In the end, it all came down to one simple, undeniable truth: he was still in love with her.
"Rachel," he whispered, his voice growing thick with sleep. "I wish you could cherish me… just me. And I swear, I'll cherish you more than anyone else ever could."
Holding her hand like this filled him with a deep, quiet sense of safety. A feeling of peace he hadn't known in years.
After a long while, Rachel slowly turned her head to look at Jeffrey.
He'd already fallen asleep on the floor beside her bed, his breathing deep and even. She just watched him, lost in her own tangled thoughts…
---
Rachel didn't know when she'd finally drifted off. She only remembered staring at his face in the dim light, and then… nothing.
She must have fallen asleep.
Thankfully, when she woke up, Jeffrey was gone. That saved her at least a little embarrassment.
After getting up and washing her face, Rachel headed downstairs. She found him in the kitchen, already busy making breakfast.
