Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Sean
Wasting no time, I jump in the SUV and go to Ronnie’s place to pick up her and Jimmy. She’s waiting outside for me and looks nervous, but Jimmy rushes to jump in the back with Dasher who I took along for the ride. Ronnie gets in the front and gives me an uncertain look.
“You’ll love my family and they’ll love you,” I say quietly. She quirks one brow and the look of longing in her eyes push me to act without thinking.
Taking her face in my hands I lean in and kiss her, a heartfelt kiss with promise.
Dasher yaps and Jimmy laughs. Ronnie jumps back and I catch the pink in her cheeks. Shit. This is the first time we’ve kissed in front of Jimmy.
“Mommy, does this mean you and Sean are getting married?” without waiting for an answer, he squeezes in between us and looks me in the eye.
“Are you going to be my daddy?” Ronnie sputters and laughs and starts to say something, but this is a question Jimmy asked me, so I interrupt her to answer him.
“I’m not sure, Jimmy, but maybe. Someday. If we’re all lucky.” It’s the best answer I have. I slide a quick glance at Ronnie. Her face is frozen, but I infuse as much genuine caring and adoration as I have into my look and her expression softens.
“It sure looks that way to me,” Jimmy says. He shakes his head. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“You silly boy,” Ronnie says with warmth as she kisses Jimmy’s cheek. “Let’s get inside.” When Jimmy scrambles out the door, she gives me a look and adds, “While I still have my nerve.”
I laugh and pull her out the driver door with me while she laughs and squirms and Jimmy gets a kick out of it all. then I take Ronnie’s hand and take Jimmy’s with my other and walk them to my back door.
It feels for all the world like we’re a family and I wait for the anxiety, the kickback of disorientation, the revolt of fear, but it doesn’t happen.
There’s nothing but pure joy in my heart as I lead Ronnie and Jimmy to meet my family who I know will be stunned at how serious and seriously happy I am to be in a real relationship.