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I open my mouth to apologize again for ruining today, but he stops me.
“Baby, if you apologize one more time for doing nothing more than being damn adorable, I’m going to put you over my knee and spank that juicy ass of yours.”
Why does that turn me on so much?
I text Tracy back, and we make a plan to meet up at her store first, and then we can just walk somewhere.
Minutes later, Jonas’s phone goes off. He looks at it and lets out a heavy sigh.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Momma is still pissed and is canceling dinner tomorrow night.”
“Haven’t you guys been doing this family dinner for years? You told me she never excuses you from family dinner,” I say.
“She doesn’t.”
“She must really be mad then, huh?”
“Yep.” He runs his hand over his face. He has a little bit of scruff going on today from not shaving, and I have to say I kind of like the look.
But now isn’t the time to bring that up. Instead, I ask, “Why was Jessie excused from family dinners for so long?”
“He was always gone. He lived in Nashville, I think, which is a good five, six hours away. The past couple of times he’s come through town, I’ve made sure I wasn’t in town. If I’m out of town for work, she won’t make a big deal out of it.”
“You’re going to have to apologize to her,” I say.
“I know. And I will. But maybe I’ll let her cool down a little more first.” Anxious to change the subject, he says, “Speaking of out of town, next weekend, I have to drive into Gatlinburg to meet with a potential client. I thought we could go together…if you want. We can rent a cabin for a couple of nights.”
“Sure,” I say, not knowing much about Gatlinburg or exactly what type of cabin he is referring to. Are we going to be staying in some log cabin in the middle of the woods? Knowing Jonas, I wouldn’t be surprised. But it will be nice to be somewhere low-key for my birthday.
“That sounds nice,” I add.
He gives me that million-watt smile. “Good.”
Finally, he hits PLAY on the movie, and we continue watching. When the killer jumps out from behind the door, I also jump and send the bowl of popcorn flying everywhere.
Both of us are laughing uncontrollably at the mess, and Jonas teases me for getting scared. Beau comes over and eats the popcorn on the floor before jumping up on the couch with us.
Yes, this is what happiness is supposed to look like. This is what it’s supposed tofeellike. Two people enamored with each other who can see that maybe the little things are just as meaningful as the big ones. Two people who enjoy sitting on the couch together watching a movie just as much as going out on the town. Two people who are comfortable enough to know that just because every day isn’t momentous doesn’t mean that every day isn’t magical.
I have to say I’ve never felt like this before.
Don’t get me wrong; I loved Michael. And I think a part of me always will, despite his horrible indiscretions.
But I can tell you that what he and I had never felt like this. Yes, we were friends, but there was always that key piece missing. That key piece being that we were never really connected. There was always something blocking us from being truly happy. Maybe what was stopping us was the fact that we were wrong for each other. We fell into a relationship based on complacency and ease. Neither one of us wanted to step away from one another and find someone outside of our comfort zones.
And look where it got us, in an unhappy, loveless marriage. One in which he thought it was okay to step out of yet was too afraid to end our charade of a relationship.
That life seems like a million years ago as I sit on this couch with Jonas Mitchell laughing and spending time together. I realize that I am grateful for all of that time, even if now it feels like wasted time, because every single thing led me here.
To this moment.
With this man.
This man who I am beginning to find that I am falling in love with.
Chapter Thirty-six
