Page 29

If I let Frank in, he will leave me no room to think, and I need that more than anything in this moment…

“No, go to the other showers. I need some time alone.”

“Baby, there is never a time when you should need to be away from me, so open the fucking door, Jessica.” I don’t say anything, and he finally quiets down. I turn to the mirror and gasp at myself.I’m glowing… my skin looks amazing, my hair shiny, my eyes clear… I look loved…

Hell, Iamloved, and I love him too! I know that but… why did I fucking chicken out in that moment? I know I love Frank… I have loved him for probably longer than he’s loved me… I know that if I told people this, they would think this reaction is stupid, but can’t help it…

I have never told anyone I love you aside from my parents and my friends. Telling a man those words feel sacred to me… and it’s handing over my heart… can I do that? I think abouteverything Frank has done for me and what I want for him… I want to spend my life with him so?—

“Jessica…baby… do you not love me?” My heart… my fucking heart! I run to the door, unlocking it, and swinging it open and he looks red-faced, with true tears and a disheveled appearance…I can’t.

“I—” The moment I open the door, he pulls me into his arms, shaking, heart racing so fast it doesn’t even should human. Not only that, but he’s burning up. “FRANK! OH MY GOD, YO?—”

“You don’t have to love me, yet. I have so much fucking love that we can share. I won’t ask you to love me, just baby please… please… don’t leave me.” He holds me so damn tight I can barely breathe, like he’s scared, and when I finallydoget out of his arms, I see his nose is bleeding and he looks spooked.

What the hell?!

I pull him into the bathroom, sit him down, and grab some tissue, but he pulls me back to him, holding me tight.

“Please, Jessica… don’t leave me… please…”

“Frank, what are you even talking about?” I try to fight out of his arms, but this man ain’t budging.

“Frank, I?—”

“I WON’T LET YOU LEAVE ME, JESSICA!” he growls and thunder booms outside, rattling the jet, causing a shit ton of turbulence and sending my heart into cardiac arrest.The fuck is that sound?! Is that my heart sounding throughout the plane?“I WON’T LET YOU LEAVE! I NEED YOU I WO?—”

“I LOVE YOU, TOO!” I shout at the top of my lungs and he blinks his hazy eyes before he turns them to me face, going red, tears spilling from his eyes as his heart rate slows and he buries his face in my shoulders, sniffling.

“Thank you baby, thank you. Fuck, thank you. You scared me. I thought I was going to die.” He trembles and I turn in his finally lax arms to hold him tight.

“You’re so dramatic,” I chuckle, kissing the top of his head. “Of freaking course I love you. You’re so lovable.”

“A-am I?”

“Yes, you’re so sweet, and innocent, and adorable, and pretty and,” he interrupts me with a chuckle.

“Jessica, you must be talking about yourself. I’m none of those things.” He sniffles and I lift his head, and smiling when I see he’s blushing.

“You’reallof those things,” I tell him. “And I love you… so much it hurts to say it out loud.”

“Why?”

I shrug, swallowing.

“B-because I’m scared of getting hurt an?—”

“I WOULD NEVER HURT YOU!”

“I KNOW!” I shout. “I know… it’s just… I can’t help it… I’ve never handed my heart to anyone or said it to a man before,” I admit. His eyes go wide and he pulls me into his arms.

“Thank you… I won’t take this for granted. I swear on my life you won’t regret loving me.” He holds me tight and I chuckle, running my hands through his silky white hair.

“Well, I’ll hold you to that,” I joke but he nods so seriously it’s adorable.

“You should, Little Baby. You should.” He sniffles and I groan at how cute he is.

“Baby, I?—”