Page 4 of Love's Patient Journey
“I am staying with Mom and Dad until I can find my own place. I just got back into town yesterday. I’ll start looking for a house after I start my new job. Mom is thrilled to have me back. I think I am taking over Dad’s ‘honey-do list’.” Ryan grimaced, causing Drew to chuckle. “It’s not too bad. I’m happy to help out and grateful for Mom’s home cooking. I missed home, the last nine months. Hell, I’ve missed home these past two years.” Ryan stared off at Drew’s house and wondered what it would be like to have a house of his own with a wife making him lunch and a little girl terrorizing her mama while she worked.
“You mean you missed me? Man, that’s so nice.” Ryan punched Drew in the arm. “Ouch, fucker.” Drew laughed and pushed his brother back, with no real force. “I didn’t think it was me that you missed. Have you seen Jenna yet?”
Ryan straightened at the mention of her name. He didn’t want to get Drew involved in this thing with Jenna. She was Drew’s sister-in-law and Karlie’s only sister. “Yeah, I saw her last night,” he shrugged, trying to go for nonchalant.
“Huh,” Drew grunted at his brother’s admission. “So, you got into town yesterday and went right to Jenna’s place? Is it serious?” Ryan didn’t like his younger brother butting into his business. He needed time to figure out just what he wanted with Jenna.
“No, it’s not serious. We are just having pizza tonight, the three of us.” Ryan was trying to keep the conversation casual, but Drew kept digging.
“Jenna deserves someone who wants to settle down and treat her right. She and Zac both deserve that. She’s been going through hell with Jake’s attorneys and the threatening letters from his parents and their lawyers. She deserves—more.”
Ryan couldn’t help himself; he all but jumped at his brother. “What the hell are you talking about? Jake and his parents are threatening her and Zac?” Ryan was furious but grew even more so when his brother smirked at him. “What the fuck, Drew?”
“Yeah, Jenna has been having some issues with them all wanting visitation rights to Zac. Jake can’t see him until he gets out of prison, and then it will be a cold day in hell before I let him anywhere near Jenna or my nephew.” Drew looked as mad as Ryan now felt.
“Listen, man, I just don’t want you to screw with her.” Drew winced at his own words. “You know what I mean. If you aren’t staying around or if you’re not sure you want to settle down, walk away now. She has a two-year-old to take care of, and she deserves someone who wants to take care of her and Zac.”
Ryan was in Drew’s face again, anger pouring off him, “And you don’t think I’m fucking good enough to take care of them?” Drew put his hands up in defeat, taking a step back.
“Not what I meant, bro, and you know it. Why are you so angry? You were the one to walk away from her after Zac was born. I could tell that you had a thing for her then.” Ryan took a few deep breaths and calmed down. Drew was right- he was the one who walked away.
“I had no choice, and you know it. I had an obligation to my country. I have fulfilled my fucking duty and now I’m home—for fucking good.”
“I think your tab is just about used up, Ryan. I could hear you boys cussing from the kitchen. I fed Jem and put her down for her nap.” She smiled up at Drew, handing him a glass of sweet tea and the other to Ryan. “You boys hungry? I made BLTs for lunch and homemade potato salad.” Now that was something Ryan could get behind—home cooking.
“I’m in, thanks.” Ryan nodded.
“Sounds good, baby,” Drew pulled her in for a kiss, and Ryan groaned, causing both Karlie and his brother to laugh.
“Really, guys, you’ve been married for just about two years now, haven’t you worked some of that out of your system?”
“Never,” they both said together, looking at each other, smiling like fools.
∞
Jenna needed to borrow a pair of Karlie’s jeans for the evening since every pair she had was either ripped or had stains. She was running out of time before Ryan was to be at her house with pizza. Zac had fallen asleep for his nap late in the afternoon, throwing off her whole schedule. The one thing she hated was being off schedule since her life revolved around it. If just one part of her day was off, it felt like her whole life was. Zac was still sleepy, sucking on his sippy cup of apple juice.
“Mmm,” he smacked his lips together, “Good juice.” He smiled at Jenna in her rearview mirror. She couldn’t help but laugh. Her boy certainly loved his food and his juice.
“You want to go see Jem, Zac?” At the mention of his cousin’s name, he threw the cup to the floor of her SUV and started clapping and cheering.
“Yeah, Jem. I see her.” He was looking out the window of the backseat, trying to figure out where Jem was, causing Jenna to laugh again.
“Jem no here.” He put his little hand up and shrugged his shoulders.
“We’ll see Jem in a minute, baby. We’re almost to Aunt Karlie and Uncle Drew’s house now.” This news had Zac cheering and clapping again. God, she wished she had his energy and resilience. She’d be so much more productive and positive during the day.
She pulled into Karlie’s driveway, not paying too much attention to the black truck parked on the side of the road in front of the house. She pulled a very happy, squirming toddler from his car seat and set him down. He took off for the house, and she could hear his shouts of delight when he found his cousin. Jenna grabbed his diaper bag and turned for the house, running right into Ryan’s arms.
“Ryan!” God, why did she sound so out of breath? “You scared me,” she tried to recover.
“Hey, honey, sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. I came out to see if you needed any help.” Yeah, that was sweet. It took everything in her not to sigh and melt in his arms, which were still around her. She tried to move, but his arms seemed to lock her in place, pulling her closer.
“Zac,” she tried to look around Ryan for her son. But that was like trying to look around a building. He was so big—his shoulders were so wide and strong, that she suddenly found herself wondering what he looked like with his shirt off.
Ryan smiled down at her, “Honey, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you just undressed me with your eyes.” She squirmed, trying to get out of his hold, but his big hands just moved to her ass, hauling her in closer to his body. She couldn’t help her moan and even snuggled in closer.
Now, it was Ryan’s turn to moan. He dipped his head and took her mouth in a deep, hard kiss. Honestly, she didn’t know which one of them seemed hungrier. They were both devouring the other. His tongue swept over hers, and her knees buckled. She even dropped Zac’s diaper bag to the ground so she could wrap both arms around Ryan.
