Falling Again

Chapter 33

I slipped on the silky blue dress, letting it drop to the floor as it pooled around around my feet. The necklace Jacob gifted me with sat around my neck and I lightly pressed the tip of my fingers to it, smiling into the mirror. My makeup was done and my hair was loosely curled around my shoulders.

"You look fucking stunning." I hear, and I turn to see Jacob leaning on the doorframe, his gaze dragging up and down my body. I smiled, my nose wrinkling.

"You think?"

Jacob nodded absently, stepping forward and taking a hold of my wrist, lifting it and making me twirl under his arm. I giggled, letting him pull me in for a hug. He kissed my forehead.

Stepping back, I finally let myself take in his attire. He was wearing a crisp, white button-down that was tucked into black slacks. Biting my lip, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pull him down for a quick kiss. Jacob cupped the back of my head, bending over me slightly. Humming into his mouth, I reluctantly pull away from him. "Mmm. We should keep the romance for our date, don't you think?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

"It's your fault for looking so good. You're irresistable." His eyes darkened, scanning all over my face.

"Don't I always look good?"

"Of course you do, but this fucking dress..." He stepped back, running the back of his fingers over my stomach and then up to the space between my breasts. My breath shook as his thumb ran over my collarbone, making my eyes flutter to a close.

"Fucking hell, Jacob." I whispered, leaning into him. "We really need to stop and go. I've got a reservation." My breath is shaky and I chew on my bottom lip.

Jacob chuckled, lifting his other hand and cupping the back of my neck. "A reservation?" He murmured, his lips hovering over mine. My eyes fluttered to a close and my chin tilted up.

"Yeah." I whispered.

"Okay, then." He laughed, taking a step back. I suddenly felt cold from the lack of closeness from my boyfriend. "Wait here for a second." He winked before lifting my chin with his index finger and turning, leaving my room.

I only stood there for a minute before Jacob was walking back in, a hand behind his back. There was a shit-eating grin on his face and I cocked my head to the side in curiosity. Then, he laughed and his arm jerked, revealing a bunch of red roses wrapped in white paper.

I gasped, a smile quickly inching into my face. "Are they for me?" I asked, reaching out for them. Jacob nodded, holding them out. I quickly took them out, burying my nose into them and smelling the beautiful smell.

Just when I thought I couldn't love him more, he goes adn buys me flowers before a date. He didn't even have to, and I know it's the bare minimum, but fuck. I love it. I love him.

"God, Jacob." I squealed, grinning as I hugged the flowers to my chest. "I fucking love you."

Jacob released a heavy breath, a small smile on his face as his shiny eyes stared at me. "I fucking love you, too." He admitted, his voice small. "More than I can ever put into words, but I promise to try."

"You promise?" I asked, taking a step towards him. Jacob reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I promise."

By the time we made it to the restaurant, it was dark and the both of us were in a fit of giggles after Jacob took a couple wrong turns to get here. I guess that came with the territory of being out of town for the past two years and being off his head during that time.

"At least we made it here in one piece." He laughed, his hand on my lower back as a staff member led us to our table. Jacob pulled out my chair, and I smiled at him before taking a seat.

His fingers ran over my shoulder blades as he walked past, and a part of me was fucking ecstatic. This was a good day and I prayed that it was going to be followed by many other good days.

I'm not sure either of us had anymore willpower to go through more bumps in the road. Everything is going well. Jacob is on track to getting a job. My parents' business is thriving. Our relationship is going from one high to another.

But... Jacob. Just looking at him pulls at my fucking heart strings. All I ever feel is guilt. I see the blemishes and the spots and the redness in his eyes and I know that it's all my fault. It's my fault I couldn't love him when he needed me to. His brother died and I... I was an idiot.

I only hope I can make it up to him.

***

Groaning, I patted my stomach and leaned back in my chair. "I'm so full." My eyes squeezed shut as I desperately tried to make some space for dessert. Despite all that, I knew I would end up being sick if I had another morsel.

"Ready to go?" Jacob asked, running his thumb over the back of my knuckles of my spare hand. I smiled at him, struggling to even speak. Instead, I stuck to just nodding my head. "I had fun." He tells me, tilting his head to the side.

"Me, too." I grinned. "I can't believe we get a whole lifetime of this."

"Trust me, I plan on taking you wherever you wanna go." He winked, pulling me to my feet. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, my eyes fluttering to a close. Jacob's arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against him as our lips moved along with each other softly.

I laughed into his mouth, a smile on my face. Jacob moved back, raising an eyebrow at me. "Something funny?" He asked, and I wrinkled my nose before shaking my head.

"Nope. It's just your stubble." I reached out and lightly ran my fingers over and under his chin, feeling the prickly feeling of his hair under my skin. "It itches."

Jacob smiled down at me, tilting his head to the side. "Want me to shave?" He asked as the two of us stood in the middle of a busy restaurant, wrapped in each other's arms. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I shook my head. "Do whatever makes you happy." I answered.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then." He shrugged, before sweeping down and capturing my lips with his own. "This makes me happy. You make me happy."

Yeah. This was a damn blissful life to be living.