Authors: Delia Delaney
“I hope you don’t mind, but I hired a moving company to do the move and the drive for you,” he said,
stepping back to hold my hands
. “I don’t want you
hauling all of that stuff
that far on your own. I wish I could go with you
,
but I gotta be in L.A. by tomorrow evening…”
“You hired a moving company?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds, but you can always send them away and do it your own way. I just thought it would be easier on you, and you could just drive your car without having to haul it too. I’m sure that would be a lot easier.
Or if you want, send the car with the moving truck and I’ll get you a flight instead.
”
I was so grateful that I didn’t know what to say, so I just kissed him for a very long time. I’d been worrying about the move, and I really didn’t want to drive a U-Haul that far by myself, towing my car behind it. A huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders, and I was so happy that I barely heard the knock at the door.
“You expecting someone?” Jared asked
as he turned to answer it
.
“No,” I replied, sliding off the counter.
I followed him to the door and was surprised to see Jason and Melissa on the front porch. Melissa was all smiles at first, until she looked into the house
at just the two couches
and said, “You’re already packed up? We came to help.”
“Really?” I asked. “Uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”
“I heard you were going to be packing up the next few days.”
That didn’t surprise me, being that I’d talked to Zack’s stepmom when she’d called to see if Maggie could play with Ashlyn the week before.
I was still without Maggie and ended up informing Mariah that we
were also going to
be moving.
“I figured the sooner the better,” I replied. “I
was afraid to wait any longer, just in case I fell behind. I didn’t want to still be moving out when the new people move in. I stress out about stuff like that.”
“Oh, I understand that,” she smiled.
There was an awkward few seconds since I didn’t know what to say, and then I realized how rude I was by not introducing everyone.
“Well jeez, come on in,” I said, motioning them inside. As they entered I added, “Jared, this is Jason, Zack’s brother, and his wife Melissa.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jared said, shaking both of their hands.
Jason
didn’t enter as he
look
ed him over for a second and
said, “Ah, so
you’re
Jared, huh?”
“Uh, yes, I am,” he
replied
, eyeing him cautiously.
It made me uncomfortable because even though I wasn’t a guy, I could read their distrust of each other loud and clear.
Melissa was on the same page I was when she cheerfully said, “Well, is there anything we can do for you, even though everything looks pretty much done?”
“Uh, no I think I’m good to go. Thank you so much for coming though. I’m really grateful.”
“Zack wanted to stick around to help you out,” Jason added, eyeing Jared again. “But he had to get back.
He wanted me to arrange for a
moving company that can get everything done for you. You know, load it all and haul it to, uh, wherever,” he finished, glancing at Jared another time.
“He did?” I asked, completely surprised. “I mean I already have it taken care of, but…well, thank you.”
“Thank Zack. He was the one that didn’t want you to worry about anything.”
I could read between the lines pretty well, and I didn’t blame Jason for wanting to stick up for his brother, but it was uncomfortable nonetheless. However, there was something that struck me all of a sudden and I asked, “What do you mean he had to get back?”
Jason looked at me with confusion and answered, “I thought you knew he was in Switzerland.”
“I did know that, but get back to where?”
“To Switzerland.”
I guess I didn’t understand at first until Jared
asked
, “He was here for Christmas?”
I stared at Jason and Melissa, completely stunned. They too looked a little confused but Melissa said, “You didn’t know that he came back for the holidays? He left a week ago.”
I returned to Washington
two
weeks ago. My surprise turned into anger, but I tried to keep myself composed. He didn’t even have the decency to come and see me? I was furious.
“Oh jeez,” Melissa murmured.
“He said you didn’t want to see him,” Jason said
defensively
.
“What? I didn’t even know he was
here
! He didn’t even tell me he was coming back for Christmas.”
“Well he did,
” Jason almost growled.
“A
nd he even stuck around a few days longer
, hoping to see you.”
“Hey, watch your tone,” Jared warned him. “She’s not to blame for anything.”
Jason glared at him and said, “Don’t even get me started.”
“Jason,” Melissa
warned
.
“What is going on here?” I exclaimed. “Give me a break! He was the one that left and…”
I couldn’t even finish the sentence. I didn’t understand how they could be mad at me!
At the same time, Ben and Curtis came up the walkway, sensing that there was some sort of disagreement going on. Protecting their boss was their top priority, and I was grateful for that, but it made me uncomfortable. Jared motioned for them to keep their distance, but Jason’s obvious disdain of the need for bodyguards made him scoff with resentment.
“I’m done here,” Jason said to his wife. He brushed past
Ben and Curtis
and found his way
to
the
car
.
“I am so sorry,” Melissa said. “I just…I don’t understand…”
“It’s okay,” I told her. “I don’t understand either. Well I understand his hostility,” I added, in reference to Jason. “He’s only looking out for his brother.”
