Page 58 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

JJ

“HEY,” brIA SAYS, smiling at me as I walk up the stairs as she holds the door for me on her way out. “Marley’s in her room.”

“You off to see your boyfriend?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn’t drop.

“Asher isn’t my boyfriend.”

I laugh, shaking my head at her. “Yeah, whatever you want to tell yourself.”

“He’s not.”

“I believe you,” I say, giving her a quick hug. “Did you have a good break?”

“I did, despite you stealing my best friend and forcing me to suffer through a hundred questions at Thanksgiving dinner about your roommate by myself,” Bria says as we trade places with me entering the apartment.

“Sorry.”

She scoffs, shaking her head. “You could at least pretend to look sorry. Tell Mar I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

“Have fun with your boyfriend,” I tease as Bria starts down the stairs.

“Not my boyfriend!” she calls out over her shoulder, throwing her middle finger in the air.

I lock the door behind me, chuckling to myself as I slip out of my shoes.

Charlie told me earlier how Asher wouldn’t shut up about Bria the entire time and made multiple declarations to his entire family about how he was going to marry her.

They are the very definition of opposites attract because I honestly think Ash would propose today if he thought she’d say yes, and she won’t even admit he’s her boyfriend.

It feels good to be back here, some of the weight lifted from my shoulders after the conversation with Hunter and my parents.

It’s easier to breathe, and it helped give me the courage to share for the first time at a meeting this morning.

I’m three weeks clean, and I successfully made it through a trip home without searching for pills.

Marley and Bria’s flight got in before mine yesterday, and Marley was asleep by the time I got back to my house, but I’m eager to be in the same room as her again. She makes everything easier.

I’m about to knock on her door to let her know I’m here, when I freeze at the sound of a guitar and Marley’s melodic voice as she sings on the other side.

Carefully opening the door, I hover in the doorway, selfishly wanting to listen for a moment. She looks beautiful wearing one of my sweatshirts, her caramel hair pulled back in a clip as pieces hang in her face while she looks down at the songbook in front of her.

“Without a doubt, you’re the only choice. The one I’ve dreamed of, the only thing I need,” she sings softly, and not to be narcissistic, but I hope it’s about me. “Everything fades awa—” Marley stops, her eyes widening when she sees me. “JJ?”

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say, stepping in the room, and she pushes the guitar to the side to jump up, throwing her arms around me.

“I missed you,” Marley says, and just like in her lyrics, everything does fade away.

How did I get so fucking lucky?

I fold my arms around her too, enjoying the blissful feeling of holding Marley. “I missed you too,” I say, and with her arms still hooked behind my back, Marley pulls me to her bed.

“Not as much as I missed you. Can I play you something?” she asks, her blue eyes sparkling as she sits down on the bed, reaching for her guitar.

“You want to play for me?” I ask, my heart stuttering in my chest.

“It’d be better than hovering in the doorway like a creeper,” Marley teases. “Unless you don’t want to?”

“No, I do,” I blurt out, not needing to be asked twice. I sit, facing her as she takes a deep breath, strumming the guitar.

“A shooting star, a rare glimpse in the night,” she starts, her voice shaking as she peeks up at me.

I’m not even sure if I’m breathing. “Gone in the blink of an eye, too fast, too soon. It felt like a dream, but one worth chasing. You’re my once in a lifetime.

I looked to the sky, wishing for a sign.

You’re everything I wanted, but everything I thought I’d never have. ”

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I don’t wipe them away, afraid that if I move, Marley will stop singing.

“ I lost my way, but I never stopped searching. For the light in the dark, wishing you’d appear.

Without a doubt, you’re the only choice.

The one I’ve dreamed of, the only thing I need.

You’re my once in a lifetime. A shooting star I was lucky to see, burning bright in the night, on your way back to me. ”

Marley continues strumming, but she stops when her gaze meets mine. “Amore mio, what’s wrong?” she asks, setting her guitar down.

“Absolutely nothing,” I say, my voice choked up as I feel the tears fall, overwhelmed by how much love I feel for Marley. She moves closer to me, swiping my tears away as I stare at her, unable to find the right words.

“Are you sure?”

I nod the best I can with her hands cupping my face, trying to swallow the lump in my throat so I can speak. “I love you.”

“It’s not quite done, but I wanted to play it for you.”

“It was perfect,” I say, meaning every word. “Thank you.”

Marley is glowing, and it feels like the easiest decision I’ll ever make to lean forward and kiss her. I could kiss her forever and never grow tired of it. She moves away a moment later to recline on her pillows, pulling me with her as my mind races.

“No matter what happens, JJ . . . I’ll always find my way back to you. You’re my once in a lifetime,” she whispers, gazing up at me, and I know in my soul there is no ending to our story where we aren’t together.

Marley completes me in a way nothing else ever has or ever will.

There is no me without Marley.

This time when I kiss her, there’s an urgency to it. She hooks her leg around mine, pulling me directly on top of her, pressing our bodies together with too many layers of clothing between them. I can taste my tears on her lips as our mouths move in tandem.

I pull away, my entire body trembling with need, my heart cracked wide open for Marley, scars and all.

“JJ, what is it?”

My hand is shaking as I brush her hair out of her face, collecting my thoughts into words.

“You don’t have to say yes simply because I’m ready, but I don’t want to wait anymore.”