Chapter 28
twenty-eight
Jeremy
Seems like it’s already pretty serious.” Becca crosses her arms and leans back in the booth.
“I wouldn’t say that. I like her. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Jeremy, you’re taking her and her son out tomorrow. I’d say that’s pretty serious,” Ember adds.
I could talk about this with the guys, but I don’t think they’d understand in the way I need them to right now. I’ve never really been in a position like this, and I don’t want to screw it up. Which means spending my Friday evening at Greystone with Ember, Becca, Maia, Brinley, and Avalon.
“I knew her son before we even went out, so I don’t think it’s that weird. It’s just a minor league hockey game.”
“Are you bringing all your rec center kids?” Avalon asks, grabbing a fry from the plate in front of us.
“No.”
“Exactly. So, it’s serious.”
“Maybe I should’ve talked about this with the guys instead.”
“No, they would’ve said some stupid stuff and made a joke about you finally getting laid, or some bullshit.” Becca rolls her eyes.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t something I’ve been thinking about, but not in the way most guys probably think about it. It’s not like I’ve never had sex before, but even before my accident, it had been a while, and now I just don’t know if, I don’t know if I can.
“You came to the right group of people.” Maia drops off some milkshakes and then scoots into the booth next to Ember and Becca. “You don’t want advice from those losers.”
“I don’t know, two of them got pretty lucky over the last year in the love department.”
“And Brooks has been with Liv for what feels like forever.” Brinley dips her fry into her milkshake. “But I don’t think those recent relationships would’ve been successful without me.”
“Um, excuse me, I was the one who got Zeke and Avalon back together,” Ember argues.
“Pretty sure it was a group effort.”
“Just don’t rush into anything.” Avalon leans against the table. “From what you’ve told us about Tristyn, she seems great. Don’t jump into something too fast because you’re worried she’ll disappear if you don’t.”
“I don’t plan on rushing into anything. Even if she didn’t have a kid, I mean, these last couple months have been a lot, I don’t think jumping into the deep end will help.”
“Are we talking about sex?” Becca narrows her eyes.
“Because we can. Just because we’re not the guys doesn’t mean we can’t go there.
You’re nervous, aren’t you? Have you talked to Dr. Franklin about it?
Your legs have been getting stronger, hell, you stood up to kiss her last week, but sex is a whole different ball game. ”
“Are you worried?” Avalon adds. “I would say just be honest with her.”
“Honest about what?” I raise an eyebrow.
“About your concerns. There’s nothing a girl finds more attractive than honesty.”
“Very true. If Declan had been honest with me about everything,” Ember begins, “once we started getting closer anyway, it could’ve saved us both a lot of heartache. I might’ve even heard him out instead of cutting all of you out of my life.”
“I still can’t believe you did that.” Maia frowns. “You weren’t even talking to me, and I had nothing to do with that.”
“I wasn’t thinking, okay. It was easier to cut everyone out than to admit the truth to myself.”
“Which was?”
“I loved him, and he had my whole heart, which made it that much easier for him to destroy me. I felt like if I admitted that to myself and everyone else, you’d think less of me for some reason.”
I reach out and squeeze Ember’s hand.
“So, long story short, honesty is the best policy for all people in a relationship.”
I don’t know how to get the conversation off my sex life, but suddenly it’s just jumping from person to person. They’re bringing up things I never thought about, and I can’t help but wonder when you even bring something like this up.
We’ve only been on one date. I don’t want Tristyn thinking that my mind instantly went to sex, but I also don’t want to end up in a position where the moment is there, and I have to explain to her that I’m not ready. Will I ever be ready?
“What do you think, Brin?” Ember shifts her gaze to Brinley, who is sitting against the divider. Brinley’s eyes meet Ember’s, almost as if she’s coming into the conversation for the first time in a while.
“Hmm?”
“We’re talking about Jeremy’s sex life.” Ember laughs. “I thought you would be the first one to jump in on it.”
Ember’s not wrong. Brinley has always been the most open when it comes to those kinds of conversations. Maybe not on a serious note, but she’s always the first one to throw a jab or make a joke.
