Page 41 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

FALLON

September

I n the time since Jason and Lennie’s impromptu sleepover, things have been interesting. Jason isn’t nearly as standoffish as he’s been in the past six months, and he’s even started texting me every so often, asking how I am, how my day was, and so on.

It would be weird if we didn’t have that breakthrough that night.

All in all, I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it.

But I can’t dwell on it for too long, because I have a task at hand.

Josie and I are currently having a meeting with Beau, discussing the engagement party he’s planning for Marley.

Of course, she has no idea of any of it, so it’s all very hush-hush.

The event will be at Jason’s brewery, and he’s agreed to shut it down for the night for us to use. Beau’s really laid back about it all, he mainly wants all his family and friends there, and he’s leaving the rest to us.

“Okay, I have to ask. Do you know how you’re going to do it?” Josie asks, leaning forward to rest her chin on her hand. Her eyes are bright and curious as she looks at her brother-in-law.

Beau shrugs, running a hand through his shoulder length hair.

“To be honest, I haven’t really planned out what I’m going to say or anything.

We’re having a little family photoshoot that day, and it’s her first day back to work.

I figured at the end of it all, I’d get down on one knee, speak from the heart, and go from there. ”

“Awww, Beau!” Josie says, her voice tight with emotion. “That’s perfect. It’s absolutely perfect.”

“Thanks, Jos. Now, unless you need anything from me, I’m going to head home. I told Mar I had a showing, and I wouldn’t be long, so I want to get back to her and the babies.” He rises from the small table, and gives us both a quick hug before leaving the small coffee shop.

Josie and I chat about things we need for the party, what kind of flowers she’s wanting and more.

We’ve talked and taken notes and planned it all out when I look at the clock and realize we’ve been here for an hour longer than I anticipated.

I told Isaac I wouldn’t be long, but I don’t think he’ll mind.

I shoot him a quick text message to let him know I’ll be a little while longer, and he responds with a thumbs up.

While my phone is unlocked, I see another message. This one, from Jason.

Jason

Hey, sunshine. How’s your day going? I hear we have a party to plan at the brewery.

Me

We sure do. It’s good. Meeting with Josie to go over final touches. Do you want us to come there so we can chat with you too?

Jason

Sure, that might not be a bad idea.

“Who are you talking to?” Josie asks, glancing across the table at me, her brows raised.

I swallow thickly, hoping I can play this cool. “Oh, um, Jason, actually. He wants to meet with us quickly if you have time so we can plan with him too.”

“Yeah, we can head over there. What’s going on with your face?” she asks nonchalantly. God, why must she be so perceptive?

“Nothing,” I squeak, but I know my face must be bright red. I turn my gaze back to my phone, letting Jason know we are on the way. We are within walking distance, so we head toward him. As we walk, I sense her skeptical eyes. “Are you and Jason finally together? Is that what's happening here?”

Oh god, she’s cracking me open. My resolve isn’t very strong to begin with, but I need to confide in someone. I’ve told Megan the bare minimum, but Josie is so easy to talk to. And she knows Jason. She’s part of his family.

The brewery is in sight now, and I’m about to explode. I need to tell her. I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, pulling her aside so we’re not blocking the path. “Fine, but you literally can’t tell anyone. Not even Andrew. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I need to tell someone.”

Josie’s blue eyes widen and her mouth drops open.

“I was teasing you, I didn’t really think you were together.

I mean I suspected after the whole wine cellar thing—which you totally banged down there, didn’t you?

—and the hotel thing, but I didn’t know for sure.

Oh my god, this is the best news. Tell me everything. ”

I grab her hand and sit down on a bench nearby.

“I’m not really sure what there is to tell.

We’re in this weird limbo. We both didn’t want a relationship, but a few weeks ago, I almost passed out at the zoo, and he confided in me about some stuff, and I did the same to him, and now we’re texting sometimes, and calling too, and I don’t know what this is.

