Chasing Jillian: A Love and Football Novel (20 page)

“It’s the biggest question you’re going to ask in your life. Of course you’re nervous.” She put a velvet tray of rings down on the counter while she talked. “Why don’t you tell me about your fiancée?”

“She hasn’t said yes yet.”

“She will. What’s she like?”

Seth closed his eyes for a moment. He could talk all day, but his words could never convey what was in his heart. He felt his nervousness fading as he saw Jillian’s smiling face in his mind.

“She’s . . . she’s . . . she’s blonde. She has blue eyes. She’s about this tall,” he said. He gestured with one hand. “She smells like vanilla. Whenever she smiles at me, I feel like I’m home.” He let out a long breath and met the salesperson’s eyes. “She knows everything about me, and she loves me anyway.” He took a gulp of water. “And I want to be her family.”

He wanted to be that guy he’d pictured in his mind, looking on proudly as Jillian read a bedtime story to rosy-cheeked kids curled up next to her. He wanted their house to be a home, full of love and laughter.

The saleswoman nodded. “Then let’s pick out the perfect ring for her.”

Seth had the presence of mind a while ago to try on the little silver ring Jillian left on her bathroom counter before they went to bed that night. He still remembered how small her ring was on his hand. It barely cleared his fingernail. He pulled the most sparkly ring out of the tray and slid it over the third fingertip of his left hand. If his informal sizing efforts were correct, this would fit Jillian’s finger.

“That’s a two-and-a-half-carat brilliant cut, VVS1, E-color solitaire, Tiffany setting,” the saleswoman said. “What do you think?”

Seth moved his hand around in the overhead lighting. The diamond’s sparkle shimmered and arced off of every reflective surface. He wished he could buy something as beautiful as the sparkle in Jillian’s eyes whenever she looked at him, but this would have to do. He slid the ring off his finger, held it for a moment in his fingertips, and looked up at the saleswoman.

“It’s perfect. I’ll take it.”

J
ILLIAN CHANGED HER
clothes three times while she waited for Seth to pick her up. They needed to dress warmly, but she still wanted to look nice. Her pretty turquoise fleece cardigan and a long-sleeved T-shirt under her wool pea coat would keep her warm. She confirmed the time and meeting place with the Lyft driver picking them up in Kirkland, and she fed CB, who tried to climb into her handbag.

“No, kitty, you can’t go tonight.”

CB let out a piteous meow.

“You stay here where it’s warm.”

CB redoubled her efforts to get in Jillian’s bag. Seconds later, Jillian heard a knock at the door and Seth’s voice.

“It’s me.”

CB ran to the door, got up on her hind legs, and pawed at it. “I know he’s your favorite, kitty. Go take a nap.” She grabbed the cat and pulled the front door open to let Seth inside the apartment.

Seth reached out for CB. “You get your stuff. I’ll take care of this.” He held the kitty up so he could look into her eyes. “Listen, girl. You can’t come with us tonight. It’s cold and it’s wet out there, and I know you don’t like wet.”

She tried to head-butt him.

“I promise we’ll play with you when we get home. Now scoot.”

When Seth bent over to gently place her on the carpet, Jillian was amazed to see CB run away, hurl herself onto Jillian’s bed, and curl up.

“Are you the cat whisperer? She obeys you!”

“She wants to rest up for later,” Seth said. “Ready to go?”

He’d taken her suggestion to dress warmly to heart. He wore a heavy jacket with a sweater beneath, jeans, and boots. He’d pulled a knit cap on. He’d thrown a scarf around his neck too.

Seth and Jillian arrived at the dock in plenty of time to board the ship. The crew stood waiting for them on the dock. A taller man stepped forward and stuck out his hand to Jillian.

“Welcome to the Christmas Ship, Ms. Miller. I’m Captain Doug,” he said.

Jillian shook his hand. “It’s great to meet you. I’m Jillian, and this is Seth Taylor.”

“Great to meet you, Mr. Taylor. We’re big Sharks fans.”

“I’m always happy to meet Sharks fans,” Seth said.

“If you’d like to board, we’ll get underway in a few minutes here. There are complimentary snacks and a beverage setup for your enjoyment. We’ll also turn on the lights so you’ll get the full effect,” the captain said. “I hope you’ll enjoy your evening.”

“I’m sure we’ll love it,” Jillian said. “Thank you so much for doing all this for us.”

“No problem,” he assured her. “I hope you’ll let my staff know if there’s anything else we can do for you.”

Jillian was helped onto the boat. Seth took her hand as they were shown to a huge interior salon featuring windows that framed the entire length of the ship. Two padded arm chairs were set up in the middle of the salon with a small table holding snacks, two champagne flutes, and an ice bucket with a chilling bottle of champagne. Anyone sitting in those chairs would have the perfect view of the lake.

“It’s okay to go out on the deck if you’d like,” the captain told them.

“This is wonderful. Thank you again,” Jillian said.

A few minutes later, the ship moved through smooth water toward Kirkland. Both the interior and exterior of the ship were decorated in clear lights, and there was holiday music playing over the ship’s sound system. Seth reached out for Jillian’s hand again.

