Though Jack was terrified of the answer, he asked, “When?”
“May thirteenth,” she said quietly.
“Fuck,” Jack breathed, unable to hold the expletive back. That was less than a month away. “When are you leaving then?”
“We decided on May fifth.”
“Fuuuuuuuck.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s…okay,” he said. “Actually, no it’s not. How long have you known?”
“Since last week. They called late Wednesday.”
An entire week she’d known, and she was dropping this bomb on him now? When he was already more than a little fragile mentally?
“You should’ve told me then.”
“And ruin your final weekend of college hockey?” she said, raising a dubious brow. “No thanks.”
“So why are you telling me now?”
“Because I’ve been trying to find a way for a week, and because I’m about to meet your family, which is a big deal. In fact, if you no longer want me to, I understand.”
Anger and irritation warred in his chest with the desire to drag her to him and never let her go. He had half a mind to tell her that no, he didn’t want her to meet his family if she was just going to leave him in a few weeks. But…she still wore that ring around her neck, and she seemed to still be willing to honor that promise they’d made to each other those months ago. It wouldn’t be easy, but he had all the faith in the world that they’d figure this out—together.
“I still want you to meet them,” he said. “Of course I do. I’m just…processing.”
He met her mouth with his again, and against her lips, said, “We’ll figure this out, right?”
The words were more a plea than a question, and Jessica nodded against him.
“Yes,” she said. “We’ll figure this out together.”
They didn’t speak for a long time after that.
NOW: April 17, 2024
In those days afterMexico, when Jack had done nothing but mope around, missing Jessica, Josh had mercilessly made fun of him for being so spun out over a girl he’d only known for five days.
But Josh didn’t understand, and Jack didn’t think anyone ever would. That pull he’d felt to Jessica, like they were two halves of a whole begging to be rejoined—it was inexplicable, and probably would only ever make sense to them.
All that to say, Jack was a little nervous for Josh and Jessica to meet. Josh wasn’t the type to believe in fate, or soulmates, or any of the other mushy stuff where love was concerned, and Jack was afraid of what would come out of his brother’s mouth whenconfronted with the love of Jack’s life. Honestly, he’d be fine with Josh teasing him if it meant he left Jessica alone.
Thankfully, Jessica had already met his mom, but they hadn’t seen each other in four years. She wasn’t sure how his mom would react to this real world version of the relationship that had taken root and bloomed under the Mexican sun.
The only member of his family he wasn’t worried about was his dad. His dad loved everyone, and Jack knew he’d welcome Jessica into the family with open arms.
Naturally, he was right. They arrived at the arena promptly at six-thirty, and Jack was greeted by his mother with a hug around his middle—as that was as high as she could reach—that forced the air from his lungs. His dad, more stoic, gave Jack a fist bump and said, “Sorry about your season.”
Jack gave him a tight smile, but before he could respond, his mother smacked her husband. “Be nice, Joseph,” she said. Then, without warning, she turned to Jessica and also enveloped her in a hug.
Holding her at arm’s length after pulling away, Jack’s mother said, “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You, too, Mrs. DeLuca,” Jessica said with a shy smile.
“Oh, please,” his mother said with a wave of her hand. “Call me Becca.”
