Hey you guys! Things between Edmond and Jane have gotten quite tense recently. Don't you think? I wonder how long they're gonna keep this up! I hope things end well for them and for you my dear patient, lovely and supportive readers.
Happy reading!😁❤️
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Cole had already arrived at the courtyard and was waiting patiently for Jane. He knew her real name now, but she was still Jane to him. Sera sounded so musical but still foreign, Jane felt like home.
He knew there was a chance that she might not come at all. But he had done whatever he could to win her back and now all he could do was wait.
He knew that the last time they had spoken Jane was fuelled with anger and hurt. He didn't blame her. He should have given her more details, he should have contacted her. He should have been braver. But he was not capable of changing the past, he could only attempt to alter the present.
He hoped that by meeting her today in a place where they had a lot of memories together, she would find it in her heart to forgive him and trust him again and atleast their friendship would be restored. He would worry about the rest later.
He waited for what felt like ages as he went over all their memories together and relished each one. It was beginning to grow dark.
He should probably head back. If she hadn't come yet, she probably wouldn't come at all.
He got up to leave when he saw her enter through the courtyard gate, for the first time without her mask. She was chewing on her bottom lip nervously when her eyes met his.
She made her way towards him slowly, hesitantly even. "I don't think we've ever been in this place without a mask, have we?" She spoke up attempting to make small talk.
He smiled and shook his head. "New beginnings" he commented, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.
She nodded ever so slightly.
"Thank you for coming, Jane" he said sincerely.
She bit her lip. "The last time we spoke..I was angry. I missed you so much, you have no idea."
He nodded.
"I may have said some things I shouldn't have." She spoke without meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I know." He said placing his hands hesitantly on her arms wondering if she would shrug them off. She didn't.
He took that as encouragement and stepped closer to her, rubbing her arms soothingly. "And I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for leaving you, Jane. I'm sorry I didn't tell you how long I'd be gone and I'm sorry I didn't find a way to contact you or stay in touch."
She nodded. "I am glad that you're back."
He smiled hopefully. "So you forgive me?"
She smiled sadly but shook her head. "Not that easily. No...But I'm trying." She said now meeting his gaze.
He was still grateful. "It's a start" he shrugged.
She bit her lip. "I thought it over during the week. It wasn't your fault that your company called you away on such short notice....even though you could have given me a few more details than you did or even contacted me.."
He nodded, "You're right. I should have."
She shrugged. "So bottom line I think I was being too hard on you. So I'm sorry.."
He smiled. "I thought it was justified."
She chuckled. "What are you saying? You want me to be all angry and cold and distant with you for some more time?"
"No!!" He exclaimed. "Oh God please no!"
She chuckled. "Come here." She motioned him closer as she tightly wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
He hugged her back tightly and closed his eyes. This felt right.
He placed his chin on her head and held her there in his arms not daring to let go. He'd never ever let go again.
She didn't seem to mind because she didn't try to pull away. Instead, she held on to him tightly, her eyes closed too and she stayed motionless for a long time just like him.
When they eventually did pull away she spoke up, "Im sorry I treated you the way I did when you came to meet me. I should have done this instead...But then I was...you know..mad at you....and there were so many people there...I couldn't.."
He smiled gratefully. Maybe if he helped her he could quicken the way to earning her forgiveness.
"Is that why you didn't slap me either?"
She shrugged.
He laughed seeing an opportunity. "Do it now!"
"What? No!"
"Come on! Do it! I'm asking you to."
She laughed but shook her head.
"It's okay.." He said playfully. "You can slap me. I know you want to!" He laughed.
She laughed too. "No! I don't want to.."
"What do you want?" He asked her sincerely.
She shut her eyes, "I want you to never have left!" She replied softly.
He smiled sadly. "I know...Come here."
He held her lower arm, guiding it to slap him. "It'll make you feel better. Just do it." He persuaded.
She smiled allowing him to move her hand but slowed it down so she ended with her hand gently tapping his cheek. She cupped his cheek and gently brushed it with her thumb. "There. I slapped you. You happy now."
He pressed her hand further against his cheek and leaned into her touch. He knew he wasn't supposed to let her see but he was tired. He just wanted to go back to the way things used to be! And more!
"I'm happy" he whispered.
She smiled. "It's good to have you back." She whispered.
He smiled. "Thank you for letting me come back."
She nodded. "I still can't shake off the weirdness of you being Cole Meyers though." She said awkwardly.
"I don't wanna be Cole Meyers with you, Jane. I want to be Edmond....I want things to go back to the way they used to be. I wish there was something I could do. Anything! Just so things would go back to before." He looked at her desperately.
She breathed deeply. "I want that too."
He looked on hopefully but not daring to speak.
She swallowed. "Okay."
"Okay?" He whispered
"You promise not to leave again?" She asked him.
He nodded vigorously. "I promise. I promise. I promise!!" He replied passionately.
She bit her lip. "Fine." She said. "I forgive you." She smiled.
He let go of her hand. "Really??" He asked excitedly.
She shrugged. "You dare leave again, I promise you I will find a way to kill you!"
He laughed. "We have a deal!" He couldn't believe it.
"I'm serious Edmond." She pressed on sternly.
"I know I know." He replied immediately sobering up. "I won't. I promise." He replied earnestly.
She seemed to believe him because she nodded once.
"Can I kiss you on your cheek though??" He blurted out not able to control his excitement.
She chuckled and gave her concent by turning her cheek so it faced him.
He wrapped his one arm around her shoulder and used his other hand to cup her face and kiss her on her cheek. He pressed his lips against her cheek so hard and for so long, but he couldn't bring himself to worry. His body wasn't in his control anymore. He felt her heart beat quicken. He was so exhilarated, she was back. He gave in to his emotions.
