I lean my head on Jesse’s shoulder as he drives us home. Between a long week at work, a big meal, and the choking man incident, I’m completely spent. I hope Jesse wasn’t hoping for some wild, hot, animal sex tonight, because it’s not going to happen.

Something shifted between us tonight. He listened to me talk about my past in a way that I’ve never really experienced before. There was no pity in his eyes, no condescension, no judgement that I could see. He just listened. He listened to me.

Even after weeks of dating him, that one conversation feels more significant than any dates, or presents, or nights we’ve spent together.

He asked me about my past, about my pain, and he sat with me while I told him. My exes never did that. They never wanted to know.

I feel closer to him now than I ever did to Elijah. I feel like Jesse cares about me—the real me. He cares about what I’ve been through and what I want from life. He cares about what I think and how I feel. I’m not just arm candy for him, or someone to make him dinner and wash his stinky football glove.

He wants me.

I snuggle into him as my eyelids get heavier. He kisses the top of my head, and I feel more comfortable and content than I’ve ever felt before.

Maybe I’m ready to be with him.

I mean really be with him. I’ve still been holding back a piece of me, but tonight, it feels like I could give it to him without losing who I am.

I open my eyes and watch him drive down the street, and I take a deep breath. I sit up and look at him. His jaw is clenched and his eyes narrow as he looks down the road before making a turn, and then he relaxes into his seat. His hair is a little mussed on the side where I was leaning. He swallows, and then glances at me.

His eyes crinkle as he smiles.

He’s so incredibly handsome. Warmth spreads in my chest. My heart starts thumping, and I take a deep breath.

“Jesse,” I start. He glances at me again, moving his hand from the steering wheel to my thigh.

“Yeah?”

“I think I’m in love with you.”

That came out wrong. I don’t think I’m in love with him. I know I’m head-over-heels completely crazy for him. I’ve known ever since the opening of the Football School. Ever since I saw him with the kids, and I saw the light in his eyes.

Jesse glances at me again, and his hand squeezes my thigh. His smile widens.

“I love you too, Farrah. I’ve loved you since the day you were perving on me walking out of the shower.”

“Perving on you!” I laugh, smacking his chest.

He laughs, catching my hand and kissing my fingertips. He glances at me again and intertwines my fingers in his hand. My hand feels exactly as I do—warm and protected and loved.

It’s completely different to the breathlessness I felt with Elijah. That was love born out of fear of being alone. This is love for the sake of love.

We turn onto my street and Jesse pulls into a parking spot in front of the steps. I turn to him, nodding to my door.

“I know it’s not as swanky as your Brookline mansion, but any chance you want to come in?”

He laughs. “I’d rather be in there with you than in my Brookline mansion any day of the week.”

My heart grows warm again and he runs his fingers along my jaw. Jesse presses his lips to mine, and I feel the love radiating between us.

I haven’t been this happy in a long, long time. My doubts from earlier in the week are quieter as he kisses me, and I start thinking that this relationship might be possible. Maybe Elijah will get over it, maybe his family will understand. Maybe things between us will work out.

We pull apart, and I smile again.

“I’m really happy, Jesse.”

“Good. Me too.”

My heart is doing backflips when I walk up my front steps. Jesse has his hands on my lower back, and he leans down to nibble on my ear. I smile, leaning back into him. My tiredness is gone, and the buzz of energy and love fills my heart. I turn towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him deeply.

“I love you, Jesse Matthews.” He smiles, and I start laughing. “I like saying it.”

“I love you too, Farrah Locklear.”

We go inside, and I’m too consumed by excitement and love and happiness to notice anything. I unlock my front door and go inside. Jesse is right behind me and I turn in his arms to kiss him again. My heart is singing. He crushes his lips against mine and I feel the strength of his love as he envelops me in his arms.

It’s not until I hear Elijah’s voice that I notice him in the doorway.

“Well, well, well,” he sneers. “What have we here?”

I jump away from Jesse, who spins around and shields me protectively. Elijah must have followed us inside. He’s holding the door open with his foot, and his beady, hard eyes are flicking from me to Jesse and back.

“Elijah, what are you doing here? How do you know where I live?”

“I have a few questions of my own,” he says, taking a step inside.

“Get out,” Jesse growls, taking a step towards his brother.

My heart is in my throat. I can’t speak. The tension in the air is so thick I could cut it with a knife. Jesse is pulling himself up to his full height and Elijah is doing the same. The two brothers face off, and their eyes speak of a lifetime of anger that I know nothing about.

“What is this?” Elijah spits. “Is this payback? Are you just fucking my fiancée as some sort of revenge?”

“Ex-fiancée,” Jesse replies. “And no. You fucked that one up all on your own. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Like fuck it does. This is probably you trying get back at me for Sally, or Valerie, or Hailey, or… shall I go on? You just saw an opportunity to give me a taste of my own medicine.” Elijah barks out a laugh and starts clapping. “Well, bravo, brother. You’ve done well.”

“Get the fuck out, Elijah.”

“Or what? What are you going to do?”

“Get. Out.”

I watch the two of them stand chest to chest and I don’t know what to think. The happiness I felt a few minutes ago has evaporated, and in its place is cold, dark fear. Sally? As in Sally Harvey their family friend? Valerie? Hailey? Who are those women? Did Elijah steal a bunch of girlfriends from Jesse?

Is this what this is about?

A worm of doubt starts wriggling in my heart, and I glance at Jesse.

Elijah sees my face, and he starts laughing. “See, even Farrah doubts you. Don’t you see it in her face? Don’t let him fool you, Farrah. This—” he waves his hands between us. “None of this is real.”

“Don’t listen to him, Farrah.” Jesse says. His eyes are still glued on Elijah. “You need to leave.”

Elijah takes another step towards us and stumbles. I smell a whiff of alcohol, and I frown. Shouldn’t he be in peak pre-season shape by now? He shouldn’t be drinking like this.

I shake the thought away, shifting behind Jesse as he moves to protect me. Elijah wavers, and then looks at me with pure venom. Fear grips my heart. Jesse can sense it, and he takes a step towards his brother.

Elijah’s face twists into a scowl, and before I know what’s happening, Elijah’s fist connects with Jesse’s jaw. Jesse stumbles back with a yelp, grabbing his face. I scream. Elijah roars, and turns his cold gaze to me.