Page 49 (2/2)

If I wasn’t already convinced Jesse Walker was a keeper, those words would have just convincedable to see your ass in those jeans every day, but that’s a sacrifice I’hed as he held up the gift bag he’d been holding "Mom made this for you, so don’t blaave hih the tissue paper until I found the present tucked inside As soon as I pulled it out, I blushed and smiled It was a shoulder purse Rose had sewn out of denimJesse’s jeans to be exact The worn o, was proudly displayed on the front of the purse I slung it over my shoulder and couldn’t pry rab your ass from a couple states away" I patted the outside ofthe back of his neck "I wish I could do the saainst the rest of hed If I didn’t look like I was positively nutso in the style departundy dress Jesse had picked out for irl boots, and my new denim purse It wasn’t "freak" wear; it wasn’t "country" wear I was done with labels I was done with letting the and kickass boots I liked a pair of worn-in jeans and the boots ot me I could be both I could be whatever I wanted The only person holding s that summer, a lot of lessons I’d take with me the rest of my life, but that was perhaps the one I’d hold closest to

"I hate to break this up, kids, but the bus is leaving" A hed at the sa, but it didn’t matter hoe tried to prepare ourselves for it It hurt like hell having to say goodbye Even if it wasn’t the per his head "She’s ready" But what I heard in his tone was I’o of hiuy looking for a young lady earlier this suh, the sa me out

Jesse s up toward the bus "Did you find her?"

Jesse’s eyes dropped toin the I wasn’t sure I ever would Whatever it was, I kneas one thing: powerful

"Yeah," he said "I sure did"

I grinned at hi I was too choked up for words, so I lifted up onto , sweet kiss that wasn’t nearly long enough, but I knew the driver was probably getting close to blasting the horn if I didn’t geta quick kiss over his cheek I turned and climbed onto the bus before I could throw myself back into Jesse’s arms

The driver nodded atabout him"

I s into an e, a hand in his pocket and his casted arh the dirtyof a Greyhound bus, he made me weak in the knees when he looked at oodbye to each other

I almost made it, but a tear dripped down the side of my cheek As if Jesse had seen that tiny tear from where he was, he tipped his hat and edas that same person Just that person who had let love into her life The bus pulled away from the station, but I twisted in my seat and watched him until he disappeared Way after I’d settled back into ht, I still felt him It didn’t matter where I went or how far, I’d always carry hi that didn’t fade with time or distance

Contrary to what I’d believed for a while, Jesse hadn’t changed me He just showed me the person I really was--the person I’d convinced myself didn’t exist

The rest was up to me