Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“You’re kidding me.” My jaw slackens as I stare at Jack from the passenger’s seat of my car. “You make your own bread?”
“Yeah.” His slow smile grows and his eyes flick to me before going back to the road.
“Sourdough?” I ask.
“Of course.”
Air puffs out of my cheeks. “I can’t wait to witness this.” That’s kind of an understatement. The image of Jack stretching and folding dough is one I’m desperate to experience.
“My turn.” He smiles again. “Your dog’s name…I’m assuming it’s Giorgio as in Armani?”
I blink stunned eyes at him. “Okay, how do you know that? Your fashion knowledge is a little surprising.”
“It’s more pop-culture knowledge. We can thank Michael Scott from the episode where he watches The Devil Wears Prada.” He shrugs in a casual, nonchalant way, like he didn’t just wave a hundred green flags with that one sentence.
“You know, I was on the fence about you, but you just won me over,” I say, patting his nicely formed forearm.
It’s another lie, because we both know I’ve been obsessed with him since he called me ma’am.
He just shakes his head with that delicious smile appearing.
“Your face hurts from grinning so much, doesn’t it?
Your body’s probably still in shock, since smiling was outlawed for so long. ”
He pinches my leg just above the knee, making me yelp.
“Okay, my turn to ask another question,” I say, lacing my fingers through his. “Tell me about your typical after-work routine. How does Jack Jackson unwind at the end of a grueling day of scowling and raising heart rates?”
We’re nearing my parents’ house, but these back-and-forth questions have kept me mostly distracted. I can’t help the bouncing of my knee, though, as that familiar tension begins to build.
“Nothing exciting,” Jack replies. “Pick up groceries, head to my camper. Shower off the day, then grill something for dinner. Iron the next morning’s shirt and end the evening with a TV show or a book.”
“You pick out your outfit for the next day and hang it up, don’t you?” I shift my body nervously, despite the delight in my voice.
“No, it’s not like that.” He scowls. “I wear the same uniform every day, and I just like to start with a crisp shirt.”
“Whatever you say.” I shrug, turning back to the road with a smug little grin. Pushing his buttons still gives me a thrill. He shakes his head again, though he’s still amused. Then I glance out the window, and the reality of what I’m about to do fills my lungs.
“You sure you don’t wanna stop and get something to eat?
” Jack asks for the third time as we enter my parents’ neighborhood.
The knot I’ve been silently trying to unravel is twisting in my stomach, growing more tangled the closer we get.
It’s never a great feeling knowing you’re about to let someone down.
“I’m fine.” I wave my hand in dismissal, giving him a soft smile.
His eyes dart over to me, a concerned dip to his brow before his attention returns to the road.
“But you should get something if you’re hungry,” I say, my leg resuming its bouncing as the trees grow in size before disappearing behind us.
He shoots me another concerned look when I bump my knee on the glove compartment. “I’m okay, promise. Just nervous, even though I know this is the right decision,” I reassure him.
The hour-and-a-half drive has been pleasant so far, mostly consisting of us holding hands and asking one another questions while his thumb makes gentle sweeps over my knuckles. And I’d hate to ruin the vibe now.
This is the right decision, I remind myself, inhaling a calming breath.
I direct Jack toward my childhood home, frowning at all the cars as we enter the driveway.
“They’re having a party?” Jack asks, parking behind the long line of vehicles and taking one last sip of his caramel frappuccino. The way he lit up when we drove through Starbucks was adorable. The man really does love his sugary drinks.
I frown, unfastening my seatbelt. “Not that I know of.”
We climb out of the car and hike up the driveway, and a blissful smile takes over my face.
Because Jack’s hand is curled around mine, and for the first time, I won’t be entering this house feeling like a complete outcast or a failure.
Not only do I have someone who understands me, someone who champions me, but I’ve also accomplished what I set out to do, and I’m confident in my decisions.
Mumbled chatter drifts through the front door as we approach, and my brow dips as it grows louder. I pull Jack through the foyer, hearing cheers of celebration floating from the living room.
“What is that?” Jack asks as we pass Beyonsai and her shrine.
“My adopted sibling. I’ll explain later.” I continue my path, Jack following closely behind. By the sound of things, almost all the extended family is currently gathered here. Their chatter comes to an abrupt halt as we enter the room, all eyes landing on Jack and me.
“Willow!” Mom exclaims, surprise raising the pitch of her voice.
I glance around in confusion. “Uh…hi. Did I miss the invite? What’s going on?”
“We’re celebrating. Juliet qualified for the Olympics yesterday!” She beams as Dad joins her with that telltale pride swelling in his eyes.
Yup. This was excellent timing. I’m about to shock them right off this cloud they’re floating on.
“When did you get in, Will?” Dad asks, smiling. “I thought you were away for a class assignment. And who is this?” He lifts his glass in Jack’s direction.
