LIBBY

***

"Baby, come on, we'll be late!" I hear Jasper calling from outside.

I was taking one last look around our tiny flat to make sure we'd packed everything, and saying goodbye to nearly six months of memories. Jasper had said it was ridiculous, but he also didn't stop me.

But he was right, we would be late. We have to drop off the keys back at the realtors before we start our long trip on the road.

Two weeks ago, after we'd finished packing for the day, he'd pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and told me to take a look. I took it from him and just saw a list of states and cities. When I realised all the places were the ones we'd been talking about all year, I ran at him and he only just caught me before we fell backwards on the sofa. Yet another surprise I hadn't been expecting, and I had no idea how I had been this lucky.

The plan had always been to go to California for a week before I went back in September, but we hadn't talked about any other cities and adventures in between and it made me so happy that he thinks of these things.

As I come down the stairs, I look at him. He's wearing all black, just like the day I'd met him, and he looked sexier than anything. He'd had a hair cut, cropping his hair slightly shorter than normal, and although I was disappointed that he'd cut it, I was falling more and more in love with him the more I see it. He's leaning on his truck, waiting for me, and he has his ray bans on as well. And as I come down the stairs, his face erupts in a smile, just like it always has done since we've been together.

"You said your goodbyes?" He calls with a laugh as I jog down the last few steps. He leans off the truck and opens his arms for me to walk into. "Can we drop off these keys now?"

I shake my head and kiss his jaw. "Yes, Scrooge. I won't be back here for a while so lay off," I scowl jokingly and he rolls his eyes.

"Humbug. Now come on, I want to get our deposit back," he jerks his head towards the truck and plants a soft kiss on my forehead before he walks round to the driver's side.

I jump in the passenger side and scoot over to him as he starts the engine.

"California, here we come," he says, and I look up at him and laugh. He'd just unknowingly quoted the theme tune to The OC and I had never been more proud.

***

"Baby?" I hear Jasper whisper next to me.

I stir and realise we'd come to a stop. It wasn't dark yet but I had no idea what time it was. But from the looks of it, we'd finally arrived at our first destination.

We'd driven from Wilmington to Charleston, where we were staying for a few days, and then early on Monday we'd be doing the first long leg and driving to New Orleans. That bit was nearly ten hours, so for that Jasper had actually allowed me to do a little bit of driving.

"Are we there yet?" I ask, wiping my eyes as I focus. By the time we got out of Wilmington traffic, thanks to a lorry overturning on the interstate, it was four.

"Yup. Come on," he heaves himself out of the front seat and jumps down, stretching his back and his arms.

I smile and come out to join him, standing on the wheel arch to grab my bag down from the bed of the truck same as him, before tucking myself under his arm. We climb the steps to the B&B we'd booked and smile at the lady at the desk.

"Welcome to the Charleston Inn. Are you guys Jasper and Libby?" She asks, with a British accent.

"Yeah," I respond with a smile. "Are you from England?" I ask, even though the answer is obvious.

"For my sins," she laughs and rolls her eyes, not saying anything else. "You guys have a garden view room, which is just up the stairs to the right. Are you having breakfast tomorrow?" She grabs a pen and waits for her answer.

Jasper nods and stretches again, rubbing his shoulder, and then puts his arm back around me. "Yes please," I clarify and she nods and writes it down before handing me a key.

"Thank you!" I thank her and step out of Jasper's arm, shooting up the stairs before him. He chuckles as he grabs both our bags and follows me.

When I get to the door, it's already open, and I push straight through. And it's so pretty. It's too flowery for most people's taste, but given it's a garden view room, it fits. The bed takes up most of the room, with a small bath and shower room next door, and a very small chest of drawers at the end of the bed. The garden is beautiful though. You can see the Wando River from here, and the small town, and I love it here already.

"Do you want to get some dinner?" Jasper asks, laying flat on his back on the bed, his arm tucked behind his head.

I turn and crawl towards him, tucking myself into his chest as I feel his arm come around my back. I shake my head though. We'd had some food before we left and nibbles in the car, so I was okay. I was hungry for something else though.

But as I turn my head, he winces.

"Is your shoulder okay?" I ask, sitting up so my head wasn't putting any weight on it.

"I've just got a knot that's all."

"Do you want me to take a look?" I ask with a grin. He smiles my favourite smile, his dimples adorably evident, and sits up to take off his shirt as his answer, turning over so he's on his stomach.

I pull him over slightly, so he's in the middle, and swing my leg over his body, having a leg either side. I feel one of his arms come down to stroke my skin softly and I smile as his fingers start tracing patterns, leaving goosebumps.

