Page 37

Thirty-Seven

Jade

On Sunday morning, I roll over to grab my phone when I hear a text alert come through. It’s from Henry.

Good morning. I really wish I could see you today.

He’s been sending me good morning and good night texts since Tuesday. But other than a few exchanges about his games, we haven’t talked since our first date. I’m not sure what to make of it. I know he’s busy with his profession, or maybe it’s that he’s trying his best to take things slow after what happened that night.

Me too. Tuesday feels forever ago. I’m hanging with Eloise today. Need to see what’s going on with her.

I get it. Bodhi and I are busy today too. Tomorrow night?

And how will you accomplish this?

I sit up in bed and roll my neck. It’s still weird staying in my childhood bedroom.

I’ll handle the logistics, just tell me you’re game.

Now why would you think I wasn’t game?

Good. Now send me a sexy pic.

Yeah… No.

It was worth a try. ;)

My thumbs hover over the phone, unsure what to say.

God, I miss you. I’m not sure how great I’m going to be at this taking it slow thing.

I laugh, lying down on my bed because I feel the same way. I want to fast forward through this dating thing and have the freedom to just be in bed with him right now. Spend the day with him and Bodhi, exploring the city.

Hey, I was looking at your schedule.

I like that.

Like what?

You checking up on me.

He has no idea.

Next Sunday before Thanksgiving, I wanted to take Bodhi out to take some pictures. He seems really interested, and I thought…

Absolutely. Am I invited?

Well…

Great, cockblocked by my own son.

If you buy the snacks, I’ll drive.

I’ll buy the snacks, and I’ll drive.

There’s a problem with that.

??

You don’t have a car.

Yeah I do. I just never drive it. We’ll pick you up for dinner.

How many dates until we can… you know.

??

Henry.

If you can’t say it Jade, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

You’re alone, right? It’d be weird if Bodhi was next to you with us talking like this.

Henry sends a picture of him in bed, the space next to him empty.

Waiting for you.

My stomach somersaults. He’s killing me here.

I’m not the one who wants to go slooowwww.

I can get a babysitter and be ready to nail you against the wall within the hour.

I shake my head.

You know what I mean.

Believe me, I do. I haven’t jerked off this much since sophomore year of high school.

I hear you. I’m gonna need some more toys.

Shit, this isn’t Eloise I’m talking to. This is Henry.

Oh, I like the sound of this. Toys?

What do you want? Pictures?

That WAS my original request.

I could sit here and text with him all day, but I really do have to get ready. I search up the biggest vibrator I can find online and send a screenshot to him.

My latest buy.

He doesn’t immediately text me back like he has been, and I wait impatiently.

Well…

No words?

I didn’t want to say anything, but it’s a little small, isn’t it?

I crack up, my laughter bouncing off the walls.

I have to go get ready.

Come on. Let me see that beautiful face of yours.

I thought you wanted to see more than my face.

Are you offering?

I snap a picture of my leg and climb out of bed.

I do love both of your legs.

Wrapped around my waist.

Spread open.

Bent over my shoulders with my face between them.

Okay you need to stop before I use the toy from the picture I sent because you’re getting me all wet. I gotta get ready.

I was just getting started. Have a great day, Jade. Know that I’ll be thinking of you about a million times today.

A million? A little much, no?

Are you challenging me? You’re always in my thoughts. Always have been.

My hand covers my heart. Oh, this man.

Go have fun with Bodhi. Miss you.

Henry resends the picture of his empty bed.

Still waiting…

I don’t text back because we could go all day doing this.

I hook my arm through Eloise’s. “So, Kyleigh said you made another appointment at the bridal shop. When were you going to tell me?”

She sighs and rolls her eyes as we walk Navy Pier.

It’s a warm day for November, but there’s still a chill in the air. It’s the perfect crisp fall day, and I’m not going to waste it staying inside.

“Don’t be mad,” she says.

I stop us and tug on her jacket sleeve to move to the edge of the lake. “Why would I be mad?”

“I’ve decided to go by myself.” She stares at the water.

I allow her the distraction she wants, and I do the same.

“May I ask why?” I’m disappointed I won’t be there to support my friend in this milestone in her life, but I’ll do whatever she needs me to do. Even if it means not being there.