“Oh…this is Jack,” I say absentmindedly, my brain scurrying to formulate a plan. I didn’t anticipate an audience when breaking my parents’ hearts.
“I was actually on a hike.” I pause, Dad’s eyebrows raising as I take in all the gossip-hungry gazes locked on us. My cousin Brittany gives Jack a flirty wave, making me scowl.
Juliet rounds the corner, her bright smile widening.
“Willow! I didn’t know you were coming!” She gives me a side hug, because I refuse to release the death grip I have on Jack’s hand.
“Mom said you were away, but I’m so glad you made it.
Ooh, who’s this?” She bugs her eyes my way before flashing those pearly whites at Jack.
“Um, this is Jack, my boyfriend.” It’s the first time I’ve introduced him as such, and it still turns my insides to Jell-O.
When my gaze falls back to Jack, I find him smirking at me, completely unaware that every woman in this room is ogling him. He’s just giving me a goofy grin because he also knows this is the first time I’ve referred to him as my boyfriend.
It helps that he's a walking green flag. Plus, he’s ridiculously hot. I hit the jackpot.
Hah! Jack-pot!
“Boyfriend?” Juliet asks, her eyes lighting up.
“I actually didn’t know this was happening,” I continue, frowning when I catch my cousin fluttering her eyes at Jack again. Back off, Brittany.
“I thought you’d be recovering from your hike,” Mom chimes in, her mouth grimacing sheepishly. “After your adventure, I assumed you’d need a few days to rest.”
“We’re so glad you’re here, Will. I can’t wait to hear about this hike.” Dad pats my shoulder before shaking Jack’s hand. His eyes bounce back to me as he smiles, but a tiny frown washes over his face as he glances between Jack and me, like he’s searching for something.
“What did you stop by for, sweetheart?” Mom asks, and I once again scan over all the faces observing this little family reunion like a live soap opera.
Emily is the only one with a sour look on her face.
I give her a look that says Suck it, Emily.
Look who managed to get a boyfriend. And he’s a million times better than Kyle.
I bring my gaze back to Mom, feeling emboldened once Jack squeezes my hand. “I…uh…I sort of have something to tell you and Dad.”
“Well, don’t keep us waiting,” Aunt Sherri pipes up, nodding encouragingly as my parents turn expectant looks my way. It’s like there’s a herd of curious meerkats sitting before us, all of them eager to hear a bit of spilled tea.
“Well, I hadn’t planned on making this announcement in front of an audience, but I guess this works, too.” I glance over at Jack, drawing courage from his supportive smile.
“I just got back from doing the rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon.” I can’t help the widening of my smile as I say the words, because I’m darn proud of myself.
Murmuring and gasps follow, but I continue.
“And that’s a whole other thing that I’ll tell you about later.
” I wave a hand dismissively and turn to my parents.
“But the main thing I wanted to tell you is that…I got a scholarship to study color analysis and style, and…I’m going to pursue that…
because it’s my passion…and I won’t be finishing my sports journalism degree,” I finally admit, my stomach twisting as I stare at my dad.
I can practically hear the blinks in the room, yet it feels as if a boulder just rolled off my chest. “Willow also helped bring down a smuggling ring while in the canyon,” Jack adds.
“You did what?” Mom gasps, her fingers resting below my stitches. “What happened to your arm?”
“That’s part of the story I’ll get to later,” I say with a grimace, sneaking another look at my father, who has yet to say a word. “I’m sorry, Dad. I can’t keep trudging on a career path I hate. Style is what I’ve always loved. And I’m finally able to admit that. It’s what I want to pursue.”
“Will…” His eyes glisten as he shakes his head, and a small laugh escapes. “All I’ve ever wanted is for you and Jules to be happy. And for the first time in a long time, I see the real you looking back at me. If this is what you wanna do, we’ll support you.”
“Hooray!” Aunt Sherri claps, causing the purse on her lap to fall, a ziplock of discarded food sliding out. Mom gasps again, louder this time, and every pair of eyes in the room widens.
“It’s not what it looks like!” Aunt Sherri squeaks, shoving the bag of food back inside and yanking the purse to her chest.
A commotion ensues just then, the guilty participants scattering as my mom follows a retreating Aunt Sherri and interrogates her all the way into the kitchen.
I turn to Jack, shaking my head as my jaw hangs. “I’d say this is abnormally strange for my family, but it’d be a lie.”
He chuckles and leans down to kiss my temple. “At least that went well.”
“Freakishly well,” I mumble, because it’s almost too good to be true.
Dad steps forward, and I’m finally brave enough to let go of Jack’s hand as I’m pulled into a hug.
“We need to talk,” my dad says after releasing me from his hug. “I want to hear all about your plans for the future.”
I nod, moving back to Jack’s side, loving that those words carry none of the anguish they did just a few weeks ago.