Love me after him

Chapter 8

Fiona stood outside Jared’s house for nearly ten minutes before she rang the doorbell.

Her palms were sweaty. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears. Her fingers kept twitching, like they wanted to turn the key back in the ignition and flee.

But she was done running.

She had spent years chasing someone who never looked back. Now, when someone finally stood still for her, she couldn’t let him walk away.

Not without fighting for him.

The door opened slowly.

Jared stood there in a hoodie and sweats, his hair messy, eyes shadowed like sleep hadn’t visited him in days. He didn’t say anything right away.

Neither did she.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said finally, voice rough.

“I didn’t think you’d open the door.”

A flicker of a smile ghosted across his lips. “Guess we’re both full of surprises.”

She exhaled, stepping closer.

“I talked to Jason,” she said.

“I figured,” he said quietly, stepping aside. “Want to come in?”

She hesitated, then nodded.

The living room was dim. Familiar. The couch where they’d sat watching old movies. The blanket she always stole. A half-finished cup of tea still on the table.

She sat on the edge of the couch. He stayed standing.

“I told him the truth,” she said, meeting Jared’s eyes. “That I don’t love him. Not the way I thought I did.”

Jared swallowed. “And me?”

She stood slowly. Her voice shook—but it didn’t break.

“I love you,” she said. “Not because you’re the first to say it back, but because with you, I don’t have to chase love. It just is.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t say no fast enough when Jason asked me how I felt,” she added, voice trembling. “And I hate that. But I was confused. I’m not anymore.”

Still, Jared didn’t move.

Fiona stepped closer, her heart in her throat.

“I don’t want a perfect love. I just want us. Messy. Honest. Real. But I can’t build that alone.”

The silence stretched between them like a tightrope.

Then Jared let out a breath—and pulled her into him.

It wasn’t a kiss.

It was a hold. A clutch. Like he’d been drowning and finally surfaced.

“You drive me insane,” he whispered into her hair.

She let out a shaky laugh. “Takes one to love one.”

Jared pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. “I was scared you were going to leave.”

“I was scared I already had,” she said. “But I’m here. If you’ll have me.”

He didn’t answer.

He kissed her.

And it wasn’t soft.

It was fire and forgiveness and every word they hadn’t said stitched into a moment that neither of them would ever forget.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Jared rested his forehead against hers.

“You’re mine, Fiona.”

She nodded.

“And you’re mine.”