Jo moves to the doorway turning around and leaning against the frame watching. I don’t look at her, but I feel her. I feel the connection of this something we are building between us. By the time I reach the end of the book, Justice is soundly sleeping. I stand and ease my way out of his room.
As much as I want to stay the night, I’m not going to. I turn to her at the front door. Brushing my thumb over her cheek before pressing my lips softly to hers, I whisper, “night, Jo.”
Her breath catches, “night, Dean.”
“I’m next door if you need me.”
I step back out of the door and walk straight over to my place knowing she’s standing there watching me. “Lock up, Jo,” I call out and hear her laugh.
“I have a neighbor who looks out for me,” she teases, and I find myself smiling.
“Always watching out for you, baby.” I respond as I turn to watch her fall back inside her house and know she’s locked the door as I get the alert on my phone for her alarm.
Yes, I have it bad for her.
Morning comes and I step outside to make my way next door for breakfast. I find Justice is in the driveway with Jo behind him carrying a coffee and bagel.
“Dean! I was coming to bring you breakfast.” He explains with exuberance.
“I see that,” I reply leaning over to kiss Jo softly as I take the coffee and bagel.
“You wanna ride for a bit this morning?” I ask looking over to my garage where his bike is propped on its kickstand between my two Harley’s.
“Yeah, but maybe not the crashing part.”
I chuckle taking a bite of the bagel, “falling is part of life. It’s how you pick yourself up that defines you.”
“Just remember what Dean taught you. Relax into it,” Jo encourages as Justice puts on his helmet.
“Take it slow,” I tell him as he begins to take off around the cul-de-sac. This time his confidence is there in the beginning. His legs push the pedals as his balance maintains steady. I jog beside him just to help him feel secure.
After a beat, he takes a break and I crouch down, bumping fists. “You got this.”
His eyes move to his mom, “Can we ride to the park? Braylen says his dad rides his Harley beside him to the park.”
I look to Jo unsure how she will feel about this. Yes, Smoke bought both his kids these electric bikes that are set up to look like mini motorcycles with turn signals and sounds. He does let ‘take them on rides’ to the park. Jo studies me and I shrug. We don’t get on a highway to go to the park, and we can go slow.
“You up for a ride, Dean?” Jo asks raising her eyebrows at me with a smile.
“Always,” I tell them both making my way back to my garage.
Leaving my helmet off, I get on the bike, have Jo hop on behind me and we let Justice lead the way. Justice squeals with joy while Jo gives me a comforting squeeze.
This is everything I never knew I wanted.
But I damn sure won’t let it go.
Fourteen
Josie
This is what it should have been
I’ve lost track of the days since Brett has called or attempted communication. I’m nervous today, though, as my attorney called with our next court date for division of assets.
If I’m honest, I have let myself get too comfortable. The phone call reminded me of this dread in the pit of my stomach Brett gives me.
I want to hold onto this peace. Maybe it’s because Justice is laughing more. Maybe it’s because I’m not forcing myself to smile and keep going day in and day out. Or maybe, mostly, it’s because of the man currently stretched out on my living room floor letting my son run toy cars up and down his arms as if his tattoos are part of a racetrack.
