Page 111 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

CHAPTER 48

MAV

I’ve done a lot of terrifying things over the years. I’ve been shot, stabbed, arrested. Gotten myself into my fair share of situations I should have never been able to walk away from. Fuck, I’ve killed people, enough that I’ve lost count.

Yet today is probably only the second time I’ve ever been legit scared in my adult life. The first being when Tommy took Jonsie.

Today, I have to meet J’s parents, and fuck if I am not scared shitless.

I don’t think I’ve ever given a fuck about what someone thought about me before. And I sure as hell have never even entertained the thought of meeting a chick’s parents. I’ve gotta be honest, I wish it was happening under better pretenses. Considering Jones moved in with her boyfriend three weeks ago, and now she’s living with me? Safe to say her parents are already going to be apprehensive about this situation, and that’s under the best of circumstances. I don’t need anything else going wrong today. And let’s face it, there are a million things that could.

After our little debrief session, Nicky and I were forced to accept the fact that we’re out of time. We need to poke the bear… hard. Yuri’s already made it clear that he is severely suspicious regarding me and J’s relationship. So, rather than try and convince him it’s nothing as before, I’m gonna lean all the way in this time. Yuri wants to be paranoid? Imma give him something to be paranoid about.

Over the last few days Jones and I have been attached at the hip, laying on the PDA everywhere from grocery shopping to going out to eat to taking long walks around the city. And while I realize we’re putting on a show for Yuri, I gotta admit, I’ve loved every fucking second of this shit. We’ve never been able to be like this. Out in the open where I can show her off like she deserves. Our love was born in the shadows and grew in secret, but I will never hide how I feel about her ever again. I’ve also given Val the OK to follow us through all of it. Amber wants pictures? I’ll make sure that bitch has a fucking photo album.

Yuri, however, still hasn’t made a move. Nicky says he hasn’t been in contact with him either. It’s not that I’m eager to take another knife to the leg, but I need this motherfucker to start acting out. I just hope he fucks up along the way so I get something that will stick. So, if he had any lingering doubts about my intentions with J prior, I’m hoping to obliterate them today when she introduces me to her parents as her boyfriend.

Speaking of boyfriends, I’m still trying to work out who the fuck Caleb Price is. After Rico’s extensive search revealed his bogus identity, Nicky and I tore through that apartment with a small army ready to drag that motherfucker back to the Cathedral for a little tag team torture session. But when we got there, he was gone. We searched every inch of that place for any sign of who the fuck he could be, but no luck.

I haven’t told Jonsie about him yet. Mainly because I’m worried about how she’s going to take the news that the person she’s been sleeping with for the last year isn’t who she thought he was. That he essentially violated her while using her for some ulterior motive. When I find this motherfucker, and I will, I’m going to peel his fucking skin from his bones. Until I have more answers though, I’m not trying to hit her with shit that’s gonna dig up old demons. I’ve also kept Lucian’s involvement under wraps at the moment per Nicky’s request. He wants to be the one to break it to Daphne, and the second I tell J, she’s gonna run to her.

Today though, she’s practically buzzing with excitement. There’s some obnoxiously large weeklong fair that hits Dutchess every year. I’m vaguely aware of this, but I’ve never been before. The simple fact that it takes place in Dutchess was always enough of a reason for me to avoid it in the past. However, apparently Jonsie loves it and considering it’s been four years since she’s been home for it, she is psyched to go.

Nicky and her parents will also be there because unlike the dysfunctional shit I was born into, Jones’s parents are good people who actually enjoy spending time with their children. I consider it a small blessing mine OD’d when I was younger. Aside from the fact that I would have undoubtedly gone to jail for murdering my physically abusive piece of shit father the second I was bigger than him, I really can’t stomach the thought of someone I love as much as Jonsie ever seeing the garbage I came from.

“It’s going to be fine.” Jonsie’s words pull me from my thoughts as her hand reaches over to squeeze my thigh. Removing one of my hands from the steering wheel, I reach down, interlacing her fingers with my own before bringing her hand to my lips where I press a long kiss to the back of it.

“Am I that obvious?” I chuckle.

“Considering we just crossed into Dutchess and I felt your body tense from all the way over here? Yeah, I’d say so.” She smirks. “Is my big bad gangster nervous?” Her brow playfully arches as she turns in her seat to face me.

“What do you expec—” My words cut off, my brain short-circuiting when she leans over the center console to drag her tongue up the side of my neck before swirling it into my ear.

“What’s the matter, baby?” she offers up a sultry whisper. “Worried they won’t love you as much as I do?”

Her hand migrates down the front of my chest, coming to settle atop my cock where she gives a slight squeeze. I groan in response, my eyes slightly rolling back while I struggle to maintain my attention on the road ahead.

“Unfortunately, the same methods of persuasion I use on you probably wouldn’t be as effective on the rest of your family. I mean, maybe your mom…” I shoot her a sly smirk.

“Shut up,” she snickers, swatting at my side as she drops back into the passenger seat.

My hand reaches over, snatching up hers and returning it to my lap where I can continue caressing the back of her palm.

“You’re gonna be fine,” she reassures me. “Take this left up here. It’s just a few more miles up the road.”

After a few minutes we come upon a line of traffic. The road is split into additional turning lanes marked off with orange cones as cops direct traffic into the fairgrounds.

“Holy shit,” I breathe, glancing over at the fenced in field filled with cars leading up to the various tents and rides in the distance. “How are there this many people?”

“It’s like the second largest fair in the state. People come from all over! If anything, that’s better. More witnesses in case Yuri decides to make an appearance today. Plus, you’re gonna have to deal because it’s my favorite thing ever.”

I glance over to find her bouncing up and down in her seat. The action has a wide grin involuntarily slipping across my face. Jesus, she’s so fucking adorable. I follow the steady stream of cars into the lot where we park before hopping out of the truck. Slipping her hand into mine, she drags me up the grassy hill toward the entrance.

After I pay for our tickets, she continues to damn near pull my arm out of the socket as she leads us along a crowded path. “Baby,” I chuckle, ripping her backward into me. Her back collides with my chest as I wrap my arms around her, pinning her against me as we walk in step with one another. “What is the hurry?”

“I want fair food!” she pretends to whine, twisting her neck up to look at me. Completely entranced by her, I dip down, pressing my lips to hers. She indulges me for a moment before pulling back. “I love you, but I still want food.”

“She’s not gonna shut up ‘til she gets it.” Nicky’s unexpected presence catches me off guard as I notice he’s suddenly standing immediately to my right. He takes note of the brief flicker of surprise that dances across my face before he pins me with a look that says wake the fuck up and pay attention.

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