Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
His parents had been away on vacation for the past couple of weeks, and with the sudden heat wave, he’d not gotten a chance to drop in to see them.
He walked toward his mother and hugged her. She grabbed his face and kissed his cheek, letting out a laugh, as she wiped the lipstick from his cheek.
“I’ll get us some lemonade,” his mother Susan said.
He watched her enter the house, and his dad continued to look at him. “There’s something different about you.”
“Dad, when did you know that Mom was the one?” he asked.
“The moment I met her in kindergarten,” Mark said. “I looked at her as she ran into me, dropping me to the floor, and as she said sorry and ran away, I knew I was going to marry her someday. You know the story, so why the sudden interest?”
Jaxson rubbed the back of his head and gritted his teeth. He had never asked his dad for advice when it came to women. He had been a natural at it. His father had given him the warning to always wear protection, otherwise he would be a father. He also didn’t want to think about the fact he’d taken Tillie’s virginity, and there was a chance they might also be pregnant as he hadn’t used protection.
Today was turning into a multiple of firsts.
“I don’t know how to date,” Jaxson said.
“You’ve never needed to date. You told me that. You’re only interested in what a woman is likely to give you in the moment.”
Jaxson winced. “How much of an asshole do I sound like?”
“I thought that, but your mother told me I wasn’t to tell you, you were being an asshole.”
He winced again.
“Your mother was convinced you would figure that out on your own, and I am guessing from the look on your face, you’re figuring it out.”
“I’m taking Tillie Short on a date, and I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Tillie doesn’t date.”
“I asked her and she said yes.”
“Wow,” Mark said.
Jaxson looked toward his dad, because this wasn’t helping.
“You’ve always had a soft spot for her, haven’t you?” Mark asked.
“What?”
“Come on, son, I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’ve always had a bit of a soft spot, and now you’ve asked her out on a date.”
He wasn’t about to tell him he had also taken her virginity, was madly in love with her, and had been for so freaking long.
“What do I do?” he asked.
“Well, you think of something romantic. You take her out. Don’t forget the flowers or chocolates, and you show her how you feel before you even tell her.”
“Why?” Jaxson asked.
“Don’t you want to know if she feels the same way about you?”
He hadn’t thought of that. “You think there’s a possibility she might not like me?” He hated how childish he sounded as he rubbed the back of his head.
“Has she ever given you any reason to think she might?” his father asked.
Jaxson thought back to how she thrust against him on the floor of her sewing studio. The smiles she sent his way. They were sweet, kind smiles, but none of that equated to dating or falling in love. He hated this.
“Son, are you all right?”
“No, yes, I’m fine.” He should have known coming to see his father wouldn’t be helpful. It wasn’t his dad’s fault, seeing as he wasn’t exactly giving him all the facts.
Mark put his cloth down, along with the wrench, and walked toward him. He put a hand on his shoulder. “Talk to me.”
Just then, his mother walked out with the glasses of lemonade.
“So, I take it you’ve finally asked Tillie Short on a date,” Susan said, taking one of the glasses of lemonade for herself as she took a seat on the porch.
His father moved toward his mother and Jaxson watched as the two sat side by side on the porch. He also happened to notice how his dad reached for her hand, locking their fingers together as they sat there. There was no reason to hold hands, but they had that connection. Growing up, he always saw them hugging, holding hands, embracing each other, and doing little things that showed their love for one another. Jaxson had always been a little grossed out by his parents’ physical affection with each other. Now, he saw what it meant—love, companionship, and a soulmate. What his parents had was rare. Not many people got to experience love like that.
“I have,” he said.
“And you care for her?”
He nodded.
“Good, good. There is not much gossip on the dating scene with Tillie, but she’s such a lovely girl. She’s sweet and kind, and bless her heart, she lost her parents when she was quite young as well. So tragic, and she was their whole world.”
He’d known it hit her hard. At the funeral, which he had attended, he stood there, even as Tillie was the only one to remain, so too had he. He stayed, just to be there to offer her comfort. She hadn’t sobbed that day, but he’d seen the tears in her eyes as they cascaded down her face. It had killed him not to cross over, pull her into his arms, and hold her. That was all he wanted to do.