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Jesse stops midway through a bite of food, putting down his burger right away to reach out and take my hand.
"Piper," he says, his voice serious. "Are you being for real right now?"
I swallow hard. "Yeah. I mean...it would be fair."
Jesse shakes his head, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand. "It's not about being fair, Piper. It's about being happy. And I am happiest when I'm with you, whether we're on the road or sitting in a diner in some small town. You're not holding me back, you're bringing me forward."
I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I squeeze his hand in response. "I love you, Jesse."
"I love you too, darlin'," he says, leaning across the table to press a soft kiss to my lips.
We finish our meal in comfortable silence, savoring each bite and enjoying each other's company. As we pay our bill and head back to the car, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. Maybe life isn't so complicated after all. Maybe it's just about finding the person who makes everything feel like it's falling into place.
As I peruse the aisles of the art store, Jesse follows behind me, occasionally picking up items and asking questions about them. It's clear that he's not as into art as I am, but he's more than happy to be here with me, supporting me.
At the back of the store, I find a rack of canvases and begin to flip through them, searching for the perfect size and shape for my next project. Jesse comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
"How about this one?" he says, pointing to a large, rectangular canvas that would be perfect for a landscape painting.
I grin and turn to face him. "You have a good eye, Jesse. That's perfect."
We make our way back to the car, arms full of art supplies, and I can't help but feel grateful for this man beside me who supports my passions and encourages me to pursue them.
As we drive back towards Fern Hollow, my tension grows. I was so relaxed at that shop and in the diner...but now, it's time to confront Sadie.
That scares me.
Because the last time I saw Sadie, she was telling me never to come back to Fern Hollow...to leave Caleb alone for good. I thought my heart was broken, the only family I'd ever had telling me to fuck off--and I deserved it.
How do I tell Jesse that I'm scared?
How do I tell him what a bad person I am?
Jesse notices the change in my demeanor, and his hand finds mine on the gear shift. His thumb rubs over the back of my hand, a comforting gesture that warms my heart.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" he asks, his voice soft and gentle.
I swallow hard, trying to push down the knot of fear in my stomach. "I...I don't know how to tell you this, Jesse. I'm scared to see Sadie. The last time I saw her, she told me never to come back to Fern Hollow. I'm afraid of what she'll say to me."
Jesse doesn't respond right away, his gaze focused on the winding road ahead of us. When he finally speaks, his voice is calm and steady.
"Piper, you're not a bad person. What happened with Caleb, it doesn't define who you are. You're kind, and loving, and...you're my whole world. You and that baby inside you. We're going to be a family."
I gaze at him, wishing I could hold him.
"Pull over," I whisper.
He frowns. "What?"
"Pull over."
Jesse looks worried as he slows the car down and pulls off at a scenic stop, the woods stretching out in every direction around us. A car whooshes by on the highway, but I don't care.
I unbuckle my seatbelt and somehow maneuver my pregnant body over the center console, straddling Jesse. He looks at me in surprise for a split second before we're kissing, my hands tangling in his hair and his arms wrapping tightly around my waist. Our tongues dance together, a fiery passion building between us.
"I need you," I murmur against his lips, my hips grinding against his. "Right now."
Jesse doesn't hesitate, his hands sliding up my shirt to cup my breasts as he leans back against the car seat. I climb onto his lap, my hands fumbling with his belt to try and free his length from his jeans.
