Before You

Chapter 48

This kiss is different than any other that I've shared with him. It's intense. Jett keeps his hand on my jaw line as our mouths move in sync with each other. My mind is racing. Did he really just say that? Am I hearing things? This can't be happening. So many questions come to mind, making me feel slightly dizzy. Jett slowly breaks our connection and leans his forehead against mine.

"Don't say anything." He whispers between us. "I love you, Evy. I do. Every moment I spend with you, I fall more in love with you. I had to tell you. I want to be honest with you about the way I feel. I don't want you to feel pressured to say it back to me. Even if you're not quite there yet, I hope one day you will be. I want to know that when you say it, if you do, that it's real. So please, just don't say anything. Just know that I'm here, completely in love, and wanting nothing more than just to be with you every single day."

Jett reaches his hand up to my face, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He softly kisses my lips again and reaches out to take my hand in his. His face leaves mine as he looks off into the distance. I bite my bottom lip. I still haven't said anything. I didn't know Jett was already in this place and wasn't expecting the confession he gave.

"The rain has slowed down. It's almost stopped. We can make it to the car from here." He says with a smile.

The car ride back to my mother's house is very quiet. I carefully watch Jett during the drive. He glances through the window, taking in what Savannah has to offer, never saying a word. He holds a small smile on his face and he seems pleased. Maybe even relieved that his confession is no longer hidden. I don't know what to think. Jett came into my life unexpectedly. I assume most people would consider us to be an unlikely pair. Every day that we're together, I crave more and more of him. I can't imagine not being with him, but does that mean I love him? My relationship with Gage happened at super speed. I don't want to make the same mistakes. Jett's right. When, or if, I tell him that I love him, it should be because that's how I feel and not because of any other reason.

Jett parks in my mother's driveway and turns off the car. I need to speak up. I don't want him to leave and not have some sort of response from me. I turn my body towards his and take his hand in mine. I meet his eyes and try to be honest about where I stand.

"Jett, I want to be completely honest with you." I tell him. "I was in no way expecting you to say that, but I'm glad that you did. I want us both to always be honest with each other. Having said that, I don't know exactly where I am. After my last relationship, I swore that I would never rush into anything else. I'm trying to take my time and not make the same mistakes as before. I just want to do things the right way this time."

My heads drops in defeat and I stare at the center console between us. This was a problem I had with Gage. I felt obligated to say and do certain things. I promised myself I would never go back to that place again. I would put myself first and think about every action I take. I need to stick by those promises, even with Jett. Sensing my mood change, Jett puts his index finger underneath my chin and lifts it up so that our eyes meet.

"Evy, I'm not upset." He says with a smile. "I told you that I don't want you to rush things. Let's just take one day at a time."

My tension softens as I stare back at him. "I don't deserve you, Jett."

He lifts his hand to caress my cheek. "No, it's me that doesn't deserve you, Evy."

I don't want this space between us. I reach over, quickly putting my hand behind Jett's neck and pulling him in for a kiss. I feel like there's something between us that's shifting. Everything between Jett and I has been great up until this point. However, now I feel this sense of intensity with him. I want to be closer to him and I want more of him. I can't seem to get enough. I don't know where the feeling is coming from, but I don't want it to stop. I wonder if he feels the same way about me. Before breaking our embrace, Jett bites down on my lower lip, sending a bolt of electricity through my body. Jett slowly pulls away from me, focusing his attention on another loose hair strand of mine. He tucks it behind my ear and returns his eyes to mine.