"Where does it hurt?" I ask, starting to massage the base of his spine, already feeling it affecting me, a warm stone of desire growing in my belly. "Shoulder blade?"

He moves his head weirdly and I hear a muffled yeah, so I shuffle upwards slightly and start working the ache from his shoulder. It's on the shoulder with his tattoo, and I can't help but admire it as I work.

When he'd first told me about Benny, the story had shocked me, but it had put the tattoo into perspective. The two small figures in the sandstorm, the grave at the bottom and the figure standing over it. Over the last two years he'd found it easier to talk more freely about him, and he even took me to meet Benny's parents as well. They were lovely and they'd been very forthcoming with baby pictures of Jasper which I absolutely adored. He wasn't quite so enthused, but he allowed me my fun, taking pictures of them with my phone.

He keeps making noises under my hands, approving noises, and after ten minutes, I manage to work out the knot. He grunts satisfyingly once its gone and turns us over, making me giggle and hold on so I don't fall off the bed.

He sits up, so we're nose to nose, and kisses me softly, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

"Thank you," he whispers before kissing me again, his fingers dipping into the waistband of my denim shorts. I grind myself forwards against his crotch and he groans, biting his lip before kissing me harder.

He pulls at the hem of my shirt and tugs it off in one, throwing it off the bed as he kisses the space in between my boobs. I play with his newly cut hair as he does it, thankful there's still some hair to grab as he nips and teases. As he does so, he undoes my bra and peels the straps down my arms, taking one of my nipples into his mouth while he palms the other one. I moan loudly and grind my hips involuntarily.

I can feel him growing hard beneath me, so I shift myself forward, grinding against him again before positioning myself off him slightly so he can unbutton and pull of his jeans.

I squeal in surprise as he flips us over, tugging at his jeans quickly and moving his hands to my shorts, unbuttoning them teasing them slowly down my legs as he kisses the skin around the top of my thighs. I'm panting in anticipation as he gets them off, throwing them on the bed next to us, before he leans forward, kissing me as I feel his hand graze my knickers.

I know I'm soaking, it had been growing damp since I massaged him, and I know he knows because he has that grin I love on his face. It's his wicked grin, and it means I know I'm in for a freaking amazing night.

As he kisses me, he slides his hand into my knickers, and I moan appreciatively as he slips two fingers inside me. I cry out but rock my hips against him, greedy for him to move, and take hold of him at the same time. My movements are sloppy and hurried but I'm losing coherence as he works his fingers expertly in and out of me. He's grunting as he does so, and as I feel the exquisite knot building in my stomach, he tells me to let go.

I arch my back and curl my toes as he brings me to a powerful orgasm, biting my lip. He holds me in place as I try to come down, but before I can open my eyes I feel his tongue enter me, as well as one of his fingers. I cry out, coming for a second time in quick succession and I can feel him grinning. He licks around me, and I buck my hips at how sensitive it feels.

"Jasper!" I whimper, holding onto his hair with my fingers, gripping on as if my life depended on it.

He doesn't say anything but his tongue stops the assault and he moves up me again, nipping at my sensitive skin. God I love him, and I can't believe he still surprises me with things like that.

He grins before he kisses me hard. I can barely reciprocate because I'm still incoherent. But as he rolls us over, or rather I roll us over, I can't believe I still have the strength left in me to take charge. I can feel my legs shaking from the effort but he holds me up as I lower myself down onto him, both of us moaning from how delicious it feels. He flexes his hips, letting me get used to him, already overbrimming with ecstasy. But soon he starts to move, taking it slowly and more sensually, holding me as he pushes me higher and higher into euphoria than he'd ever pushed me before.

I roll my hips in a circle and soon we're moving together in a sensual rhythm. He moves slowly but with purpose as he sucks and pulls at my nipples and my skin, setting it on fire again. I love this man more than I ever loved anyone, and I don't think him holding me like this will ever get old. He speaks to me on so many levels, spiritually and sexually, and he's ignited the person I always knew I could be. And that is why I show him time and time again that I will always love him.

As if reading my thoughts, he leans away from me, looking me in the eyes as he turns us over, holding my leg above him so he can start to move at a faster pace. The perspiration on both of us is evident, and we're both breathing hard as he continues to move. It's not fast, but he still manages to hit that spot. With each grunt, with each push, I can't help the moans that come from me, and soon I feel the build in my centre. The heat is spreading through me as Jasper holds my hand, lacing his fingers with mine, kissing my neck as he comes, jerking as he spills everything into me, calling my name. I moan as I come for a third time, breathing heavily as he pushes me down into the mattress, holding me. I can feel the wetness between us as he pulls out of me, kissing my shoulder, but I don't care. It's both sweat and our arousal, but all I can do is smile in my sated state. I can see his own smile as he rests his head on my stomach, and soon both of us fall into an easy sleep, the cool afternoon breeze swirling around us.

