Home Tears

“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.

Kelley Lynn was right. Kate was right. Their community adored Jonah. The men slapped him on the back with a dirty remark about their wetness. And the women took note of who held his hand. Dani caught more than a few pissed off women, wrinkling their noses and curling their lips in a scowl.

Well. Any secrecy that Dani thought they had was gone now. They were officially a couple. Ducking upstairs, Jonah pulled her into Aiden and Bubba’s room. Quilts were strewn across the room, over tables, and even on the floor.

Dani crossed to the window and watched the rain. It was a downpour. It looked like a full sheet was draped over the house, like it could be cut through with a knife. “It’s really coming down, huh?” Then she surveyed the room. “Something tells me that Robbie’s master bedroom doesn’t exactly compare to this room.”

Jonah searched inside Bubba’s closet. “Probably not.” His voice was muffled until he produced a T-shirt and a clean pair of boxers. He laid them on the bed, briskly pulling his drenched shirt off, hanging it over the counter in the bathroom. “I’m going to have to wear my wet jeans. I don’t exactly measure up to Bubba’s size.”

Dani tracked the water on his chest, his glorious and golden and muscled chest. All. The. Way. Down. His jeans cut off her view. His hands were there, and he paused. She was waiting, trying not to lick her lips. He still didn’t undo them, and her eyes jerked to his. He was watching her. No laughter. His gaze was dark, almost smoldering, and she felt her body starting to quiver in response.

She lost the battle. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips.

He groaned. “You’re killing me, Dani.”

“Sorry.” She wasn’t.

His voice grew hoarse, like it was work for him to speak. “Stop looking at me, or I’m coming over there.”

Her voice matched his. “We’re in your sister’s bedroom.”

“I’m starting not to give a damn.”

They couldn’t. Nope. But she wanted to. They needed another topic, and then she remembered. “Your family.”