CHAPTER ONE
Jackson
I fell back onto my bed with a wide grin on my face. I let out a deep, soothing sigh, feeling a wave of contentment and excitement wash down over my body. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been as happy as I’d been in the last twenty-four hours with Chloe. I drew in a deep inhale of breath, taking in her sweet scent that still lingered on my clothes, instantly fueling my desire to have her back in my arms again.
“Just a few more hours,” I said as I closed my eyes and imagined her lying next to me on the bed. When I’d walked her to her front door, I hadn’t wanted to say goodbye. I hadn’t wanted to walk away from her. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her these past nine years until I’d finally given in to my feelings yesterday.
Since I was a teenager, I’d dated my fair share of girls, but none of the relationships ever turned into anything serious—I was never able to commit to a girl. I’d always blamed these failed relationships on external factors—we hadn’t been compatible, the timing had been wrong for us, or I had been too busy on my career to be able to make the commitment.
But after just one night with Chloe, I’d realized I was wrong. All my failed relationships hadn’t been caused by any external factor. Instead, it’d been an internal one: I’d already given my heart to Chloe years ago and it’d been by her side all along.
As I replayed my memories of yesterday and today in my head, I still couldn’t believe the moment I’d been waiting for since as early as I could remember was finally happening—the moment when I didn’t have to pretend I only wanted to be Chloe’s best friend, the moment I didn’t have to hide my feelings from her or everyone else, the moment we could finally be together.
I reminded myself that I needed to be patient and take things slow. To me, the idea of Chloe being my girlfriend had been a long time coming in my mind. Because of my stubborn pride, we’d lost more than nine years together, and a part of me—the crazy, irrational part—wanted to immediately make up for all the lost time. I wanted to rush to her side and propose to her right now. I wanted us to start our lives together, to begin our happily-ever-after together.
But in reality, this was new territory, and I didn’t want to rush Chloe or our relationship. Plus, now that I knew what actually had happened with Chloe in college and the part I’d played in it all, I realized that I didn’t deserve the forgiveness and acceptance that she’d offered me so easily. I realized that I didn’t deserve her.
For all the times I’d selfishly pushed her away, took her for granted, and misjudged her actions, I knew I needed to make it up to her. I knew I needed to earn her trust and love back.
With a sudden sense of urgency, I leaped out of my bed and strode over to my desk and switched on my laptop. I pulled out my smartphone and pulled up a number.
“Hey, Jackson. What’s up? I didn’t see you in the office today.” I could hear the click-clacking of Nick’s keyboard as he answered the phone.
“Hey, Nick. I’m actually still in Philly.”
“Oh, I thought you were back yesterday?”
“Yeah, that was the original plan, but something came up and I’ll be staying in Philly for at least a few more days. So I’ll be working remotely.”
“Really? Is anything wrong?”
“No, not at all. Quite the opposite.” I laughed at how different and unexpected this past weekend had been. Just last week, I’d thought about canceling on my trip back to Philly. I hadn’t wanted to go to Clara and Sam’s wedding because Chloe had been the last person I wanted to see.
“Anyway,” I continued, “I was calling to ask you for the name of that new restaurant in Philly you were telling me about a few weeks ago. It was the one you took your wife to when you guys were here visiting your in-laws—the nice, intimate one that you said your wife loved?”
“Oh?” I heard the click-clacking of his keyboard stop abruptly as Nick snickered. “Is this about a girl? Did you actually meet someone at the wedding? Is this why you’re not back in New York yet? You know I was just teasing you last week about being a bachelor forever, right? I wasn’t serious when I dared you to meet someone you can be serious with at the wedding.”
I laughed. “Yes, it is about a girl, but no, this has nothing to do with your dare. I’ve had my eyes on this girl for over twenty years.”
“What? No way.” Nick chuckled, thinking I was playing with him.
“I’m serious.” I smiled to myself at how incredible it was that Chloe and I finally found each other again.