***

When I wake, I'm too hot.

And when I open my eyes, I know why. Jasper is completely draped over me, his head still on my stomach and his arms and legs tangled with mine. But as much as I love falling asleep like this, and as much as I love him, I also need to pee.

I'm not surprised he's tired, given he's done a lot of driving, so I don't want to wake him. In that spirit, I gently untangle myself from him so I can escape and go for a pee without him being disturbed. I roll sideways, lifting his head slightly as I slide onto the floor quietly. He moves slightly, but I do finally escape and head straight for the toilet.

When I'm done, I don't want to go back to bed just yet. I'm awake now, despite how early it is, and I want to watch the world.

I grab Jasper's shirt from the floor and shrug it on before opening the veranda doors, taking a seat on the little white wicker chair that's on the balcony. From here you can see the river, but you can also see the town. The lights are still on and the town is still alive, and it makes me smile thinking of Noah and Allie from The Notebook, playing chicken in the road.

I look over at Jasper, who has turned over, and I see him as my Noah; my soulmate. I smile as I turn back, tucking my hair behind my ear as I pull my arms around me. Soon I'm a bit cold, so I pull my arms and my knees into his shirt, knowing he'll hate me for stretching it, but I don't care. I want to stay out here a bit longer, before I go and snuggle back inside.

***

"No!"

I jerk awake, jumping up as I hear Jasper's voice shouting.

"No! No, don't leave me!" He calls out and I can see he's thrashing on the bed, pulling at the comforter around him.

I dash over to him, jumping on the bed as I sit astride him, holding his face with my hands.

"Baby?" I say quietly. "Jasper!" I call louder when he doesn't respond. "Wake up, Jasper. It's just a dream. I'm here," I call out over and over.

He slowly stops thrashing his head from side to side, and after a few more minutes he seems to be calm again. I stroke the side of his face, which is soaking with sweat, same as his chest, and I see his eyes flicker open. The green in them is dark to begin with, confused as to why I'm on top of him, but they brighten when they realise I'm here, and that I haven't left him.

"Don't leave me," he whispers, looking at my lips as he rolls us sideways. He must still be dreaming because he closes his eyes as he wraps his arms around me again, holding me close. But I don't move this time. I put my forehead against his and push myself closer to him, holding him and reassuring him that I'm not going anywhere.

***

When I wake up again, it's light, and Jasper is awake. He has his boxers on but he's sitting up, leaning on a pillow as he watches me sleep.

"You got up in the night?" He asks, his brow furrowing.

I push myself up on my elbows and then push up all the way, kissing the soft skin on his brow where he's frowning. When I pull away the frown has disappeared.

"Just to look at the view... I needed a wee and then didn't want to go back to sleep just yet." He smiles sadly as he pulls me close to him.

"I dreamed you left me." He just comes out and says it, and even though it's just a dream, I still flinch at his words, my heart leaps out my chest to him.

"I know. But I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be here for you, always." I look at him, showing him that even when I'm back in England, I'll be there for him.

He shudders visibly and it still shocks me how someone so strong, and someone who has gone through so much, can be so weak at the same time. He's so insecure when it comes to us sometimes, but it's just part of who he is.

"I love you," he says, kissing me softly on my lips. "And I know you're not," he says, smiling as he strokes his thumb over my knuckles, sending tiny shivers up my spine.

"I love you too, baby," I grin, looking out the window. "Now can we go exploring?" I ask, turning back to him before jumping up to get in the shower, pulling him with me.

***

Boone Hall Plantation, where Allie's summer house is in The Notebook, was about an hour's drive away from where we were staying, so Jasper decided it was a perfect time to make me practice driving his truck.

"So remember there is a clutch in this one," he says for the third time as I start the engine. His truck was one of the only cars in the states that was a manual; most are automatic.

"Yes, darling," I respond, rolling my eyes.

He chuckles but kisses the side of my head as he leans back against the passenger seat. Bless him, I can see he's trying to be calm but I know full well that if I prang any part of it, the wedding will well and truly be off.

I pull off easily and repeat my mantra of 'it's not an automatic and there is a clutch' in my head. And the drive is pretty smooth in the truck too. I still much prefer the smallness of my BMW back home, but by the time I pull into the parking space at Boone Hall, I feel pretty confident. We hadn't had any hiccups, and it had been Jasper who'd got pretty irate at a guy that cut me up, I had remained perfectly calm.

