robin’s egg blue box. Inside, a sparkling diamond bracelet was sitting on a pad of velvet. “This is a present for you. I want you to be able to look down and see how much I love you, even when we’re apart.”
The tears began to drip down my cheeks and I blushed as I tried frantically to wipe them away. My heart was beating like a drum and I had no idea what to say or do. Finally, Jackson climbed to his feet and pulled me into his arms.
“I love you, Belle,” Jackson whispered huskily into my ear. “And I want to be with you forever. Being around you has changed me.”
I stared at him. “I…. I don’t know what to say,” I said softly. My breath was coming in rapid little bursts and for a horrible moment, I thought I was going to hyperventilate.
“Say what you feel,” Jackson said slowly. He looked into my eyes and I shivered.
“I love you,” I said softly. “I love you, Jackson Rhodes.”
As our lips met, I melted against Jackson’s body and threw my arms around his neck. He pulled me close, crushing the flowers between us. But I didn’t even care – I knew that I had something better in my arms. Somehow, my love had changed Jackson…and somehow, that made things even better than they would have been if he’d always been kind and willing to love.
“I love you so much,” Jackson said quietly. “Thank you for showing me how, Belle.”
I blushed softly as he kissed my cheek. “My pleasure,” I whispered huskily. “I love you, too.”
Jackson smirked his trademark smirk. “Come on,” he said playfully, linking his arm through mine. “Let’s go get warm.”
I raised my eyebrows and blushed. “I’m still sore from last night,” I whispered softly.
Jackson grinned and I blushed even harder. “Trust me,” he said, winking. “I’ll make you all better as soon as we’re alone.”
As we left the Alfred train station together, I knew that I’d finally found what I’d always wanted.
BOOK 5 : TEACH ME, PROFESSOR
Freshmen and upperclassmen alike scurried along the tree-lined street that ran through the campus separating the on-campus dorms from the campus buildings where classes were held. Girls wore skirts and dresses; guys wore shorts and short-sleeves as everyone attempted to enjoy the last warm days of a summer past before the cool temperature drop of autumn set in. Although we no longer lived in the on-campus dorms, we had a lot of friends who did and on a small campus like Greenville University, one was more likely to run into a familiar face than not. Today was a hot beautiful day for the first day of classes and it set the tone for a great semester. Since my best friend, Gemma, and I were now sharing an off-campus apartment together, we had decided to walk to campus together although we would be parting ways soon to go to separate classes in different buildings. Gemma and I were both enrolled in the Education Program which came with its own required core classes in addition to the ones that the university mandated and the classes for our chosen majors. I was an Art major and Gemma was an English major. Art had always been my favorite class in school and ever since I was a little girl, I had always wanted to be a teacher.
A cool breeze gently caressed my face and bare legs. I wore a yellow floral off the shoulder dress that was fitted over my small breasts and flat stomach then fanned out over my round hips and bubble butt. It came down just above my knees, showing off my summer tan and toned calves. I wore a pair of pink sandals with bows on them that matched the flowers on my dress, the headband in my hair and my nail polish. My long blonde curls blew softly in the wind. It felt good to be on campus, and I was all smiles even though I had been here all summer finishing up my general core classes. When we reached the building where Gemma's class was, we stopped walking.