” I finish my speech with a huff, and sink back onto the bench.

“Okay well first off, I’m saying this honestly. If you do choose to get together, I think you two will be amazing for each other. And your girls love each other. So that’s a perk.”

I nod, my brain sort of numb. “I’m scared, Josie. I’m scared to let myself fall. What if he breaks my heart, and in the process, he breaks Presley’s too? What if Presley loses Lennie as a friend because of me?”

Josie leans toward me, wrapping me into a hug.

“I can’t imagine how hard it is. To have to be thinking about someone else, and not only yourself.

Trust me when I say this, though. Jason may outwardly put out the vibes that he doesn’t care, that he doesn’t have emotions, but I’m sure by now, you’ve experienced how he is with his family.

How he is with the people he cares about.

With the people he loves. He won’t hurt you if he can help it.

And that goes for your daughter, and his too. ”

“You’re right,” I say with resolve. I have witnessed firsthand how he is, how amazing he is to his family. To me and my daughter.

“Go with the flow. If something happens, which I think it might, don’t stress. Take things as they come. We’re all on your team, and are here to support both of you no matter what.”

I squeeze my friend. “Thank you, Josie. You mean so much to me. I’m so grateful for you.”

“Right back at ya,” Josie responds. “Now, let's go see your man. ”

I chuckle, because she’s such a goofball. “Technically, he’s not my man.”

“Yet.” She winks.

We finish the short walk to the brewery, and Jason is sitting at a table, leaning forward as he talks to an older man I recognize as his grandfather.

“Gramps!” Josie yells, and he turns in his chair to see Josie.

“Cindy,” Gramps greets her. Josie bends down and kisses him sweetly on the cheek. “Jason here was telling me about the party you’re planning for Marley and Beau.”

“Fallon’s the one planning,” Josie says, gesturing to me. “I’m doing the flowers and being a helping hand.”

I offer a wave to Jason’s grandfather. I’ve met him a few times, and he’s always been the sweetest man. “Hi, Earl,” I greet.

“Call me Gramps, young lady,” he tells me, and I correct myself.

“Gramps. Nice to see you.”

“You too. How’s that little peanut of yours?”

“She’s great. Getting ready for school to start next week, even though she says she’s not excited, she is.”

“I’ll bet.”

Jase’s eyes are on me the whole time. He’s staring so intently at me that I’m almost scared to look at him, scared to give him my full attention. Who knows what will happen if I do. I’ll probably melt to be honest.

“Cindy, can you call that husband of yours and tell him to come pick me up. I want to see what he’s working on,” Gramps asks Josie, and she smiles easily in return.

I love that Gramps still uses the nickname he penned for Josie after he met her.

Josie and Andrew had a bit of a missed connection, leaving him with only a hair clip to find her by, and Gramps has lovingly called her Cindy, or Cinderella, since then.

She turns her smile to me before grabbing her phone from her back, and walking away to call Andrew, leaving me with Gramps and Jason.

As soon as I lift my eyes to meet Jason’s I know I shouldn’t have. He’s staring at me with such affection, such genuine lust in his eyes. When he sees me standing still, he jumps to his feet. “Here.” He pulls a chair up to the table for me. “Sit.”

“Oh, thanks,” I reply, sitting in the offered chair between him and Gramps. Why is this so awkward? I’m so uncomfortable. I need Josie back as my buffer.

“So, when are the two of you going to tell everyone you’re together?” Gramps asks, no filter, no preamble, simply drops the bomb.

“Gramps,” Jason nearly scolds him, meanwhile, I’m choking on my tongue. I cough and gasp for air. Jason leans over, patting my back like I’m an infant.

Once I’ve caught my breath, I lean back in my chair, trying to come up with something to say.

“Am I wrong?” Gramps asks with pure sarcasm in his voice. He knows he’s not wrong.

