“You gonna jump in or keep supervising?” Dean teases me from the floor.
I roll my eyes, “I’m the best supervisor you’ve ever had.”
“Mom, I’m makin’ a map on Dean.”
Pushing down the thoughts and fears of Brett, I lean against the wall watching the two of them. Justice is completely at ease with Dean. It should scare me, but it doesn’t. Instead, it makes something deep inside my chest feel complete.
We spend another great weekend together. Dinner and bathtime complete, Justice is crashed hard, his head hitting the pillow and asleep before Dean finishes his book.
I stand in the doorway watching him breathe peacefully.
I didn’t know if I would have a moment like this for so long. Here it is though. Part of me wants to stay right here prolonging Dean from leaving. Once I move from this spot, it’s going to be another goodnight. He will kiss me, and I’ll sigh. We will both lay in bed apart feeling the absence of each other, all because we agreed not to let things move quickly.
I walk back to the living room where Dean is sliding on his boots.
I sigh, “you don’t have to go,” I whisper.
He looks to me raising a brow, “Jo, don’t make this harder.”
“I know. Just when you stay it’s nice.”
He stands and moves to me rubbing my arms, “babe, I don’t want to playhouse. We do this shit, I don’t want to confuse Justice. I need to know you’re ready to share your space.”
I run my hand up his chest to his neck, running my fingers over his beard. “Stay,” I murmur rolling on my tip toes to press my lips to his neck. I feel his pulse throb as I silently hope he will see I am ready to share my space, my life, my past, and my future with him.
He exhales, his fingers digging into my hips, “Jo,” his voice is strained like he’s fighting a battle.
I don’t give him the words, but I give him my action. I kiss him, slow and deep. When he finally grips my waist pulling me in tighter, I know he’s gotten the message. A quick lift off my feet, I’m in my bed, tangled in the man who makes me feel completely alive again.
The sheets are now tangled around us, the air thick with our passion and my unspoken wish.
Eventually we will have the conversation. For right now, I want to fall asleep in his arms and wake up knowing I’m safe with him.
Raff
It’s the same day car. A white Toyota Camry. I spot it as I’m tightening the last strap on my saddlebag. It’s cruising the street that runs parallel to ours slowly. Too slowly and it’s not the first time. Lately it pops up more and more between here, Josie’s work, Justice’s school, and even the fucking clubhouse.
I grind my teeth in frustration. The car never stops. They stay far enough away, I can’t get a plate or description of the driver. They don’t pull in. Casually, they drive by and watch. Sometimes it’s a loop and they do this for hours.
Just as I make the decision to follow the car they speed up, disappearing out of view. I exhale sharply, shaking off the tension as I head next door. I don’t have time for any of this and it doesn’t make me feel good about leaving.
Justice lights up as soon as I walk in, jumping off the couch and launching himself at my legs. I ruffle his hair while looking at the most beautiful woman on Earth look down at her kitchen counter sad.
“Leaving sucks,” she tells me the truth. I love this about us. Even when we don’t have good news or the best situation, we are real with everything.
“Yeah, Jo, it does.”
Her lips press together, but she doesn’t push. Sara or Honey or someone must have given her the low down about not asking club business. Maybe it’s her time as a military spouse where they are forced to trust the unknown. Either way, it’s simply another reason we are meant to be. She fits my lifestyle like no one else can.
Taking Jo’s phone off the counter and placing it in her hand, “You need anything while I’m gone, even a gallon of fuckin’ milk, you call Honey.”
She smiles softly. “I’m capable of getting milk.”
“Just tell me you’ll call Honey for anything.” I can’t hide my worries.
“Dean, what is going on?”
“We live in honesty together. That doesn’t change. There is a car. Could be nothing, could be something. Brett’s been quiet for months now. I can’t say it’s him, but I can’t say it’s not.”
