Page 100 of Losers, Part II
But she stood there, staring at the sunflowers with tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, Vincent...” She sniffed, covering the soft sound behind her hand. “You remembered everything. That dress...” Her fingers hovered over the petals. “My mom hated that dress. I was so self-conscious, but I didn’t want anyone to know.” More tears overflowed, and I wanted to hug her tight to make them stop. But her lips quivered into a smile. “This is so beautiful, Vince. It’s amazing, it’s...” She turned to me, her eyes shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the shattered window. “When did you start working on this?”
“When I saw you at the carwash,” I said. “It felt like it meant something. I know that sounds weird.” Even the guys teased me for it, albeit gently. “But I knew that we’d get another chance. It inspired me. You inspire me.”
I took her face in my hands, wiping her tears away. “Please don’t cry, baby. I just want you to be happy. I want to keep you safe, take care of you. I know that’s a lot to take in. But trust me. I’m not leaving you. Not again.”
More tears fell, and I kissed them away. But she was still smiling as she said, “It’s unbelievable. The colors, all the details...this must have so much time.” She laid her hand against my chest, her fingers tightening in my shirt. “You’ve always been so good to me, even when I was awful to you.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I said, waving my hand as if to brush the thought away. “I’m okay, Jess. I feel like you tolerated me pretty well.” I winked, but she still looked uncertain.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “For all of it. All the shit I said back then.” The regret was obvious in her eyes, and I nudged her chin with my knuckle.
“You’re forgiven, baby,” I said. “You know that. I’m sorry for throwing dirt at you.”
She laughed, and I swear the whole room got brighter. I scooped my arm around her, lifting her up so I could kiss her. I carried her to the window and leaned against the sill, bathing us in the early evening sunlight. I set her back on her feet and she leaned into me, resting against my chest as I stroked my fingers through her hair.
“Do you want to know something else?” I said. The rustle of trees and chirping of birds carried in through the window, the breeze cool. Jess nodded, her arms around my torso, her nails lightly grazing my back. “I love you, Jess.”
She abruptly lifted her head, staring at me. Her lips parted in a silent gasp. “You...you do?”
“I do.” I framed her face in my hands, smiling at the look of utter bewilderment on her face. “I love your mind; how clever you are. I love that you’re passionate. And you’re strong. You’ve changed your own deeply held convictions, and that’s not easy to do. You’re loyal. Tenacious. A force to be reckoned with. You surprise me every day.”
Her eyes were still shimmering, but only a tiny quiver was in her voice as she said, “I love you too, Vincent.”
My cheeks actually hurt from how wide I was smiling. I couldn’t seem to stop, not even as I kissed her. I pressed her against the wall, and tucked back her hair so I could see her beautiful face.
“I love you. I love your lips...” I kissed them tenderly. Her cheeks were rosy, and I kissed them next, first one and then the other. “And I love your smile...”
“Vince, you’re making me blush!” she said, but then she dissolved into giggles as I kissed her throat.
“I love every inch of you,” I said, growling it against her skin. “Inside and out, baby. I could spend years telling you all the ways I love you, all the little things you do that drive me fucking wild. So I think I will. I think I’d like to spend a very long time showing you how much I adore you.”
32 - Jessica
We stayed in that housefor hours; painting, laughing, drinking. Every now and then Vincent would sweep me up into his arms again, just to hold me close and whisper his love. I had paint smudges all over my face and clothes. My head was swimming from the beer, my chest was warm. But I felt as light as a feather, as if I could float, as if I could sing.