Boone Hall was just as beautiful as I remembered it from the film. Labelled the 'most photographed plantation' I could see why. Even Jasper was taking pictures. He kept hanging back and then catching me up, so I was guessing I featured in them somewhere. The Avenue of Oaks was indescribable as well. I was blown away by their beauty, and it framed the house perfectly. The house itself was interesting too, despite its history as a slave plantation. But the best part of the day was our picnic underneath the oldest oak on the plantation.

It's planted near the river, a secluded and sheltered spot, and it was the perfect place for a moment alone before we headed off back to the B&B.

"So have you got your movies out your system now?" Jasper jokes, leaning back on his elbows as I turn to look at him from my position between his legs. He has a white shirt on today, and his khaki shorts and flip flops, looking every bit a beach bum. But he's my beach bum and I love him. I still can't get over how hot he looks with his new hair, shorter but still tousled, and it actually makes me forget to answer.

"Earth to Libby?" He asks, waving his hand in front of my face.

I blink back to reality. "Sorry you're distracting me. And no, I haven't." He dramatically groans and rolls his eyes and flops backwards on the blanket making me laugh. "I'm excited about California though."

"You ready to put all those surfing lessons to practice?" He sits up and smirks, knowing none of my lessons have gone well. Despite being relatively good at sports as a kid, I was definitely not a surfer.

"I'd rather just watch and swim." The memory of swallowing nearly a gallon of seawater last time is making me feel green.

"But you stood? And besides, Cali waves are better. Give it a try. Our place is on the beach anyway." It's true. After bowing to my wishes for the rest of the trip, I gave him free rein of where to stay in California.

"Fine. But don't laugh at me when I fall off again." He'd laughed so much he fell over himself.

He makes a cross over his heart and holds up his hand in a solemn promise that I will not be keeping him to.

"What classes are you taking next year then?" He asks, pulling me towards him so I'm practically lying on him, my chin resting on his chest. It can't be comfortable but if he wants me to, I will.

"Not too many. Disney-"

"Disney?!" He looks up and laughs. "Fuck's sake, Lib. You're ridiculous."

I giggle. "Yes, Disney Studies." I swat his chest. "But I'm also doing America in World War Two, American Presidency and American Literature. So pipe down." I'm taking more than that, including a prison module, but I'd decided not to tell him about that one. My friend did it last year and you apparently go and visit and interview inmates there, so I could already see him blowing up at me. His protective side would go into overdrive.

"A mixed bunch then. You got any idea about your dissertation yet?"

I shake my head. "No idea. But I have a month of classes before I have to decide so I'm not worried. I'd like to do it about here, but I don't know if I'll be able to."

"Here as in Boone Hall? Or here as in North Carolina..." he gestures to the surroundings, even though we're in South Carolina I know what he means.

"North Carolina. But I think the history is too broad." I had literally no idea, but I suppose we'd have to see.

He's looking at me funny, as if I'd disappear, and I can tell he's slipping into catastrophic thinking mode.

"Will you have any time off on your book tour?" I ask, moving closer to him.

He shrugs. "Hopefully."

He tugs at a piece of grass and pulls at it, repeating the process about eight more times before he says anything else.

"I wish I hadn't fucking agreed to it. I mean I could have come with you, but I chose to fucking stay."

"Hey, come on, this year will fly by. It'll be over before we know it."

He nods but I haven't convinced him. I know I haven't because I haven't even convinced myself. The time without him will drag, and I'm going to be miserable without him for the whole year.

"I just love you so much and I don't want to go back to the way I was without you, Lib. Especially as I'll be around people. What if I swear at a child or something?"

I can't help but laugh. "You won't. If you feel annoyed just... I don't know... just think of me, just like I'll be thinking of you, and it'll be fine."

He nods. But I haven't won him over. But then he shakes his head and leans forward on his arms and crawls over to me, making me lie backwards. I laugh as he plants tiny kisses up my clothed body before kissing my nose, leaning over me.

"Shall we go to the beach? Get wasted?" He asks, finishing our doom and gloom conversation about my ever-looming departure.

Usually I wouldn't agree to getting drunk, particularly as we had a very long drive ahead of us, but part of me knows we won't get as far as the beach anyway. So I nod, and when he stands he holds out his hands for me. I take them and he pulls me up into his arms, kissing me softly as he wraps his arms around my back, holding me tight. And as he does that, he drops his face into the crook of my neck and kisses it softly, and I just hold him, just as he holds me.

After we've been standing for a few minutes he kisses me once me and we start wandering back to the car.