Page 47 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)

“I’m curious,” I correct, causing JJ to chuckle. “You’re being secretive.”

“Is it so bad I want to surprise you?”

“When you don’t tell me where you’re taking me, it could be, especially if you’re a serial killer. Maybe Eddie had a point earlier,” I muse, loving the blush crawling up his neck as he shakes his head.

“Even if I were a serial killer, you’d have nothing to worry about because you would never be a victim of mine.”

I laugh, this conversation taking an entirely different spin than I ever thought it would. “Thank you for the reassurance,” I say, smiling as I rest my head against the headrest to watch JJ drive. If he isn’t going to tell me where we’re going, I might as well take the opportunity to check him out.

His white T-shirt hugs his biceps, and it’s really not fair how effortlessly attractive he is. JJ’s dark hair, prominent cheekbones, and green eyes are a lethal combination, making it impossible not to stare at him.

I can’t explain it, but there’s something different about JJ since his family visited, and I can’t put my finger on it.

I thought he seemed really anxious the first few days, and then my brain is a little foggy from being sick, but I’ve noticed since his anxiety ceded a little, he’s more at peace?

Maybe I’m crazy, but whatever the change, I think it’s helping him deal with some of the weight he carries.

“Sweetheart, I have to focus on the road, and if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to want to watch you smile, and I’d really prefer to not crash my car.

” I bite my lower lip, trying to hide my smile, but JJ gives me a quick side glance.

“I didn’t say you had to stop smiling—I said I want to watch you smile. ”

“Don’t they mean the same thing?”

“No, it does not mean the same thing.”

Scoffing, I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure it means the same thing, JJ.”

“I would never ask you to stop smiling because it’s my favorite part of you.

I love watching you smile, but I have to focus on the road,” JJ says, but his explanation only makes my smile wider.

“ Marley .” He groans, and despite the fact he’s making no sense right now, I turn away to look out the window again.

“Your logic is flawed, but I’d also prefer if you didn’t crash the car so I’ll go with it,” I say, laughing again.

JJ pulls off into a small parking lot for beach access a few minutes later, and I spot Asher’s car next to us.

“We’re going to the beach?” I ask, turning to look at him and the intensity of his emerald gaze steals all the oxygen from my lungs. I’ll never have to doubt the way JJ feels about me because I don’t believe anyone could fake the tender expression on his face.

“Is that okay?”

“JJ, I don’t care where we are because it only matters to me I get to be with you.”

He smiles, drawing my attention to his mouth, and I can’t help myself as I lean forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

JJ’s quick to pull me back for a second kiss, his eyes scanning over my face afterward.

“I’m sorry I wouldn’t tell you where we were going, but I brought a hoodie for you in case you didn’t have a jacket.

Can you wait for me to get your door?” JJ asks, unbuckling his seatbelt after turning off the engine.

I nod, knowing even if I had brought one, I’d still choose to wear JJ’s hoodie instead.

JJ opens my door, but my jaw drops when he kneels, and I think my brain momentarily explodes.

His eyebrows knit in confusion as he looks up at me, before laughter spills from him.

“Marley, I’m not proposing. I’m just going to take your sandals off so you don’t get them all sandy,” he says, a goofy smile transforming his face.

My entire body burns from the mortification immediately following his clarification because, of course, he isn’t proposing.

“Definitely makes more sense,” I say, knowing my cheeks are bright red as he wraps his hand around my ankle, being so very careful as he undoes the buckle of my shoe before finishing the next.

“You’ll know when I’m proposing. There won’t be any question about it.”

If it were anyone else, I’d run for the hills, but I’m honestly impressed JJ’s gone this long without it being brought up considering that within hours of meeting me the first time, he was asking me to move in and marry him. So I’d consider this progress.

After leaving our shoes in the backseat and grabbing his hoodie, JJ’s quick to intertwine our fingers together as we walk toward the sound of waves rolling in. The sand is still warm from the day beneath my feet, and a figure lounging in the sand stands up as we approach, waving.

“I hope it tastes as good as it smells,” Asher says, passing by us to head in the direction we just came from.

The final pieces of JJ’s plan fall into place when we arrive at the blanket, weighed down on the corners with stones and the picnic basket in the middle.

A lump forms in my throat by the sheer thought JJ put into this, and this is . . . I don’t even have words.

“Do you like it?” he asks, and I don’t know why he would think I wouldn’t?

“I love it. Thank you,” I say, my voice wobbling as I blink back tears, squeezing his hand. “It’s perfect. What are we having?”

“Baked macaroni and cheese. I’m sorry it’s not normal picnic food, but at least it’s not breakfast? I’m trying to branch out from my comfort zone,” JJ says and I sit on the blanket as he opens the bag to pull out the containers, passing one of them to me with a fork.

