“Maybe he’s afraid that you’re rebounding and don’t know it.”
“I’m not. I got over Boyd so fast I should’ve sent apology notes to everyone who bothered to come out.”
She tsked. “If you hadn’t done all that, you wouldn’t have ended up in Jonah’s bed.”
And on the stairs, the couch, and last night, thekitchen table. I stroked my fingers along the surface where he’d had me spread with his head between my legs and my heels on his shoulders. I could see her point. So many unusual circumstances had to happen to get me and Jonah in the same place and especially to get us to leave together. And stay together. “I don’t think Jonah believes in fate.”
“Then prove to him that there’s more to it than fate, like chemistry, compatibility, and intent.”
“I intend to do a lot to him.”
“That might convince him more than anything.”
I laughed at her seriousness. “I was joking.”
“I’m not. Men respond to sex. Why do you think I’m single?”
“Autumn.”
“Kidding, Summer. We’re not talking about me, but I am saying if you come in hot saying you want forever and a family, that scares the shit out of a lot of men. Men you’d think would be old enough to not be led around by their dick.”
I lifted my brows at the bitterness drifting through the line. Autumn wasn’t shy about wanting to settle down, but thankfully, she was pickier than I had been about who she would tie herself to. Her choosiness had also led to her loneliness. I had a lot of respect for her, and a lot of sympathy. My sister had a lot of love to give.
“But seriously,” she continued, “if you are clear about what you want out of a relationship with Jonah and he gets weird, then you might have to consider that you two are in different places in life. You might have to consider that he’s not willing to leave his mountain cabin of safety.”
“I don’t want to leave it either.”
“Okay, then. Say you two decide to continue the bangfest and tell everyone you’re a thing—are you okay being solo at a lot of things you’d normally have your partner there with you for?”
I ran my bottom lip through my teeth. “It was kind of like that with Boyd. Jonah won’t sit out my life events because he thinks he’s too busy for them.” I realized now Boyd had thought he was too good for the stuff going on in my life. He’d come to Daddy’s funeral and left right after, citing work obligations. I’d been content to let him go.
Mydaddy’sfuneral. When Boyd knew what I’d gone through with my birth parents.
Jonah had been at Daddy’s funeral. He’d even stopped in at the reception to give his condolences to Mama. Then he’d left as quietly as he’d come. No need to give excuses that made him look important.
“I really like it here,” I confessed. “And I really like him.” I’d be more devastated than any breakup if he cut things off before we were official. I also wouldn’t be okay staying his little secret.
I would not be okay if I heard he was hooking back up with Jackie Weller.
“Then be honest, Summer. Tell him what you want and what you expect. Just because he’s been a hermit and he’s been hurt and he’s been through a mind fuck about you and his brother doesn’t mean you should settle for his hang-ups.”
Twice in my life I’d been brutally honest. First, with Eli, and Jonah’s life had been irrevocably altered, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mine had been changed too, but I hadn’t lost as much as him. The second timewas before my wedding. And again, I’d tipped Jonah’s existence upside down.
Yet if he didn’t want to be with me, then... I didn’t know. I didn’t want to find out.
I shouldn’t have called Autumn. She looked sweet and innocent, but she could cut through bullshit better than any of us.
A whisper snaked through my head.Maybe that was why you did call her.
Wynter and Junie would sayGet it, girl. Have that fun. Then Wynter would tell Myles all about it.
Scarlett would tell me to take things slow. She knew enough of Jonah to know he’d been hurt, and she’d been at my wedding. She’d want both of us to be cautious.
My brothers might ask me what the hell I was thinking, then get to Jonah and tell him that if he hurt me, they’d take it out on him.
Autumn was pragmatic. She was honest. She knew me and she knew Jonah, and she knew that ripping off the bandage of truth was the best way to face this problem.
Because the storm was coming to an end. The snow was supposed to quit tonight. Then another couple of days of clearing roads and I could make my way down the mountain. How long would I be welcome back? How soon before my time pining for Jonah Dunn was over?
