Page 51 of His Last Shot
“Can I go inside now?” she impeaches Johnny. You can tell she is done with this whole excursion.
“Sure.”
Mallory takes off like a rocket and disappears into the house as Johnny turns to me. A thoughtful expression crosses his features. Hopeful and unsure. “Would you like to come and meet my family?” he invites. “They know about you, as Mallory so kindly confirmed in the truck earlier.” He blushes. God, I love it when that happens.
The fact he has told his family about me gives me pause. It’s heartwarming, but I don’t think I am ready to take that step yet since I have no clue what we are to each other.
“Thanks, but I’ll wait here. Take your time, though.”
His shoulders sag. He’s slightly dejected, yet trying not to let it show.
Which I have been making him feel a lot lately. And the thought of that fills me with a heavy, aching sadness.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” He winks, then smirks. “Don’t miss me too much.”
“I’ll do my best.” His gaze holds mine, unwavering, as the door clicks shut, leaving me alone to grapple with the jumble of emotions swirling within me.
Today, his tender treatment of Mallory gave me a moment of clarity.
If Johnny can handle a twelve-year-old with autism so effortlessly, why wouldn’t he be able to handle my issues? And I know these two conditions aren’t the same, but … it’s still compassion. For some people, this comes naturally. And Johnny is one of those people.
While I waited for the doctor today, I tallied all that he has done for me these past few months.
He helps me at closing, even though the bar is out of his way. When we stargaze, he encourages me to pursue my dream of nursing. He knows Dexter is an issue and promised to be there for me if I ever feel in danger. And he stood up to Drew for me.
Then, there’s his patience. I have pushed him away three times while our lips were literally locked together. Never demanding an apology, only giving me understanding and grace.
Alone with my thoughts, there is only one thing that I need to do before he takes me home. Agree to go out with him on a date.
If he even still wants to.
And also tell him about my RA. Slick is right. I am taking away Johnny’s choice, and that’s unfair to him. Maybe it won’t be a big deal for him. Maybe it will be. Either way, I am putting the ball in his court and letting him choose whether he wants to be with me.
And I am ready to face whatever it is he decides.
Out of extreme nervousness, I pick a nonexistent spot on my shirt when I hear laughter coming from the front porch. A man just as big as Johnny emerges from the house, and I recognize him from the first night I met Johnny. It’s Scott.
He peers in my direction and gives me a slight wave and a smile. Returning the greeting, I sit back and wonder what on earth they fed these boys in childhood? Whatever it was, it worked because those are two incredibly handsome men.
Mallory peaks her head out from around Scott’s legs. “Bye again, Rachel! Marry Johnny! He loves you!” she yells.
A deep, resonating laugh from Scott shakes the air, easily heard down the street as Johnny playfully chases Mallory. “Get back here, you little stinker!” She squeals and runs into the house.
I chuckle at the scene as sadness pinches through my heart. They are a family. A close-knit, there-for-each-other family. The type of family I have always yearned for and longed for. One that I still want.
After a quick goodbye between Scott and Johnny, I watch as Johnny walks back toward the truck, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His strides, heavy, slow and uneven.
It’s almost as if Mallory was his safety net, and now he’s forced to be alone with me. And that makes him uncomfortable, which ultimately, is all my fault. A pain of guilt creeps into my chest.
He climbs into the driver’s seat, and I giggle as he smirks and shakes his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe she said that.”
“It was cute. She’s adorable.”
He smiles as he turns the key, and the engine rumbles to life. “That she is.”
A rush of bravery zips through me, pushing away my fear. “So you like my butt, huh?”
He glares at me with some serious side eye. “I don’t think we are at that place in our relationship for me to address that one, darling.”
