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Back First Comes Love Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

I’m happy for the way Jake’s eyes search mine on the stands before anyone else after he’s scored. I’m happy for the little flutter in my belly I get every time he waves at me. And I’m happy because last night Jake kissed me, and it was the best kiss ever. Not that I’ve kissed anyone else before, but I’m sure Jake’s the best kisser in the world.

I love him soooooo much. I love him sooo soooooo much. I told him last night after the kiss. And he said it back. I’m in love. We’re in love. I’m sooooooooooo happy.

Underneath there’s a Gemma-loves-Jake doodle. But Kelly Clarkson is my queen, and the only thing I’m soooooo going to do right now is move on. Fire.

Next is the first rose Jake gave me, exsiccated. Can I burn this? Better not take chances. Bin.

Lining the bottom of the Jakebox is the wrapping paper from the first Christmas present he gave me. I can’t believe I kept this. Fire.

That’s all, folks.

I tie a couple of tight knots on the black garbage bag resting inside the bin. I run outside to throw it in the trash before I can change my mind and try to retrieve something. When I get back inside the apartment, the only thing left is the actual Jakebox. I burn the bottom first. I take the lid in my hands and trace Jake’s name with my fingers and then I throw the cover in the fire too. It stays there unscathed, suspended in time for a few seconds before the letters start to blacken and blur—I’m not sure if it’s due to the fire or the tears in my eyes, or both. It doesn’t matter anyway because, in five minutes, it all turns to ashes.

Nine

Dinner Talk

♥♥♥

Thursday, June 29—London

In my apartment, I cup Jake’s face and kiss him. “I can’t believe you’re really here.” It took him three weeks to settle all his things in California, pack his stuff, and join me in the U.K. Meanwhile, I went to visit my sister in San Diego and I got back to London in time to clean the mess Naomi—my former roommate from hell—had left hanging around.

“I can’t wait to show you London. You’re going to love it.”

“Not as much as I love you.” He kisses the tip of my nose.

“Were you able to bring everything?”

“I’ve brought the essentials, my mom’s selling whatever I’ve left in Cali, and the rest’s arriving by cargo ship next month.”

“You have much? Because my place isn’t that big.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t steal your closet space.”

“So, err… Sharon didn’t burn anything?”

“No. She didn’t.”

“Did you see her?”

“I did.”

“And?”