Amy frowned. Had Jared really said that? She doubted Jenna was lying, but maybe she misheard. Then again, Jared could be a little high-handed. He tried to couch his arrogance in protective attitude, but he still sometimes overstepped. Amy was okay with him doing whatever he wanted for the girls, they could only benefit. But when it came to her, she liked to make her own decisions in life.
"No," she said stubbornly. "I still work there. I'll set Jared straight."
Jenna burst out laughing and shook her head. "That man is exactly like Vincent, which means you're not going to win that argument. Prepare for a whole lot of free time coming up, sweetheart."
Amy wanted to be offended. She even looked deep inside to try and decide if she was offended, but she really wasn't. She knew what Jared was all about. He was big, pushy and used to getting his own way. Amy was smallish, easy-going and flexible. She could already tell he was going to win the argument.
Amy and Jenna picked the girls up and quickly switched gears into child mode. They listened all the way back to the house with rapt attention while the girls outlined their entire day. When they got back to the house, Jenna suggested going to pick up Lola and Vincent Junior and having a big family and friends dinner to treat the guys for moving Amy's stuff. Amy enthusiastically agreed and sent Jenna out the door to pick up her kids while she cleaned the kitchen.
A few hours later, Vincent, Jenna, Lola and the baby, Enrico, Amy, Jared, Millie, Sarah and Teagan all gathered together at Jared's house. They ate ridiculous amounts of burgers, hot dogs, chips, vegetables and sliced fruit. The kids each had an ice cream for dessert and went to play in the backyard. Teagan stayed inside with the adults. Amy was amused to note that his eyes lingered on Vincent and Jared with a kind of hero worship. Having spent time with the two men, Amy had come to realize that they had a deep sense of honour and friendship. Her brother was in good hands.
Later, after everyone left, Amy and Jared cleaned up while Teagan offered to help get the girls ready for bed. All in all, it was the best family gathering Amy had experienced since her mother died.
The thought left an ache in her chest, and she froze where she was standing, her hands half in the sudsy dishwater of the sink.
"Everything okay?" Jared asked from behind her, curving a hand over her shoulder and squeezing.
Amy nodded and tried to smile, looking up to reassure him, but the moment their eyes locked, the tears began to trickle down and her lips trembled.
"Baby," Jared said with concern, turning her around. Ignoring the water streaming off her hands, he pulled her into his embrace. He smoothed the hair down her back and kissed her forehead. "Talk to me."
She tried, she really did. She tried to put into words everything she was feeling. Grateful, fulfilled, sad, aching, hopeful. Nothing came out.
As if he understood, Jared held her close and let the silence fill the kitchen. Finally, when she was able to, Amy lifted her head and looked at him.
"Thank you for everything. Honestly, you’ve changed so much about our lives. I don't deserve you."
Jared slid his thumbs under her eyes, gathering the moisture. "You deserve everything good in the world. You are everything good in the world."
She took a deep tremulous breath. "I think I'm in love with you."
She hadn't meant to say it. At least, she hadn’t meant to say it like that, but she didn't regret it. Amy was an open and honest person, she tended to wear her heart on her sleeve. She had no problem with Jared knowing how she felt. That way there would be fewer misunderstandings. But she’d planned a more romantic moment for actually verbalizing her feelings.
Her heart thundered as she waited for his response. At first, his gaze was shuttered, almost frozen as he looked down at her. Then he surprised her by whooping out loud, so loudly that Amy jumped back. He grabbed her by the arms, lifted her off the ground and swung her around. Amy laughed and reached down to grip his shoulders until he set her back on her feet.
"Since the moment I set eyes on you, I've been waiting to hear those words." He bent over and kissed her, taking her lips in a stinging kiss that had her gasping for air. "I love you so fucking much, baby."
Seventeen
Amy and Jared did end up having a conversation about her factory job and it ended pretty much as Jenna had predicted.
Jared told her that she'd have to quit her job and she didn't have a choice, that he didn't think she should be working at a job like that anymore. With the long, painfully early hours, the poor pay and lack of advancement opportunities. He wanted her to consider going back to school. Which all did sound wonderful, but Amy had to make him see he couldn't just map out her future for her. Especially not after only a few weeks of dating and a day after the I-love-yous were said.
When Amy tried to argue with him, Jared stood firm. When Amy finally relented, Jared took her to bed. A satisfied Amy lay sprawled across the mattress, heaving for breath and wondering where her backbone was. She’d just been dicked into compliance and she didn’t even care.
She glanced over as Jared was putting on his clothes, getting ready for work. "Aren't you going to be late?" He usually went to work much earlier.
He sat on the edge of the bed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, before bending over to kiss her. His lips lingered against hers, then he trailed some kisses down her throat toward her breasts. She clutched his head and arched up toward him. He groaned, his face smashed squarely between her breasts. Then he pulled back and said, "You aren’t the only one making changes. I won't be going into work as early as usual and I won't be working as late either. I have a family now, gotta be around to take care of them."
A warm glow spread through Amy. Her own father hadn’t been around much when she was growing up, preferring to spend time at work and with his buddies.
"And what does your boss think about that?" she asked curiously. Vince didn't look like a guy to mess with, but then again, the two men were best friends.
Jared shrugged. "He'll understand it's what's good for me and my family."
Amy rolled up onto her knees and flung her arms around his shoulders, clinging to him. Then she placed a smacking kiss on his cheek.
"Well, if you're not pulling your weight around there, I'd be happy to step in and take your place. I'm looking for a new job now. Let Vince know."
Jared burst out laughing, then he flipped her over and smacked her bare ass, hard enough to make the flesh bounce. Amy rolled onto her side and scrambled away from him, also laughing.
"You sure as fuck aren't going to be looking for a new job. I wanted you to quit the factory for a reason. You need more spare time."
"Spare time for what?" she demanded. "I don't do much during the day anymore."
"I don't know. Do whatever women do. Work on your tan, get your nails done, cook dinner for your man." He must've known what was coming, because he flinched away from her as her hand sailed harmlessly past his chest without landing the smack she'd intended.
"Okay, I like to tan and sometimes I like getting my nails done, but I'm not going to do that all day every day. I’m not a beach babe cliché, Jared."
He looked like he was going to say something smart-ass, so she hit him with a pillow.