Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
A NNIE
I sit on my front porch with Beanie Boy, waiting for Jack to pick us up and I’m freaking the hell out. In my post-mind-blowing orgasmic bliss earlier this week, I agreed to attend the Donley’s annual Fourth of July party.
At the time, pheromones were clouding my judgment, making me forget it meant I’d be meeting his family, so I’m nervous as hell. I’m trying to think of excuses to cancel when he pulls up, jumps out of his vehicle with a huge smile, and helps Bean and me get loaded into the truck. Before I know it, we’re on our way and there is no turning back.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrive at Jack’s parent’s and make our way around the side of the house to the back, where the party is. Gracie takes off to run around the giant back yard but stops and barks back at Bean, as if to say, ‘Come on!’
Bean looks up at me with puppy dog eyes. I lean down and pet him while I whisper, “Fine, traitor, go be with your girl. I’ll meet all these people by myself.”
He licks my face and takes off after Gracie .
As I stand back up, a stunning, petite woman with long wavy salt-and-pepper hair and eyes matching Jack’s makes her way over to us. She calls out, “Jacky! John, Jack’s here with his friend.”
I brace myself as the tiny woman and a very handsome silver-haired gentleman approach. Jack picks the woman up in a big bear hug.
“Hey, Ma, happy Fourth.” As he puts her down, he says, “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet my friend, Annie.”
The lovely woman turns to me and says, “Welcome, Annie! It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve been wondering who or what has been responsible for my boy being cheerier these days. I guess I know now.” She smiles and I see where Jack gets his dimple as well.
I’m sure my cheeks are red with embarrassment at the insinuation that we’re something more than friends.
“Thank you for having us, Mr. and Mrs. Donley. I brought my dog Bean with me. Jack said he was invited. I hope it’s okay…” I stop talking since my nerves are making me ramble.
“Of course, the more the merrier! Look at them all having a blast.” She points to the yard, and I count five dogs and six children playing.
“Oh, and please, call us Rose and John. None of this Mr. and Mrs. business.”
Over the next half hour, I’m introduced to Jack’s twin, Ben, as well as his sisters, Shayna, Shannon, and Shyley, and their partners. Jack and I find seats on the patio where I can still monitor Bean running around the yard.
I check on Beanie multiple times and find him and Gracie alternating between chasing each other and lying on their backs for belly rubs from the kids. I notice the cute little boy who was Teddy and Emily’s ring bearer is here and seems enthralled with Bean .
When Bean and Grace tire out and lie down to rest together under a beautiful Magnolia tree, there are high-pitched shrieks of, “Uncle Jack is here! Uncle Jack!”
Suddenly, six adorable little kids are at our side begging Jack to come chase them. Jack looks like he’s going to say no, and I sense it’s because he doesn’t want to leave me.
“Go, play with them. I’ll be fine,” I say.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I’m sure.” I smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, she’ll be fine,” a female voice says.
I look up to see Shayna.
“She’s actually about to come help me shut down the bragging the guys are doing over corn hole. Go play, Jack. Leave us ladies to hang out.”
“Yeah.” I grin, standing up. “I’m going to do that. Go play.”
Jack looks at me, kisses me sweetly on the temple, and then makes monster noises and gestures to his nieces and nephews.
They shriek in delight and start running away on their little legs, with him following behind.
After Shayna and I dominate in corn hole, beating Shannon and Shyley’s partners as well as Ben and John, we head over to where Jack and I were sitting and have a beer. Jack is still playing chase with the littles and the dogs have all joined in on the fun, too. I can’t help but smile as I watch him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you at the wedding,” Shayna says, catching me staring at her brother. “I very much wanted to meet the woman who so thoroughly snagged my normally calm brother’s attention and inspired him to go all neanderthal on the dance floor. But then he snuck you out early.”
“Well, I’m very glad to get to meet you today,” I say. “ Thanks for hanging with me so Jack didn’t feel bad playing with the kids.”
“Jack’s the best. The kids all love him.” She smiles, watching him. “Plus, it’s clear you’re important to him, so I wanted to get to know you. It’s my pleasure to hang out.”
We both sit, quiet, and gaze at them all playing for a few moments.
“You see the handsome little guy in the red shorts, hanging at Jack’s side constantly?” she asks.
I nod.
“That’s my little fellow, Tommy. He’s five.”
“He’s a cutie.” I smile. I noticed him earlier because he was Beanie’s primary belly rubber.
“He’s my everything,” she says sadly, focused on them. “He never got to meet his father, but Jack has never missed a beat in being there for anything he needed. Don’t get me wrong, all the men in my family are great with him, but he and Jack have a special bond. I’m so grateful to Jack for filling that gap in his life.”
I smile at her, sensing there’s clearly more of a story there, but it’s hers to tell me if, and when, she’s ready.
We go back to watching them at play. And I feel another one of my walls that I’ve been using to keep Jack in the friend-zone fall.
JACK
I collapse onto the grass and try to catch my breath, wiping the sweat from my brow with my T-shirt.
The kids all pile on top of me until one of them, Olivia, spots a toad in the grass and they take off on a mission to find more. All except my little man, Tommy. He lies next to me in the grass, resting his head on my outstretched forearm .
After a few minutes, I turn my head to him and smile. “Do you want to go meet my friend Annie? She’s Bean’s mom.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” He smiles back at me.
