Choosing Henley(27)

“Thank you again for dinner, Meli,” He flashes her his megawatt smile while rubbing a hand over his stomach. “I think I’m still going to be full tomorrow,” he teases.

“Well, I hope you’ll come by again soon.”

“I hope so too.” He leans down to kiss her on the cheek, and my stupid heart flutters again for the millionth time tonight.

“I look forward to it, Jami,” she coos before turning to hug me. “Goodnight, darling. Call me when you get into the salon on Tuesday. I need to come in for a trim,” she says.

“Sure thing, Mom. Love you,” I answer as Jami starts to walk out the door. I turn to follow him when Mom grabs me by the arm.

“Remember what I said, Lennon. Give that boy a chance or you’ll regret it.” She scoops my face in her hands and plops a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Now go on. You’re heating the outside with this door open,” she jokes. “I love you.”

I laugh, closing the door behind me and walking down the steps. Jami is leaning up against the passenger’s side door of his Jeep, watching me as I make my way towards him.

“I like your mom,” he says as I stop in front of him. “I think she likes me too.”

“Mhmm,” I hum dramatically. “Only because I didn’t tell her you double as a con artist.”

“I told you I was coming with you. It’s hardly my fault you didn’t believe me.” He winks at me as I move around him, reaching for the door handle.

I try to open it, but he’s still resting his entire body against the door. “Excuse me,” I say before looking down and trying to pull it open again.

His arm slides around my waist, dragging me up against his side. “Thank you,” he whispers, and I lift my head to look at him.

“Thank you for what?”

“Thank you for letting me have this. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” He reaches up, running the pad of his thumb across my cheek.

I push at him playfully. “It’s not really like I had a choice,” I tease.

“You don’t have to do that with me,” he says, searching my eyes for something.

“Do what?” I ask him, confused.

“You don’t have to deflect the things you feel with humour. Not with me. I don’t know why this is so hard for you, and I hope that, someday, you’ll tell me when you’re ready.” He pulls my body tighter against him. “I want real, Beatle. I want real with you. I always have.”

His words jumpstart my heart and my pulse starts to race. He seems so sincere, but I can’t afford to misread the situation. This is all happening so fast. It’s only been two days since New Year’s Eve.

“Why now?” I question, looking up at his handsome face. “I don’t understand.”

“I thought you needed time. When I woke up that morning and you were gone, I knew you weren’t ready. I thought you’d come back, that whole ‘let what you love free and it will return to you’ shit, but you never did. I’m done giving you space, Lennon. I know you feel this too. I know that you want me too. You just need a little push.” He leans in, letting his lips brush against mine as he speaks. “I’m going to be here, baby, for as long as it takes, but you are going to love me one day, Beatle. There ain’t no doubt about it.” His mouth captures mine in a slow, sweet kiss.

My body melts against him. I know I should pull away if I’m trying to keep up with my whole staying-away-from-him charade, but I can’t. He’s right—I want him. I’m just absolutely terrified of what will happen if I actually have him.

The drive back to my house is quiet, nothing but the radio on. It’s peaceful though, not awkward or uncomfortable. He reaches over sometime during the trip and laces his fingers with mine. I feel safe in this moment with him—utterly and completely uncertain of our future, but safe. When we arrive at my place, he walks me to my door, kissing me on the cheek before leaving.

It comes as no surprise to me that, when I drift off to sleep, my dreams quickly find their way to the night I had him. The night when he was mine.

The summer night has a cool breeze to it that sends a shiver up my spine. At least I choose to chalk it up to that and not to the hand he places at the small of my back, leading me up the walkway. He unlocks the front door, stepping aside so I can walk through first. From what I can tell, it’s a lovely rancher-style log cabin and it’s absolutely stunning. When he flicks a few switches on the light panel, the house comes to life. I see a large, rock fireplace in the living room that opens into a modern kitchen on the right. On the left is a hallway that I assume goes to the bedroom.