About a half hour later, still plagued with worry and not accomplishing much, the buzzer went off, notifying me that someone was looking to get in. I glanced up, and my heart leaped with joy.
He came.
How did he know exactly what I needed?
When I let Jett through the door, he walked with purpose straight for me and pulled me into his arms. God, it felt so good and right. In his embrace, even when we were just friends, was always my happy place.
Jett would always be my best friend; he was just a lot more now since I had said,I do.It may seem absurd at my age to say that no matter what happened, I was sure I’d never say those words to anyone else again. Many people move on, find new loves and spouses.
Not me.
The things that had transpired in the last few weeks made me believe that Jett might feel the same and never call this whole marriage off. With the ring, the kiss, and the things he said, I prayed we were headed in the right direction.
Theforeverkind.
He knew me better than anyone, and because of that, after he spoke with the guys, he’d kidnapped me for the remaining part of the day. Placing me in his car, he let meknow we’d figure out my vehicle later, and he began to drive.
When his hand reached across the console, coming to rest on my thigh, palm up, I grabbed it, wishing I never had to let go. We drove like that in silence, but the quiet was peaceful. Then we pulled up to the Baskin-Robbins down the street from my work and I swung my gaze to Jett.
“You always did think you could fix me with ice cream,” I said, rolling my eyes.
His eyebrows raised. “It’s worked many times.” Then he sighed. “Look. I know this won’t make all your worries go away and they can’t be fixed with sweets, but I hoped it would make you feel a little better.”
Before I could answer him, there was a knock on my window, startling me. I whipped my head in that direction to find my son smiling at me as he stood on the sidewalk with Ruby and Autumn. Seeing the silly faces he made as he yelled, “I scream for ice cream!” had love fluttering inside me and a giggle bursting from my lips.
He could be a goofball, and I loved him beyond words.
I looked back at Jett. “You did this.”
It was more a statement than a question, but his answer came in the form of a soft squeeze of my hand that he still held.
“Let’s get some ice cream before those kids scramble their brains from all that bouncing they’re doing.”
Jett released my hand and opened his door as I turned back toward the trio outside. As he exited the car, I heard him say, “I love that sound, by the way.”
He must have meant my giggle, I thought, and I couldn’t help the tingle of joy that his words made me feel.
I followed suit and got out of the car too. Griffin’s little body slammed into me, his arms wrapping around my legs.
“I want chocolate.” He dropped his arms and stared up atme. “Wait. I changed my mind. I think I’ll have strawberry,” my son said excitedly.
Suddenly, ice cream and I were forgotten when Jett came around the back of the car. Well, the ice cream had been for a nano of a second that was.
“Daddy!” He rushed to Jett and grabbed his hand. “Hurry, I’m starving.”
Jett chuckled as he let Griffin drag him toward the front door to the shop. As they neared me, my husband snagged my hand with his free one. Ruby gave me a sympathetic smile, and I knew she heard the news. Then her gaze glanced at our joined hands, and her smile changed to one of happiness.
The worry still sat heavy in my stomach, making nausea form there, but it was mixed with love. My best friend, my husband—he’d come right away, and he planned this for me. His thumb brushed back and forth over the top of my hand before dropping it to open the door.
We all piled inside, picked out our ice cream, and sat down.
As afamily.
This time he took me in on my offer to come in.
We may have done it backward, dessert before dinner, but it had gone a long way to settling the turmoil inside me. Jett had agreed to a Friday night of pizza and a movie with Griffin and me. It was like old times but new too.
In the past, Jett and I had always been completely comfortable around each other. Some of that was still there as we all sat close watching the movie, but something else fluttered inside of me: the desire that seemed to bouncebetween us as a couple. I never felt anything like it, not even when I’d first met Chaz.
