She looks wounded, but only for a second. Spreading my hand wide so she can see just how small she is compared to me, I remind her about that cute belly.
“I said cute because it is. And the rest of you is just beautiful Jacinta… Just perfect,” I add. Kissing her tenderly.
Wanting to say it, but wondering if it’s too much just yet.
But Jacinta surprises me with her train of thought. “I thought, I mean… Will she be able to keep working at the diner? And what about the house?”
She sits up, covering herself with the tangled bedsheets.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes for a moment. Wondering if this is the same Jacinta from three seconds ago.
“You’re sounding like your mom,” I mumble, not meaning anything by it. But I’ve hit another raw nerve.
Two in a single minute. Nice going, idiot.
She frowns, then looks at me sternly.
“I mean it, Kyle. Apart from me not knowing which way is up right now, and as much as she drives me nuts she’s still my mom,” she says firmly.
And I couldn’t agree more.
Rubbing her back before I sit up fully, I spell it out a little clear as crystal for her.
“Look, I’ll make sure your mom can keep her job and the house… If that’s what she really wants.”
Wondering why on earth anyone would want to stay in that house, but the full picture of the Cherry redevelopment hasn’t crossed anyone’s mind yet.
It’s all just talk.
Once they can see some examples of what Lundstrom towns are like nowadays, they’ll all come round.
People always do.
“I was thinking more about just you and me, at least for the next few days?” I add, grateful when I feel Jacinta relax, and I tell her it's okay when she apologizes.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with caring about what happens to your mother,” I agree.
Although, it’s not something I’ve ever had to worry about. My own parents, like a lot of people from my past, didn’t want to know me. But Adelle’s future is as assured as her daughters.
Like me or not, I’ll make sure she’s well taken care of. After all, we’re gonna be family if I have my way.
And soon.
There’s no way I’m letting Jacinta out of my sight, and I want this to be an official love story as soon as possible.
But like all my big ideas, I have to keep some of it to myself for now.
If only to stop Jacinta from being overwhelmed.
“I mean… What about us? I don’t even know that much about you.” She sighs and then gasps. “I don’t even know where you live… Where am I gonna live?”
See? Overwhelming, isn’t it?
Instead of calming her, my touch is suddenly like ice water, and she leaps out of bed, pacing while she tries to find her clothes.
I hear my phone start to ring from somewhere, but I ignore it.
Getting up off the bed spots dance in front of my eyes from getting up so fast. But I need to make Jacinta see things my way.
I grab hold of her gently, pull her towards me, and in a calm voice, I remind her of a few things.
“I’m yours, remember? And everything I have and am is at your disposal… There’s no need or point in worrying about the small stuff, Jacinta. You’re a queen now and I am your king. So let’s live a little, huh?” I ask.
Her body sinks into mine, but as she looks up into my eyes I can feel she’s still tense.
Still got a million things racing through her head.
“Just trust me, okay?” I suggest, glad when she nods.
She burrows into me and hugs as much of me as she can reach.
“It’s me, Jacinta. Not your mom or anyone else in your life who fucked you over. Okay? Me. Kyle. And I’ve got your back.”
“And my front?” she asks after a long silence. Making me smile.
My semi-hard dick pulsing to life again at her words.
“And your front,” I assure her, leaning down to kiss her again.
She squeals when I pick her up, playfully tossing her back onto the bed.
“Now. Can we have less worrying and more ideas about what we can do to make things better?” I ask, kneeling by the bed.
Feeling like I’ve hit gold when I see her mind starting to grasp the reality of our situation.
And knowing that it’s a very good one.
It only gets better from here, Jacinta. Nobody’s gonna try and take anything away from you… Or from Cherry.
Twisting her mouth a little as she thinks, I can see she’s far from done asking questions, I chuckle to myself when she does.
“Where do you live?” she asks first.
I could try and change the subject, but what’s the use?
“I’ll show you,” I tell her, getting up to look for my phone, and ignoring the bank of missed calls, texts and messages when I find it I kneel back down beside her.