I crack the lid open, and Asher was right. It does smell good. “You made this?” I ask, impressed.

“Yeah.” JJ’s cheeks flush as he pulls out two small bottles of lemonade, and he cracks the seal on one before offering it to me. “I figured one of us should be able to somewhat cook so we don’t starve.”

“Hey, the eggs I made last week were edible,” I say, pointing out the breakfast I made him, and his expression wavers. “What’s the face for?” I ask, and he scratches the back of his neck.

“I love you, but they were crunchy.”

“Crunchy? Like eggshells were in them?” I ask, gaping at JJ as he nods, taking a bite. I’m sorry, what? “JJ! Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You just looked so proud of yourself, and I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”

“Oh my god.” I groan, covering my face with my hands. I was proud of myself for not messing them up, but I can’t even cook eggs right. “But you still ate them? What if you got sick?”

“Marley, it’s fine,” he says, smiling, and I’m mortified. “If it makes you feel better, I only had a few bites before you went into the bathroom, and I hid them in the trash can. I think the shells are supposed to add extra nutrients anyway.”

“I’m so sorry,” I say, but holy shit, I think JJ might be insane. Who the hell eats eggs with eggshells in them because they don’t want to make their girlfriend— who can’t cook to save her life apparently —feel bad?

“I’m not. It meant a lot to me you even tried,” JJ says sweetly, and I hear the music start to come to life in my head already as I look at him.

It feels cliché to think, but everything about tonight is perfect, right down to the person I’m with.

I slipped into his hoodie after eating, greedily inhaling the addicting scent of citrus and detergent clinging to the fabric while JJ insisted on packing everything up to run it back to the car quickly so we could watch the sunset.

I guess he had asked Asher to help him set up and watch over everything while he picked me up so it would already be ready when we arrived.

JJ found me again at the edge of the water, my toes slowly disappearing into the sand. The breeze tousles his dark hair, lifting the short strands out of his face as the setting sun casts a soft glow on his devastating features when I look up at him.

“Do you ever think about how many times we were in the same place without ever knowing?” I ask, feeling JJ’s fingertips brush against mine, causing sparks to dance across my skin before hooking his pinky around mine.

The simple touch threatens to pour fuel on the simmering fire in me, but the burn is one I’d welcome since JJ’s already consumed every fiber of my being.

“I looked for your face in every face of every place I went during the eight hundred and ninety-two days until I saw you again. I would have known in my heart if we were in the same place at the same time,” he says, his voice smooth like crushed velvet as my heart skips a beat.

“For the longest time, I thought I was meant to only love the memory of you, and now I can’t help wondering if I’m dreaming,” JJ says, his gaze sliding to meet mine, and I think I fall in love with him all over again.

“It doesn’t feel real being here with you, but I’m so damn glad it is. ”

Just when I think he can’t get any better, JJ goes and says the most romantic thing I think I’ve ever heard. “I felt the same way the first time we met,” I say, wishing I could say more, but I can already feel the tears welling in my eyes, threatening to fall from the sheer power of his love.

“You asked if I was real,” he recalls, a soft chuckle rumbling from his chest.

There is no doubt in my mind JJ has replayed our time in his head as many times as I have from every minute detail he’s been able to pull out from seemingly nowhere at any given moment.

“And you promised me you were, just like I’m promising you I’m really here with you.”

I wonder if there’s a limit to how many times I can fall in love with JJ?

“I love you,” JJ says, squeezing my hand in return.

“I love you too, Jonathan Jacob.”

JJ tips his head back, a beautiful laugh spilling from him, and I cherish the sound of it. I grin at him, and the pure joy radiating on his face is more breathtaking than the sky above us ranging from hues of yellow, burnt orange, and purple.

“You’re my favorite person,” I say, watching as the intensity of his expression shifts into something resembling surprise while he turns to face me, his full lips parted. “I haven’t had many choices in my life, but if choosing you is the last one I get to make, I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

JJ’s throat bobs as he watches me, his hand lifting to brush my hair out of my face with a tenderness that makes me feel like I’m floating on cloud nine before cupping the back of my neck.

I reach up, holding his arm, happy to have finally said something to make him the same way he always makes me feel.

I recognize the look in his eyes, and my gaze drops to his mouth, taking my time on the way back up. “Hey, JJ?”

“What?”

“You look like you want to kiss me,” I tease, smiling cheekily at him.

“I absolutely do,” he says, leaning down while his other hand curves around my lower back, tugging me closer to him. “I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to be your favorite person.”

“It’s not luck. It’s you .”

Everything feels so right when JJ leans down as I rise up to meet him, his lips slanting over mine.