Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 42: I Love You

The pair had gotten themselves breakfast, including that very important cup of coffee to kickstart both of their mornings. It was then they found themselves sitting at the small table in the motorcoach, eyes focused on each other with a mix of thoughts.

It was only the second person she had told about her childhood. No other person had heard the story of fear behind three simple words other than her non ex-husband. She was not the vulnerable type, and had never bothered to share much of anything, ever. That changed with Jay, as he found a way to peel back a couple layers to the onion. However, it was Alex that seemingly been able to cut it up and force her to keep showing each of her cards no matter how hard she tried to hide them. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking, perhaps wondering whether this mess that sat before him was worth it for the great text messages and sex. 

Alex was not thinking that, though, but instead replaying the words over in his mind. How could someone go through something like that? It made sense now why she was so motivated to catch some of these perps, and why leaving her post at Intelligence was so difficult. It also brought forth a special admiration in seeing how strong she was despite everything that she seemingly faced in her past. It just added to the reasons as to why he loved her so much, and wanted to continue to be there for her. It made those simple text messages after rough days at work mean that much more.

"I want you to know that I will never hurt you, ever," he assures her. "I love you too much to do that to you." He then takes her hands with his, rubbing the backs with the tips of his fingers. "I can't begin to wonder what it was like for you growing up in a house with that. I don't even want to imagine the pain that you went through as a child. I am just glad that you were able to get past that, and now understand what love can be. I am glad that you chose to open up your heart despite your fears. I am glad that you chose to let me in. I won't ever take that granted, Hailey." 

"I believe you," she replies, and truly did. She had hundreds of messages in her phone that backed that up. She had hours of phone conversation that backed up. This moment here alone backed it up with how tender he was being with her. She was not afraid of him taking it for granted, or hurting her. "I just ask that you be patient with me on some things. That's why certain things are harder for me because my mind can't help but wonder..." She then takes a deep breath, not believing she was about to admit this before him. "It's why part of me is scared to truly say goodbye to Chicago, and Intelligence. I want to be with you all the time. I want to move to Charlotte, and be able to kiss Finn every morning. The extra hours that we spent together last week were beyond amazing. But there's a fear that if I leave that family behind, I have no one to turn to or turn back to if this goes wrong. I will lose the ones that were there for me first." 

"I don't think you'll ever lose them, Hailey. I have a feeling they'd make sure to stay in contact, and keep up with you to make sure you were okay. The friendships that you have, and the bonds you describe go beyond just working together. I could see you and Kim finding ways to gossip together." She couldn't help but chuckle a bit, as she began to wonder just how those moments would go. "They'd also be welcome to stay over at my place if they needed to. Jay and Erin already have with you, and Will for that matter. I don't mind having friends over. But I also understand what you are saying. If it takes a couple months, even more than that, I am okay being patient for that." 

"Seriously? There's not many guys that would do that..." Alex looks down at their hands intertwined together, taking a deep breath before he looks back into her eyes. He needed to ensure he drilled this point home and it stuck with her. 

"That's how much I love you, Hailey. That's how much I want to be with you, and be there for you. As long as I get the text messages, phone calls, and assurances that you are okay, that's all that matters. It will make the times we get to spend together even more special. I will take the time that's necessary for you. When the time is right, we can move forward to the next step.." Hailey could not help but smile back in return, as it was a relief to hear those words and assurances. 

"I think I could seriously kick your ex's ass for giving up someone as sweet as you." He chuckles a bit, as he thinks back to those months they were together. There were laughs, there were some great nights, but nothing that compared to the simple, deep profound feelings he had in this moment focused on the blond before him.

"I am glad that she did. I would not had been alone that night. I would not had been looking for a place to grab a drink by myself. I would not had ran into you at Molly's." A smirk with the cheeks going a little bit red is what he gets from Hailey in return to his comment. "I knew there was something special that day you walked into 34 Raceway, by the way. You caught my eyes, but I was the good boy because I knew you and Jay were still together. The fact you broke up 24 hours later is still crazy to me. But no regrets on my end. Jay and Erin seem happy together, and I am pretty happy to call you my own."