“No problem,” I lied. “Just a lot on my mind.” I craned my head to see if Danielle was out of my bathroom yet. “I asked Danielle to move in with me.”
“No shit! That’s gr—wait did she say no?”
“She said not yet, after she almost passed out from shock. It’s probably too fast. It’s only been a few months.”
“Do you have doubts? Do you know she’s the one?”
The air drained from my lungs as I nodded at no one. “I … I don’t, not at all. She is. I guess it makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone. If you know, then she is. Give her a little time, and stop worrying about every goddamn thing.”
“This is deep. You’re wise for an asshole.” As long as it took me to start to concede, Dylan and PJ were a good fit. An odd fit, but he was right. They didn’t have to make sense to anyone else. His level head was what my crazy sister needed.
“I have my moments. Things have a way of working out. Relax, man.”
I almost had everything I ever wanted. Thealmostwas a rotten possibility that made relaxing fucking impossible. The job, the girl—especially the girl—were too important to lose.
Today was a game changer in more ways than one.
I hurried into the doctor’s office after camping out in my car for fifteen minutes, attempting to act aloof and detached.
“Jack Taylor, here to see Dr. Mirano.” I strode up to the receptionist’s desk, clearing my throat to cover the shaking in my voice.
“He’s a little delayed. Have a seat.” The receptionist motioned to an empty row of seats in the back.
Fucking great.The urge to get something over with had never been so overwhelming, and now it was delayed.
Resting my elbows on my knees, I let my head droop and sucked in a long breath. Getting agitated wouldn’t help me, and the last thing I needed was for the doctor to think I was unstable and note that.
After half an hour, I fished my phone out of my back pocket for a little distraction. It vibrated in my hand as Danielle’s name lit up the screen. She’d mentioned she had back-to-back sessions for most of the day after we shared a tense goodbye. She was probably calling about news I wouldn’t have for I had no clue how long.
“Sorry, sweetheart. The doctor is late, so I have no answer for you.”
“Yes, Jack.”
I fell back into my chair. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I’ll move in with you. I don’t know why I froze and it’s bothered me all morning. I guess I’m scared of going too fast, but all I want is to be with you every single day. What the hell am I waiting for?”
My control freak girlfriend’s rambling was fucking adorable.
“Listen, I don’t want to push you. When you’re ready—”
“I’m ready right now. And, as luck would have it, my lease is up next month. I’m all yours, if you want me.”
“I always want you, and you should know that. I love you.”
“I love you, too. So much, Jack. Whatever happens today, I love you, and I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. I think I needed that.” I exhaled as my eyes squeezed shut. She always knew what I needed.
“I know. Remember, I know everything.”
We laughed, and I wished I could lunge through the phone and kiss her.
“Go make some poor bastard suffer. I’ll call you as soon as I’m out.”
We ended the call, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. My life was restarting today, whether I ended up back on the truck or not.
