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“I think that’s it for these,” I say. I fold it closed, fighting with a few long sleeves poking out the sides before latching it.
Jovie zips the other one closed. “I’ll take another quick look around and meet you outside.”
I nod and grab both by the handles. “All right.”
“Will…”
I pause by the door as she walks over to me. She cups my face, drawing me down for another soft and slow kiss.
“Thank you,” she tells me.
My heart skips against my ribs. I say nothing, flashing only the quick smirk that I know she loves, as I step out to head for the front door.
I walk out to her car, letting the grin take over my face, as the dull roar of a pick-up truck rolls into the driveway beside me.
Hank’s black pick-up truck.
I straighten up and drop the smile as I pop the trunk to set the suitcases inside.
He parks and hops down with a six-pack of beer in one hand, sneering at me beneath his trimmed mustache. “William,” he says.
I close the trunk. “Hey, Hank.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Just helping Jovie pack some things.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, I heard my daughter got engaged… from a stranger at the gas station.”
Dammit, Jove.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I say. “It was a pretty sudden thing.”
“What’d you do? Knock her up again?”
I blink. “No…”
He grunts as he continues toward the front door. “Well, either way, she’s your problem now. Good luck to ya.”
“Yeah.” I stare past him. “Later, Hank.”
His feet stomp up the porch and I watch the awkward moment as Jovie passes by him through the front door.
“Hey…” she says with a few pairs of old shoes dangling from her fingertips.
Hank says nothing. He gives her a nod and closes the door behind him.
Jovie picks up her pace toward me. “Yikes. Did you talk to him?” she asks, wincing.
“Yeah.”
“What’d he say?”
I force a breath as I realize I stopped breathing. “Not much.”
She pauses on my face. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I clear my throat, “I’m fine.”
Her smile returns and she kisses my cheek. “Then, let’s go home.”
I look into those little, brown eyes again as a chill creeps up my spine.
I nod. “Let’s go home.”
