Page 6 of Forever Mine

“It’s so good to see you, sweetheart. Still no Jay?” She looked behind me like she expected him to pop out from behind the wall.

“No.” I forced my disappointment down. My family were like fucking hound dogs. They’d pick up on that immediately and interrogate me until I spilled every single fear and insecurity I had. “He had to work.” It wasn’t untrue, even if it wasn’t close to the whole truth.

“Oh. Well, be sure to bring him home some leftovers. I’m making brisket and potatoes. Oh, and soda bread of course.”

“I will, Ma. Thanks. He always raves about your food.”

Ma smiled brightly as she turned back to the stove. “I’m glad. I always worry about that poor boy. I just hope he’s comfortable meeting us soon.”

I sighed and opened the fridge, grabbing a can of beer before I went to sit down next to my very pregnant sister. I would offer to help, but Leo and Ma would turn me down. They did the cooking for these things. I could set the table, and sometimes if Ma was really backed up, make the salad.

“How’re you feeling?” I asked Nora.

She grunted and shifted in the chair. She had a pillow behind her back and her feet propped up on the other wooden chair.

“I can’t see my feet, which is fine because I can tell how swollen they are without looking since none of my shoes fit.My back is killing me, and I’m craving nothing but cheese fries. Besides that, great.”

I snorted. Even as she complained, Nora rubbed her belly lovingly, and Leo shot her an adoring smile. Nora really won the lottery with Leo. Henry’s bio dad was a fucking low-life and had no part of his kid’s life. He barely had anything to do with him since birth, but completely bailed when the word autism started to get thrown around. Leo adopted him when he was five and had been an amazing dad and husband to his little family. I was so happy for them.

Soon the back door opened, and Dad walked in. He was covered in grease, so he was probably working on one of the cars in the detached garage. He walked up to my mom and kissed her on the cheek. She swatted him away playfully.

“Go on and get cleaned up. Supper is just about ready.”

“Alright. It smells delicious. Hi, Kota, still no Jay?”

Ugh. “Hey, Dad. No, not yet.”

Dad gave me a reassuring smile. “He’ll come around. Trust me, I know how overwhelming it can be.”

By the time I was born, my dad was a total family man. He’d separated himself from all his past connections, opened up a small auto shop, and completely committed to being a dad and husband. I’d heard stories though, and Jay’s shady past didn’t even come close to the shit my dad had been up to.

Even after he met my mom, Dad was wild. Until she got pregnant with Bridget. That was the wake-up call he needed to completely turn things around. Still, I was positive they would understand Jay, and love him as their own. He just needed to take the step.

Dad left to go get cleaned up, and a few minutes later, Declan and his fiancée, Amari, showed up. As usual, the last one to wander in was Finn, even though he still lived here. Soon though, we were all sitting around the folding table in the livingroom, since the kitchen table wasn’t big enough, and filling our plates.

As the conversation milled around us, I tried to imagine Jay here with us. He’d be overwhelmed at first. But I thought as soon as he got over the initial panic, he’d love them. He had adjusted fairly well to Riley’s bio dad, Wes, being around, as well as Wesley’s friends, and my family wasn’t much different than that. Just a bit louder, and less deadly. Though my dad could probably rival that group back in the day.

I tried to let all my wandering thoughts go and enjoyed spending the night with my family. The food was delicious as always. My brothers and I good-naturedly teased our sisters as they sniped at each other like they were sixteen still. They gathered up the kids and we all went outside to play football to burn off dinner before an even larger dessert.

My phone buzzed just about the time the kids were all dozing on my parents’ couch and I was ready to take my leave. I swallowed when I saw it was from Jay.

Jay: I’m sorry for being an asshole. I miss you.

I thought about calling him but wasn’t sure if he was still at work, so I texted him back.

I miss you too. Are you coming back tonight?

Jay: Do you want me to?

Fuck, I could hear the vulnerability in his words. What could I possibly do to prove that I always wanted him with me? There would never be a time I’d say no to that question. I just knew he wouldn’t believe me if I said that.

Me: Yes. Always, baby.

It took him much longer to respond, and my throat was completely dry by the time the text came through.

Jay: I’ll be there

Air filled my lungs. He was coming back. We made it through one more day.

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