Julia Jarrett

“You’re my wife, Cam. Like it or not, whether it’s a real marriage or not, in my mind, you are my wife. And that means I want to take care of you. I want to make you feel safe and cared for, yet free to figure yourself out, however you need to. Somewhere along the way these last couple of weeks, I think I forgot that last part.”

“Beckett,” I say softly, our eyes connecting through the phone screen. I don’t know what to say. Except to ask him once more to be here for me. “Will you stay on the phone until I fall asleep?”

His tired yet relieved smile tells me more than any words could that we’re going to be okay.

“As you wish.”

Pulling into my driveway, I cut the engine but sit there frozen. The morbid voice inside my head tells me I’ll never find anyone who makes me feel like they’re my missing piece the way Cam does. That same voice tells me I’ll never have her because I’ll never be enough to break down the walls around her heart. That she’ll never change, she’ll never let go of whatever it is that holds her back from being open to love and being loved.

The greatest gift you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.

“Thanks, I’ll see you later.” Beckett walks past, pausing and dropping a kiss to my forehead. He freezes, his hand on my shoulder, his lips hovering above my face. “I…don’t know why I just did that,” he says hoarsely, still not moving away.

“It’s fine,” I whisper, my eyes darting between his, framed by his glasses, and glancing at his lips. If I tilted my head just slightly…

“Okay. Bye.” He steps back abruptly, pivots, and walks quickly to the front door without a second glance.