“Oh, sorry, I was just—”
“Are you okay?” There’s a distant look in her eyes. I don’t know how I didn’t notice it earlier, but it’s as if her mind is on another planet.
“Oh, yeah, sorry, it’s just,” she shifts in her seat, straightening up, “home stuff. My parents’ divorce is supposed to be finalized in the coming weeks, and then my childhood home goes on the market and—” she shakes her head.
“It doesn’t matter. Truly. That’s just, uh, where my head was.
So, we were talking about Jere’s sex life? Or lack thereof, one, I should say.”
“There she is.” I smile, reaching behind Avalon and squeezing Brin’s shoulder.
“Seriously, though, if Tristyn doesn’t want to be with you because of something as ridiculous as that, then she doesn’t deserve you.”
I don’t know much about Tristyn, obviously that’s something I’m trying to change, but what I do know is that she’s probably as hesitant as I am when it comes to sex.
Our relationship doesn’t just affect the two of us, but her son, too, and the last thing she wants to do is jump into bed with someone if it’s not going somewhere.
“I have a feeling she isn’t like that.” Ember grins, as if she’s reading my mind.
“Okay, so let’s talk timeline. Do we think—”
“And that’s my cue to leave.” I shake my head. “I’ve got PT in an hour, so I should go.”
“You don’t have PT today.” Brinley’s eyebrows knit together.
“And I hate that you know my schedule so well.” My head drops. “Let’s just say I have somewhere else to be.”
“You’re such a liar.” Avalon rolls her eyes.
“Maybe.” I grab my chair and bring it to the edge of the booth, and shift my body into it. “As long as it gets me out of this conversation.”
“See you later.” The girls yell as I roll out of Greystone.
Idon’t know how I thought tonight was going to go.
I guess from the moment I asked Tristyn about taking her and Henry to this hockey game, I’ve thought about two completely different ways the night could go.
Henry could hate me, ignore me, and do everything in his power to make sure his mom and I never saw one another. Or he could love me, we’d have the best time, and he’d want me to stick around forever.
Both were terrifying.
I know there’s the option where things just feel normal, but that thought never crossed my mind—
Until tonight.
We’re halfway through the second period, and a night I was questioning for over a week feels like the kind of night I have all the time.
Henry’s great.
He asks me questions about the game; we talk about him and the rec center.
He even wanted to sit next to me. He’s sat in between his mom and me, and at first, I thought it was because he wanted to make sure we didn’t sit next to each other, which would’ve been reasonable, but with the way he’s been talking my ear off, I don’t think that’s the case.
And I love it.
“Mom, can we do this again?” Henry looks up at Tristyn, and from the tone of his voice, I know the question is paired with some puppy dog eyes.
“Maybe, baby.” She runs a hand through his hair. “I would like to.”
Now she looks at me, and my stomach erupts with butterflies. Her eyes are soft, and there’s a sparkle in them I’ve never seen before.
“Me too.”
“Can we go to Rockford games when the season starts?” Now Henry’s looking at me. “My friend Damian loves Zeke Harris! He talks about him all the time.”
“Maybe I can talk him into coming to the rec center sometime.”
“Really?” Henry bounces out of his seat. “I’ll be the coolest kid.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you already are.” I mess up his hair, and he leans into me.
“You boys hungry? Should I grab us some more food? Drinks?” Tristyn stands up, brushing her hands against her pants as the second period ends.
“Can I have an Icee?” There are those puppy dog eyes again. “Please?”
“Hey, crazy boy, you’ve already had ice cream and a hot chocolate.”
He adds a smile.
“Fine.” She gives in, then looks my way. “Can I grab you something?”
“I’m okay.” I flash her a small smile.
“I’ll be right back.” She walks by Henry and then shimmies by me, and once she sees that Henry isn’t looking, she leans down and places a kiss on my lips. “Thank you for this. Tonight’s been everything.”
“Thanks for coming.”
Another kiss. Then she squeezes my shoulder and heads to the concessions.
“My mom really likes you.” Henry grabs a handful of popcorn out of the bucket.
“Good,” I whisper. “'Cause I really like her.”