okay with that. “You’ve been nothing but kind. Your mother, your brothers…”
“They miss you.”
I lift my head, and the need I see in his eyes sucks the air from my lungs. Jay is here. Here for me. That realization worms its way through my body, warming every inch of me. I love this man. My God, I love this man so damn much, I have no idea how I put one foot in front of the other since I left Farmington.
“I miss them, too,” I whisper. God, walking away from them all hurt so much, but I’d do it again if it meant saving their farm.
“You don’t belong here, Alyson. Not anymore. You’re better than this; you know that.”
A garbled laugh catches in my throat. “I’m a girl who loves a party, Jay. Just ask Bradley,” I say with a jerk of my thumb as my douche ex climbs to his feet and stumbles into the other room.
“You have value and worth. I know it. You know it. You’re the strongest, smartest, most compassionate woman in the world, and if you give me a second chance, I promise not to fuck it up.”
I shake my head, needing a repeat since my brain is on hyperdrive. “What are you asking, Jay?”
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He holds one hand out, palm up. “And I’m asking you to come with me.”
I take one breath and then another. Instead of sliding my palm into his, I say, “No.”
He fumbles backward a bit, like I just sucker punched him. “Alyson. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay here and fight for you. I have to go back for the wedding but—”
“Come with me,” I say.
He nods his head in understanding. “You want to stay here, in New York, then?”
Good God, the man is dense. “I’m saying you need to come with me.”
“Where?”
“Does it matter?”
He takes a fast breath and puts his hands on my trembling body. “No, because whatever you want, I want to give to you, and wherever you are, it’s where I want to be. If you want to stay here in New York and give me a chance, then I’ll stay here with you. You are the most important person in the world to me, Alyson. I love my family, you know that, but I love you so goddamn much, nothing makes sense anymore. I’m miserable without you.” His eyes move over my face. “What I’m saying is, if you want to make a life here, I want to make one here with you. You’re the whole package, marriage material, and I’m glad that douche couldn’t see it. Otherwise, I never would have met you.”
Tears sting my eyes as I search his face and find nothing but honesty and sincerity. Is this really happening? Jay would give up the farm for me? Stay in a city he hates for me? Break a promise to his dad for me?
“Jay,” I say, my throat closing over as tears spill. I swipe at them and sniff. “Come with me.”
“Okay,” he says, and I take his hand. We walk through the living room, and all eyes turn our way. My God, this man sticks out like an apple tree springing up on a New York City sidewalk, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Silence surrounds us as I lead him upstairs and into the spare bedroom. “This is where I’ve been staying.”
He sits on the bed. “You didn’t go back to your condo?”
“No, I gave it up. You see, it was a safety net, kind of like what you said to me.” He opens his mouth to speak but this time I press my finger to his lips. “I was a spoiled little rich girl who wanted to make it on her own but didn’t know how. I can see why you judged me, Jay.” He swallows hard. “I judged you, too. We both had preconceived notions based on our upbringings, our own experiences, but I think we were really wrong about so many things.” I walk away from him and open my laptop. “Look at this.”
I place the laptop on his knees, and he zeroes in on the words. “You’re writing,” he finally says.
“Yes, I am. For the first time in my life, I’m focused.” I give a half laugh, half snort. “You see, I don’t have a trust fund to fall back on, so I really need to get my shit together.”