Enduring Everything (Marked Heart #1) (22 page)

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Stuffing everything I thought I couldn't live without into a large suitcase, I leaned against it to latch it closed. Honey was fed and taken outside. The only thing left for me to do was get everything in my car and head over to, as Amila put it, 'go get him'.

It was hard to tell if it was anxiety or anticipation that I was feeling as I parked in front of Jackson's apartment. Glad there was a space right in front, I didn't like the idea of leaving Honey in the car if I couldn't see her.
Darting out of the driver's side, I took a deep breath and knocked.

My heart just about stopped and I thought I might throw up when a twenty something blonde girl opened the door wearing next to nothing saying, "Yes?"

Shaking my head, I couldn't form a complete thought as I looked at the apartment number and then back at her.

A man's voice came from inside, asking, "Babe, who's at the door?"

The barely clothed blonde appeared concerned as she asked, "Are you okay?"

All I could do was stare at her when a man, who was not Jackson, walked up behind her, asking, "Can we help you?"

Confused, I looked at them, the apartment number and then back at them, answering, "I guess, I have the wrong apartment."

With a cheery smile the blonde shared, "We just moved in about a month ago and don't really know anybody yet. What number were you looking for?"

"This one. I didn't know he moved..." I thought out loud.

The man behind her responded with a 'yikes' expression as she replied, "Oh, I'm really sorry."

Nodding, I said, "Sorry to have bothered you," as she nodded back and closed the door.

I stared at my car for a moment before sliding in the dri
ver's side and grabbing my cellphone out of my purse. I called Mrs. Thomas and she said she was sure he was home. After I told her okay, it occurred to me I should have asked her where that was. I started to call her back when my phone rang.

When I answered, William asked, "Did she get off okay?" in a quiet voice.

Focused on where Jackson was I replied, "Yea, where is Jackson?"

"Home I guess, we all left around four this morning."

A bit frustrated, I stated, "I'm at his apartment and he doesn't live there anymore."

After a long pause, William replied, "You didn't know that?"

"Obviously not, can you just tell me where he is?" I griped.

"Ren, he's at his house."

Sitting there anxious and irritated, I suddenly felt stupid.

"Thanks," I blurted and hung up.

Pulling out of the apartment complex, I headed back towards my neighborhood. Ga
wh, I was dense. I was so caught up in myself and having things my way, I never realized the whole time he was dropping hints. From the night we parked at the wooded area right outside my neighborhood, he found a builder, all the way to saying Honey would have a nice big yard to play in. Mentally admonishing myself, I even thought, what a jack-ass, when I noticed the property gated off one day when I drove by. After that day, I refused to look in that direction when I drove by because it made me sad. It wasn't some pretentious jerk though, it was Jackson and he was building us a home.

Excitement coursed through me when I stopped my car at the gate.
I quickly hopped out. As I reached down to unlatch the gate, I stopped. Taking a step back, I thought about the blonde girl that was now living in his old apartment. She wasn't there with him, he no longer lived there, but the thought of a similar situation caused me to rethink what I was doing.

Opening the driver's side door of my car, I told Honey it would be just a few more minutes and grabbed my cell phone. Leaning against the door, I called Jackson. A groan replaced a regular 'hello' when he picked up.

"Jacks."

Instantly alert, he replied, "Ren?"

"Hey, are you alone?" I asked.

"What?" he questioned, sounding confused.

Reminding myself he just woke up, I rephrased, "Are you by yourself?"

"Why?"

"I'm outside your gate," I quickly answered.

The next thing I heard was the call disconnect.

Standing there, I stared at my phone and wondered if maybe he wasn't. What if he was alone but didn't have anything to say to me. He could have been sorry about what he said but didn't want to take it further. I started to call him back then quickly changed my mind. Tossing my phone into the passenger seat, I didn't profess my undying love but I showed up at his house and he hung up on me.

With a heavy sigh, I
shook off the reason's I was still standing there and slid back into the driver's seat. Taking a deep breath, I leaned my forehead against the steering wheel.

"Hey!"

I quickly glanced up.
Standing on the inside of the gate, in his long basketball shorts and an undershirt was Jackson.

Sliding out of my car, I walked up the gate, saying, "Hey."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Thinking to myself, 'nowhere ever', I shrugged, saying, "You hung up."

Smiling, he explained, "I was surprised."

Nodding, I offered, "I'm sorry I left like that last night. I promised Charlotte I'd see her before she left."

"William told me," he shared before saying, "I really am sorry. I didn't know they were going to do that to us last night, but I am sorry."

My heart fluttered at his use of the word us as I assured, "There's really nothing for you to apologize for. I'm sure..."

Jackson cut me off, holding up his hand, "Ren, I can't imagine what it was like for you to have gone through something like that. So many people have hurt you."

Nodding at him, I assured, "That's all in the past."

Jackson shook his head at me with a remorseful expression as he shared, "I realize that, but after seeing you standing there with him and hearing you say it. It stung. But I was wrong for what I said to you."

"I know," I stressed, trying to assure him that he was forgiven.

"All this time I thought it was you shutting me out, but you were right. I couldn't have done what he did. I thought if you and I were together things would be different because of me. I guess, I thought being with me would make you different when really, if I'd have just accepted the fact that it didn't have anything to do with me, things could have been a lot different for both of us." I gave him an understanding smile as he continued, "I was so mad. I was mad at you. I was mad at me and then Auggie gave me the box you left me under the bar."

Resting my hands on the top of the gate, I leaned into it and said, "It was your surprise."

