After Hours

Chapter 10

Jackson and I sit in bed, half dressed while sharing a bowl of ice-cream. The TV plays softly but neither of us pays any attention to it. We're only focused on each other. He listens as I tell him about my week and I am so happy to be with him again.

"My parents are leaving tomorrow night so you have me all to yourself the entire weekend," I say with a smile.

He makes a face. "I have plans, actually."

"Oh," I say, trying to hide my disappointment.

"I'm going to Coachella with a few friends. We bought the tickets almost a year ago. I'll only be gone for three days," he says.

"What will I ever do without you?" I pout.

He chuckles. "I can try to get you a ticket if you want."

I shake my head. "I don't want to intrude. Maybe I'll hang out with Sam or Jasmine."

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"I'm sure," I nod. "And when you get back, I'll be waiting right here for you."

He smiles. "Or you could be waiting in our bed."

"What?" I ask, confused.

"You never gave me an answer when I asked you to move in with me."

Oh. I had completely forgotten about it. My mind has been so wrapped up with other things that it slipped my mind. "Are you sure you're ready for that kind of commitment?"

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"The whole thing with your parents," I remind him. "I am in this for the long run and I need to know that you are too."

"Of course I am," he says, setting the bowl on the nightstand. "I'll invite my parents over for dinner sometime next week and I'll tell them we're moving in together. Once they're comfortable with you, we'll ask your parents to join as well."

I smile. "Yes, I'll move in with you."

He presses his lips to mine. "That makes me so happy. You can design a house for us and we'll have it built wherever you want."

"That sounds nice," I say softly.

He presses a soft kiss to my lips. "Look, I know you're afraid of becoming a mother, but I am almost thirty," he says, causing my stomach to church. "You can still change your mind - I won't be upset - but I want you to know I was hoping to have a baby within the next couple of years."

I nod slowly, looking down at my hands. "I think I can handle that," I reply softly.

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Before Jackson left for his flight, he gave me a key to his house. After checking out of the hotel, I take my things over to the house. Being back brings back so many memories - both good and bad. This is where it all started and also where it all ended. When I left that night, I didn't believe I'd ever see Jackson again. Everything has seemed so unreal since Noah admitted to cheating on me but I wouldn't change a thing. I am completely content with my life right now.

As I'm heading downstairs, I spot Franklin walking towards the door. When he sees me, he smiles. "It's a pleasure seeing you again, Miss Smith. Jackson has been much happier lately."

I can't help but smile. "I am happy, too. How have you been?"

"Getting older every day," he chuckles softly. "Can I help you with anything or take you somewhere?"

"Thank you but I already have everything. I'll let you know if I need anything."

"Sounds good. Marilyn is in the kitchen if you need anything," he says.

After thanking him once more, I make my way back outside to my car. Since Jasmine and Sam were both busy today, I decide to go through some things in my storage unit. When I open the medium sized door, I am slightly overwhelmed by everything. I haven't seen most of this stuff since I moved out of Sam's. Most of the things are useless since Noah and Jackson already have all the furnishings needed for a home. I begin pulling some things out, taking some things to set by the garbage bin outside. Someone will take them eventually, and if they don't, I guess they'll go in the trash. As I set the old mattress against the bin, my phone begins ringing in my pocket. "Hello," I answer.

"Hey," Jasmine says. "My friend bailed on me so I no longer have plans. Do you still want to hang out?"

I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand. "You'll have to wait a while because I'll need to go home and shower first."

"Why? Where are you?" she asks.

"Jackson asked me to move in so I'm going through the stuff in my storage unit and throwing a bunch of stuff out," I say. "But I can do it some other time. Text me the address."

"Okay," I say. "I'll see you soon."

After hanging up, I text her the address before going back into the storage unit. Towards the back are a few boxes so I pull them towards the front along with a chair so I can go through them. Upon opening the box, I find one of Jackson's shirts that he left in my apartment back when I still lived with Sam. When we broke up, I threw everything he bought me or left behind in a box and hid it in the back of my closet. A small smile plays on my lips as I continue pulling our memories out of the box. I pull out the pink Victoria's Secret bag, remembering the white gartered corset I bought. Biting my lip, I wonder if I'll still fit in it since I never got the chance to wear it.

Setting the bag aside, I reach into the box once more, retrieving the ring box. Taking out the promise ring Jackson bought me, I slip it onto my finger and smile. There are a few other things in the box but other than that it's clothing he paid for. When I hear a car pull up, I glance over to see Jasmine. She greets me with a hug then sits in one of the other chairs. "I found the lingerie you and I bought together," I chuckle.

Her eyes widen. "It's still in the bag? I thought you and Jackson were intimate before you broke up."

"We were," I admit with a shrug. "I just never found the right moment for it."

"Is that one of his shirts?" she asks.

We continue to talk and she helps me go through my things, finding the photos of me and Jackson on our date. There are some of us at the Grand Canyon and others of us in Vegas. Once the unit is empty and the boxes are in my car, we head back to the house to prepare for a night out.

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