Hutch:Fuck, don’t call me that.
Jillian:Why, will it help get me information on the date?
Hutch:You are relentless, you know that?*laughing emoji*
I didn’t realize how much I missed her texts until the first one she sent. In fact, I missed everything about Jillian. Her texts, her scent, her laugh, and just being near her. When I stepped into my empty apartment after leaving the hospital, I realized she had been there. That she had cleaned it up, and made sure it was just the way I would want it. It was enough to break me into a meltdown until I had nothing left inside me before I packed a bag of everything I needed and left, because I couldn’t be there anymore. That had never truly been my home. It was a place I had slept and eaten, but not a place I had ever truly felt comfortable. I moved back into the apartment over my parents’ garage where I could be close to Hazel until I could find something else.
I was thrilled to be home with my daughter. The moment she had seen me, the day I had come home, she had dropped the dolls she had been playing with and came running at me full speed so that I could pick her up and shower her with kisses. I loved Hazel with every single ounce of my soul. When I looked at her? I saw a future, and now that the demons inside my head were no longer speaking to me, I finally felt I could give Hazel the future she deserved.
I had spent more than enough time trying to figure out what to wear tonight before I decided on faded blue jeans, and a tan short-sleeved Henley that I was sure my mother had slipped into my dresser at some point over the past week. I had never seen it before. As I walked up the steps to Jillian’s apartment building, I nervously ran my hand through my hair and tugged on my shortened locks. I had gotten a haircut this morning because I couldn’t stand how long it had gotten, and as I tugged on the ends, I wondered what Jillian would be wearing. Something sexy, like that lacey number when we first went out? A dress? My mind was racing as I raised my hand to knock, only to have her open the door before I had the chance.
“Hey.” She beamed up at me with a shy smile. “Want to come in for a second?” She pushed the door open. “I just need to put my shoes on.”
“Sure.” I stepped into the apartment and shoved my hands into my pockets, keeping my eyes on Jillian as she moved into the room. She looked beautiful, like I knew she would. Dressed in a green sleeveless keyhole top and blue jean shorts, her tan, toned legs looked like they went on forever. I liked how her hair was piled up on her head in a tight ponytail, and as she glanced over her shoulder at me, I felt my ears burn. Instead of staring at her, I moved my gaze around her apartment, taking in all the little touches I knew belonged to her.
The giant couch, covered in too many pillows, with the throw blanket on the back that I recognized from her bedroom. It was decorated with tiny little ballet slippers. There were framed photos of every size all hung over every inch of the wall, and as I leaned closer to look at one, I noticed it was from Jo and Patrick’s wedding, the one of us high-fiving while they had their backs to us. My heart thumped against my ribcage as I realized she had pieces of me in her home even though we had been separated.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?” Jillian asked as she slipped on her sneakers. “You cut your hair.” I turned around when she passed that remark.
“No, I’m not going to tell you yet,” I answered. “You like it?” I ran my hand over the shortened sides and over the top. “It was driving me crazy how long it had gotten.”
“I like it.” She grabbed her phone to slip it into her pocket before moving toward me. Jillian reached up her hand to lightly run her fingers over my freshly cut hair, and I felt my dick instantly respond to her touch. “Kiss me, Hutch,” she whispered and then dropped her hand onto my shoulder.
Who was I deny her something she wanted? I leaned down to press my mouth against her, one hand gripping the nape of her neck, the other finding her left hip to pull her closer, and when our lips met, it was like nothing else mattered. Her mouth was welcoming me, our tongues wrapped together, and soft little moans escaped Jillian’s throat as our kiss deepened, her fingers digging into my skin. How could I ever think I could find this with someone else?
This...this was what I craved.
Jillian’s touch.
Jillian’s kiss.
Jillian’s everything, all at once.
“Jills,” I murmured softly. “If we don’t stop, we’re never leaving your apartment tonight, and as much as I want to bury myself inside your pretty little pussy again, I want to take you out and spoil the shit out of you.” I tugged on her bottom lip with my teeth.
Her green eyes were dark with molten lust when she pulled back. “Can I have both?” She smirked.
Fuck, my already hard cock liked that idea even better as it strained against my jeans. “Depends on whether you’re a good girl or not,” I teased, cupping her head with my hands. “I missed you so much,” I whispered.
A smile broke out on Jillian’s beautiful face, causing her entire face to light up. “I missed you, too.”
“Come on.” I tilted my head. “Let’s get out of here.”
***
Jillian clapped herhands together as she jumped up and down before she flung herself into my arms. “I can’t believe you brought me to the carnival,” she gushed, peppering kisses all over my face. “I haven’t been here since—”
“The last time I came with you.” I finished the sentence for her as I held her against my chest. “It felt right,” I added, placing her back onto her feet. “To come back where it all began.”
She nudged my side before hugging me. “Technically,” she said, “it started at the Egg, but I’m not sure that’s our place anymore.” She sounded almost sad when she said it, and I hated how I had ruined that for her because of Madison.
“Hey.” I placed a finger under her chin. “This is the place where I realized I was in love with you.” I searched her green eyes as she stared up at me. “We can still have the Angry Egg too. We can just set it on fire and rebuild it.” Her face broke into a smile before she burst into laughter. “Trust me, Jilly, any place is ours as long as we’re together.”
“Let’s get inside before it gets too busy.” Jillian untangled herself from my grasp, only to lace her fingers through mine. When I didn’t budge, her brows dropped, and I saw worry written all over her face. “Hutch?” She touched my chest lightly with her free hand.
A smile pulled at my lips. “Just trying to remember everything,” I assured her. “Which reminds me.” I slid my phone from my pocket. “Picture? You know, like the old days?”
Jillian instantly snuggled in close so I could take a selfie, which she immediately demanded to see before she made me send it to her, and then post to her Instagram, tag me in it, and then added the caption: “Where it all started.” I’d be lying if it didn’t make me happy, and maybe just a little more than greedy when I caught other guys staring at Jillian as we made our way into the carnival.