She doesn’t say anything at first. “I think people expect brides to react a certain way when they see themselves in the mirror, and I clearly didn’t react how I should. I just don’t want any expectations on me.”

“That’s not true. I was just concerned about you, but I get it, and if it’s what you want, then okay. I won’t pressure you.”

“Thank you.”

I hug her and feel the tension throughout her body. Is this what planning a wedding is like? If so, do not sign me up.

Eloise pulls away and smiles at me. “Now let’s walk so you can tell me what’s going on with Henry.”

I really want to tell Eloise, but I can’t betray Henry like that. And I figure it will be a little longer before he feels secure about this thing, and we can spill the news. “Nothing. Other than being invited to his son’s birthday party.”

“Really?” she asks, her eyes widening. “Okay.”

She puts up her hand as we near the end of the pier. Memories come flooding back of Henry and me chasing one another here in our youth. All the summer nights we spent watching fireworks. It makes me miss him, and for the first time, that nagging feeling isn’t in my gut when I think of him. The memories are all good ones.

“What just happened?” Eloise asks. “You got quiet.”

“I don’t know. Usually when I talk about Henry or remember us together, I feel this weight in my stomach over everything that happened—and didn’t—but we spent a lot of summers right here, and I don’t feel it.”

She smiles and runs her hand down my arm. “Maybe seeing him again and being back is helping you to see that you’re finally ready to put the past between you aside.”

I place my hand on my stomach, and yep, the feeling isn’t there. It makes me want to call Henry and tell him, but he’s with Bodhi, and I’d never interrupt their father/son time.

“Maybe,” I answer her finally.

“Sounds like you two are getting thrown together a lot lately. Are those old feelings returning?” She sits on a bench while I go to the railing to watch the boats.

“I’m not sure they ever went away.”

She nods with a little smirk as if she knows a secret.

“What’s that look for?”

She pushes up from the bench and comes to stand beside me, swinging her arm around my shoulders. “Because it’s Henry. He’s your one and only, Jade. And now it’s like ‘insert mother here,’ and you guys can be one little happy family.”

“Mother?”

She laughs. “What do you think is going to happen if you and Henry get together?”

“Well, we’re not.” The lie tastes bitter. Fear strikes me—not because I’d have to be a mother to Bodhi, but because what if I’m not a good mother?

“Stop it,” she says. “You’d be a great mother. You’ll be like the ‘dance around the kitchen, food fight’ kind of mother. Henry might die of a heart attack from the kids making mud pies and throwing confetti at him on his birthday, but you’ll be amazing.”

I really want to tell her, but I bite my tongue because I can’t let it slip to Kyleigh. Not that I think Eloise would ever purposely tell her, but I don’t want to put her in the position of having to keep the secret either.

“I’m really lucky to have you.”

“You bet your ass you are.” She turns us away from the water. “Want to get a drink or go on the Ferris wheel? Because I can’t drink and then go on the Ferris wheel. It’ll end up as a horrible workday for the people who manage it.”

I’m poised to answer her, but then I do a double take when I spot Bodhi running around, peeking at people and looking around the area. Is he lost?

“Bodhi!” I shout, walking toward him, but he doesn’t hear me over the wind. “Bodhi!”

He stops and turns around. Then his body seems to relax, and his gaze shoots to his left. I follow his sightline and see Henry with Kyleigh, Rowan, and Tweetie. No Conor? That’s unusual.

“Daddy, it’s Miss Jade.” Bodhi points at me, then he wraps his arms around me as he always does.

“Mama Hensley,” Eloise whispers in my ear.

I ignore her and place my hands on Bodhi’s back. “I thought you were lost the way you were looking around.” I bend down to look at him.

He glances at Kyleigh, who’s approaching. “Nope. Just running around.”

“I told you not to get so far ahead,” Henry says to Bodhi, but he shifts his attention my way. “This is a surprise.”

If anyone is paying attention, they must know about us because the smile he shoots me is so spectacular I almost step into his arms and ask him to kiss me.

“Yeah.”

A hand waves in front of my face. “Earth to Jade,” Eloise says.

I blink and look around, but it’s only really Henry, Eloise, and me who look surprised. Bodhi stands between us, looking from one of us to the other.

I think we were set up again, but I’m not complaining.