"Sure," I answered with a nod, a thrill running through me at the thought of doing something as domestic as picking out furniture together. I turned my attention to the box of DVD's before I embarrassed myself with my giddiness.
Jackson had an eclectic collection of movies, but I raised an eyebrow as I picked up one DVD.
"I'm surprised you have The Way We Were," I said with a skeptical look. "I never would have pegged you for a Barbra Streisand fan."
"I'm a progressive modern kind of man," Jackson said with an affronted look, but he ruined the effect by grinning. "Actually, I've never watched it. My mom gave it to me. She's always trying to give me old movies to watch. Says I don't appreciate the classics."
"Your mom is right," I said, handing him the DVD. "It's one of my favorite movies. Let's watch it."
"I'm game." Jackson got up to slide the DVD into the player.
We snuggled on the couch, my legs draped over Jackson's lap and my head on his chest. It had been a long time since I had watched The Way We Were, but I was instantly engrossed in the story of Hubbell and Katie. It was bittersweet watching them fall in love, because I knew what was coming at the end.
I bit my lip at the last scene, not wanting to cry, as Hubbell and Katie gazed at each other with love and regret as they thought about the life they had shared together and the future they would never get to explore.
When Katie reached up to brush Hubbell's hair back from his forehead, the gesture full of wistfulness and lost dreams, I was unable to hold back my tears. I sighed heavily as the ending credits rolled on the screen and Jackson tipped my head back by my chin so that he could see my face.
"Sweetheart," he said with a wry smile as he gently wiped the tears from my face with his thumbs. "Are you okay?"
"It's just so sad and unfair," I wailed. "They belong together, but all they did was get in each other's way. Now they'll spend the rest of their life regretting not being with one another."
Jackson chuckled as he kissed me. "I guess it was a more realistic ending. Not everyone lives happily ever after."
"Did you like it?" I asked, wiping away the rest of my tears, feeling a little foolish for getting so emotional over a movie.
"It was kind of frustrating," Jackson admitted. "They loved each other, but they kept creating problems between them. Yeah, they were drastically different but they could have made it work if they really wanted to. They were more focused on their own agenda than each other."
"Yeah, but sometimes love isn't enough," I said, thinking of my relationship with Sean. "And sometimes it isn't the right kind of love. People like to think that just because they're in love, they'll get a happily ever after. But then real life intrudes."
Jackson looked at me with a thoughtful expression. "Are you speaking in generalizations or are you thinking about a specific situation?"
I knew what he was referring to, but I was reluctant to mention Sean. Since I had told Jackson about Sean and our broken engagement, I had been loathe to bring it up again. Jackson hadn't been happy hearing that I had been engaged to someone that I had been with for ten years so I didn't want to stir the pot.
I shrugged, trying to answer obliquely. "I don't know, I was just thinking out loud."
Jackson raised an eyebrow, not seeming to accept my answer. "Did it have anything to do with Sean?"
I bit my lip, not knowing how to avoid the subject of Sean when Jackson mentioned him outright.
"I don't think it's a good idea to talk about Sean. You weren't too happy when I talked about him before. Besides, it's in the past. I'm happy being here with you now. That's all that matters."
Jackson's eyes glowed at my words, but he smiled ruefully. "I admit it didn't feel great finding out about Sean and your engagement. But it was just because I hated knowing that he got you for ten years. I found myself wishing that I had been the one to meet you when you were fifteen."
"Well, you have me now," I said with a gentle smile. "And that's what's important." I paused, hesitating to broach a subject I had never mentioned before, although I had been wildly curious. "What about you? Have you had many serious relationships?"
"Not really. My longest relationship was for about a year, but it ended when we realized we were better off being friends."
"Are you still friends with her?" I asked, unexpected jealousy coursing through me. I wasn't normally a jealous person, and the unfamiliar feeling was unwelcome.
Jackson shook his head. "Our friendship fizzled out, just like our relationship."
"Didn't you and Claire date for a little bit?" I had wondered about this for a while. Claire seemed perfectly happy for Jackson and I, but there were fleeting moments when I wondered if she was bothered by our blooming relationship.
"We went out on a total of three dates when we first met. There was no chemistry between us, so it was natural to transition to just being friends."
"Did you guys ever...you know...get a little friendlier?" I couldn't help but wonder if Jackson and Claire had ever slept together, especially since I knew how Jackson was in the bedroom. With his good looks and skills, how could any woman resist him? But I felt uncomfortable asking Jackson about it.
Jackson smiled, kissing my forehead gently. "If you're asking if Claire and I ever slept together, the answer is no. There was never anything more besides a goodnight kiss here and there."
I was relieved by his answer. Even though the thought of Claire and Jackson kissing didn't make me ecstatic, I was comforted by the fact that nothing else had happened between them. Besides, that had been a long time ago.
Jackson gazed me at, his eyes questioning. "Does that bother you?"
I shook my head. "No, I know you're just friends now. Claire's told me herself that you guys just went on a few dates and nothing came of it."
"Are you okay with us kissing during the play?"
"I have to admit that if it were up to me, you guys would just shake hands instead of kissing passionately." I smiled at him ruefully. "But I know it's just part of the play. Besides, you're so good in your role that I see Matthew kissing Annie, not you kissing Claire."
"Good," Jackson said as he cuddled me close, my head nestled in the crook of his neck. "That's just acting. I've never felt the way I do about you with anyone else, especially this quickly."
I breathed in Jackson's warm scent, feeling happy and secure. "Me too."