“Yeah, he really did. I told you he loves you,” she replies, bringing my mind back to our conversation.
I nod. If there’s one small dark spot, it’s that Lennon has never said that to me since finding out the truth. I long for those words from him. I won’t rush it though. I just have to hope that he says them to me one day.
“What about his mother? Does she love me?”
“More every single day,” she breathes, and I capture her lips in a gentle kiss, my eyes closing from the pleasure of having Katie freely loving me again.
“Ditto, baby,” I respond as we break apart—making her laugh.
She made me sit through an old chick flick the other night where the guy never told his woman he loved her. He just kept saying ditto. The male lead dies in it and is a ghost the whole damn movie. It was depressing as fuck. Katie cried and then looked over at me during the glowing part where he leaves to go to heaven and told me this was the best movie ever. Lennon and I looked at each other and told her girls are weird.
She instantly laughs—like I meant for her to. “Jerk,” she giggles.
“Are you worn out?” I ask. It’s been a long day for her. Along with Jeff’s goodbye dinner tonight, she has also been in the shop most of the day. Katie started back two weeks ago and works four days a week. I’m worried she’s doing too much too soon.
“I’m perfect. I’m just tired, but that’s to be expected. How about you? Are you okay knowing your brother is moving to Tennessee?”
“Yeah. He feels it’s something he needs to do, and I understand it. I hate that Jeff sold out, but his land will be here if he wants to come home.”
“Do you think he will?”
“I don’t know. Coming home was the smartest thing I ever did,” I murmur, going in for another kiss. It’s just a quick one but seeing her smile afterwards while she licks her lips is phenomenal. “I love you, Sunshine. You and I must get it right this time because I don’t think I could live without you. There’s no more room for errors.”
“We won’t mess up. Things are different this time, Jake.”
“Different?”
“Yeah, we talk now. We aren’t running from one another.”
“This is true,” I agree quietly.
“Plus, we both want to give Lennon a solid foundation.”
“You sound so positive.”
“Full disclosure,” she hedges.
“Always, baby.”
“I can admit that I’m nervous about what will happen when you go back on the circuit.”
She bites nervously on her lip. I stroke it with the pad of my thumb. “Katie, that’s the last thing you need to worry about.”
“Jake, I’ve seen the women that chase belt buckles and my man is the cream of the crop.”
“I like that,” I grin.
“Huh?”
“I like hearing you call me your man.”
“Well,” she whispers, “You are.”
“Damn straight,” I fake growl, making her smile deepen.
“It’s not you cheating I’m worried about.”
“Then what on earth is going on in that beautiful brain of yours?”