“So…that happened.” Hallie keeps her eyes on Molly, watching her disappear into the kitchen.
“What the fuck was it?” Julie looks at me like I might have the answer. And while I usually do, this time I’m clueless. For the first time, Molly is a closed book to me, and that concerns me more than anything.
“No idea. But let’s keep a closer eye on her, yeah? Obviously, something is going on, and we’ll be there for her, whatever it is.”
“Always,” Hallie says.
“Em, I’m so glad Jeremy’s brother came in for Thanksgiving.” Julie shifts on the couch so she’s facing us.
I nod, taking a sip of my drink.
Jeremy has been talking to Brian a lot over the last few weeks. He took another trip down to Maryland so they could spend some more time together, and Brian spent a weekend withus here. It was tentative at first, but Maddy fell in love with Brian immediately. Her enthusiastic and unquestioning acceptance helped Jeremy and Brian’s relationship more than any deep conversation ever could.
They have some work to do, but the initial awkwardness has passed, and they are well on their way to being the kind of family they both deserve. When Jeremy heard that Brian didn’t have any Thanksgiving plans, he was quick to invite him here. And when Rachel found out Jeremy was bringing a brother he just met to Thanksgiving dinner? Well, let’s just say that she is squarely in her element.
“I’m glad too. I think it’s been good for both of them to have this time together.”
“Did I hear him say he was thinking about moving here?” Julie asks, glancing over to watch as Brian and Maddy have an animated conversation about something or other while Jeremy laughs next to them.
“He’s thinking about it. He’s selling his parents’ house, and I don’t know exactly what he does, but apparently he can work anywhere and wants out of the city where he grew up.”
“I’m happy for them both,” Hallie murmurs. “They’ve been through so much. They deserve this.”
“They have,” I agree, my eyes glued to the trio on the floor, my heart filled with so much love it shouldn’t be able to hold anymore. But then Jeremy turns, and his eyes meet mine, and the look on his face has my heart expanding even more.
“Holy hell, Em. How do you not just burst right into flames when he looks at you like that?” Molly says, returning from wherever she went and flopping back down onto the couch, all traces of her previous outburst erased from her face.
“I mean, there’s hot and then there’s…whatever that is.”
I snort out a laugh even though she’s right. Jeremy sets my entire world on fire. My mind flashes to the note he slipped intomy hand earlier this morning. He doesn’t leave them as often now—he’s more comfortable telling me what’s on his mind than he used to be. But he still sometimes does and they’re a little…dirtier than they used to be. With a seven-year-old in the house we’ve had to get creative, and his notes have been a fun little way to do it.
Ems,
I can’t wait to fuck you later tonight.
Let’s do that thing with the belt again.
Can’t wait to see you all spread out for me.
I fucking love you.
Jeremy
I watch as Jeremy pushes up from the floor and walks straight to me. He takes my hand and pulls me up from the couch, kissing my cheek and sliding an arm around my waist.
“Excuse me ladies, I need to steal my girl for a second.”
“I just bet you do,” mutters Molly.
Jeremy grins and winks at her before he pulls me away into the dining room. It’s empty of people, the table perfectly set and ready for all of us to take our seats. Pressing me against the wall, Jeremy brings his mouth to mine, kissing me softly before pulling away and tugging me closer to him.
“What was that for?” I wind my arms around him and play with the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Just wanted to kiss my girl. It’s been way too long since I had those lips on mine. Gimme, Ems.”
He leans forward and kisses me again, a hand on my cheek and one on my waist, anchoring me to his strong body, andbutterflies swarm my stomach. Right here is the love I’ve always hoped I would find. The love I saw between my parents. The love Rachel and Steven share. The love Hallie has with Ben and Julie has with Asher. The kind that lasts lifetimes.
“Kiss the girl on your own time, Jeremy.” Rachel’s voice is loud and commanding, but her face is lit up in a grin as she takes us in.
