Page 29 of Promised Summer
She got wide-eyed after that and wiggled out of my lap and plopped herself down beside Lily. She stared at the dog’sbulging belly, eyes shining as she reached her little hands toward her.
“Baby, gentle, okay?” I quickly reminded her. Mysweet girl nodded and moved extra slowly as she placed her hand on Lily’s belly. Lily was patient as she lay there and watched our girl giggle and softly pat her belly. If dogs could look indulgent, that was how I’d have described how Lily looked at that moment.
Jones reached over to my lap and twined our fingers together. He smiled, teeth pearly white, and the evening summer sun had turned his skin into a beautiful caramel.
This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this, not by a long shot. Almost every day during my summers here as a teen, we’d sit at the peak of our little mountain and watch the very same setting sun paint the world in the hazy yellow I loved so much. We’d laugh and smile at each other, just two kids who were probably already in love with each other.
I’d run away back then, too scared to admit it to myself, but I wasn’t a scared kid anymore. I was proud to admit my soul screamed for our summer days and the very man who made them so special in the first place.
I was completely and undoubtedly head over heels in love with Jones Denn.
Chapter Twelve
RYAN
“My parents are having a get-together this Saturday, and my mama insisted your entire family justhadto attend,” Jones told me as we lay in his bed together.
Karla had fallen asleep about an hour ago with Lily to accompany her, and since she’d been getting better at sleeping through the night, I was able to snag some alone time with Jones.
Jones chuckled nervously at my expression and quickly added, “It’s just a casual thing! My mama invites practically everyone she knows. My friends will be there, too, so you don’t have to overthink it. I think Mama figured since all my cousins and their spawn will be there, Karla could come and make some friends her age.”
“I…I dunno,” I ended up saying. “Karla has her therapy on Saturday.”
“You can come after! Trust me, cookouts are an all-day affair. You can come and stay for as long or as little as you’d like,” he added.
“You really want us to come? Everyone’s going to know aboutus.”
“I’m pretty sure everyonealreadyknows. You and Karla are practically at my house every day,” he said with a laugh that couldn’t hide how nervous he was. When I was still unable to gather my words, he whispered, “Do you not want to make us official?”
“That’s not it!” I quickly rejected the idea and smoothed out the wrinkles his frown caused. “I’m just worried.”
“Worried about what?”
Countless thoughts fought to gain attention in my mind. Things had been going so well with both Jones and Karla, but what if this was all because we’d been living in a perfect little bubble of our own? What if it all came crashing down once we added everything and everyone else into the mix?
Jones cupped my cheek and kissed me. The action silenced my mind as I focused on him. “Don’t run away. Tell me,” he whispered against my lips.
His choice of words had me wondering if my leaving all those years ago was still haunting him…or if he thought I would leave him again.
It made me realize just how understanding Jones had been through all this. He told me he wasn’t going to forgive me, but based on his actions, he’d already forgiven me the night I apologized. And ever since then,he’d been letting me set the pace, was always understanding with Karla, and never demanded anything from me.
My attending this get-together was the first thing he was really asking of me, and here I was, only thinking about myself again. I was the shittiest person in the world.
“I’m sorry. I was just being stupid,” I said, and kissed him again. “Of course we’ll go. I’ll ask my mom and grandma if they’re up for it, too.”
Jones wasn’t as happy with my answer as I thought he’d be. “Tell me what you’re worried about,” he insisted.
“It’s nothing?—”
“Ryan.”
I sighed and confessed, “What if we don’t make sense out in the real world?”
He raised a brow. “Last I checked, we aren’t living in a fantasy right now.”
“You know that’s not what I meant. Everything’s been so…perfect, you, me, Karla, Lily…What if it gets all messed up once we add other people into the mix?” I paused, then added, “What if your friends hate me?”
“Why would they hate you?” Jones asked, sounding genuinely confused.
