Page 107 of Could Have Been Us
Stella’s head tilts to the side. “Do you want to come?”
“She probably won’t want me there.”
“Jack,” Stella’s voice is soft, “don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Make excuses when there isn’t a need to. Come eat with us. It’s the first time I’m taking her out, and . . . I have no idea who will be around.”
One look at Kinsley, and anyone will know whose child she is.
Kinsley walks in before I can reply. “Hi, Jack.”
“Hey, kid. You guys getting food?”
She looks to Stella and then smiles shyly. “Yeah. Are you coming?”
“I finished work early, and . . .”Don’t be a fucking pussy, Jack. Tell her.“I would love to come if that’s cool with you.”
“Yeah, that would be cool.”
Stella’s eyes are warm, and she walks over, taking my hand. “I love you.”
I gaze at this amazing woman, knowing I don’t deserve her but am way too selfish to ever give her up, and brush my fingers against her cheek. “I love you too.”
She lifts onto her toes and presses a kiss to my cheek.
“What if we go a few towns over and get something?” I suggest.
Stella squeezes my hand and then lets it go. “We were going to Jennie’s, actually. I was telling Kinsley about Fred and Bill. She is sort of amazed that they are there every single day, no matter what time we go.”
My chest grows tight because it also means her family or any one of our friends could be there.
I walk over to Kinsley. “Are you sure? There’s a good chance that there will be people there who will . . . not respect boundaries.”
Stella nods. “He’s right, and even though we already talked about it, if you aren’t comfortable eating there, here’s another option out.”
“You don’t have to protect me, guys,” Kinsley says with a bit of steel in her voice. “I’m not scared to meet people, and I don’t want to hide away.”
“Okay then. Jennie’s it is.”
And there will be no going back.
Chapter 33
Stella
My hands won’t stop shaking.
Jack’s eyes are on me as he opens the door to the diner, and I swear my heart is going to explode out of my chest.
Kinsley may be ready to see people, but I’m definitely not. This has been what I’ve avoided since I was eighteen, but I have to face it.
The door chime rings and Jennie walks over. “Hey there, Stella! Jack, it’s good to see you. Just because you have a girlfriend now, doesn’t mean you can’t come here to eat.”
Jack chuckles. “Don’t worry, Stella can’t cook. We were out of town, that’s all.”
Thankfully the diner is somewhat quiet. Of course, Bill and Fred are at the counter like fixtures of the place, but none of my siblings are here—or Winnie. I release a deep breath and return my attention to Jennie.
