Evie and I burst out laughing. “You’re kidding, right?” I asked, while Evie gawked at our friend with wide eyes.
“Now I know I’m drunk!”
Izzy stared at us like we’d each grown a third boob until she understood our confusion. “Jude doesn’t count,” she said with a wag of her finger. “That’s an inappropriate crush on my older brother’s best friend. He’s been off limits since I was a little girl.”
“There’s no way you’re convincing me you just have a ‘crush’ on Jude.” I added air quotes and a sarcastic tilt to my head. “I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
“Yeah, well he hasn’t! So let’s talk about anything else, please.” Izzy threw a balled-up napkin my way and we dissolved into giggles. I spent the rest of the night focusing on the love blossoming between Jack and me instead of the obstacles we’d bumped into. After all, my shirt that evening said it all: Energy goes where your attention flows.
I wanted the energy flowing toward love…not fear.
Chapter Thirty
Amelia
My doorbell rang just after four-thirty on Saturday afternoon and my heart pitter-patted its way into my throat. I threw the door open, grabbed Jack by his shirt, and drew him close for a kiss, breathing him in, reveling in his warmth.
Yes please, whispered my heart.
More please, begged my body.
“God I’ve missed you,” I murmured against his mouth, then kissed him again, sliding my hands along the back of his neck.
Jack grunted in response, nodding his agreement and gripping my ass as he backed us into the house and closed the door. He kept advancing until I bumped into a stack of boxes lining the walls. He broke the kiss to peer over my shoulder, then looked at me in surprise. “What’s all this?”
I stepped back, gesturing dramatically. “I’m pleased to present the initial shipment of stock for Wildrose’s first woo-woo store.” I wiggled my fingers, then ran my hands along the boxes like a gameshow model.
“I can’t wait for you to tell me all about it, but first things first.” Jack took my hand and pulled me close. “I’ve gone too long without seeing you naked.” He grabbed my hips and I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.
“I agree completely.”
Our lips locked and we found our way to my bedroom, where we proceeded to make up for lost time.
After our first bout of naked time, we ordered dinner, and ate it while I broke open boxes to show him what had arrived. I chattered about the store around bites, answering questions and filling in the details. Jack seemed so impressed with how things were coming together, he almost glowed with pride, which had me doing a little glowing of my own. It didn’t take long for us to find our way back into my bedroom, where we lost ourselves to enjoying each other once again.
And then maybe again.
Loose, languid, and completely at ease, Jack and I lay facing each other in bed, propped on elbows, talking about everything. We weren’t worrying about a kid hearing us, or someone walking in while we weren’t wearing enough clothes, or someone else suddenly needing a snack or a fight exploding over who was supposed to clean up the toys. It was just him and me, a man and woman, and the amazing energy we generated when we were together.
Every fear I had about us working out dissipated. How could we not work out when we were this good? A sense of right settled over me. Of perfection. Of absolute clarity that this was where I was supposed to be and who I was supposed to be with. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling and Jack stopped talking mid-sentence.
“What?” His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“This. Us. It just feels so good. You make me very happy, Jackalicious.”
His smile was like the sunrise, slowly lighting his face with life-giving warmth. “It does feel pretty damn good.”
The buzz of his phone interrupted my favorite moment of the week and Jack stood to fish it out of his pants on the floor. “Well, shit. It’s almost ten o’clock.” He stared at me with so much emotion, I couldn’t understand it all. “The kids are in bed, but I promised Iz I’d be back by now. That was her, making sure I’m alive. I have to go.”
I wanted to pull him back to bed and bury him in covers and keep him with me for hours…
…for weeks…
…forever.
But Izzy had to go home, and he had children who needed him, so I put away my needs and said goodbye.
Besides, I’d see him again Monday morning. For a little bit.
And a little bit more when he got home that evening.
“I love falling in love with you, Amelia Brown,” he said as we stood in my doorway, sharing one more kiss. And another. And just one more. You know, for the road.
“I love falling in love with you, Jackalicious.”
The August air was thick and muggy. It curled the hair at my temples as the chirp of crickets serenaded us. Bugs flitted through the light of the porchlights as the maples lining the drive danced in the starlight.
It was perfect.
Jack slipped from my arms, turning one last time to place his hand over his heart before he lowered himself into his car. The engine revved to life, his headlights cutting through the darkness. I lifted a hand as he backed away.
We were perfect.
And then I was alone, with a slew of confused thoughts and a houseful of boxes to keep me company. I was fine to be patient while the kids adjusted to us being together, but…maybe…just maybe…there was something I could do to speed things along.
With a decisive nod, I headed upstairs to meditate on the subject. Surely, my spirit guides had advice for me. I just needed to stop worrying and listen.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jack
Leaving Amelia’s house was the hardest thing I’d done since I said goodbye to her on Friday. The family dynamics were smoothing out, which was good. The kids weren’t regressing anymore, but there wasn’t much thawing happening either. And I needed them to thaw because this couldn’t be the way. Amelia and I seeing each other once a week?
I shook my head as I turned onto my street.
I was caught between wanting to do what was right for my kids, and wanting to do what was right for me. For the first time in a long time, those things were at odds with each other.
I hated it.
Especially when there’d been a time when Amelia was right for all of us.
“It can’t keep going like this,” I said to the windshield as I pulled into my driveway. That much I knew for sure.
Stealing moments with the woman I loved when Izzy was willing to babysit…
In the blips of time before and after work, then tons of texts in between…
That was no way to build a relationship. Not the kind of relationship that could grow into something real. Something strong.
I took the porch steps two at a time and found Izzy curled up, half asleep on the couch. She lifted her head and grinned. “Have a good time?”
“A great time. Sorry we ran late.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing. Kids were good and this couch is comfortable.” She pressed herself into a sitting position, blinked herself awake, then stood, smirking as her eyes traveled to my chest. “Your shirt’s inside out.”