M.A. Nichols

I wrote this short story shortly after releasing A Stolen Kiss, and then (true to author life) I promptly forgot it amidst the slew of other work to be done. Only recently did I stumble across it again and decide it deserved to see the light of day.

Why did I write it? Because Jack never actually says I love you, and a few readers were disappointed—but there was a very deliberate reason I didn’t include it. 

First, Jack’s journey is about vulnerability, and for him, even begging her to stay is monumental. That plea is his heart laid bare. Forcing those words would have rung false. Second, Lily’s is about reaching a place of confidence where she no longer needs those words to validate what she already knows. To have her get the words in the story would’ve undercut her growth.

This little story lets him reach that moment naturally, in his own time. It fills the quiet space after the book ends when he finally finds the words. 

And I’m delighted to share it at last!