And I know he’s right. I wasn’t even aware of his feelings for me until Christmas.

This is the part of falling in love they don’t mention in the books, or movies. You want to believe love conquers all, but if I stepped outside right now and kissed the man I raised as my son for so many years, in public, there would be no swelling music, no cheers and praise for love at all costs.

People would freak out. And I would sooner die than let anyone say anything to Jesse that could hurt him, or make him feel like he’s anything but perfect.

So that’s why this vacation is necessary. To take us away from the reality we’ve known for so long and build a new one.

Even if it’s only temporary…

Or maybe it won’t be.

Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab his phone. Taking his hand in mine, I use his thumb to unlock it with the fingerprint, and he’s dying laughing the whole time. I’m smiling too, but I’m also wading past my waist in this obviously irrational jealousy.

Pulling up the new text from Tanner, I scoff out loud. “Really?? An eggplant, a question mark, and a pouty-face emoji?”

Jesse cackles, to which I scowl at him. His fingers trace my chest while he sighs through an unrelenting grin. “It’s not my fault I’m irresistible.”

“That you definitely are,” I mumble, fighting my own smile as I hand him the phone. “Are you afraid to tell him you’re unavailable?”

His eyes glimmer up at me. “Is that what I am? Unavailable?”

“You, sweet thing, are available only to me.” I press a soft kiss on his velvety lips. “And I’m available only to you.”

“Well, if that’s not a declaration of love, then I don’t know what is,” he chuckles on my mouth.

Sighing once more, he types out a reply to the asshole, with me peeking anxiously at the screen the whole time.

I read the text out loud as he hits send. “Sorry, homie. We’re done. I’m seeing someone. And it’s serious.” My brow arches at his face and he smirks. To which I laugh and kiss the corner of his mouth. “You’re fucking adorable.”

“Facts,” he breathes, tossing the phone away and taking my jaw in his hands.

“You know Tanner is a stupid name, right?” I murmur in between kisses.

His sweet laugh rumbles into me. “I don’t know… I kinda liked it. Jesse and Tanner… like Full House, if Uncle Jesse took Becky’s last name.”

I squint at him. “Okay, so by that logic our names are way better… I mean, come on. Jesse James?? That’s epic.”