Semua Bab My Other Half: Bab 31 - Bab 40

ELLE’S POVThey must have drifted off, because when Elle woke, the room was quiet, the storm softened to a gentle drizzle, grey morning light slipping through the curtains. She was warm, too warm, and her heart jumped as she realized why Jack’s arms were wrapped around her, her back pressed to his chest, his breath soft and steady against her neck. His hand rested on her hip, his fingers curled gently, his body solid and warm against hers, their legs tangled under the quilt. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest, the faint scratch of his stubble against her shoulder, the heat of him seeping into her skin. Her pulse raced, her body humming with a mix of comfort and panic, caught between how right this felt and how dangerous it was. She could stay like this for the rest of her life because of how amazing and safe she felt being held to him. They must have moved in their sleep, drawn together like gravity, their bodies fitting like they were made for each other, and the intim

The jeep’s tires hummed against the highway, the Smoky Mountains fading in the rearview mirror as Jack drove, his hand tight around Elle’s, her fingers trembling in his grip. The sky was heavy with clouds, the air thick with the threat of more rain, but Elle barely noticed, her eyes fixed out the window, her heart pounding with fear. Her dad’s heart attack, those words kept looping in her mind, sharp and heavy, like a stone she couldn’t move. She was very afraid, nothing crazy ever happened to her Dad ever, this was a shock to her, why a heart attack, she was shaking hoping she finds him treated and well. That man was a good person he did not deserve anything bad happening to him at all. Please may he be just fine, she prayed in her mind as they drove all the way going back. She’d always seen her dad as unbreakable, the guy who worked long hours, laughed loud, and carried the family’s business on his shoulders. Now he was in a hospital bed, and the thought of losing him made her c

The morning light spilled through the kitchen window of Jack’s house, painting the old oak table with a soft glow. Elle sat cross-legged on a chair, her engagement ring catching the sun, her notebook open to a page filled with wedding ideas sketches of flowers, a list of hymns, and a doodle of a church steeple. Jack leaned against the counter, sipping coffee, his grey eyes soft as he watched her, his heart full. It had been three weeks since the poolside proposal, and every day felt like a gift, their future unfolding like the Smoky Mountains at dawn.“We need to pick a date,” Elle said, tapping her pen, her voice excited but nervous. “Pastor Mark says the church is free most weekends in spring. I was thinking when wildflowers will be blooming, and it won’t be too hot.”Jack grinned, setting his mug down and sliding into the chair beside her. “It sounds perfect. Gives us time to plan, and I’ll have the house ready by then.” He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing the ring. “You

The autumn air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves as Elle packed the last of her boxes in the small house she’d shared with Claire for the past two years. The living room was a mess of cardboard, tape, and memories photos of their girls’ nights, a chipped mug from their first coffee run, a quilt they’d made during a snowstorm. Elle’s engagement ring sparkled as she taped a box shut, her heart a mix of excitement and bittersweet ache. She was moving back to her parents’ house until the wedding, just three months away, then she’d finally move into Jack’s house into their home. The thought made her smile, but leaving the house felt like closing a chapter.She would have stayed here alone until the wedding but, being at home will help her be with her mom while planning the wedding because she wanted to give this place to Max so he can move in since he came back and she can’t exactly live with him until the wedding. Sam leaned against the doorway, her arms crossed, her smile

Pastor Mark’s voice carried through the church, reading from 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind…” Elle and Jack stood facing each other, their hands clasped, their eyes locked. The words washed over them, their meaning sinking deep. When it was time for the vows, Jack went first, his voice shaky but strong, his eyes never leaving hers.“Elle,” he said, his eyes moist but he was trying his best to remain composed as usual, face glowing with love. “You’re my soulmate, my other half, the piece of me I didn’t know I was missing till you smiled at me in high school. You’re my best friend, my home, the one I want to turn to when life’s not making sense, when am happy its because of you, I’ve loved you through every moment our fights, the way you pray with your whole heart. You make me better, make me want to be the man you deserve. I promise to love you fiercely, to laugh with you, to build a home where our kids will know God’s love. I promise to be yours, in this world and t