Page 76 of Love Beyond the Illusion
“How do you feel?” he asks.
Now that the sex buzz is wearing off, I’m starting to feel slightly hungover again. “I have a headache,” I complain.
“I’m sure.” He laughs. “I hope you had a good time last night, despite the hangover.”
“I had a wonderful time. Your speech was perfect, and I felt so proud to be with you.” I squint my eyes from the daylight. That’s aggravating my headache. “I hope you know that you can alter the universe with that smile and charisma.”
Jack places two fingers under my chin and lifts it to meet his thoughtful blue eyes. “What can I do for you?”
“Food?” I say, shoving my hand under the pillow.
“You got it.” He slides out of me and swings his legs over the edge of the bed. “I’ll be right back.”
I reach for the blankets and yank them up, covering my naked body. “Where are you going?”
Jack slips on his boxers and grabs his phone. “I’m going to get you some breakfast.”
My heart melts.
By midmorning, Jack and I are sitting on the back patio eating breakfast burritos from the little cafe down the street. Even though there’s a mild chill in the air, I feel cozy wearing Jack’s shorts and a white T-shirt with a blanket wrapped around me. It smells like him. If I could bottle his scent and bath in it, I would.
“As I laid in bed staring at the ceiling last night, I had an idea,” he begins.
My eyebrows furrow as I catch the fact that he had a hard time sleeping. “I didn’t even know you were awake last night. Did you get enough sleep?”
Steam seeps from the hot coffee in his hand. “I’m not surprised. You were passed the fuck out.”
“I know.” My cheeks redden, slightly embarrassed. “So, what was your idea?”
“Why can’t my mom and I buy out Preston and his dad?” he exclaims, his eyes wide as if in mid-thought. Jack’s face is bright. I’m sure the rush he got from the overwhelming support at the harvest dinner played a part in this epiphany. And I am so happy for him.
“That’s a great idea. Is it possible? Do you think your mom would be into it?”
Jack sets his cup down on the table and opens his arms. “Come here.”
I rub my lips together. Does he want to hug me or be close to me? Either way, I waste no time responding to his sweet gesture. Pinching the blanket’s edges, I hold it together and approach his chair. When I squeeze between his legs, his strong arms come around from the back and pull me onto his lap.
“I think she’ll be thrilled with the idea as long as she knows it’s something I want,” he says, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Is it something you want?”
He lets out a weighted sigh. “I think I’m starting to realize that this is my path, and the sooner I embrace it, the more successful I can be.”
“When we went out to dinner with your mom, she mentioned that she wanted to step away, which is understandable after losing your dad. Do you think that will fit into her plan?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll need to speak with her about it first, but I’d be willing to take everything over if it meant her being happy and having some much-needed time away. It’s honestly the least I can do.” Jack slides his hand into mine. He forces my fingers to open and softly traces the lines inside my palm.
“That’s very considerate and kind. She’s lucky to have you,” I say, partially distracted by the tickle of his fingertips.
“Sometimes I forget that even though I lost my dad, she lost her husband—her best friend and partner.” Tilting my head to the side, I run my lips across his forehead as he speaks. “I could have been there for her more the last few months, but I was stuck in my own world of self-loathing. She’s been holding everything together while I’ve been complaining about what I wanted.”
“Trauma hits us unexpectedly, and no one really knows the right way to handle it, but look at what you’re doing now. You’re not only stepping into your family business, you’re fighting for it.” In our short time together, he has come a long way with acceptance. I smile, knowing that I’ve been a part of that.
“Thank you.” Jack’s arms hold me close around the waist with his hands folded on my stomach. “To offer a buyout is the right thing to do.”
Forget about pretending or the faking—or whatever the hell that we’re doing. This moment is real, and I won’t convince myself otherwise. I stay comfortably planted on his lap with my head resting on his shoulder for some time before Jack speaks. “Not having siblings never phased me growing up, but right now, I wish I had one to do this with.”
“Like losing your dad and someone to partner with on the winery?”
