Page 30 of The Last Love Story (Baker Girls #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JADE

I’m happy.

Like Elizabeth Bennet at the end of Pride and Prejudice .

Incandescently happy.

I had my first PT session today, and even though there were some slightly painful moments while testing my range of motion in my fingers, it was so good to be making progress.

My PT told me I can start typing, no more than an hour or two per day to start, but it’s something. As much as I wanted to come home and start typing right away, my hand was tired from PT, and overworking it is the last thing I want to do.

But that’s okay. Justin and I recorded some more, and I’m settling into it now.

I’m getting better at slowing my pace while reading and focusing on my diction—admittedly the most challenging piece for me—while still bringing the emotion.

We rerecord stuff a lot, but it’s been an incredible learning process that gives me hope for recording the rest of this series .

And it’s something I get to do with my husband.

At Justin’s request, I’m working harder to stop drawing arbitrary lines and treat him as my husband. Yes, we’re still establishing our relationship, but he’s made it clear this is where he wants to be, and I’m the one he wants.

I wish I could say those negative thoughts about my weight didn’t creep in sometimes.

I’ve been hesitant to post much about us on social media.

Until this last week, it felt too much like lying to my readers, but that’s not the only reason.

I haven’t wanted to see the negative comments about someone who looks like Justin being with someone who looks like me.

Plus size men can marry skinny women and it’s all good. There are tons of shows with that dynamic out there. But if a plus size woman is with a hot guy or one who is thinner than her, he must be cheating or lying or desperate.

I know that’s a reflection of the people making those comments and the society they were raised in, but I was raised in that society too, so those ideals hurt when I have them thrown in my face.

Justin hasn’t been shy in posting about us—mostly in his stories. He always tags me, and if there are public comments, I avoid reading them.

And now, I don’t want anything to interfere with us building a relationship. I want this to work. I want this to last.

He says it’s the last love story I’ll ever live, and I’ve never wanted anything to be more true.

I finish tossing a salad, then grab the magic roasted garlic dressing from the refrigerator. Two heads of roasted garlic? Yes, please.

Justin pulls a tray of wings from the oven, and my mouth waters.

I grab slices of crusty bread, drizzle them with olive oil and add them and some salad to each of our plates.

Justin puts a few wings on each plate, then sets the tray down and kisses me .

“Thanks for making wings.”

He kisses me again.

“Thank you for cooking with me,” he says.

Another kiss, and this time I wrap my hand around the side of his neck and deepen it until we’re standing in the middle of the kitchen, making out, and I’m debating if I want him or food more.

But then his stomach growls and, I swear, mine answers.

We pull apart, laughing, but he gives me another quick peck.

“I fucking love this. This is the life I’ve wanted for so long. Sharing it with you is more than I dreamed of.”

“Keep talking like that and I’ll drag you to the bedroom until you scream your husband’s name.”

That is also very, very good.

It’s depressing to admit that before Justin, I’d only ever had transactional sex.

Either a previously agreed upon hookup to get off, or having sex with whomever I was with because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do. Or one of us had the desire, so we did it, even if it was more about sex and less about the connection.

Everything with Justin is about our connection. Whether it’s slow and torturous or hard and fast, it’s about us, not sex. A couple of nights it’s been gentle touching, cuddling, and kissing, and it feels just as good.

I’ve learned some important lessons—that I knew in theory, but never used in practice—about penetrative sex and orgasms not being the overall goal or destination.

What we have is true intimacy, and I’ll never settle for less again.

As we sit down on the couch, and Justin’s hand brushes mine, sparks shoot everywhere, and I hope I’ll never have to worry about that.

“Would it be okay if we watched the Metros game tonight? I love watching our shows, but the Metros are playing the Revs and that’s always an amazing matchup. ”

“Of course. I love baseball. If you want to watch more games, we absolutely can. I knew you liked the Bandits, and you said you watched games with your dad, but I didn’t know you enjoyed baseball too. Let’s add that into our rotation. Just another way to get to know you better.”

