Page 79 of Facing the Line

He stands and puts his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “She hates them as much as you do.”

I hold out my fist for a bump. “You have good taste, Emma.”

“So do you.” She glances from Jonas to me, a sly expression on her face.

I pretend like I don’t know what she’s implying.

Peeking my head out of the office/guest bedroom door, I adjust my earring and call down the hallway, “Jonas, could you come help me with something for a second?”

There’s no mirror in the office for me to check my outfit, but the way Jonas’s eyes widen in appreciation when he walks in lets me know my little floral-print sundress is the right thing to wear.

His voice is husky as he closes the door. “What do you need help with?”

I twirl. “Mostly figuring out if I look okay.”

He steps closer, his hands coming around my waist, and he leans towards me. “You look amazing.”

Jonas draws his nose down my throat, inhaling, and my stomach does a flip. I can’t resist. Tightening my arms around his neck, I jump and lock my legs around his waist. He catches me as if I weigh nothing, his palms supporting my butt.

“God, I’ve missed this,” I say as my mouth descends on his. There’s no time for a feathery, gentle kiss. I devour him, my hands everywhere—gripping his back and fisting his hair. He moans in my mouth and backs us up until we hit the sofa bed, then lays me on it, his body between my legs.

His fingers trail up my thighs, under my skirt, and I gasp. “Yes, please.”

“Jonas, are you ready to go yet?” His sister’s voice sounds outside the door, and we both stiffen.

“Yeah, Emma, I’ll be right there,” he calls to her, then groans into my neck. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” I say as he hops off the couch. “I shouldn’t have gotten carried away.”

“Hads, I can’t seem to do anything but get carried away when I’m with you.” He gives me a quick kiss, and I resist the urge to deepen it. I want him, all the time.

He sighs as Emma knocks. “She doesn’t really understand privacy. You ready?”

At my nod, he throws open the door to Emma, bouncing in place. “You’re taking forever! Let’s go.”

We play tourist all over the city, taking selfies at The Bean and splashing in the water features nearby. We visit the aquarium for Emma and she’s right, the sea otters are adorable. We ride the L, which is not all that different from the T in Boston, but I don’t tell Emma that. She’s super proud of her home city.

The crowning jewel is Giordano’s for dinner. The industrial-style interior is dim, and the wooden tables and chairs gleam. It has an old-school Italian vibe with lots of exposed bricks and duct work.

As we stand in the foyer waiting, Jonas’s dad throws his arm around my shoulders. “There are two main camps of deep-dish pizza lovers. Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s.” His tone is serious, like he’s imparting crucial wisdom. “Lou’s is okay, it’ll do in a pinch, but Giordano’s is the best.”

I nod. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

It’s not long before we’re seated at a long table. I’m next to Jonas, across from his sister and parents. The waiter brings menus, but Jonas’s dad hands them back, waving him off. “We know what we want.”

He orders a couple pizzas for everyone while I snake my hand under the table and put it on Jonas’s knee. It’s fun to watch him stiffen and blush. He clears his throat and asks his dad something about the Cubs, and his mom and Emma chime in, too.

They rib each other, good-natured teasing with lots of laughter. Jonas practically glows with happiness. Seeing him with his family is a revelation. He’s comfortable and open, relaxed in a way I don’t experience on campus. I’m struck with a vision of him in the future—married and with kids of his own, still eating at the same pizza place down the street from his parents. After his professional hockey career, there’s no doubt he ends up back in Chicago.

The thought makes sweat pop out between my shoulder blades and my cheeks flush. I resisted Jonas’s pull initially because I thought he’d disappoint me. Athletes always do. But after seeing him with his family, especially Emma, I know that wouldn’t be the case. If he loved someone, he’d never let them go.

I’ve always planned on flying away, giving myself lots of options, but Jonas has me rethinking everything. Being tied down used to sound like a fate worse than death, but if I’m tied to Jonas…the idea doesn’t freak me out like it should. Is it possible that I’m falling for him?

Chapter

Thirty-Four

JONAS

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