Chapter 13 Jace #2
“Sneaking up on someone washing a car gets you sprayed with water.”
“I wasn’t sneaking. You had earbuds in—”
“All caps, Lannie. No fluff. No exposition. Hit the high notes. You can fill in the rest later.”
He chuckles, his face clearing a bit. “You’re so demanding.”
“I swear to God, I will sic these birds on you if you don’t get to the point.”
“They love me more than you.”
“Ugh.” My hands fist in his shirt, and I’m not sure if it’s in frustration or anger, but he must get the message because his hands return to my face, and he kisses my forehead. And then the tip of my nose. He tilts my head and his breath teases my lips.
“I love you, Jace,” he whispers. “So much. I tried to resist. I’m just too—”
Surging forward, I stop his words with my mouth. I’ve missed him so much. And he loves me. How is this real?
He holds the back of my head as he kisses me, pouring everything into it. I realize now he’s been holding back because this is Lannie claiming me. And the possessiveness—the clinginess—I normally hate in guys feels perfectly right. Because Lannie owns me and my heart.
I break off the kiss because I need a moment…and air. The clamp on my emotions that I always seemed to be tightening around him shatters. Tears stream down my face, and I suck in unsteady breaths.
“God, I’m sorry, Jace. I didn’t mean to—”
I shake my head, trying to stop his words and the self-recrimination I can hear in them. “It’s fine,” I say, my words garbled by emotion. “I’m just overwhelmed.”
He nods and starts to pull away. “Maybe we should go?”
God, I’m messing this up. I grab his shirt again. “Lan, stop talking. Just for a second, so I can get my brain working. Can you do that?”
“Okay. Yeah.”
Releasing his shirt, I smooth the wrinkles and stretch out my fingers to get the blood flowing again.
Once the tingling stops, I rest my hands on his hips, and it feels…
different and right. I take a deep breath and stare at his face until his eyes return to mine.
“Lannie, you sweet idiot,” I say, emotion clogging my throat.
“I…” I stop and try again. “I’ve been in love with you for an embarrassingly long time.
Or, at least I thought I was in love with you.
Because now I know the difference. I love you, Lannie, for real this time. ”
He kisses me again. And it’s not enough. I need more—his lips, his strong hand on my neck, his body hard against mine.
When we part, the birds have settled again, ignoring us as they do their own thing.
Have they realized Lannie's not there to feed them, or are they allowing us into their world? The wave of emotion hits me again. Lannie was already a part of their world. And now I’m included.
A given. Will my family be as accepting as the birds?
“This is only the first part of our date,” Lannie says, kissing my cheek. Does he know where my thoughts have gone? “I have plans for us. Dinner. And—” His face darkens to a beautiful red color.
Which doesn’t make sense. What does he have planned? “Now you have to tell me.”
He scowls, but it lacks his usual irritation.
“Stop teasing me. If this,” he says, gesturing slightly to the birds, “hadn’t convinced you, I had other things on the agenda.
I made lasagna. And after a romantic dinner, I was going to ask you to…
um…” He worries his lip and sneaks a look at me. “Ask you to dance with me.”
“Dance? That’s so sweet—no, don’t go anywhere—I mean it. I love how romantic you are.”
“Yeah?” He sounds unsure. As if being sweet and romantic isn’t allowed. And I wonder if this is another thing related to his parents.
But he is sweet. He never forgets a birthday—mine or my family’s. He gives my mom flowers on Mother’s Day, thanking her for being the only mom who counts.
I swallow the lump in my throat, realizing again what he’s risking. That, more than his words, tells me what I need to know.
We kiss again, each trying to convince the other. I blink back tears. “This is amazing. But if you think you’re getting out of homemade lasagna and slow dancing, you’re wrong.”
“I never said slow dancing. I was thinking of ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie.’”
I laugh. A country line dance. He’s kidding…right? “Do you even know how to do that?”
“Of course. Do you?”
My turn to blush. “I…know things. But I was hoping tonight you could teach me some new steps.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” We’ve talked about it. Done everything but that.
“So you know things…” he prompts.
My face catches fire. “I’ve watched stuff.”
“Stuff, huh?” There’s a twinkle in his eyes.
“That’s hot as hell.” His arms wrap around me, and I tuck my face into his shoulder.
“It’s okay, babe,” he says, holding me tight.
I melt into him. Lannie’s been my first at everything.
I trust him. “As selfish as it sounds, Jace, I’m glad I get to be the one to teach you. ”
“The ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie?’”
He laughs. “Among other things.”
“So, um, dinner?”
“Are you hungry?”
I try to grin…less. No reason to scare the man off now. But I can’t seem to manage a normal expression, and I’m not sure that will change any time soon. “Ravenous.”
He smiles and grabs my hand. “Same. Help me close up?”
We do all the things he needs to do to close, and then we make our way through the mostly quiet zoo to the parking lot. “Thank you, Lannie. This has been an amazing Valentine’s Day. The best I’ve ever had.”
He closes his eyes and shakes his head with a groan.
“What?”
“I messed up. Set too high a bar. Every Valentine’s Day from now on will be disappointing.”
“Not true,” I say, kissing him. “I believe in you, babe. You can do it. Aim high.”
The drive home is less tense than the drive to the zoo. We argue over Lannie’s driving—just pass him already, Lan—and I choose the music on the radio. And Lannie watches me, his eyes full of love.
“The light is green. We can go now.” A honk from a car behind us emphasizes my words.
He touches my face. “They can wait.” But after another honk, he turns back to the road.
We’re almost home when I ask the question I’ve been avoiding. “Does Mom know about us?”
“Um…yeah. Sorry.”
“I figured. This had her meddling written all over it.” She didn’t seem upset. Maybe it would all work out. “How?”
“How did she figure it out?” he asks, glancing over at me. I nod, and he smiles. “Luella told her.”
I laugh. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Evidently, you were acting very possessive of me. And she got the message loud and clear.”
“Good.” I kiss his hand. As we pass by my house, I ask, “What about Dad?”
“Not yet.” Lannie pulls into his driveway and parks. He turns to me, and instead of worry and fear, I see determination. “But that’s about to change.”
“Are you sure?” I chew on my bottom lip. “Maybe we should finish our date first.”
He palms my face, and I lean into his touch. “I don’t want to wait. You’re my boyfriend. My love. And I want everyone to know it.” He kisses me. “I know it’s scary, babe. But your parents love you—”
“I’m not worried about me.”
He smiles. “You’re my family. You, your kooky parents, Ruby, and Colton. Even Boots. You’re all my family, and nothing will ever change that.”
“Okay then. Let’s get this over with.” I give him one last kiss. “I’ve got some new dance steps to learn.”