“I don’t need to watch every game, but baseball is my favorite sport, so watching more often would be fun.”

“Then we will.”

He hands me the remote, then picks up his phone and starts typing.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“I just told you I enjoy baseball too. I’m looking up the schedule, so I know when the next few games are.” He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “Relax.”

“I never want to take more than I give. Or take advantage.”

He sets his phone to the side and looks at me.

“This is a partnership. There’s no taking advantage. And you give me so much more than you realize.” He kisses my cheek. “Now stop overthinking and put on the game.”

I lean back against the couch and turn the TV on, quickly finding the game. Justin wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I revel in eating a delicious meal and watching one of my favorite teams with my favorite person.

“This apartment is gorgeous.” My eyes are wide as I look around Frannie and Mark’s spacious top-floor apartment. There’s a line of windows along the back wall looking out over the river and filling the space with light.

“Thank you. Mark was beyond frustrated when he found out this space was only used for storage—and used minimally at that. Same with the basement. His finance guy kept saying real estate is a good investment, so he offered to buy the other owner out, and jumped in to renovating the space.” She flips a hand through her wavy brown hair.

“Well, paying someone to. Now this is ours. There’s a gym and laundry area in the basement, and two apartments below us.

One that we’re hoping to rent out.” She looks at Justin playfully.

“Since he left us for something better. One of the construction workers rented the other for him and his daughter. Anyway, I’m talking your ear off. ”

“No, I love hearing about it. This is a beautiful place and such a cute town. Woods Junction is home, but Ida is beautiful.”

I look out the opposite window that frames part of the downtown silhouette.

“It is.” Frannie’s computer, sitting on the coffee table, makes a noise. She sighs. “That’ll be Kennedy.”

“Why?” Justin asks.

“Because she’s miffed that I get to meet Jade first, so she’s crashing it. Have a seat.”

Justin and I sit down on the couch as Frannie answers the video call.

“Oh my gosh! Finally!”

I laugh as Kennedy’s face appears on the computer screen in front of us.

Frannie rolls her eyes. “You couldn’t just let me have this, could you? Couldn’t let me meet her first.”

“Justin has been my best friend for like a billion years now?—”

“Ten,” Frannie corrects, but Kennedy ignores her.

“It’s my right to meet his wife first. Plus, I started reading her books first.”

I lean over and whisper to Justin. “Is this weird?”

He laughs. “No. This is par for the course with the Baker girls.”

I stifle a laugh and look back at the screen.

“Well, I really don’t need you to compete over me. Especially about who read my books first. Justin already has the spot of number one superfan, and you’ll never replace him. ”

Kennedy’s smile grows. “You’re making my little Justin so happy.”

“Isn’t he like two months older than you?” Frannie asks.

Again, Kennedy ignores her.

“Well, he makes me happy too.”

“This is adorable. I need to take a screenshot so I can have a picture of you two together.”

“How about I send you pictures?” Justin says.

“As long as they aren’t nudes, that’s fine by me.” A tallish guy with light brown curls sticks his head into the frame. “Hey, Jade. I’m Devon. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“Oh! I’ve been meaning to tell you how gorgeous you looked in your wedding dress,” Kennedy says.

“She’s very excited to meet you,” Devon adds.

Justin meets Kennedy’s eyes through the screen. “She’s happy I’m happy. Just like I’m happy the two of you are happy.” He lowers his voice. “And even happier I don’t have to hear you banging anymore.”

Frannie stifles a laugh.

“I think you mean singing ,” Devon says, mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Yeah. Don’t be so dramatic. We were just singing.” Kennedy smirks at him.

I laugh at that. “Tough code to crack.”

Justin runs his thumb over the back of my neck. “That’s what I said. Of course, I also told them how dumb they were for not doing it a lot sooner.”

“Hey, we can’t all move as fast as the Millenium Falcon,” Devon says.

