I couldn’t remember ever feeling so miserable. I spent the weekend curled up in bed, refusing to leave the soft comfort of my blankets unless it was to use the bathroom. I barely ate, couldn’t find it in me to push myself out of my funk. Bathing was entirely out of the question, and I nearly grew too weary to even move.

The shrill ringing of my doorbell was what woke me Monday morning, and I deeply considered ignoring the call. I couldn’t imagine who would be checking in on me besides my mother, and even she had been tainted by Jensen’s touch. More specifically, his mother’s touch—our mothers had hit it off instantly. I hadn’t heard from Mom since the spat with Jensen, and I almost hoped she’d seen the light and returned to me. It wasn’t that I had a particular grudge against Jensen’s mother; I just didn’t want to see anything to do with him.

My mind racing, I forced myself out of bed to answer the doorbell. Knowing my luck, it was some door-to-door salesman, or someone trying to save my eternal soul.

As I pulled open the door, I felt as if the wind had been knocked completely from my sails. My heart caught, skipped a beat, then began to pound in my chest as I took in the face of the man who had haunted my every waking thought. Though I had thought he was the last person I wanted to see, I realized how far from the truth that was. Jensen held yet another bouquet of flowers, and when he took me in, his expression turned all the more sorrowful.

“Ashley… I’m so sorry,” he blurted out, and I quietly stepped aside to allow him into my apartment. It was all I could do to keep from launching myself at him, capturing him in a bruising embrace and refusing to ever release him. I only registered that he had apologized when he stepped inside and brushed a hand to my cheek. I swallowed a lump forming in my throat, telling myself that I would not cry. Under no circumstances would I allow myself to cry.

“I’m sorry, too,” I choked out, cursing myself as tears began to spill down my cheeks. He tossed the bouquet aside, then, pulling me in close and resting his chin on top of my head.

“I was so worried when I read your note, I came here as soon as I read it. Well, after picking up your flowers,” he trailed off, glancing at the discarded bouquet with a slight frown.

“I don’t need flowers as long as I have you,” I said quietly, reaching up to touch his cheek. I could scarcely believe he was actually in my apartment, almost certain that I was suffering from some sort of strange fever dream.

He rested his hand on top of mine, closing his eyes as he attempted to rein in his own emotions. There was so much I wanted to say, so much that weighed heavily on my heart. I knew he wouldn’t have come if he didn’t have something to say, however, so I remained silent and stared imploringly at his weary face.

When he opened his eyes, he breathed a soft sigh. He was obviously troubled, and I felt better knowing that he must have missed me to some degree. To what degree would become more readily apparent, I hoped.

“I wanted to take you to dinner and talk things out. I want to make this work, Ashley. Not just for us, but for our children. I love you, and…I’m willing to compromise,” he said carefully. I hesitated, looking down at myself with a bit of a grimace.

“I’m not really in any state to go out for dinner,” I said uncertainly. He smiled, brushing a hand through my curls.

“I reserved the entire Cerf Blanc. It will be just the two of us, no one to stare or judge,” he explained. I was stunned, and I realized in that moment just how serious he was. A pang shot through my heart upon thinking about the last time we’d been to the restaurant, and my mind flickered to the brief sound of the ballad on the radio as I’d pulled out of the GlobaPharm parking lot.

“I should at least shower,” I croaked out, and he nodded obligingly.

“Take as long as you need, I’ll wait right here. I’m ready to talk like adults, Ashley. I’m ready to be a real man,” he declared.

“You’ve always been a real man in my eyes. The only man for me,” I assured him, before grabbing a towel and making a beeline for the bathroom.

Stepping into the hot water, I tried to tell myself not to get my hopes up too high; tried to remember that he could crush me at any given moment. It was a chance I was willing to take.

* * *

When we pulled into the parking lot of the Cerf Blanc, only the most recognizable vehicles were there. The SUV that the head chef drove, the tour van of the band who had performed the last time we were here.

“You really went all out,” I said nervously, and Jensen grinned somewhat timidly, an expression I was unfamiliar with.

“I wanted to prove a point,” he explained casually.

I didn’t get the chance to ask what he was proving, as he got out of the car and came to help me as well. He gripped my hand tightly, refusing to let me go even once I was out of the car. We walked hand in hand into the restaurant, soft music already playing when we entered. I allowed Jensen to lead me to our usual table, my heart skipping a beat as he pulled a chair out for me.

In that moment, I allowed myself the slightest shred of hope. Perhaps his feelings for me had not dissipated altogether. Maybe they hadn’t dissipated at all.

Taking his seat, Jensen considered me for a moment. He nervously chewed his bottom lip, and I was certain that I had never seen his confidence slip to such an extreme before.

“So…” I began, smiling as the waiter brought me a glass of water.

“Your food will be out soon,” the waiter assured us, and I offered Jensen an inquisitive look. He smiled sheepishly, shrugging a bit.

“I like to think I know what you like, by now,” he explained. A breathy chuckle slipped past my lips, and I nodded my head in agreement. “You’re probably wondering what I brought you here to talk about,” he began, prompting me to nod again. “I wanted to let you know that I’m not willing to give up on you. I want to pursue this relationship as far as we can take it, and…I’m ready to give up all that’s necessary for me to be a good father,” he said with certainty. I tilted my head, pausing to thank the waiter as our food was brought.

“You don’t have to give anything up for me, Jensen,” I tried to assure him, though my heart was pounding in my chest. He smiled, rolling his eyes teasingly.

“You’re my princess. Soon to be my queen, it would seem. We’ll have our own little royal family to take care of, and…it’s not that I have to give it up. I wouldn’t do it just because I’m supposed to. I want to give up some things to make our relationship work. I’ll take on fewer hours, cut out the travel time and the business trips. I’m going to be there for our children, and I’m going to be there for you,” he said assertively.

I felt my cheeks grow warm with pleasure, though I tried to hide it by digging into my food.

“You don’t know how much that means to me,” I finally admitted, between bites. He quirked a grin, looking as if there were more he wanted to say. I tilted my head, somewhat taken with his expression of boyish excitement. “What has you so smiley?” I said.

“I decided on my way to your apartment that it would be rather awkward to go back and forth every day between our apartments. I wanted to take a big first step and…ask you to move in with me,” he confessed.

I must’ve looked shocked, as he made to backpedal.

“You don’t have to, of course,” he tried, but I leaped up from my seat, rushing around the table to grab him up. Our lips met, chastely at first but our passion increased quickly. When I drew away, both of our cheeks were flushed.

“I’d love to move in with you,” I whispered.

Jensen looked utterly delighted, pulling me in for another tender kiss. I moaned against his mouth, running my fingers through his hair.

“All right, then.” He held up his glass. “Here’s to the start of the rest of our lives,” he said with an air of finality.

I have to say, I liked the sound of that.