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JIMMY

TJ sent me flowers on Monday. Miranda, one of our school secretaries, made a fuss when she delivered them to the library, which, in turn, sent a gaggle of seventh-grade girls into hysterics as they tried to suss out who had sent them. My cheeks had burned, but I’d held fast to my commitment to keep our relationship private for now. It wasn’t so much that we wanted it to be some big secret. It was just that we knew the kids would make a big deal out of it, and it would become a distraction. We figured it would get out eventually, but for now, we did our best to keep it quiet.

That didn’t stop TJ from holding my hand under the table at lunch on Tuesday or bringing me a vanilla milkshake on Wednesday. He’d run by Sherry’s Soft-Serv when he changed buildings and surprised me at lunch.

We’d seen each other outside of school as well. Monday, he’d gone with me to check out the rest of the properties on my list. Unfortunately, I still hadn’t settled on one. Tuesday, he followed me into the city for dinner. I cooked for him at my apartment, and then we spent the rest of the evening cuddled up on the couch watching The Princess Bride .

At the end of the movie, he kissed me deeply but pulled away before things could get too heavy. I wasn’t sure if I appreciated him being a gentleman and not wanting to rush me or if I would have preferred he ravaged me and fuck the consequences. I was leaning toward the latter.

Wednesday and Thursday were his nights at the studio, but on Friday, we made plans to see a movie. Exhausted from a full week of teaching, TJ was asleep in the reclining seat ten minutes after the movie started. We grabbed dinner after, then headed our separate ways. He needed to be at the studio early on Saturday morning while I had plans to go back and see a couple of the rentals again.

I needed to get my living situation sorted, or I would be stuck in Omaha for another year, which I really didn’t want. I was tired of the commute, and if I were honest, I wanted to be closer to TJ. We’d only been dating for about a week, and the distance thing was already frustrating. Sleepovers had been a hell of a lot easier when we’d been roommates.

Saturday morning, I was back on the road to Astaire, but instead of going to one of the apartment buildings as planned, I found myself heading out to Gram’s house. I’d been thinking about the offer she’d made for me to rent or buy one of her houses, and I was starting to think my stubbornness in that regard was a little like cutting off my nose to spite my face. At the very least, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to look at the properties.

I pulled into her driveway, then trotted up the stairs, wishing I’d remembered my jacket because my hoodie wasn’t quite cutting it in the chill of this October morning. It would seem fall was finally making her appearance. Gram appeared at the door, her face immediately pinching in concern at the sight of me. I probably shouldn’t have shown up unannounced.

“Jimmy? Is everything okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry to just show up like this. Can I come in?”

“Of course.” She stepped back, allowing me to come inside, then led me back toward the kitchen. After pouring us each a cup of coffee, her hands shaking a little with the effort, we sat at the kitchen table.

“Now, what can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if those properties were still available? The ones you gave TJ the keys to last week?”

Her brows drew up. “They are. But if you don’t mind my asking, what’s changed your mind?”

I ran a hand through my hair. My curls were popping out now that I’d allowed them to grow. “I think maybe I had an overreaction to your original offer. I was being stubborn.”

“I might know a thing or two about being stubborn myself.”

I chuckled. “I just… Did TJ tell you about my ex?”

“That he was a manipulative asshole? Yes.”

God, I’d missed this woman. “He was. And I lost my identity for a little while. I’m still trying to find it. And I’m working on figuring out how to assert my independence without pushing away the people who matter.”

“Like TJ.”

“Especially TJ.” I sipped my coffee. “Anyway, I think I was just so determined to do things on my own that I dismissed the offer out of turn. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

“Oh, baby. I wasn’t offended at all. Don’t you worry about that.” She stood slowly, pausing momentarily, as if she were getting her bearings, then walked over to a drawer and pulled out a set of keys. She set them in front of me before taking her seat again.

“Would you want to come with me?”

She looked at me, her coffee cup paused halfway to her lips. “Well, now, I don’t get around as well as I used to. I don’t want to slow you down.”

“I’m not in a hurry. I’ve, um, missed you.” She’d taken me by surprise when she hugged me last week, and I’d realized just how much I’d missed TJ’s family. They’d become like my own in the short period of time we dated.

“Oh, baby, I’ve missed you too. I’d love to come with you.”