“Want to go out to the deck for a few minutes?”

“Sure,” she said.

They leaned against the dock’s railing, looking out at a crescent moon suspended in a cobalt sky and a thousand twinkling stars. Jillian could see boats tied up on docks nearer the shoreline that were already decorated for the holiday parade and waiting for their debut. Seth pulled her to his side. They stared down into water tinted navy blue by the night sky. The slight spray off of the water was freezing cold, but she didn’t want to go inside. She knew she wanted to remember this night for the rest of her life.

“I’m so glad you came with me,” she said. There were so many other things she needed to say, but right now, she wasn’t sure where to start. Maybe she should try the most obvious. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He hadn’t gone anywhere. She’d been the one to step back, and he’d waited patiently while she figured things out. She missed the fact he was the only other person besides Kari she could pour her heart out to. To feel safe with another person was something she should never take for granted, or the fact he’d still be around when she worked through her own struggles in life. When they first met, his looks dazzled her, but she knew him well enough to know that he was so much more than a handsome face and a perfect body. She wanted to be his safe person too, someone he could confide in, someone who listened and understood.

Maybe he didn’t want to give her the power to hurt him again or to deal with the insecurities she pulled like weeds growing on her soul, one at a time. She was a different woman than she’d been when they first met, but she was still working on herself. Maybe he wanted someone who didn’t have so many flaws. She opened her mouth to say so, but nothing came out.

“I missed you too,” he said. His arm tightened around her.

“Seth, I . . . I . . . ” She struggled for words. “There’s so many things I should say to you right now, and I—”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you.”

She snuggled against him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “You do?”

“I have for a long time now, Jill. Do you love me too?”

“With all my heart,” she said.

“You’re sure about that?”

“I love you. Every minute of every day.” She wished she had the words to tell him how much she loved him. Maybe she should try. “When I first met you, I thought you were so handsome, and I was so thrilled when you talked to me.”

“So you thought I was hot.”

She couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up inside her. He loved her. She’d dreamed of this moment. Being able to tell him she loved him too was better than she’d ever imagined. Confessing her feelings to him made her heart sing with happiness.

“I know it’s shallow,” she said.

“It’s not shallow if it’s the truth.”

She had to laugh again. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely.” His eyes sparkled. “Tell me more.”

“The more time I spent with you, the more I couldn’t help my feelings. They grew and grew. I wasn’t sure what you thought of me. I knew you wanted to be just friends.”

“Until I showed up at your apartment one day and carried you off to bed.”

She flushed at the memory. “Yes.”

As they held each other, they glanced out at the lake and at the twinkling lights of homes on the shore. Husky Stadium was a beacon of light across the water. The snow-capped mountains that loomed over them were visible in the distance too. They’d be in Kirkland soon, but she knew she’d relive this night for the rest of her life.

“I fell in love with you because I couldn’t resist you,” he said. “I thought you were beautiful too, but the more I got to know you, the more I wanted to be around you. I love your sassy personality and your sense of humor. I love the way you care for other people. I want to spend every day with you. I want to be a better man for you. And I want to be your family.” He pulled in a breath. “I guess that means I have something to ask you.”

He was still fumbling in his pocket, but he sank to one knee on the deck, still holding her hand. The entire world telescoped to the two of them. The skyline of Seattle, the brightly lit ship, the water, and the sky illuminated with countless stars were a backdrop as Seth held up a ring box.

“Marry me, Jill.”

She covered her mouth with one trembling hand. She didn’t realize she was crying until she felt tears streaking down her cheeks. He pulled her other hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss into her knuckles.

“Are you sure?” she blurted out.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

All she had to do was say that little word. She saw tears brimming in his eyes too. He squeezed her hand.

“Be mine,” he whispered in the stillness. “Be my lover and my friend.”

“Yes,” she said.

Author’s Note

J
ILLIAN
M
ILLER OF
Chasing Jillian
is a fictional character, but the struggles of foster children in the United States are all too real. Foster children end up in the system due to parents who are unable to care for their children for a variety of reasons. Once in the system, children are typically moved from placement to group home to another placement with no warning. An education is difficult at best to obtain. I was shocked to learn that less than half of foster children graduate from high school. Two-thirds of foster children don’t go to college. Only 3 percent of foster children graduate from college. There is no security for those children—socially, emotionally, or financially. They grow up facing unthinkable challenges on a daily basis. They “age out” of the system at age eighteen in thirty-nine states, which means they must learn to survive on their own with little to no support.

These children did not ask for their circumstances. Their lives improve when they know someone cares about them.

My husband and I learned about Seattle’s Treehouse many years ago. Treehouse’s mission is to offer foster children a childhood and a future. They provide educational support, assistance with clothes/toiletries/books/toys, and some of the things that most other kids take for granted via “Little Wishes”: music lessons, sports fees, or an ASB card are a few examples.

I’m donating a percentage of my share of the first week of
Chasing Jillian
’s sales to Treehouse. If you’d like to know more about Treehouse (or you’d like to help), please go to http://www.treehouseforkids.org/.

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Love and Football series!