This is what she wanted for us, and what she envisioned. I’m not forgetting her by moving forward. I need to move forward to make this work. Mom and Dad are coming next week to stay with Everly while I go back to Indy and finish packing the house. Ev and I made a quick trip the day after school got out to get all the clothes we could, along with everything from Ev’s room that we could fit in the Jeep.
I take a quick shower, rather enjoying not having to share a tiny bathroom with my teenage daughter, and then quickly input more data into a report so I can submit it. Having Everly home this summer has been a game-changer, but I’m still drowning in work. Something has to give, but I know it’ll take time.
I’m still doing my makeup when the screen door opens and snaps shut.
“Josie?” Jacob’s voice comes through the house, making me smile.
“In the bedroom,” I shout back and just a few seconds later, he appears in the doorway. Dressed in dark jeans and a button-up shirt, just the sight of him sends a wave of heat through me. “I think I might change.” I smooth out my dress in the mirror. I’m wearing a dark purple sundress and I’ve pulled my hair back in a messy bun since it’s ninety degrees and way too hot to have it down on my shoulders. “I want to make a good impression on everyone tonight.”
“My brother already likes you,” Jacob reminds me.
“Yeah, but I haven’t met Chloe in person yet and I’m a little nervous.”
“Chloe’s just Chloe,” he says with a shrug.
“Easy for you to say when you’ve known her your whole life. She’s famous!”
“As far as famous people go, she’s incredibly down to earth. If she wasn’t, well, we wouldn’t like her.”
“Okay, you have a fair point.” I turn away from the mirror, heart skipping a beat when I lock eyes with Jacob.
“Besides, you look fucking amazing.” He crosses the door, closing and locking the bedroom door behind him. “I’m getting hard just looking at you.” Taking my hand, he brings it to his pants so I can feel his erection. Then, without warning, he pins me against the wall with his body, putting his mouth to my neck. A small whimper leaves my lips and I’m instantly getting wet for him.
And he fucking knows it.
Turning me around, he bunches up my dress and slides his hand around my thigh as he kisses my neck. My body hums in anticipation when I hear him undo his belt. Bracing myself against the wall, I widen my legs. Jacob enters me from behind, rubbing my clit and kissing my neck as he fucks me. I take one hand off the wall and clamp it over my mouth, though we’re currently alone in the house.
It doesn’t take long for us to finish, and I pad into the bathroom to get myself cleaned up so I can get back to Jacob.
“Still doubting your outfit?” He flashes a cocky grin.
“I’m not trying to turn Chloe on,” I reply with a laugh as he takes me in his arms once again. “I just want her to like me.”
“It’s impossible for anyone not to like you.” He raises his eyebrows and pulls me against his muscular chest. “I fell for you when I tried to resist. And you’re friends with Poppy,” he adds, and I playfully swat at him. “If you can get along with her, you can get along with anyone.”
We both laugh and I stand on my toes to kiss him, wondering how I got so fucking lucky. He’s an amazing man, an even better lover, and accepts my daughter with no hesitation.
My life definitely isn’t how I imagined it would be. From the outside, we’re far from perfect. But to me, we are. Life is crazy and hectic, sometimes stressful, and just plain hard.
I have the people around me to get through it, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Epilogue
JACOB
NEW YEAR’S EVE…
“Do you have it?” Rory asks, eyes wide.
“I regret telling you anything,” I hiss, kicking her under the table.
“You needed to tell me so I could help,” my sister counters and eyes Everly, who’s about to burst with excitement. “Do you have it?”
“Yes,” I whisper-yell back. “I didn’t set this whole thing up only to forget the ring.” We’re at Josie’s house, and a glistening blanket of fresh snow fell overnight, giving me a perfect excuse to go on a trail ride through the woods.
Where I’m going to propose to Josie.
I’ve known she’s the only one for me since the moment I first kissed her and not long after that everything became clear to me. We tried taking things slow, figuring out our lives together, but being apart is painful and any night I lay down to go to sleep and Josie isn’t next to me fills me with a sense of emptiness.