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After a moment, her eyes dart between me and Jonas. “Okay, Mama. Can we watch a movie now?”
“For a little bit. Not too late. We still have to get up early tomorrow.” She nods.
And just like that, the conversation ends. We turn on the television and find something to watch on Netflix.
Jonas and I curl up on the couch facing each other. Neither of us says a word, we just lie there, get lost in each other’s eyes, exchanging the occasional touch or kiss. Everything about the moment feels right. Meant to be.
Before long, the show ends and I decide it’s time to head out. Not that I want to. More than anything, I want to stay in this house, crawl between Jonas’s sheets, and never leave. But not tonight. Probably not tomorrow either. But hopefully soon.
Clementine hugs Spartan and whispers in his ear before letting go. As we walk to the door, a smidge of her sulkiness lingers. But this version is much more tolerable.
Jonas walks us out to the car. After Clementine is in her seat, I start the car and turn the heat on low. “We’ll go in just a minute,” I tell Clementine. She nods and turns up the radio. Good sign.
With Clementine situated, I close the door and face Jonas. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. “Come over again tomorrow. Feel like we have so much time to make up for.” He kisses the crown of my head.
“Yes, we do. And we’ll be here.”
Jonas brings his hands to either side of my face and holds me as if I am the most precious person in existence. He lowers his lips to mine and lights a fire under my skin as he kisses me senseless. No matter how much time passes, I will never get enough of Jonas. Not his hugs. Not his kisses. Nor his love. Call me addicted, I don’t care. All I know is, Jonas is the only person who has completed me. Made me whole. A better version of myself. And I don’t want another day without him in my life.
Jonas breaks the kiss and inches back. “Text when you get home.”
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow…” And I swear he wants to say more. I see it linger in the air. But he bites his tongue.
Me too,I say to myself. Because I swear Jonas was just about to say he loves me.
TWELVE
JONAS
“Not sure what happened yesterday, but it’s good to see a smile on your face again,” Dad says as I stroll into the office early.
For the first night in weeks, I slept without disruption. Yesterday, the stars in my and Autumn’s constellation realigned. Everything wasn’t back to before Leo made an appearance, but I don’t imagine it will be exactly that way again. If I had to guess, I would say our relationship will be better. Stronger. More potent and appreciated.
After our time apart and the heartache we both endured, neither of us will take our relationship for granted. We will cherish it more. Every touch—big or small—will hold more meaning. Every kiss will have deeper sentiment.
“Autumn and I had a lengthy discussion after her appointment at the attorney’s office. The attorney gave her the reassurance she needed to be comfortable in our relationship while dealing with her ex.”
Dad sets his pen down on a stack of invoices. “Glad to hear things are on the upswing. We all enjoyed meeting her and Clementine. Hope to see them again, when the dust settles.”
I brew a pot of coffee and bring the cream and sugar to the desks. “Me too. She loved meeting everyone.”
Once the brewer finishes, I pour a mug for us both and sit at my desk. The stack of paperwork on my desk has gotten taller and taller with each day I didn’t see or hear from Autumn. Thank goodness I am not in charge of billing, otherwise we would be too far behind. My job is to file away invoices for record keeping. No big shake. Usually finish the prior day’s paperwork before the garage opens each morning. But seeing as how I haven’t filed paperwork for several days, I may be spending my lunch breaks playing catch up.
I use every minute possible before the garage opens to file invoices. When the time comes to roll up the bay doors, Dad and I head out to the garage.
One after another, customers clamber in with their vehicles. Oil changes. Tire replacements. Dent removal. Windshield replacement. The day whizzes by. The entire time, a painful smile stretches across my cheeks. Nothing can ruin this day.
The back half of the day goes by just as fast as the morning. It boggles my mind how easily my mood changes the pace of the day.
About an hour before closing, I glance up from an engine I’m working on. A familiar white Mercedes drives into the lot and parks near the office.
How can my blood boil and turn to ice simultaneously? I set the ratchet down, grab the red rag from my coveralls, and wipe my hands as I step toward the car.
“Jonas,” Dad calls from a bay over. “Everything alright?”
I tip my head toward the car. “Autumn’s ex.”