I glance at Jason, and find him already looking at me. I have no idea what to say to his grandfather, so I figure maybe it’s best to stay quiet.

“We’re… figuring things out,” Jason finally says. He reaches over, taking my palm and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I don’t really know, Gramps. We haven’t talked about it.”

“Oops,” Gramps responds, though he’s chuckling, like maybe he’s not really all that sorry. Josie arrives back at that moment, and narrows her eyes at my hand in Jason’s. I react, pulling it away and back into my lap .

This is such a mess. We really need to talk.

Gramps and Josie are two peas in a pod. They spend the next ten minutes talking amongst themselves as we wait for Andrew to arrive. Once he does, we spend another few minutes chatting with him, before Andrew helps him out of his chair and out the door.

Jason brings us around the brewery, pointing out places we can hang string lights and decorations.

I’m already coming up with so many different kinds of ideas that I cannot wait for this party.

Not only for the fact that Marley and Beau will finally be getting engaged, but because I think it’s going to be a beautiful event.

The brewery is the perfect backdrop. It has such a cozy vibe, while also providing enough space and room so the guests aren’t over crowded.

Once Jason is through with his mini tour and explanations, we sit back down to discuss the final touches.

Josie not so subtly declares that she has to get back to work a few minutes later, and after she leaves, it’s just Jason and I. There’s still an hour before the brewery opens for the night, and his employees are starting to file in for their opening procedures.

I stand from my chair. “I should probably get going myself. Isaac probably thinks I got lost or something on the way back.”

Jason chuckles, nodding. “You look beautiful today, Fallon.” His comment surprises me.

I glance down at what I’m wearing. It’s a simple black sundress, and my hair is in a ponytail because I couldn’t be bothered to curl it today. “Oh, thank you,” I reply. “This is nothing.”

“It doesn’t mean you don’t look beautiful.”

I nod, not really sure what more I can say. “I guess I’ll get going.” Run . Leave the awkwardness. Between Gramps totally calling us out, and this, I might die of awkwardness. I run out the front doors of the brewery, and take a deep breath, letting the warm summer air ground me.

I don’t know how to act around him when there’s other people with us. I’m not used to it. Sure, we’ve been around our daughters together, but around other people, when there is attention on us? Yeah, no. I don’t know what to do with myself.

I’m nearly to my car at the coffee shop when I hear my name being called. I turn toward the voice to see Jason striding down the sidewalk to me. “Wait,” he calls. I stop in my tracks. When he reaches me, he’s out of breath. “That was weird. Wasn’t it?”

I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out from me. “Yeah, it was weird. I didn’t know what to say.”

“Me either,” he chuckles. “Gramps and Josie are always the ones to notice little things, so I shouldn’t be surprised he said something.”

“It’s okay. Josie talked to me about things earlier too.”

“We’re okay?” he asks, and it’s so sweet, like an insecure teenager.

“Of course,” I respond. “To be honest, I don’t know what we’re doing here.”

Jason steps into my space, threading his arms around my waist, bending down so he’s at my level. “I don’t either. I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I’m trying not to overreact, or think too hard, if I’m being honest.”

“Yeah, I get that,” I respond. “Everyone is going to ask, and I don’t know what we’re supposed to say.”

“Say it’s none of their business,” he retorts.

I swat at his chest gently. “Jason, I can’t say that and you know it. I love your family, but everyone is very open and tells each other everything. ”

“Then we tell them that right now we are figuring things out together. It will have to be good enough for them. It’s good enough for us, right?”

“Right,” I reply. He leans down, resting his forehead against mine.

“All I know is I’m happy when I’m with you. Things are easier.”

“Same.”

“Then we do what’s best for us.”

I nod, and he presses a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. I lose myself in the kiss for the shortest of moments. When we break apart, I cringe. “I really should get going. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Go. I’ll talk to you later, okay, sunshine?”

I nod my response, and get into my car a few moments later, waving to Jason as I drive away.