Page 47 of You & Me: Part Two

“Well, I had Cami for a roommate and free day are. I told you about Charlotte and how she watched Ireland every day. For free. Free Jonathan…what would I have done if she hadn’t been there and watched my little girl for free? Honestly, you said that Ireland is so great, and she is, but it is just as much because of Cami and Charlotte as it is me. I couldn’t have done it without either of them. So, financially things were a challenge, but because of the amazing support in my life we managed.”

I feel the tears coming so I take a sip of my wine to try and calm the emotions that are hovering on the surface. Jonathan’s face has been serious while he listens to me tell him another piece of my story and it’s making me feel even more on edge.

“It’s called karma, Emily. Just like I told you before. You put out enough good for all of us and that is why the good came back around to you. You deserve every good thing that has come your way. You deserve more if you ask me.”

“You’re exaggerating, but thank you.”

We continue to talk about my job and how much I love the kids I work with and how I can’t wait to do it full-time and have my own classes. He talks about his job and how much he loves it but that there are lots of challenges. We talk about the climate around the view of the police in our country. We talk for what feels like forever and then he asks the question I know he has been dying to ask me all day.

“Who do you think is doing this to you? The threats? Who would want to scare you like this?”

I fill him in on the situation with Jesse and that this is the only possible thing that I can think of. He asks if I would mind if he looked into and if I would share the same info I already gave to Mick.

“I already gave it to Mick, but if you really want to dig a little deeper you can.”

I go into the kitchen to get a sticky note and write down Jesse’s name and his father’s information.

“This is all I have, thanks for looking into it.”

As I hand him the sticky note, he takes it but keeps a hold of my hand, moves the sticky note to his other hand and puts it on the table. Before I know what’s happening he pulls me back down to the couch, but this time right next to him so my legs are over his. Still holding my hand that now has its fingers intertwined with his, he leans in a couple of inches from my face and scans every inch of my face with those magnificent eyes of his.

His gaze finally meets mine. “Gracie…I’m going to kiss you now.”

I just continue to look at him…

“That okay with you?”

I nod and the moment my head starts to move his lips find mine; feather-soft at first as he dips his foot in the pool to check the temperature. He takes his time and then gently bites my lower lip. I softly moan as he growls lightly and sends a shiver of lust down my spine.

“I have dreamed about this for years. I can’t believe you’re here, in my arms,” he whispers against my lips.

As if this proclamation was what he needed to say before he could really let loose, he lets go of my hand and cups my face in his hands just like I remember. He kisses me harder and our tongues start their exploration of each other. Before I know it we’ve changed positions and he’s above me with a leg on either side of me. You can hear us both breathing heavily as if we will never get enough of each other. He lowers himself onto me but is sure to keep most of his weight on his arms. He breaks our kiss and trails his glorious mouth down my neck. He has me squirming as I feel his excitement pressed between my legs. He then trails his lips and tongue back up my neck to my ear and whispers. “I missed you, Gracie.”

I glide my fingers up his back wishing I was touching his skin and bring my hands to his head where I guide his lips back to mine. A few moments later he pulls back and sits up. The excitement I was just feeling against my core is now visible and has me yearning for more. I remember what’s under those shorts, but I wouldn’t mind a reminder of what I’ve been missing.

“Emily, I am so sorry. I know you said that you just wanted to be friends and I’m trying. I really am. But you can’t deny that it’s still there. That connection between the two of us…it’s still there.”

“It is.”

“I’m sorry if I crossed a line.”

“You didn’t, I wanted it just as badly as you did. I did say I wanted to be friends. I have Ireland, school, class, threats…I just don’t know if I have enough to give. I also don’t want to hurt Ireland. If we try this and you leave or it doesn’t work out, it’s not just me that’s left behind to heal.”

I can tell that he doesn’t like my last statement but he checks himself before saying, “I don’t want to be an added stress to your life, Em. I know you have a lot going on but I’d like to be there to help you. I know you pride yourself on your independence and I don’t want to take any of that away. I would just love to be there for you and Ireland, but you’re already talking about when I leave. That’s not me, Em.”

Yep, I pissed him off.

“I know, but it’s what I know.”

“Emily, I think we should call it a night. I am going to sleep on the couch, after drinking that entire bottle of wine by myself, and you go to bed and think about what you can give and if you want to really try this. Just know that I’m all in but I don’t want to add stress to your life. Now please go to bed before I jump you again.”

He’s saying everything that I know to be true and everything I want to hear and all I can do is stand here staring at him. I can’t move and I can’t speak.

“Em?”

I jump at the sound of his voice and reply on auto-pilot. “Let me go get you a pillow and a blanket. I’ll be right back.”

In a haze of lust and with his admissions of wanting to try floating around my head, I walk in a daze to my room to grab a pillow and the extra blanket at the end of my bed and walk them back out to him.

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