Page 76 of You & Me: Part Two

Of course, I want him, but it doesn’t seem like it can be that easy, can it? The fact that the one and only man I have ever loved has walked back into my life, and is offering himself up to me again just, seems too easy. Besides that, how will I put myself back together again when he leaves?

As if reading my mind, he speaks again after my silence doesn’t give him the answer he’s looking for.

“Gracie, I know you have been hurt and let down by men in your past, but baby, I’m not them. I know you watched your dad cheat on your mom, and then uproot your family by leaving, and it turned your world upside down. I can’t imagine how hard it was to watch him pick a new family over you, Mick and your mom. I know watching your mom’s heartbreak had to be unbearable, but baby, I’m not him. I’m also not that asshole that is missing out on a life with the most perfect little girl I have ever met. It’s his loss, and please don’t get me started on him because if I do I just may punch my fist through a wall, and I like my walls just the way they are.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his last statement and to be honest, I agree with him, I like his walls just the way they are too.

There is only one concern he hasn’t addressed.

“What about Mick? He’s gonna kill you when he finds out that he asked you to watch over me and we’ve been having ‘sleepovers’ every night.”

“You let me worry about Mick. Besides, I think he cares about your happiness more than anything else, and I have no problem proving to him that I can make you and Ireland happy.” He pushes a stray hair behind my ear and searches my face for answers. He brings his pleading eyes back to mine and it’s obvious he’s scared to ask his next question. “Emily, is Mick your problem or is that just an excuse you’re telling yourself because you’re too scared to say yes?”

I nod my head to answer him and in a flash, he’s on top of me. His dimples are out in full force as he gently lays on me without putting all his weight down. He closes his eyes, and his face gets serious as he takes some cleansing breathes and says, “I cannot believe I am going to do this, but you leave me no choice…brace yourself, baby.”

He messes with his phone, and one of my favorite JT songs begins to play. He brings his lips to mine and gives them a gentle kiss, but as soon as the lyrics begin he moves those amazing lips to my ear and starts to sing quietly. He sings about healing my heart, and for me to stop acting like falling in love with him would be such a bad thing. He tells me he wants all of my nights and my mornings too. He also promises not to fill my head with broken promises.

He finally pulls back from my ear so that I can see his face. His face that is now gloriously beat red with embarrassment, and I have to say it is the sweetest thing anybody has ever done for me. It was so romantic, just like the rest of the day and night has been. It was perfect, just like him, and when he starts to break into the chorus again, I can’t help but put my hand over his mouth and shush him.

“Yes, Georgia…Yes…You and me. Let’s give it shot.” I am still covering his mouth but I can see the relief in his eyes and feel it in his body. “Can we keep it quiet for now, just until I can talk to Mick? I feel like I owe him an explanation.”

I release my hand from his mouth and he brings his lips to mine and our tongue dances together for just a brief moment. He ends the kiss and brings his forehead to mine.

“If that is what you need then yes, we can wait to tell other people until you talk to Mick, but I need you to know that you are mine. From this moment on you are mine, and I am yours, Gracie. It’s been that way since the first time I laid eyes on you so there’s no need to fight it.”

He lays back down and brings me and the blankets with him. I’m tucked into his side, and I can tell that there are three little words he wants to say but is too scared to. They’re on the tip of my tongue as well, but for now, knowing he’s mine and I am his is enough.

25

Jonathan

It feels like I’m breathing again for the first time in what feels like forever. Hearing the word ‘yes’ come out of her mouth felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of my chest. I think part of what lifted that weight was also talking to her about Matt and Mom. At first, I felt like such a pussy for falling apart in her arms, but she soothed me and was there for me. She is slowly making me whole again.

I couldn’t have been more honest with her last night. When I told her that the fact that Ireland comes with being with Emily is an added bonus. It just means having two of them to spoil and love. Love. That is what this is and I was so close to telling her last night, but I wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear it. I know that deep down she knows that I still love her…that I am in love with her…but I still think hearing it would make it all a little too real for her.

Getting to sleep with her in my arms, and wake to her beautiful smile and that sexy morning voice of hers these last few days has been fan-fucking-tastic. Having to give that up is going to kill me. Mick came home this morning and that means our adult sleepovers will be coming to an end. Emily better talk to him soon because with the way Ireland likes to talk about anything and everything…he’s going to find out sooner rather than later that I was at his place a little more than I’m sure he expected while he was gone. I don’t think he’s going to be thrilled about that.

This morning Emily had me take her to Cami’s where Ireland, Frances, and Frank had stayed the night before. Frances and I went home and Cami was going to take Emily, Ireland and Frank home later.

I owe Cami for all of her help with yesterday. When I called her she jumped right in and didn’t hesitate to do whatever I needed to give us our night together. She’s a character, that one. Her last words to me on the phone after I called to make sure that pick up for Ireland went smoothly was, “Get some!” She’s just like one of the guys, and the best friend Emily could ever hope for.

Now with the girls all sorted, I have time to kill until five o’clock when I pick Emily and Cami up to go to Wesley and Trisha’s wedding. It worked out great that she was already planning to go, but she was already bringing Cami as her plus one, so I’ll be arriving with two dates this evening. If Alex weren’t the event planner for the reception, I’m sure I would have three dates tonight. Cheryl, Emily’s mom, will be taking Ireland, and we’ll have another date night tonight. I love spending time with Ireland, but time alone with Emily is nothing I will ever complain about.

I try to pass the time today by going to The Gym, running errands and taking Frances to the dog park. I can’t help but feel like I am walking on air. Like all the puzzle pieces of my life are finally coming together. I feel like an idiot walking around with a constant smile on my face. I may be whipped already, but I don’t give two shits. I’ve got my girls and that’s all that matters.

Luckily for me, Mick is in the wedding so I don’t have to worry about any confrontation with him today. When I get to the house to pick the girls up, Cami answers the door all dressed and ready to go in a mid-length dark pink dress.

“Hey Jonathan, come on in. Em is still finishing up.”

“Thanks, Cami. You look lovely this evening,” I say as I walk past her and into the living room. Frank comes up to greet me, but I try not to let him get too close so that I don’t get white fur all over my dark grey suit.

“You don’t look too bad yourself. You want something to drink?”

“Nope, I’m good. Thanks though.”

A few moments of awkward silence fall over us, but Cami breaks it. “Thank you, Jonathan. You’re bringing my girl back to life again.”

“It’s her that’s bringing me back to the surface, Cami. It’s all her,” I assure her.

---