Chapter 11

My first official date with Jareth was not at a fancy restaurant or a museum or even out at a park or café. I would be telling our child in the future how my first official date with their father was on a city bus.

It was clean and a sign advertised the wifi password. The seats were two by two with a bench in the back. A couple girls sat just behind us and giggled and whispered to each other as we had gotten on. Clearly talking about how hot the tall dark and handsome man at my side was.

He had me sitting on the side with the window while he sat on the aisle side. He had my hand in his. While this had been his idea, he was clearly sizing up all the other passengers and keeping himself between the strangers around us and his family. Shouldn’t it bother me that he is being so protective when there are only a couple college students and one old guy napping on this bus? I had a friend once who would have told me that has his toxic masculinity showing.

I thought it was adorable. I could watch him be needlessly protective of me forever. The same way I could sit next to him as his thumb rubs the back of my hand until the end of time as well. Does that mean I am hopeless in love. It might. Emphasis on the hopeless part.

“Tell me what it was like going to a fancy private school growing up.”

“A fishbowl” he snorted. “Most of us grew up in the same feeder schools to the same exclusive high school. By the time I graduated everyone knew everyone else’s business and half of us had hooked up with the other half at some point. Me included. Not nearly as much as Melody or other people would have you believe I did, but I didn’t exactly prevent that reputation either. I picked going to a city university so I could be just another face in the crowd.”

“A public university? How scandalous.” I tease him.

“It was. My dad almost didn’t pay my tuition, but I argued that I just needed a business degree from anywhere, if I was already taking over from him. So he let my four years of barely paying attention to classes and partying myself into a haze go. I guess he figured it was my last rebellious hurrah before buckling down and getting serious.”

“Is that what you are now? All serious businessman and daddy’s company?”

“I work at his company, yes, but I am still the guy who knocked up a girl at a party because I was too drunk to remember a condom.” He smiled at me on that one and my stomach flipped. I am sure that was the morning sickness. I’ll say that is what is was.

“Are you going to also need prep time for that conversation?”

“Yes I am. It’s your turn though. Tell me about how you grew up.”

“I grew up in this town. Spent a lot of time by myself. I liked it better than being dragged into any drama. I had friends, but nothing long lasting. I still hang out and talk to a few college friends, but no one from high school. I was kinda jealous of you and Brian actually.”

“You were?”

“I don’t need a lot of friends, but having one person I can share things with would be nice. I had that with my grandmother, and just didn’t think I would mis it as much as I do when she was gone.” He squeezed my hand but didn’t offer anymore polite sympathetic words for my loss. We were past that. Thank goodness. I hate empty polite words. Things people say because they feel they have to. He also didn’t jump to offering to be that person for me. We are still figuring that out. It would be impulsive to assume forever at this point. I know it would, but we had already been impulsive. How fast were we going to move? Are we going to accelerate and then pump the brakes over and over? I don’t think I can handle that.

“Are your grandparents still around?”

“My dad’s parents live upstate and my mom’s mom lives in a fancy retirement community by the beach. We do the obligatory holiday visits, but are otherwise not close.”

A couple of louder college aged men got on the bus at the next stop. I watched Jareth look them up and down as he scooted closer to me. I smirked and nudged him.

“What?” he asked.

“A little protective?” He readjusted in his seat.

“Maybe. I’m not territorial or anything. Well, not usually. You just….” He looked into my dark brown eyes with his gorgeous blue ones. “You feel important. Like something that I don’t want taken from me. That makes me more aware of you and the things around you, and what might take you from me.” He reached over with his free hand and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Do you hate that?”

“No. I don’t hate it. If you start going overboard, I will tell you though.”

“Good. I need a woman who can call me on my bullshit.”

“Am I your woman?”

“You are. I thought we covered that with the exclusively dating conversation earlier.”

Right we did do that. So insecure Olive, don’t let him see that. Why shouldn’t I though? If I want this to be real between us. To last. I should be able to be honest with him. About everything. Everything fear and worry and hope.

“I might need reassurances sometimes. You see I am still not sure why someone who is the perfect package, would want a no one like me. I’m not saying I will constantly doubt, but knowing you still want me on a regular basis would go a long way.”

That wolf grin returned to his face as he leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Let’s go back to your place and I will show you just how much I want you.”