I laugh at that. “Are you a Star Wars nerd too?”

Devon’s gaze flits to Justin. “Not like he is, but I like to use words he understands.”

When I glance at Justin, he’s staring back at Devon, having some sort of silent conversation with him .

Then he jumps back in. “Okay, this has been fun, but we’re going to grab coffee with Frannie, so…”

“Fine,” Kennedy says. “But you better come out and visit soon.”

Justin glances at me. “We have a reader event in Seattle in September. Maybe we could pop down after?”

I smile at them through the screen. “I would love to.”

“Perfect. Oh, and if you’re interested, I run a book club out here and I’d love to introduce them to your books.”

“That would be amazing. Thank you.”

“Of course! I’ll text you with more details.”

“Sounds good. Take care. It was good to meet you both.”

“You too. Bye.”

The call disconnects, and Frannie lets out a sigh. “Now that we’re done with those shenanigans, it’s time for coffee. And maybe some alcohol. Midday drinking is a thing, right?”

I stare hard at her for a minute. “I’m not giving you any spoilers.”

“Gah! You’re mean. This friendship is already going downhill.”

Frannie’s gaze turns to Justin, who wraps his arm tightly around my waist. “Sorry. I’m firmly on my wife’s team.”

And damn if that doesn’t make me all melty for him.

A genuine smile grows on Frannie’s face. “I guess I can forgive the lack of spoilers if you keep making him smile like that.”

“Frannie…” Justin complains.

“Nope. It’s my job as your sister-like-person to annoy you and tease you and be absolutely thrilled when you find love. Don’t pretend you weren’t happy for me.”

“Still am.”

“Love’s really working its way through the friend group,” Frannie says.

My eyes widen a little, but Justin wraps his other arm around me too, squeezing me from behind .

Frannie’s making her way across the room toward the entryway and doesn’t realize what she said, but I heard it.

Justin didn’t deny it.

But at this point, I’m not sure I could either.

I think I’m falling in love with my husband.

This is it.

After three long weeks of pain, frustration, and poor left-handed typing, my laptop is on my lap, raised up by a thick pillow so my hands are perfectly aligned with the keys.

Justin sets a glass of iced tea on the table in front of me, then sits down, leaving a little space between us so I have room to move.

“Need anything else?”

I shake my head, then take a deep breath and open the document for book nine.

I’m so ready to get this story out of my head.

With a deep breath, I reach out with my right hand and start typing.

It’s a little strange. My fingers are shaky, and I can’t type as fast as I could before, but I’m typing. No pain. No aches. No tightness. No tingling.

The first chapter pours out of me, and though my hand is tired and shaky by the time I’m finished, I fucking did it. I’ve got my world back.

Tears fill my eyes as I set my laptop aside and massage my palm like the PT and my doctor recommended.

Justin scooches closer, swiping his thumb over my cheek and wiping away a tear.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

“No. No pain. None at all. I wrote a whole chapter. ”

He lets out a relieved laugh. “That’s great.”

I turn to him, overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness.

“You don’t understand. A little over a month ago, I left the doctor’s office in tears, and I couldn’t conceive of this moment.

I was terrified I’d lose my ability to do this—or at the very least, lose some of my momentum.

Then I found out my insurance company wouldn’t cover it, and it was a gut punch to have to push off doing audio for this series—these books I really believe in.

Then you showed up. Not only did you do something completely crazy to make sure I wouldn’t have to put one of my dreams on hold, you stepped in.

You took care of me. I’m so grateful for this moment, but I’m even more grateful that you are by my side while I experience it. ”

“Jade.” His voice is thick with emotion. He shakes his head, then takes my face in his hands and kisses me soft and slow. When he pulls away, he brushes his nose against mine. “It’s an honor to be the one at your side.”

He wraps me in a hug, and I hold him tightly, needing him to know how much he means to me.

Love is born in seconds, but grows over a lifetime.

Now I know, without a doubt, it grows between us a little more each day.