He moved his lips so he could dot the rest of her cheek with kiss after kiss, letting his lips linger near her ear. He could tell she was enjoying this as much as he was albeit with a lot more shock and possible confusion.
He soon moved to her jawline and then began kissing her neck.
"Edmond?" She called him, the question obvious in her voice even as she bent her neck to grant him better access.
He let out an agitated "mmm" not wanting to part from her neck to reply.
She gently placed her hand on his neck. He loved her touch against his skin. It was so soft, so caring but still firm as she moved his face to look at her.
He met her eyes and saw a million emotions there. He didn't dare to breathe. Apparently neither did she.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Her voice hopeful but barely above a whisper.
He gulped.
She waited patiently for the answer.
"I like you, Jane." He breathed. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realise it." He paused. Words just fell from his mouth but every word he uttered he realised it to be true. "But I want to be with you.... in a closer way than friendship."
He didn't get the reaction he was expecting. Instead she looked on contemplatively. "Are you sure?" She said after a while. "Are you sure you're not confusing you're happiness that I forgave you with..."
"Jane" he whispered his name for her to stop her from talking. She obliged instantly. "I'm sure." He said as he rubbed his thumb gently over her lower lip.
She stood there frozen, silent. The only movement was the rising and falling of her chest.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" He asked, scared.
"Ja-.." He never got to complete his sentence because her lips crashed onto his. The suddenness of her action caused him to stumble a step back but he soon regained his ground and kissed her back.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and put the other in her hair as his mouth passionately explored hers. He could feel her doing the same. He felt her soft, supple lips against his as she was careful not to hurt him but still craving him enough to use just that much force.
He couldn't believe what was happening. He was so happy yet so relieved. He couldn't believe that he finally had what he had wanted for so long. Jane was his. It was perfect.
Jane was in her own sweet heaven. She could hardly believe Edmond had just confessed to her that he liked her and was now kissing her in a way she thought was only restricted to her dreams. Heck this was even better than her dreams.
She went from thinking that she had lost him forever to getting back her best friend to having her feelings returned. She was so fuelled with happiness and excitement and disbelief that she put all of it into her kiss.
Their kiss lasted a couple of minutes as they parted only to breathe. When they finally parted, their lips were swollen and they were both out of breath.
Jane began laughing. It was a laugh filled with happiness, as well as excitement as well as disbelief.
He began laughing too as his thumb once again traced her bottom lip gently. "I didn't hurt you, I hope?"
She shook her head. "Can we sit down?" Jane panted with a laugh.
Edmond nodded, trying to catch his breath.
They both leaned back on the bench silently for a few minutes to catch their breath.
"I thought you didn't like me anymore.." Edmond whispered after a while.
Jane chuckled. "You did say you wanted things to go back to the way they used to be.." she chuckled.
"Yup. That I did." He laughed.
"Once I choose to trust you again, Edmond, what reason do I have to hold against you to stop myself from liking you again?"
He nodded understandingly, fully grasping the risk she was taking. "I'll never ever hurt you again, Jane. I promise."
"I believe you." She smiled.
He turned to face her and cupped her face in his hand. She leaned into his touch.
"You're not angry with me anymore, right? You've completely forgiven me?"
She nodded. "I have. I have. ...as long as you understand the risk I'm taking to be with you, Edmond. That's how important you are to me. You realise that, right?"
"I do. I do. You won't regret it. I'll never ever hurt you again...I'm taking a risk too, you know. I'm choosing to trust you."
She nodded. "I understand how scary this must be for you. I'm grateful that I'm the one you're choosing to take this risk with."
He smiled.
"You know that I'll never ever dream of hurting you either, right?
He nodded again. "I know. I trust you."
She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, to move him closer to her and placed a chaste kiss on his lips once more.
"I still can't believe you're mine." She spoke barely above a whisper.
"Neither can I." He replied mirroring her disbelief as he bent down and returned her kiss.
"When did you finally admit to yourself that you liked me, Edmond?" She asked with a smirk.
He frowned. "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
She laughed. "Answer first."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. I started liking you when I thought I'd lost you. It was after I came back."
"Ah I see. I can't believe it took losing me for you to realise that you liked me....even though you started liking me a long way before you actually realised it." She grinned.
He laughed. "You'd like to believe that wouldn't you??"
"You know I'm right." She chuckled.
He knew she was right but he wasn't going to give her that. "I'm not accepting anything. Don't go putting words in my mouth just because we're in a relationship now!" He accused instead.
She stopped laughing instantly and bit her lip.
"What?" He asked.
"We're in a relationship now." She repeated with a content smile on her face.
He nodded as he took her hand in his and kissed it.
This was exactly how both of them had always wanted their story to end. And to both of their utter disbelief, this was exactly how it actually ended. Their relationship, just like their friendship, would be perfect.
~The end~
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Don't go just yet! Just like you, I have emotions brimming to the top and threatening to overflow so I encourage you all to share them in the comments, whatever they may be.
How do you feel? Did you like the ending? Did you like the book as a whole? I'm always open to constructive feedback.
Are you happy for Jane and Edmond? It's been one heck of a journey, hasn't it?
I sincerely want to say a big thank you to all my readers and commenters and voters who encouraged me to keep going with all their positivity. I'm really happy how this book turned out and how everyone seems to be having such a great time with it. So thank you, thank you, thank you!!❤️❤️❤️
Oh and my darlings? Don't forget to vote if you liked it! Thanks!❤️😁
PS: There's an Epilogue too...don't worry....