Chapter two hundred and eighty four:

Jen had finished brushing out her long wet hair and sloppily French braided it. She dropped her wet clothes down the laundry shoot into the laundry room, and while Luke was in the shower, she carefully snuck into the bathroom and retrieved his wet clothes.

She had to admit that she was nervous about talking to Luke. They had both agreed that a lengthy conversation was in order; however, the thought of it still bothered her. She knew she had a tendency to take offence and offend others when speaking her mind.

The last thing she wanted was to cause another fight.  She moved a pile of her books from one side of the room to the other, not knowing what else to do with her time.

Jen finally sat down in the arm chair in the corner and decided to calm her nerves with a book. Soon after opening the book, she found herself a good twenty pages further than she was when she started reading. She looked up to see Luke pulling a clean pair of socks onto his feet.

“Sorry, you looked so into your book, I didn’t want to disturb you.” He smiled.

“That’s okay. I was just waiting for you anyway.” She replied, closing her book and carefully marking her place.

“Sorry, was I in there that long?”

“No, it’s…. it’s okay. I was just killing time.”

“I see you tidied up in here.” He chuckled.

“Sorry.”

He laughed, “No, I think it’s endearing.”

Luke stood and walked towards her, he sat down carefully on the footstool that matched the chair she was occupying. They sat knee to knee for a few brief moments, while each pondered where to start the conversation.

Finally, Luke reached out and took her hands in his. “Listen, Jen… When I was sitting in the airport the other day I did some thinking… I know it seems like I’m completely caving on this argument, but… I think you’re right. I was blowing things out of proportion. I never really thought about…” He paused to awkwardly clear his throat. “I’m mean, I was always the kind of guy who wanted to wait until he found the right girl. And I… I’ve known that you’re the right girl since… well, almost since the minute I met you… It’s just… that things keep getting in the way, you know? First we broke up and then you were sick, then there was the hotel fire…” He paused, but noticed that she teared up at the very mention of those topics. He decided to move on quickly. “I was waiting for the right time, and all this stuff gets in the way. I guess people kind of have this weird movie fantasy thing when it comes to sex, like it’s going to be magical with birds chirping and sun shining.”

Jenna laughed at this.

“But I came to realize the other day, that none of that stuff matters. What matters is that it’s with the right person. The person I love more than anything in the world—and that’s you. It doesn’t matter that it’s raining, or that the bed is lumpy or that… you know, its terribly bad-“ He laughed. “It just matters that the time is right, for us. And I know you’re ready, and I am too.”

Jen sat forward to interject, but Luke continued before she could speak.

“I’m not saying we should rush into it, like right at this very moment.” He chuckled. “But for me the time is right, when the time is right for you… I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.”

Jen smiled, completely and utterly touched by his speech. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace and kissed him tenderly.

At last, while curled against his body, she admitted softly. “Luke, I love you.”

Luke swallowed hard. He knew he loved her for quite some time, and had been ready to admit it at any moment. But now that he knew she felt the same, he held her even closer, nestling her into the warmth of his body. She seemed to fit like the missing piece of him. “I love you too. God, Jen I love you.”

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