Page 86 of Home Tears

His hands were resting on his lap, so she reached and lifted one, lacing their fingers together. “How’d your thing go with your dad?”

Bullseye.

Jonah’s lip curled upward, amused at some irony that was lost on Dani. “Your fight with your sister was refreshing.” Jonah chuckled again, a twinge of bitterness laced with it. “Beats the superficialness of my family. Aiden just—she lied right through her teeth when we dropped off our dad at Robbie’s. He loved the house, said he’s going to come more often to visit.”

“You think he is?”

“No. We know our lies. Everyone knows them, but we’re fake anyway. You and Julia, you guys don’t get what’s between you. It’s refreshing.”

She didn’t understand that, but at that moment, Jonah needed it to be about him. She looked down to the ground, knowing this next part could be painful. “Jonah, about…”

“Before?”

“Yeah. About before—”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Dani lifted her head.

“I pushed you. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders shook in a silent laugh. “Everyone seems to be pushing someone today.”

“Who were you pushing?”

“My grandma.”

Jonah nodded. She already filled him in on her visits, and he squeezed her hand. “How’d that go?”

“Not good. Horrible, actually. I found out my grandmother and grandfather were cheating bastards, and there’s some type of curse on our family. The fathers keep leaving, but come back to get the moms pregnant again. Happened to Sandra. Happened to my mom.” She hoped it wouldn’t happen to her. “Probably a good thing none of us have had children yet, huh?”

His laugh was soft, but sad.

She looked at him, studying his side profile as he was gazing out into the distance. “Why’d you push me earlier?”

“It’s not important.”

But it was. She felt it in her chest. It was so important, and she needed him to say it again. She was salivating for the chance. She wanted to reassure him, and this time she felt it in her heart. She knew she wasn’t going anywhere. She wanted him to see it in her eyes, that she meant every single word.

She whispered now, “Ask me. Ask me again.”

His eyes met hers, narrowing slightly. He was looking into her, reading her.

She was letting him. There was no wall, no hesitation this time. She wanted him to know her, not just her body. All of her. A second passed. He was still searching in her. Another second. More. He waited a full thirty before asking, his voice so soft and tender, “What would you do if you found out another person cared about you? If you mattered to one more person?”

“Nothing.” She was trying to convey her feelings through her eyes. She wanted him to know so badly. “I wouldn’t run. I wouldn’t walk. I wouldn’t hide. I’d do nothing except stand and embrace it.”

His eyes darkened, an emotion passed in them, one that had her heart beating so fast again. “Yeah?” He let go of her hand, but touched the side of her face. He held her in the palm of his hand, and his thumb rubbed over her cheek. It was like he was smoothing away any lingering worries she might have. “What if I was that person?”

She leaned toward him, her eyes going from his lips back to his gaze. Both were pulling her in, making her yearn for more. “Then I’d say, I feel the same.” Her breath held in her throat. They were talking in code, but it was out now. She was telling him how she felt, and a second later, his lips were on hers.

This. She turned, wound her arms around his neck. This was everything.

It started raining.

Both were soaked, and Jonah held her hand as they dashed inside. People watched as they moved through the house. A few had a smart comment to share.

Dani was quiet, merely holding Jonah’s hand.

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