Pointing behind him, he shared, "This was yours."

Suddenly emotional, I had to tell him how I felt.

Running my fingers across the top of the gate, I shook my head and took a step back.

"Jackson, I don't care about anything that's happened. I'm over it or past it or whatever. I don't even care about what might happen tomorrow. I just want to be with you," pausing to take a breath, I swore, "Doesn't matter where, no matter what, to be with you, that's what I choose."

A wide smile spread across his face before it softened as he asked, "Would you like to come see our house?"

Nodding, I watched him pull the pin to unlatch the gate.

"Wait, I almost forgot," I shared, walking to the passenger side door

Opening the car door, I let Honey out.

Honey must have known she was home because she hopped out of the car and ran right through the gate opening to Jackson.

Leaning down and petting her, he said, "Awe, I missed you too."

Smiling
, I made my way over to them.

As he continued to pet her, Jackson looked up at me and said, "By the way, I fired Marabeth."

A bit surprised, I asked, "Why?"

Giving me a strange look, he replied, "She beat up my wife."

With an unpleasant expression, I snapped, "Excuse me?"

Shaking his head at me with a wide smile, Jackson rephrased, "Alright, she assaulted my wife and my wife kicked her ass."

Holding my head high, I agreed, "Much better."

Jackson stood up and pulled me close. His arms wrapped around me tight before
loosening enough to pull me up into a kiss.

"I know exactly what you are and I love every bit of you. My wife."

Sliding my arms around his neck, I jumped a little when he reached be
hind my legs and scooped me up.

"I want to carry you into our house," he whispered in my ear.

As goosebumps covered my arms and legs, I assured, "I love you."

Jackson brushed his lips right below my ear before heading towards our house.

Looking at the outside of our house as we approached, with Honey following close behind, it appeared perfect. Not too big and not too small, there were steps leading to the front door and wouldn't you know it, green shutters. When we reached the door, he had left it cracked. Pushing the door open with his foot, he carried me over the threshold and into the living room.

Jackson set me on my feet
and pulled me into a kiss. It only took a moment of kissing him in our house to realize the only room I wanted to see was our bedroom.

I softly asked, "Where's our room?"

Jackson started to pull me in that direction when we heard Honey start to whine. I hadn't realized the front door was still open and poor Honey was stuck at the bottom of the steps.

We brought Honey inside with us before Jackson grabbed a dog pillow from the corner. Calling Honey to follow, Jackson took my hand. He sat the pillow on the floor right outside our bedroom door. Quickly climbing onto it she laid down.

With Honey settled outside our bedroom, Jackson lifted me up again and carried me into our room closing the door behind us.
The bedroom was empty with the exception of a bed and the Ren & Jacks wall hanging, he took from my house, on the wall above it.

Setting me on the bed, he asked, "Are you here for good?"

"Are you?" I smirked. As Jackson gave me a confused look, I explained, "Wherever you are, that's where I want to be."

Sitting down next to me, he leaned us both back and pulled me against him, swearing, "I love you."

"You didn't steal my heart, either. You are my heart. I wouldn't know anything about love if it weren't for you. You're my everything," I assured.

Without hesitation, Jackson
claimed every part of me.

For the first time in my life
, I gave myself over to someone wholly and completely. He had all of me. Not just a part or some, all of me.

Placing my hands on the sides of his face as
Jackson wrapped himself around me, this was home. Nose to nose with him, I smiled.

Smiling back, he yawned, "Don't be mad at me baby but I'm exhausted."

Brushing my fingers through his hair, I replied, "Go to sleep, I'll be right here when you wake up."

Visibly fighting to keep his eyes open, he requested, "Promise?"

Placing a soft kiss on his lips, I swore, "Every day for the rest of my life."

The End

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my family for continuing
to put up with my craziness on a daily basis.

T
hank you to my readers! Without y'all my characters would never see the light of day.

All the INDIE blogger/reviewer/supporters out there, I appreciate everything that you do to keep writers writing.

Thank you to my editor Margaret Civella, who keeps me from getting all verb-y and has the best editorial comments.

A
nd very special 'thank you' to my beta readers Susanne Lancello, Nicole Griffin and Kasey Fitzgerald for taking
Enduring Everything
with me one step at a time. I am honored to have each of you in my corner, loving my characters.

Playlist

Music has a way of inspiring the smallest ideas. It allows me to create an entire scene or chapter from just the right song. For me, music is one of the most important creative tools there is. These are the songs that brought EE to life.

Morning Afterglow-Electrasy

Just Give Me a Reason-Pink

The Damage in Your Heart-Weezer

Warmness on The Soul-A7X

I Won't Give Up
-Jason Mraz

Sorry-Buckcherry

All of Me-John Legend

Special Playlist additions

Kasey Fitzgerald
~I Got You-Jack Johnson

A.C.
Haury~Devil's Spoke-Laura Marling

About
the Author

M. Sembera was born in Baton Rouge
, Louisiana and now lives in Brazoria, Texas with her husband, three kids, three dogs and two cats. After writing her first short story when she was in high school, M. instantly fell in love with writing. However, life sometimes gets in the way of aspirations and it wasn't until years later, when her life calmed down, M. was able to start writing again.

'
For me, each new book I write or character I create feels like the first time and I find myself falling in love with writing all over again'

Past works include
'The Rennillia Series', 'Life with Him: Novelette' & 'Louisiana Spice, Italian Intrigue, and Texas Bull: A Memoir'.

www.BrokenBirdMedia.com