AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jasper looked up at him uncertainly, but finally a small smile appeared. “You broke it on purpose.”
Tony nodded. “Yep. And that’s way worse than doing it on accident. Why don’t you and Rhys go back and watch the rest of the game while I clean up my mess?”
“I can help,” Jasper offered. “Earn my keep.”
He was mimicking Jess, and it occurred to Tony that while Jess may not have intended it, her inability to accept help easily was rubbing off on Jasper. He and Rhys clearly still had some work to do. To convince mother and son that this was their home, and they didn’t have to walk around on eggshells in order to stay.
“Come on. You don’t need to be messing around with those sharp edges,” Rhys said, grabbing the plastic football Jasper had dropped on the floor. “Leave that to a grown-up. We’ll go back, watch hockey, and play with this with the guys. They’ll all be jealous you have such a cool ball.”
Jasper allowed Rhys to lead him back to the living room, while Tony retrieved a broom and dustpan. Once the mess was cleaned up, he returned to watch the game, but his heart wasn’t into it. He was too distracted by his new roommates, wishing he knew how he could set their minds at ease.
Jess had made several comments in passing over the past two months about her upbringing, and it was apparent she’d never truly lived in a home where she felt she belonged, where she didn’t have to earn the right to remain there. She had also told them about her experiences with foster care, explaining that was why she’d been hesitant to call social services immediately. It killed him to know she’d been so terrified of losing Jasper. As far as he was concerned, there wasn’t a more loving mother on the planet.
He was still sitting on the couch, long after the game ended and the guys left. The television was on, but he wasn’t paying a damn bit of attention to it. Rhys had found some National Geographic thing about penguins, though Tony suspected his roommate wasn’t really watching it either. Jasper had crashed pretty hard after his sugar rush, falling asleep on the couch. Rhys had carried him back to the bedroom an hour ago so he could finish his nap in peace.
“You’ve been quiet this afternoon,” Rhys mused.
“Just thinking. Worried. Jess never stops. I thought living here would take some of the stress off her, but it hasn’t.”
Rhys nodded. “I had hoped for the same thing. Jess has had to work hard her entire life, only having herself to rely on, Tony. It’s going to take more than a couple months of living here to break something that is so deeply ingrained inside her.”
Tony knew all of that, even though it was hard for him to accept. But that wasn’t the main thing bothering him. “She’s holding herself back from us. Staying away.”
“Those kisses…” Rhys started.
Tony wanted to regret kissing Jess the way he had. It had been impulsive and stupid and it had spooked her. But that kiss…it had solidified something he’d only suspected up until that point.
Jess belonged here. With them.
“I want her. Want to be with her.” Tony hadn’t spoken those words aloud. Doing so now felt…freeing.
Rhys studied his face, and Tony could almost imagine the wheels turning in his best friend’s brain, seeking—as always—the truthful answer.
In the end, Rhys forced himself to admit what they both knew. “So do I. I’ve never felt an attraction like this. I’ve spent more hours this past month than I care to admit, trying to pinpoint what it is that makes Jess so different from other women. Honestly, I think it’s everything. She’s tenacious, brave, intelligent, stubborn as hell, and so fucking gorgeous, it’s hard to look away from her. She’s one of the most loving mothers I’ve ever met, and I know that because I have a pretty amazing mom myself. She works as hard as we do.”
Tony shook his head. “No. She works harder.”
Rhys nodded, accepting that correction. “You’re right. She does.”
“I want to take away her stress. Her fears. I just…don’t know how to do that because she won’t let me. Won’t letus,” Tony quickly amended.
“I know, but she’s not wrong to hold herself back, Tony. To use caution. I’d bet my entire life savings she knows we want her. And she wants us too. But none of us has a clue how to morph those desires into…whatever comes next. We’re just as inexperienced when it comes to relationships as she is, if you think about it.”
Tony ran his hand through his hair, overwhelmed by the need to argue that fact. But he couldn’t. And he didn’t get the chance when they heard the front door open.
Jess walked into the living room with a large bag in her hands. “Dinner,” she said, offering them the same tired smile that had taken up permanent residence on her face. “Where’s the key bowl?”
“I broke it,” Tony lied smoothly, rising to take the bag from her hands. “I’ll text Aunt Berta and tell her dinner is here.”
“Jasper in the bedroom?”
Rhys nodded, rising as well. “Yeah. Overstimulated by the party. He conked out about an hour ago. You look tired.” He lifted his hand and ran his fingers along Jess’s cheek affectionately.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t need to keep working extra shifts, Jess.”
“Or the second job with the Russos,” Tony added.
