Chapter sixty-nine: I Love You

Chapter sixty-nine: I Love You

Jessica

"H…hi." I said

He closed his lips and I felt as if my hunch had been right and he didn't want to talk to me. It is completely understandable.

"Listen….I am sorry I didn't contact you." I said, quietly.

Here I go, rambling because I wasn't ready to see him.

"I was just upset with myself and I needed to think about things and…."

"I love you!"

I stopped, my eyes instantly snapped up to meet his eyes. Was I hearing things? Words couldn't even leave my lips but I watched the same words tumble from his lips again.

"I love you, Jessica. I love you so fucking much." A small smile appeared on his face.

"I am truly, madly and deeply in love with you. I was an idiot for letting you go."

"Jeffrey, I….I.."

"When you left me, I was so mad at myself for not saying it sooner. It was just so hard because I was afraid if I said it and you wouldn't feel the same way. I hesitated so many times to say it, I was such an idiot and never could."

"You love? That was what you have been trying to tell me all this time?" He nodded and I shook my head in disbelief.

"So, it was never about Gladys visiting you or you going back to Paris you had wanted to tell me. You wanted to tell me that you loved me the whole time?"

"Yes and that is why I came back." My lips parted in awe.

"I tried to move on and focus on my business and prayed every single day that I would be able to see again. But I couldn't live with myself knowing I never told you how I felt."

I looked down at my feet, tears starting to form and mixed with the rain dripping down my face. He noticed me crying and held my face up with his cold hand.

"Why are you crying, my Princess?" I smiled.

"Because I missed you so much."

He smiled back and pulled me into a tight embrace and even with the cold rain hitting our bodies, I could still feel the warmth of his body. We pulled away shortly.

"How long are you going to stay in the country?" He shrugged with a grin.

"I am sure you have moved on better than I have, so I am going to stay as long as it takes to win you back. And then will never let you go again." I giggled and shook my head.

"That won't take long." His eyes lightened.

"Seriously?" I nodded with a foolish grin.

"Of course, you idiot." His smile widened from ear to ear.

"Because I love you too."

He hastily connected our lips together, our tongue molding like never before with so much passion.

Kissing with the man I love under the rain is the best thing ever. He came back just for me, I felt like I was floating on cloud nine.


***************

"I don't know how much fun I would have at a college student's party, Jessica." He cringed.

I have invited him to my birthday party tonight and he is feeling awkward about it.

"Are you sure that you want me to come?"

"Of course I do." I tugged on his jacket and pulled him closer to me.

"You just got back and I want to spend time with you." He sighed, looking off into the distance as if contemplating the entire situation.

"I haven't been to a college party in over a decade, baby girl. Why don't the two of us just go out to dinner first and you can party with your friends after?" I rolled my eyes.

"No, I want you to celebrate with me. I want to have fun tonight and let loose."

"Princess, you know how you get when you let loose." He raised his eyebrows.

"Which is exactly why you should be there. You can stop me from getting too wild." He smirked.

"But sometimes I like your wild side." He grabbed my hips in his hand and pulled them towards his.

"Then, come tonight." I pleaded.

"There will be dancing, drinking and some other stuff but I have no idea, it was Janice planning everything."

"Well, that is reassuring." He said sarcastically and I playfully hit his chest.

**In the afternoon of my birthday**

"Happy birthday, Jess." Emmanuel smiled as he headed me a small gift box.

"Wow, Emmanuel." I gushed as I took the gift from him.

"You totally didn't have to."

"Yes, I did. It is your birthday after all."

"Well, why didn't you wait until tonight's party to give it to me?" He shrugged.

"I felt it was more sentimental giving it to you in person." I smiled.

"Anyways, I really appreciate that but I won't open it until the party when I open everyone's gift. Thanks so much."

His smile faltered but he nodded. I had noticed through the end of last semester and the beginning of this year that Emmanuel had a crush on me. It was hard to register it at first because I thought he always saw me as his sister's best friend and nothing more. But when he started making advances, I was totally clueless.

"Is Jeffrey coming tonight?" He asked as we headed back to the apartment.

We went out to get some smoothies while Janice, Rose and Angelie were busy setting up the part. After Jeffrey and I reunited this morning and I had successfully convinced him to join us at the party, he had to go meet Jorge and know how the company is coming up and he will meet me later.

"Yes, he is at work now but he will be here later."

Silence fell on us for a few minutes and I could tell moving forward from this topic was a little awkward. I was a bit nervous about Jeffrey meeting Emmanuel tonight since the last time he met Steven, things didn't go too well. But Emmanuel is sweet and would never hurt a fly, hopefully Jeffrey will see that too.

When we reached our apartment, the entire living room was transformed into a tropical paradise. There were beautiful flowers everywhere, mermaid decorations, starfish, sea shells and grass skirting.

"Do you like it?" Janice asked from the kitchen.

"Holy crap, Janice. I love it!" I gasped.

"You really went all out, didn't you?" Emmanuel said as he scanned the room.

"Of course," she shrugged.

"Okay, all of the guests know that it is a tropical theme. So they are all coming in beach gear."

"So, should I let Jeffrey know?" I asked as I pulled out my phone but she shook her head.

"No, need. I sent him a message on Facebook."

"You are friends with him on Facebook?" I questioned and her shoulder slumped as she rolled her eyes.

"No, he hasn't accepted my request yet but he knows the theme so he is coming for sure."

"I am surprised that he even checks his Facebook messages." I mumbled.

"How do you think he knew to come back to the country on your birthday?" I frowned before it hit me, she smiled widely.

"Anyways, your costume is in your bedroom and Emmanuel I have a cool shirt for you to wear in my room. Hurry up, people, the guest will be coming soon and I made sangrias."

I immediately rushed to my room and I let out a heavy breath. This is a lot for my twenty-first birthday. I removed my day clothes and looked at the outfit Janice had laid out for me. It looked similar to the outfit from Moana.

I changed into my costume and let my hair down, I couldn't believe I didn't even think about Janice telling Jeffrey when my birthday is. If I didn't tell him and my mother wasn't one to interject in my life especially my relationship then Janice was the only one who was close enough to both me and Jeffrey to give him that information.

I heard people starting to filter into the apartment so I made sure I was ready to go before I headed out into the living room. A few of Janice and my mutual friends had arrived, smiling and hugging me after setting my gifts on the table by the door.

"I am so glad that you guys could make it." I greeted them.

Janice walked in with a tray mixed with drinks and handed me the largest one, topped with a little umbrella.

"Special sangria for the birthday girl." She smiled and I took a quick sip after she threw in a twisty straw.

"Gosh, Janice." I whined.

"How much vodka did you put in this?"

"Probably too much," she shrugged.

"It is okay, we are getting wrecked tonight anyways."

I rolled my eyes and took a smaller sip, only wincing slightly but soon my tongue had become accustomed to the taste.

More of our friends arrived and the party finally took off, I was extremely overjoyed.