Red

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jacob

A few weeks passed, and we were both still secretly seeing each other. I lay staring at her sleepy form, soft snores filling the room, and little hums releasing with each one. She was so beautiful and she was mine.

I averted my eyes to the blank ceiling, allowing those words to digest. Mine. We said we would see how this goes, and inform her father once we knew what we wanted. So far, everything was perfect. I had no reason to doubt what we had was sincere and real, I even considered the L word last night. It was something I hadn't yet said to a woman - except to my sisters and mother - and, so, I was struggling to physically accept it. Did I love her? Was I ready to confess that to her? Was she ready to say that to me? All these questions had my head spinning and my stomach sinking. Then there was telling her father, was my job on the line? There were so many risks with coming clean and opening up in all forms, but it also excited me. If everyone knew about us, and we were able to confess our love properly, everything would be perfect. When we did that though, I have no idea.

My phone buzzed beside me, saving me from my thoughts. It was mom.

Mom: Dinner tonight? I'm doing one of your favourites ;)

I smiled at her text. She loved when I visited, no doubt cooking something I loved just so she could see me.

Me: Of course! What time?

While I waited for a response, it got me thinking. Maybe, I could invite Rhi? I looked down at her, smiled, and decided I'd ask.

Me: Can I bring a guest?

It took less than a minute for moms whole response to shoot through.

Mom: Around seven okay? And Oh my, Yes! A girl? Please tell me it's a woman! :))

I released a chuckle at her excitement, I'm sure the house would be decorated like a birthday party later, with banners streaming throughout.

Me: Yes, it's a woman. But I have one condition first! You do not embarrass me!

As I sent the text, I felt Rhi move beside me. Her arm came cascading over my chest, and small feathery kisses floated up my bicep and across my chest. I sighed in content.

"Morning, gorgeous." I placed a chaste peck on her temple, gripping her waist and pulling her up to me.

Between kissing my neck and jaw, reaching my lips, she croaked a good morning, sounding so sleepy but so sexy too. "What had you laughing so hard you woke me?" She smirked, toying with the ends of my hair.

"My mother. Speaking of, how do you fancy dinner tonight?"

Her eyes widened and her hands stilled. "With your mom?" I'd say it was more of a squeak, she sounded and looked so nervous at the thought.

I chuckled. "Yeah, baby, my mom. And my siblings too probably."

Now she really was on edge, but I laughed instead of feeling sorry for her. My family were the nicest, calmest people going. Unless she hurt me, they would never make her feel uncomfortable in any way.

"Are you sure? I mean I haven't met them yet." She began rambling, sitting up and holding her middle. "I mean, I don't know them and I might offend them over dinner. What if I do? What if I do something stupid? Like spill gravy down me, how would that look first time meeting me-"

I pressed my index finger to her lips, kissing her neck to relax her. "Baby, stop. The whole point in dinner is to meet them, silly" I was laughing again. "And as for embarrassing yourself, stop worrying. You won't."

I held her in my arms and felt her loosen up a little. "Okay." She mumbled into my chest. "I'm just a little nervous."

"I know, baby. It will be great." I checked my phone to see if mom had replied, she had.

Mom: Not making any promises boy! I can't wait to get the baby photos out!

I groaned in frustration, but I was certainly looking forward to tonight either way.

I put the phone down and averted my attention back to Rhi.

"Moms just as excited, but first, I want to ravish you all day long!" I playfully smacked her ass and rolled her onto her back. I wanted the perfect morning to compliment the perfect dinner.

❣️❣️❣️

As we approached the porch of my mothers house, I felt Rhi stiffen beside me. Her hand was gripping mine so hard, you'd think her life depended on it. But there was no time for me to calm or cuddle her, as the door swung open and out came an excited Gabby.

"I missed you, I missed you, I missed you!!" She screamed, jumping straight into my arms.

"Wow, Gabs, I missed you too. But, there's someone I'd like you to meet..."

Her head stayed firmly planted to my shoulder, slowly rising after a few seconds. Gabby was never shy, but she clearly was right now.

"Hey, I'm Rhiannon!" Rhi beamed at Gabs, a sincere smile as she started to look relaxed too.

There was a moment of silence before Gabby replied. "Hi. I'm Gabriella, but you can call me Gabby or Gabs. Jay does all the time." She waved her hand like it was nothing, the familiar act that made her look like a drama queen making me stifle a giggle. She's finally crawled out of whatever that shell was a second ago. I'd never seen her shut down with nerves. She shimmied her way out of my arms, and tugged Rhi into the house leaving me standing on my lonesome. My heart pounded at the beautiful picture in front of me, Gabs loved her and I know everyone else will too.

I closed the door behind me, hearing the pleasantries coming from my family and Rhi in the kitchen. I walked in to see my mother giving Rhiannon a huge hug and them both laughing together like old best friends. Wow. If I wasn't sure whether I loved her before, I was definitely sure now. I made it clear to my head that I needed to have that talk with her later or sometime this week. Right now, though, I was captivated by what was happening in front of me.

"Oh, you are so beautiful! I love these curls!" My mom beamed, curling her fingers around Rhi's hair. I knew she wouldn't think twice about doing that, she never did see the importance in personal space.

If Rhi minded, she didn't show it when she replied, "Thank you, Miss Black. You have beautiful hair too."

The comment made my moms face drop a little, presumably reminding her of the cancer. That was something I hadn't actually told Rhi about, and hoped it wasn't about to get dragged up right now. I also only mentioned that our dad wasn't around, nothing else. I also hoped that didn't come up too.

"I had it done recently, after I was ill it was something I intended to do." Mom turned to mash the potatoes as she spoke.

Rhi looked bewildered by her statement but replied anyhow. "Of course, well, it looks perfect."

I inhaled a deep breath as she locked eyes on me, a sad look in her eyes. She knew exactly what that meant and my heart constricted at the thought of having this conversation with her. I didn't want to. Not because I didn't trust her, or feel I could confide in her, but because it was so hard and hurt so much. My mom was my everything, it broke me when I thought she might die. But I shook my head to stop the thoughts right now. It wasn't the time to think about the past.

I reached my mom, giving her a hug as she continued dinner.

"Jacob! I didn't see you!" She circled her arms around me and tucked her head into my chest. She must have really missed me. "I wish you would visit more, but this beauty here is more important right now! I'm so impressed, baby!" She gave me an excited look and I couldn't help giggle with her. But she was right, Rhiannon really was a little beauty. So fucking beautiful it hurt.