Free Promise of Forever by Jessica Wood Page B

for so many years that it didn’t even feel real anymore. Did we really love each other? We haven’t been friends for almost a decade. So many things have happened between us since then. We may miss our childhood friendship, we may love who we used to be when we were younger, but how do we know we really love each other now? Do we need more time to be just friends to figure things out?
    “I need a sign,” I whispered aloud as I looked up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling.
    I got up from my bed and decided to do some laundry. That always helped me keep my mind off things. I collected some dirty clothes from the floor, checking all the pockets to make sure I didn’t wash anything I shouldn’t.
    When I checked one of my jeans, I felt a piece of paper in the front pocket. I pulled it out, wondering what it was. I didn’t remember putting the paper there.
    I gasped when I unfolded the paper and saw that it was a note from Jackson.
     
    Dear Chloe,
    Last night seemed like a vivid memory from our childhood, and for the first time in almost a decade, I felt that pure happiness of having you by my side return to me. It was a feeling I’d never thought was possible again. But when I woke up this morning to see you still fast asleep in my arms, I knew what I felt last night had been real, and not a dream. Right now, the sun is just starting to come out over the horizon. It’s starting to cast its pale yellow light across your face, and I am in awe with how beautiful and peaceful you look asleep next to me. I’m not sure how I lived without seeing your face for nine years.
    As much as I’ve wanted to resist it, my heart has continued to reach out for you over the years. The hatred I had held onto toward you was built upon the intense hurt and love I’d always had for you. Maybe it’d been fate trying to tell me something, but earlier this week, a quote in the newspaper had caught my eye: “Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.” It’d come at the perfect time. It’d been right after that night at the wedding reception, that night you’d poured your heart to me as I sat there ignoring you. And when I went to find you after you ran off in tears, I saw you collapse to the ground and at that moment in time, I thought I might have lost you.
    It was then that I’d realized that forgiveness may be the ultimate display of love. And if I truly loved you like I’d always thought I had, then forgiveness was something I had to learn to do.
    Please give me time to forgive you, and please also try to forgive me for all the times I’d hurt you, forsaken you, and disappointed you. Despite everything that’d happened between us, I am choosing to hold onto the moments that my heart cares for the most: the moments I’d fallen in love with you again and again.
    Here’s to many more of those moments.
    Love,
    Jackson
     
    Fresh tears stung my eyes and I reread the letter.
    “What am I waiting for?” This was the sign I needed, the sign I’d asked for. “I’m also going to choose to hold onto to the moments that my heart cares for the most, Jax.”
    I quickly ran out of my room and down the stairs.
    “I’m going to go see Jax, Aunt Betty. Be back later,” I said as I swung open the front door and headed out toward Jackson’s house.

CHAPTER NINE
    Chloe
    There was a surprised expression on his face when he opened the door and saw me smiling up at him.
    “I think I just needed a few hours to think things through,” I explained.
    “Really? So does this mean…? Are we…?”
    I giggled. I could tell he was suddenly nervous, which sent a jolt of anxious excitement to wash over me.
    “Shit. I haven’t felt so tongue-tied in my life.” He ran a hand through his dark brown hair, tossing it out of place. I resisted the urge to lean over and smooth his hair.
    “Why are you tongue-tied though? It’s just me.”
    “Do you really not know, Clo?” He looked at me expectantly as if he was waiting