Starting Over •JJK• ✔️

Thirty Four

The hangers clicked together as I flipped through my clothes in my closet. I'd pull shirts down and drape them over my shoulder as I continued looking, wondering why I had so many clothes that I never wore. "I forgot that I even had half of this shit." I walked out of my closet and over to JK, who was standing at the foot of my bed. "I guess that's what happens when you pack up everything you own in a day and run."

JK took the clothes off of my shoulder and set them down. He had an open suitcase sitting on the bed in front of him and was helping me pack. "You'll just have to get rid of the old stuff and get yourself some new stuff, then."

"Maybe when we get back." I disappeared into my closet again, now focusing on pant selections.

We were leaving for the tour the day after tomorrow and naturally, I waited until the last minute to start packing. Also true to form, I knew I would be overpacking. But I've never left for a two-month trip before and didn't want to forget anything. This was far different from packing your entire life to move to the other side of the world.

I heard JK start to quietly sing to himself. I peeked my head around the door and smiled, watching as he meticulously folded a t-shirt. I clicked the image off in my mind and turned back to my task, thinking about how lucky I was.

A lot of these clothes held bad memories, and those got tossed into a pile in the corner. But knowing where I am now with my job and my life, seeing them was a lot less painful. I had a whole new life now and I wasn't going to let those memories define me anymore. I had over a year's worth of new memories that canceled out the old ones with a lifetime more to make.

I joined JK at his side again and started folding. He continued to sing and I just listened, and he stopped when he leaned down to kiss my cheek. I turned to kiss him when he didn't move his face. "Thanks for helping me. I'm sure you have way more exciting things that you could be doing."

"Not really." He set a folded shirt into the suitcase and grabbed another one. "I'm excited to help you get ready for your first tour."

I brought another bag up onto the bed. "Any tips and pointers?"

"Hmm, let's see." He moved behind me and put his chin on my shoulder. "Mainly to eat right and get as much rest as possible."

I chuckled, smoothing my hands over his arms when they wrapped around my waist. "Why do I have a feeling that you'll need to be reminded of those two things?"

"Because you know me too well." JK kissed my cheek again. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and pulled me over to stand between his legs. "I'm so excited about touring with you. I get to do what I love right alongside the person I love."

"And I get to help document the whole thing." I lightly trailed my fingertips over the back of his neck. "I'll know who you are this time, too. I barely knew your name when I saw you on tour last year."

"Now I'm all yours." He pulled my face down to his and touched his forehead to mine. "I probably looked right at you a dozen times that night, not realizing that I was looking at the love of my life."

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at his words. "It's crazy how everything can change in just a year." I closed my eyes and pushed my fingers up into his hair.

It still boggled my mind that I'd only known him for a little longer than a year. It felt more like my entire life, if not multiple lifetimes. It took us a while to get here, but now he's mine, and I'm his, and I never wanted to let him go.

JK smoothed his hands over my lower back. "Are you excited about going home to the States?"

I opened my eyes and pulled back to look at him with a shrug. "That isn't my home anymore. There's nothing there that's waiting for me to rush back to."

Well, there was one thing, but I was hoping that I wouldn't have to see it. I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind.

I kissed his forehead. "This is my home now, here with you."

He widely smiled, making my heart swell the way his smile always did. It would start with his eyes, forming little creases in the corners, and his nose would scrunch up just a little. His smile could make all of my troubles vanish in an instant. And right now, looking at him as he looked at me this way, only made me fall even more in love with him.

I kissed him, bringing my hands up underneath his jaw as my lips gently moved over his. I felt his hands glide further up my back, losing myself in him and this moment.

He welcomed the kiss, keeping it sweet and soft. He smiled at me again when we separated but kept his face close to mine, our noses touching. "I would kiss you forever if you let me."

I returned the smile and rubbed my nose against his. "Consider this my official permission to kiss me forever."

Forever was a long time, yet still didn't seem anywhere near long enough.

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Short chapter, I know. But I needed a filler to help with the story's progression a little bit. A little fluff never hurt anyone. 😉 Thank you so much for reading! 💜