That First Night (Firsts in the City #1)

by Jenn McMahon

I reply but my eyes are on her. Only ever on her.

She’s truly the most beautiful person I have ever met in my life. I briefly think back to what life was like before her. I can’t imagine life without her anymore because this right here, right now, is all I ever want to know for the rest of my life.

I know the whole, you don’t need a man to make you feel like that bullshit. Trust me, I get that. But when you have someone in your life that makes you feel comfortable, confident, sexy and loved, you learn to feel it yourself.

“Trust me, Pey.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. “You're end game for him.”

I know I am, without a doubt, in love with this man. I am in love with Thomas Ford, and I have to tell him. Tonight.

“That girl is hopelessly in love with you, Tommy.” “The feeling is mutual.” I nod.

“You could never lose me, Thomas.” She turns her body which allows her hands to cup both sides of my face. “You won’t lose me, okay?” “Peyton.” I melt as my arms wrap around her small waist. “The way that I felt that night, all those years ago when I lost you. I never want to feel that again.”

“I love you, Thomas.” She cuts me off and I swear the air in my lungs can’t escape as I hold my breath and pray this isn’t a dream. My pulse begins to pound wildly in my chest as I continue to stare in her eyes. “Say it again.” A soft giggle comes from her, “I love you, Thomas Ford. So much. You have no idea.” My hands cup her face as my lips crash to hers. I have never felt so whole and complete in my life. This is everything I could ever want and then some. All these years, I have never told anyone those three little words. But I know I can now say them without hesitation to her because I feel it in every part of me. “I love you, Peyton.”

“You love me, huh?” “Always have, Sunshine.” I give her my biggest smile. “I have never dreamed of having a family or a fucking white picket fence, until you. I have never said those words to another woman before, until you. I wasn’t looking for anything until you walked back into my life. You have always been mine, baby,” I pause. “Ever since that first night, all those years ago. You have always been mine.” “That first night.” She smirks back at me. “I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you, that first night.”

“I love you, Pey.” His tiny arms wrap around my waist, and I feel a tear break free from my eyes as I tighten my hold on him. “I love you too, James.”

“This might seem like I’m rushing things. But I believe when you know, you know. Some years may be missing from our timeline, but from the moment your eyes first locked with mine across that ballroom, I knew I would never love another woman the way that I would love you. That first night you walked into my life like a ray of sunshine in a dimly lit world and you took my breath away. You continue to do so every single day. I love you so much, Peyton. And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you more than I did the day before.”

Her touch still lights me on fire, and I feel that will never stop.

“You know I read a lot of romance books. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.” “Trust me,” he scoffs. “I know. The library downstairs is packed full of porn on paper.”

“I read a lot of romance novels. Most of them have these happy endings. You know, with the most perfect man who swoons the shit out of the girl and does all the right things?” “What are you telling me?” He raises a brow. “I’m saying you are that dream man. It’s like you stepped out of a romance novel. You are all my fantasies about fictional men come to life. I don’t know what I did to deserve you. I don’t know how you can be so perfect, swoony, sexy, and everything a girl could dream of. But you are. You’re here. Standing right in front of me. You’re my happy ending, Thomas.”

“It means that I am not your happy ending.” He smirks. “Because that would mean that there will be an ending. Baby, you’re stuck with me for life. I put a ring on your finger because I want you for the rest of my life. I want to grow old with you. I want to put babies inside of you. Yes, plural.” I chuckle at him. “I don’t ever want to live another minute of my life without you.”

“You’re my forever, baby.” He plants a kiss on my lifts. “There will be no happy ending in this book. This is a forever kind of thing. You’re my happy forever.” “That doesn’t make sense.” I giggle in his arms. “Make it make sense.” He kisses me again. “Because I’m making it our thing.” “I love you, Thomas. And I always will.” “I love you too, Sunshine.”