AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“They’re here,” she exclaims, jumping in place. “Can I open the door?”
“Wait until they walk up, so Spartan doesn’t run out.”
Jonas excuses himself and joins us at the door. Clementine peeps up at me and I nod. She flings the door open and runs up to everyone, giving them hugs. I stare after her a minute, watching as she plays mini hostess. “Come on, guys. Let’s go inside.” She takes Ashton’s hand and helps him up the porch stairs.
Once everyone steps inside, I introduce my tattoo family to everyone already here. Gavin shakes Reznor’s hand and gives a more in-depth introduction to Cora. I learn Reznor inked Cora’s name on Gavin’s chest before I inked bands on their fingers. Small world. Reznor introduces Tatyana—his long-term girlfriend—and Ashton, their son. Before everyone settles, Jonas suggests we head out back and start grilling.
Cora deposits a small cooler on the counter and takes out a few items. When she sees me staring, she explains. “Vegan burger and sides.”
“You should’ve said something. We would’ve got stuff at the store.”
“No worries. Kind of used to bringing stuff when we go places.” She hands the patty to Jonas and says to cook it like a normal burger.
Everyone heads out back, Spartan on Jonas’s heels, praying for him to drop something. The kids share a lounger and pull up a side table to color. Spartan runs around the yard, sniffing the grass and searching for lizards. I light the fire bowl while Jonas mans the grill. Beforehand, we brought out extra chairs from the garage, and now have more than enough seating for the large group.
The guys shoot the shit by the grill while us ladies talk on the outdoor L-shaped couch. Cora tells me about an upcoming wedding she and Erin are shooting. Erin has slowly transitioned from an assistant to a photographer over the last year. She continues to learn, but Cora is the perfect teacher. Since the change, the two of them have tweaked the business. A fresh name—Hunt-Wallace Enterprises—and new faces. They reach more clients, hired assistants, and have the ability to take time off. Cora says she couldn’t do it without Erin, while Erin disagrees.
Shelly talks about the floral industry in ways I have never heard. Quotas and sales and deadlines. Sounds like a nine-to-five corporate office gig. But I suppose all industries have this. I never think of the tattoo industry like this, but I suppose Oscar—the shop owner—does. He pops in once a month to check on us but leaves us be for the most part. He owns several shops in the state but designates a manager for each location to make on-the-spot decisions. That would be Reznor for us. He keeps the shop going with ease.
Penny chimes in on occasion, but otherwise chills beside me with our arms hooked at the elbow.
Once the food is ready, we all gather around the fire bowl and eat. Smiles and laughter and shoulder bumps flow like the beer in our bottles. When people start leaning back and patting their stomachs, I glance up at Jonas and nod.
“Thanks for coming on such short notice, everyone,” Jonas announces. “We brought you here under the guise of a makeup birthday celebration. While that’s true, there’s more to it.”
All eyes turn my direction. The men with an air of concern and the women silently questioning what the hell is going on. Penny glances down at my abdomen before meeting my eyes again and I shake my head. She laughs.
“Some of you know,” Jonas continues, looking to Penny before scanning the group, “and some of you don’t. But Autumn’s ex has started stirring up trouble.” This causes Rex and Reznor to sit taller. “He filed for sole custody of Clementine and has since made verbal threats to both of us. We have maintained our cool and done everything through the appropriate channels. But it seems he is stepping up his game. So…” Jonas smiles and my favorite dimple appears. “We are enacting Operation Don’t-leave-Autumn-and-Clementine-alone.”
Everyone nods except the children.
“What does this look like?” Penny asks.
“Basically, someone is with them around the clock. Doesn’t matter who. Even together, someone should be with them. Obviously, when here, they’ll be with me.”
“And with me at the apartment and work,” Penny chimes in. “But if our schedules don’t align, we’ll sort it out ahead of time.”
The conversation flows for another hour before people leave. Beforehand, we all exchange phone numbers and sort out tomorrow’s schedule for now. Since Penny rode with Reznor, Tatyana, and Ashton, she stays to ride home with me and Clementine.
We clean up the back patio and kitchen. The closer we get to clean, the tighter my stomach twists. After a wonderful weekend with Jonas, I don’t want to leave. I want to crawl into bed and snuggle with him. Listen to his soft breaths as he sleeps. Fall asleep to the thumping cadence of his heart beneath my ear. Wake up to the scent of his skin and the warmth of his embrace.
But we aren’t there yet. Aren’t to the point where we spend several days straight in the same place. Should we be? Would it be odd this early on? Some would say yes while others would suggest there is no correct timeline.
Reluctantly, Clementine and I gather our bags and trod to the door. Penny holds out her hand for my keys. “I’ll start the car so you can exchange good nights.” After I hand them over, she walks to the car and starts it.
Clementine hugs Jonas around the waist. “‘Night, Mr. Jonas.”
He hugs her small frame. “‘Night, sunshine.”
She clings to Spartan a moment. “Night night, Sparty. See you soon. We can have more slumber parties.” Giving him one last squeeze, she trots down the drive and gets in the back seat of the car.
“I don’t want to leave,” I confess, peering up at Jonas.
He pulls me into him, wraps one arm around my waist while he braces the length of my spine with the other, fingers in my hair. “Don’t want you to go either. After we figure out schedules, we’ll be together more nights. Guaranteed.” He kisses the crown of my head.
“Music to my ears.”
We inch apart. Jonas frames my face in his palms and drops his lips to mine. He kisses me sweet at first, then traces my lower lip with the tip of his tongue. I deepen the kiss, devouring him as if I won’t see him for days again. When he breaks the kiss, I brace myself on his forearms.
