Page 51 of Boarded Hearts

It’s a bright and sunny December afternoon. Jon looks glorious, his thick, wavy, dark hair peeking out from under his trademark backward cap. He’s gone casual today, wearing a long-sleeved white top and blue jeans. Both must be tailored because they hug every single curve and line of his body. I’m even crushing on his white Nike trainers and aviators. The way he casually holds the steering wheel with one hand, glancing over at me from time to time. It’s all too much for my mortal body.

“Tell me more about your family. I feel I need some material before I head into the lion’s den.” My voice is lighthearted, but I can’t deny the element of truth in my words.

Jon switches hands on the steering wheel so his nearest is free. He rests his palm on my knee and begins rubbing soothing circles over my black leggings. Each pass of his thumb radiates tingles straight to my core as I recall his mouth on me last night.

“Not too much to tell. My dad, James, had a regular job before he retired. My mom, Jennie, has been a stay-at-home mom since I can remember. They moved to Bellevue when I bought this house for them a few years back. It was largely to help with caring for Adam.”

I’m about to ask more about Adam, but he continues anyway. At the mention of his brother, a proud smile breaks across his face, his dimples popping and on full display.“Adam’s autistic, and he has some sensory processing needs too. He lives in an apartment across town with a support worker on hand if he needs them, and generally, he comes home on the weekends. The last house my parents had wasn’t suitable for him. It was too small with no space for a sensory room. Plus, he’s only a few years younger than me, so he needs his privacy. He can largely look after himself but can get overwhelmed with too many people. He needs peace and alone time to regulate. The outdoors is his sanctuary. He loves birds and wildlife, and this house offers him that. We converted the garage into a self-contained apartment for him.”

“Oh, wow, Jon, that’s amazing. You did all that for your brother and family.”

“It’s just money, Felicity. At this point in my life, I have more than I know what to do with. My brother is ten times the man I am. He deserves the world. My parents too.”

The way he puts himself down doesn’t sit well with me. For a man who’s achieved so much, his lack of self-confidence off the ice is a little shocking.“Never underestimate how much good you do and have done for your family. You sound very lucky to have each other.”

Without thinking any more about it, I grab his hand from my knee and interlace our fingers, resting it on my thigh.

Jon quickly glances down at our joined hands, his features softening. “Can I tell you something? Well, two things actually.”

“Sure, you can.”

He hesitates for a brief moment, clearly unsure of his next words. “Number one. I’m not the person they make me out to be. The womanizing cocky bad boy. It’s all just a front, you know? Engineered to keep people from discovering that underneath the bravado, I’m pretty weak. A trembling mess consumed by anxiety over mine and my brother’s future.”

I squeeze his hand tighter. “That doesn’t sound like the words of a weak person to me.”

He puffs out a breath, one devoid of humor. “So, I’ve been told before. It’s funny though, isn’t it? The bad things people say are always easier to believe.”

I nod, staring out the passenger window. “I can definitely relate to that.”

There are a few beats of silence, but it’s not uncomfortable. We simply sit with each other’s truths.

“What’s number two?” I finally ask, turning back toward him.

“Number two is dependent on number one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because if you’re okay with number one, then when we get out of this car, I’d really like to kiss you again.”

“In the kitchen, honey.”

Stepping through the front door of Jon’s parents’ house, I’m met with the heavenly scent of home cooking. We take off our shoes at the front door, and Jon takes my jacket, offering a reassuring smile. It’s not only the nerves twisting my stomach into knots but also the feeling of a family. The safety and comfort of coming home to Mum and Dad. I miss this.

“They’re amazing, and they’re going to love you,” he whispers in my ear as he guides me down the large entryway toward the back of the house. It’s a big corner property with a wraparound porch. The house is painted an ivory color with a red door and two bay windows each with seats, the perfect place to curl up with a book I imagine. The house is classically styled with dark hardwood flooring throughout, and as we make our way down the hallway to the kitchen, I cast a quick glance left and then right into the main living room. There’s a feature fireplace along the back, with sky-blue walls and a large cream sofa. I can hear the TV, a hockey game is clearly in progress, albeit it’s out of sight. The dining room on the left is already set up, the table laid for royalty. My stomach flips once again. It’s clear Jon’s mum has gone to a lot of effort.

Entering the kitchen, I’m blown away as it spans the entire width of the property with a garden room attached at the back. The back wall is completely glass, offering an incredible view of the backyard, which is huge. Fir trees line the end of a beautiful garden, and to the bottom left I can see a raised pond, and the two acres, by my best guess, are decorated with a combination of camellias, cherry blossoms, and rhododendrons. It’s too early in the season for many of the shrubs and flowers to bloom, but I can tell this place is a sensory paradise.

“Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.” Jennie spins around from the stove where she was stirring a pot and makes a beeline for her son, wrapping her arms around him and pulling his large frame to hers.

I’d say Jennie is no taller than me with shoulder-length dark brown hair not dissimilar to Jon’s. When she turns to face me, her gray eyes warm instantly; I can totally see where her son got his looks. She’s beautiful.

“You only saw me last week, Mom.” Jon kisses her on the cheek before turning to me as well. “Mom this is?—”

“Ohmygod, Felicity, it’s so amazing to meet you! Ah, you’re so pretty!” Her hands fly to her cheeks as she takes me in from top to bottom. “Jon, you never said she was this beautiful.”

Jon flushes, and it’s possibly the first time I’ve seen him a little embarrassed. It looks cute on him.

“As a cucumber. Yeah, right.” He rolls his eyes and stuffs his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.

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