Standing up, I turn to him and ask, “How about a shoulder ride?”
“Awesome!” Tommy answers. I pretend I’m going to climb atop his shoulders, but he stops me. “Uncle Jack, silly, you’re too big! I have to ride on yours.”
I scratch my head and squint my eyes at him. “Are you sure? I think I’ll fit.”
Tommy giggles and it’s adorable. “No, I can’t carry you.”
“Okay then. Climb on up.” I bend down so he can get on and we head back toward where Annie and Shayna are sitting.
He giggles on the way when I wiggle and pretend I’m going to fall.
Gracie and Bean walk with us, one on either side of my legs. When we get near Annie and Shayna, I pull Tommy from my shoulders, and I plop down into the seat next to Annie.
Tommy walks up to her and taps her on the arm. “Is that your dog?” he asks, pointing at Bean.
She smiles. “Yes, he’s my dog. I was watching you give him belly rubs. I think he likes you a lot.”
He beams up at her. “I like him, too. But why does he have a weird name? My mom makes me eat beans.”
Annie smirks at the question and looks like she’s trying not to laugh at the serious look on his face.
“Well, Bean is his middle name. His full name is Cocoa Bean.”
He giggles. “That’s more weirder.”
Bean licks Tommy’s face, and he laughs even more, looking so darn cute .
“Bean is a chocolate lab, and chocolate is made from cocoa beans, so I named?—”
“He’s made of chocolate?” Tommy interrupts, wide eyed.
Annie smiles, looks at him with all seriousness and says, “Yes. He’s made of chocolate and that’s why he’s so sweet.”
Shayna and I are trying to hold in our laughs as she finishes, in a whisper, “But don’t tell anyone else. It’s our secret!”
“I promise I won’t, Annie. Pinky promise.” He sits down next to Bean and pets him again.
We all sit and enjoy the relaxation for a few minutes before Shayna stands and tells Tommy it’s time to get washed up before eating.
He kisses Bean and Gracie on their heads before following his mom into the house.
ANNIE
Jack and I sit next to Ben and for the meal. It’s really fun watching Jack and Ben talking and all their similar mannerisms. Jack holds my hand under the table, rubbing small circles on my palm with his thumb.
I find it extremely relaxing and almost… sensual. I’m not even sure if he knows he’s doing it. I get lost in a rabbit hole of trying to decide if this is always a sensual movement or if it’s just because Jack is the one touching me. I don’t remember ever feeling like this with Jason, or anyone else, for that matter.
I’m pulled from my musings by a loud, off-tune rendition of “Happy Birthday,” and look up to see Rose heading toward us with John behind her, carrying a large sheet cake. I’m trying to figure out whose birthday it is when the family gets to the line, “Happy birthday, Ben and Jack. Happy birthday to you!”
Oh. My. God. Today is Jack’s birthday, and he didn’t tell me? I’m going to kill him when we leave here.
I look at him incredulously and he smiles a half smile, popping out that dimple, and it makes it so hard to stay mad at him.
“Sorry,” he whispers in my ear. “I asked them to not make a big deal of it.”
“Gather round, everyone. My babies turn thirty today.” Rose beams at her two sons. She has to stand on her tiptoes—and they have to bend down—so she can reach their six-foot two-inch heights and give them each a kiss on their cheeks.
Jack and Ben blow out the candles together and their sisters drag them to two chairs set up at the front of the large deck. The women put party hats on Ben and Jack, and start piling presents around each of them. Seeing how uncomfortable Jack is with the attention, I almost feel bad for him for a second.
I make my way to a seat next to Shayna as the brothers begin to unwrap their presents. Most of the kids have gone back to playing while they wait for their cake, but Tommy is sitting on the ground cross-legged at Jack’s side. He looks so excited he can hardly sit still.
Ben gets mostly fishing lures, golf balls and a few gift cards. Jack gets two beautiful, yet masculine, embossed journals, a set of fancy engraved pens, and some specialty coffees.
When it seems like all the presents have been handed out and opened, Tommy tugs at the leg of Jack’s shorts and holds up a small box for him.
“What’s this, buddy?” Jack asks. He ruffles Tommy’s hair and smiles down at him .
“Uncle Jack, don’t be silly. I can’t tell you or it will ruin it,” Tommy says, beaming.
Jack takes a few minutes and unwraps a coffee mug with a photo of Jack, Tommy, and Gracie on it, with writing that reads, “If you think your dad is great, you should meet my uncle.”
“Oh, man, I love it!” Jack says, pulling Tommy in for a hug. He holds him tight for several long seconds.
“It’s got a picture of all your favorite things, coffee, Gracie, and me.” Tommy smiles from ear to ear.
“That’s right, buddy. Thank you so much. It’s my most favorite present ever.”
Just then, Rose calls out that the cake is ready, and Tommy quickly hugs Jack again and then runs off to get cake.
I can’t take my eyes off Jack while he stares at the cup. I catch him wipe a tear from his eye with the heel of his hand, and I make my way over to him.
Damn it, how am I supposed to stay angry at a maddeningly gorgeous man who hates being the center of attention, is kind and generous, loves his family, and gets sentimental when the nephew he stands in as a father figure for gives him a heartwarming gift?
I’m think I’m screwed.