“No, I understand that too,” she said. “I just don’t understand
Zack
…”
She glanced at Jared and I could tell she felt
uneasy
. I wasn’t sure if it had to do with the fact that he was my new boyfriend, or if there was something she wanted to say without him there. But ultimately
she
said her goodbyes, gave me a
quick
hug, and joined her husband in the car.
I didn’t even know what to say at that point.
Ben and Curtis turned to go back to their car, but I invited them in. Sometimes I just forgot all about them because they were so
inconspicuous
.
They’d helped move most of the
heavier things that morning.
Jared just sat on the couch and
said,
“I’m guessing
Jason and Melissa
don’t want to join us
somewhere
for dinner?”
I
smiled
and shook my head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I made that uncomfortable for you. I feel like you’re totally in the middle of everything and that’s not fair.”
I sighed and sat on the couch next to him. I laid my head against him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder to pull me close.
“I
can’t
think about it,” I said quietly. “I don’t have the emotional energy anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of my head and we just sat there in silence for a few seconds.
“I do have the energy to eat, though.”
“Okay, let’s go eat,” he chuckled.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next day turned out a little differently than I was expecting. The movers came at eight a.m. and had everything ready to go by
ten
. I gave them the address of the storage unit in Kensington to unload at, and then they were off.
But Jared had made different arrangements with his band, and instead of starting rehearsals that night for their
tour,
they were going to start them the next
night
instead.
My car was packed and ready to go,
and Jared wanted to go with me.
“Are you serious?” I asked when I stopped by his house to say goodbye.
“Surely am,” he smiled. “I’d like to ride to the bay area with you.”
“But I’m driving nonstop.”
“So that works perfect. You can just dump me off at the airport and I’ll be good to go.”
I smiled and said, “I’m not going to
‘
dump
’
you off somewhere.”
“Well I was hoping I could meet your family.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, if you’re not t
o
o ashamed of me.”
I laughed and said, “I assure you that I’m not.”
“Well, p
erfect.”
I noticed Clyde for the first time after entering the house and asked, “What about your dog? What are you going to do with him?”
“Well…I was hoping to bring him with us, for Maggie, but then I remembered that the two of you are going to join me in San Diego in eight days…”
I smiled and nodded my head. “That’s right, because I actually gave you an answer, huh?” I said sarcastically.
He chuckled and said, “Well, I prayed that the answer was yes, so I’m hoping that God doesn’t let me down.”
“That’s funny,” I told him. “And kind of evil, you know.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m kidding. But anyways, I’ll just have someone come get him this afternoon,” he said, nodding to Clyde.
“Hmm, I say we bring him,” I decided. “Hey Clyde, do you wanna go for a ride?”
I knew the dog was familiar with the phrase, and he grunted a response as he wagged his
stubby little
tail.
“Don’t tease him,” Jared said. “You’ll break his little bulldog heart.”
“When Maggie and I fly to San Diego,
Braden
can take over the dog sitting. He’d be thrilled.”
I liked the smile on Jared’s face when he asked, “Really?”
“Yeah, to have possession of Jared Miller’s dog? He’ll love it.”
“No, I mean you and Maggie will tour with me?”
I studied his eager face and nodded my head. “Yeah, I would really like to
be with you
.”
He stepped closer to me and took my face in his hands. “This is going to be incredible. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
He kissed me, and I felt every bit of happiness that he possessed. It made me feel good, like I was doing the right thing. He told me that he loved me, and that also felt good. I also felt compe
lled to tell him the same thing
because it was true. I did love him, and I was very grateful to have him in my life.
I almost didn’t do it, but I decided to go with my heart that time.
“I love you too, Jared.” I knew he was so happy to hear me say it out loud. “I’m, uh…” I paused. I could barely finish it. With a smile I just said, “I’ve never told anyone that. Sorry I’m not as eloquent in my declarations as you are.”
“It was awesome,” he grinned. “You were
so
nervous.”
I scoffed and
backhanded him in the chest
.
He laughed and said, “That means more to me because I know you’re being honest.”
I considered that for a moment, and then
slightly
nodded my head. “Yeah. I am being honest.”
He smiled, and he gave me that look again, like I was the most important person in the world to him. There is just something about being totally adored by someone, but not only that, you adore them just as much.
I enjoyed those next few minutes kissing him. I always enjoyed kissing him, but this time was more of an occasion than anything. It was
a
special event in my book, and I always wanted to remember it.
Poor Ben and Curtis got dragged into the long drive as well. Jared tried to send them on a flight instead, but they would have none of it. They had each tossed a bag into their
car
as we were about to leave.
“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to hide a smile. Curtis was all for the long drive, but I knew Ben was not. He didn’t like being cooped up without something to do.
“Don’t apologize, Miss Hartford. We pay ourselves well with Jared’s money.”
That made me chuckle because Jared always joked about letting them set their own salaries. But I said, “Damn it, Ben. You call me Miss Har
t
ford one more time and I’ll make you ride with us and listen to Taylor Swift the entire ride.”