Dancing in the Florida Sun (Completed)

40- FS Reality

Copyright © designschool 2020

All Rights Reserved

     Jacob's fingers were interlaced with Brooke's between their front row seats at Phantom of the Opera. Her feelings tonight were totally different than they had been at the matinee performance of Hamilton the day before. Then, she had been distraught at having to watch Mari hang all over Jacob even though they were "just friends." At the time, she had feared they were something more, but didn't want to make it public to protect their privacy. Now today, she knew the truth, and though she and Jacob were keeping their relationship hidden for a time, she was happy and content.

     When they announced they were dating to both Madness and Nine Days In earlier in the day, during their private boat charter around Manhattan, they had generally been met with enthusiasm for their relationship. Elise and Matt were the exceptions. Elise had found out the night before, and gave Jacob a stern talk about not hurting her friend. Brooke learned that when Jacob had come to visit her grandmother at the hospital, he had spoken with Elise and told her that he was not dating Mari, and had plans to pursue Brooke. At that time he had urged Elise to make sure Brooke didn't cancel the New York trip, and to keep his secret until they went to New York. It had been Jacob that Elise was texting the day before when they were touring around Central Park. Elise was angry with how poorly he was handling the situation with Mari, and the affect it was having on Brooke. Matt's negative reaction was for different reasons. There was jealousy involved and initially he acted hurt by her decision, but by the end of the boat trip, he apologized to Brooke and told them he wished them the best, but would keep an eye on Jacob.

     Their grandmothers were thrilled when they called them that afternoon to tell them the news. They decided to wait until the following week, when the three of them could be together, to tell Noah. She and Noah would fly to meet the band Wednesday night, so Noah would have a few days with Jacob after hearing the news. Though he wouldn't understand the dating part, they wanted him to realize and feel like Jacob would be a permanent part of his life. The poor child had gone through a hard time over the last month, not understanding why he couldn't see Jacob. The plan was for Brooke and Noah to fly out to where Jacob was every Wednesday and stay until Sunday for the last few weeks of the tour. Then Jacob would be home for most of the following two months.

     Her mind was racing throughout the play, so Brooke was thankful she had already seen it several times, or it would have been difficult for her along in her state. It was hard to imagine all the twist and turns her life had taken over the last five months. Such extremes: the pain of her mother's death, the loneliness of relocating, the hope then disappointment with Tyler, the fear when she was targeted because of her relationship with Matt, the hope and love she developed for Jacob only to think later that it was hopeless, the joy and fulfillment she found when she became a Christian, and now this...this wonderful gift and surprise.

     Afterwards, the two bands, Elise, and Brooke, were all taken back stage to meet the actors. It was strange watching the women flirt with Jacob, and seeing his reaction, knowing he had no interest in them. She tended to forget he was world famous. To her he wasn't 'Jake the pop star,' he was just Jacob, the man she was in love with. Even though they had just officially begun their relationship, she knew that she loved him. She'd seen enough of his character to know.

~~~

     "Love is patient, love is kind..." Jacob read chapter 13 of first Corinthians to Brooke as they sat in the living room of his suite that night after the play. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." He finished the chapter, then reached up and touched the necklace that he had given Brooke. "Brooke, when I gave you this, I already knew how I felt about you, and even though I thought you were dating Matt, I gave it to you with a hope that there was still a future for us. Since the very beginning of knowing you, I felt drawn to you in a way that I never have to a woman. To be honest, I never thought I would, because I hadn't been raised seeing healthy relationships. But I truly feel like God brought us together, and though my mentor warned me about dating a non Christian, I felt like God was pushing me towards you. When you became a Christian, it seemed like confirmation to me that I was not wrong to think we were meant to be together. When I saw this necklace, simple as it is, all I could think of was how much I love you, and that regardless of our current status I had to buy it for you."

     Brooke's heart began beating rapidly when she realized what he was saying and her brows furrowed in question. Did she really understand him correctly?

     Jacob smiled as if reading her mind. "Yes, I love you. I love you my beautiful Brooke, and I'm so happy I can freely say that to you. I love you, I love you, I love you." He grinned and looked as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. Without waiting, he reached into a bag that was sitting on the coffee table and brought out a small jewelry box.

     Shaking, tears began to roll down Brooke's face, but when Jacob looked at her with concern, her mouth pulled up into the sweetest smile and she shook her head. "These are happy tears." He reached up and placed a hand on her cheek while wiping her tears with his thumb. "I feel like I do this all the time around you. Are you sure you want an emotional wreck like me?"

     "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I am so in love with you and your tender heart, Brooke."

     "I...I love you too. I have for a while." She continued to smile through her tears.

     Jacob pulled her into a hug, and then leaned back. "Those are the second most wonderful words I have ever heard you say." When she looked at him with confusion, he clarified, "The first were when you became a Christian." His expression changed and he held her gaze. "I want to kiss you. May I kiss you?" She hesitated, stunned by the question but then nodded eagerly. Within seconds Jacob had placed the sweetest, most tender kiss on her lips. When they pulled back, they both looked flushed. "That's the first time I've ever asked someone if I could kiss them." He chuckled and she joined in.

     "That's the first time I've ever been asked."

     "This is the first relationship I've been in since I've become a Christian. I plan to do things differently than I ever have before." He grabbed her hands. "I hope this doesn't scare you away, but I also plan for this to be the last relationship I have." Her eyes went wide, then Jacob pushed the box, that had been forgotten, forward.

     "Open it."

     Brooke pulled out a bracelet that matched the necklace, but instead of the three silver circles, it had a rectangular silver plate. "The greatest of these is love" was engraved on it. Jacob flipped over the silver plate, and engraved on the other side was JR + BF.

     It felt like a dream. Her heart was full.

~~~

A/N: Thank you for following Brooke & Jacob's journey! The epilogue is up next! Don't forget to vote.