"Demi, you don't ever have to be embarrassed to tell me anything. I'm sorry you had to experience that but divorce is a good thing. What are you gonna do once everything is settled?" Jesse tried to lighten the mood.
"Well, we're not going to finalize it until New Year's," Demi explained. "We didn't want to ruin the Holidays for the twins by announcing a divorce so we're going to wait. I'll continue living in the penthouse while simultaneously searching for my own place. We celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and then on New Year's, once that clock hits midnight, I will be a free woman. It's kind of sad because it'll be my last Christmas with the twins."
"It doesn't have to be. Just because you're divorcing Nick doesn't mean you can't see them. They still need you in their life."
As much as Jesse hated seeing Demi be a mother to Aria and Benji when she had her own daughter that she left behind, that's what she was. She took care of them like they were her own and he couldn't see her stopping any time soon.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It just won't be the same."
The hardest part about this divorce was leaving the twins. She couldn't wait to be free from Nick but she couldn't abandon the twins. She had already done that to one little girl and was still trying to get her back.
Jesse often thought about what their life would be like if Demi never left. He always thought that they would get their happy ending but if he proposed, would Demi say yes? Would they have more kids? Would they move to Texas like they planned or would they have stayed in New York? So many questions were left unanswered but Jesse couldn't continue to dwell on the past.
Jesse was broken out of his thoughts when he caught a glimpse of the time. It was past midnight and he truly didn't plan on staying for this long.
"I should probably get going and let you get your sleep." Jesse suggested. Demi nodded in agreement even though she didn't want Jesse to leave.
Demi walked with him to the door but just before they reached it Jesse turned to Demi. His abrupt stop caused Demi to stand oddly close to him. She could feel his body heat radiating off onto her. Her mind told her to take a step back but her body didn't listen.
"I'm proud of you Demi." Jesse spoke. "Not just proud because of the fashion show but also because it takes a lot of courage to step away from someone that continues to hurt you."
Jesse felt like a hypocrite. Demi had hurt him multiple times before yet he could never find the courage to walk away. Yet here he was congratulating her on something he could never do.
"T-thank you." She mustered out.
Without thinking, Jesse pulled Demi in for a hug. Jesse was consumed with the vanilla scent of her body wash and Demi could feel his heartbeat against her chest, the soothing rhythm calming her nerves. Their hug was short but spoke volumes, each of them understanding each other's unspoken desires.
When Jesse pulled out of the hug, he found himself staring into Demi's eyes. He knew that he should leave. Even though Luna was asleep in their locked hotel room, he shouldn't leave her alone for much longer. On top of that, Demi needed to get her sleep too. But he couldn't leave. As many times as his brain told his feet to walk away, they didn't listen. Instead, his heart told him what to do, and Jesse didn't hesitate.
It happened so fast. Jesse's hand reached out to cup Demi's cheek, pulling her towards him and closing the small gap between them. He connected his lips with hers and held it there. He used his other hand to pull Demi's body closer to his— if that was even possible. He could feel her become tense but that didn't stop him.
wildfire
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