Choice of Love

Chapter 14: A Fresh Start

The evening air was crisp as I walked through the streets, my thoughts focused on the conversation I was about to have. After everything that had happened—the chaos, the confusion, the heartbreak—I was ready to move forward. I had already told Ethan it was over between us, and though that weight had lifted, I knew there was one more step I needed to take: being honest with Jason.

I reached Jason's apartment, my heart pounding as I stood in front of his door. Everything Ava had said played over in my mind—her encouragement to be true to myself, to stop letting guilt or pity cloud my decisions. She was right. I couldn't keep pretending I didn't know what I wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked. The door swung open moments later, revealing Jason. His eyes, as green and familiar as ever, lit up when he saw me. But there was a question there too, as if he was wondering what I was doing here after all the turmoil.

"Lesley," he said softly, stepping aside to let me in. "What's going on?"

I entered, feeling the warmth of his apartment wrap around me. My heart raced as I turned to face him. This was it—the moment I'd been avoiding but couldn't run from anymore.

"I needed to talk to you," I began, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside me. "About everything."

Jason's brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Okay... I'm listening."

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I continued. "It's been a mess, I know. I've been all over the place, hurting people I care about. But the truth is, I've been lying to myself for a long time. Lying about what I want. And I can't keep doing that, Jason."

Jason's eyes searched mine, a glimmer of hope flickering beneath his uncertainty. "What are you saying, Lesley?"

"I'm saying that I choose you," I said, my voice soft but sure. "I want to be with you, Jason. I've always been scared—scared of hurting Ethan, scared of ruining what we had. But the truth is, I can't imagine my life without you in it, and I'm done pretending otherwise."

Jason stared at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, the tension in his shoulders eased, and a small, hopeful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You... you mean it?"

I nodded, a rush of relief washing over me. "Yes. I mean it. I want to be with you, Jason. I'm done running."

Without another word, Jason closed the distance between us, pulling me into a tight embrace. I melted into his arms, the weight of all the confusion and heartache finally lifting. It felt like coming home.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that," he murmured against my hair, his voice thick with emotion.

I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, a smile breaking across my face. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

Jason shook his head, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Don't apologize. You're here now, and that's all that matters."

His touch was gentle, his gaze filled with a warmth that made my heart race. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, letting the silence speak for us. There were no more secrets, no more lies—just the truth of what we both wanted. And that truth felt more freeing than anything I'd experienced in a long time.

"I don't want to lose this," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I don't want to lose you."

Jason smiled, his thumb gently tracing the line of my jaw. "You won't. We'll figure this out, together."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart swell, and for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about the future.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For being patient. For waiting."

Jason's smile widened, and he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "You're worth waiting for, Lesley."

In that moment, I knew I had made the right decision. No more second-guessing, no more looking back. With Jason by my side, I finally felt ready to face whatever came next.