Chapter 34
"I'm so sorry, Lea."
Jack lowered his gaze, staring at the ground for a moment before continuing.
"I thought none of this would ever reach you. I thought I could keep my precious moments with you separate from everything else."
His voice was quiet.
"My parents weren't even supposed to be here this summer. They were only meant to return after I graduated. The whole point of this trip was to show you a little more about me, my sister, Kyle, the neighborhood where I grew up."
I listened silently.
The more he talked, the more I felt bad for him.
Honestly, he was living the life of a male lead from one of those dramas I used to watch.
Back then, it looked exciting.
Now that I was standing in the middle of it, I realized real-life drama wasn't nearly as fun.
But what could I do?
I was just me.
A girl from a small town.
What place did I have in a future this big?
His world felt enormous.
Important people.
Powerful families.
Business deals.
Expectations.
And me?
I didn't know where I fit into any of it.
My thoughts were spiralling when Jack suddenly called my name.
"Lea."
I looked up.
"Do you understand now why they're pushing Faye to be my fiancée?"
He paused.
"She told me she explained it to you."
Did she?
Honestly, I had been so shocked at the time that I barely remembered anything she said.
Jack sighed softly.
"I wish I could tell you exactly what happens next, but I can't."
Then he stood.
I stood as well.
Slowly, he reached for my hands and held them gently between his own.
The evening breeze moved through the trees around us.
My heart was already beating too fast.
Then he lifted one of my hands.
Before I could react, he pressed my palm against his cheek.
My entire face instantly turned red.
How does he always do this?
He looked at me with eyes so sincere that I couldn't even look away.
"One thing I do know for sure," he said softly.
"You've invaded every corner of my thoughts and my heart, Lea."
His thumb brushed lightly against my fingers.
"And I truly adore you."
The way he looked at me...
The way he always found words I never knew I needed to hear...
It made my heart melt every single time.
And that was exactly the problem.
Because I loved him too.
So much that it hurt.
The tears came before I could stop them.
Everything was overwhelming.
His family.
His future.
Faye.
The expectations placed on him.
The fear that I would become the reason he lost everything.
I didn't want that.
I didn't want to be the obstacle standing in front of his future.
My chest hurt so much that I thought it might burst.
The moment Jack saw me crying, his expression changed completely.
Concern filled his eyes.
Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms.
"Lea..."
His voice was gentle.
"I'm sorry."
He held me tighter.
"I'm so sorry."
He rested his chin on top of my head while softly stroking my hair.
"Please don't cry."
His heartbeat echoed steadily against my ear.
For some reason, that only made me cry harder.
Because despite everything...
Despite all the confusion...
Despite all the hurt...
Being in his arms still felt like the safest place in the world.
And that scared me more than anything.