Chapter 23

"Must be nice to have your family live so close."

We're in Jon's Mercedes G-Wagon making our way across to his parents' house in Bellevue for lunch, and honestly, I don't know how I'm going to eat a thing. My stomach could go for Olympic gold in gymnastics. I'm so nervous. Even though Jon has promised several times this morning that we're going "as friends," I have no doubt his mom, dad, and probably brother watch ESPN, and there's no hiding the intimate moment we shared at yesterday's game.

It's not that I don't want to be associated with Jon romantically; any woman would give her left tit to be in my shoes. It's more that I don't know his—or my—full intentions at this point. When I left Elliott, I didn't want to jump straight into another relationship. But here I am, feeling like that's exactly what I'm doing. Yet I can't seem to say no or stay away from him, and I get that the feeling is mutual. The way he touched me last night, kissed me, whispered dirty things in my ear. Jon Morgan is slowly weaving himself into every part of my life, and I feel like we've barely scratched the surface.

"Yeah, I got traded from Colorado six years ago to be closer to them. I hadn't really been around since the day I left for college, and my parents needed the support, so I put in a request."

It's a bright and sunny December afternoon. Jon looks glorious, his thick, wavy, dark hair peeking out from under his trademark backward cap. He's gone casual today, wearing a long-sleeved white top and blue jeans. Both must be tailored because they hug every single curve and line of his body. I'm even crushing on his white Nike trainers and aviators. The way he casually holds the steering wheel with one hand, glancing over at me from time to time. It's all too much for my mortal body.

"Tell me more about your family. I feel I need some material before I head into the lion's den." My voice is lighthearted, but I can't deny the element of truth in my words.

Jon switches hands on the steering wheel so his nearest is free. He rests his palm on my knee and begins rubbing soothing circles over my black leggings. Each pass of his thumb radiates tingles straight to my core as I recall his mouth on me last night.

"Not too much to tell. My dad, James, had a regular job before he retired. My mom, Jennie, has been a stay-at-home mom since I can remember. They moved to Bellevue when I bought this house for them a few years back. It was largely to help with caring for Adam."

I'm about to ask more about Adam, but he continues anyway. At the mention of his brother, a proud smile breaks across his face, his dimples popping and on full display."Adam's autistic, and he has some sensory processing needs too. He lives in an apartment across town with a support worker on hand if he needs them, and generally, he comes home on the weekends. The last house my parents had wasn't suitable for him. It was too small with no space for a sensory room. Plus, he's only a few years younger than me, so he needs his privacy. He can largely look after himself but can get overwhelmed with too many people. He needs peace and alone time to regulate. The outdoors is his sanctuary. He loves birds and wildlife, and this house offers him that. We converted the garage into a self-contained apartment for him."

"Oh, wow, Jon, that's amazing. You did all that for your brother and family."

"It's just money, Felicity. At this point in my life, I have more than I know what to do with. My brother is ten times the man I am. He deserves the world. My parents too."

The way he puts himself down doesn't sit well with me. For a man who's achieved so much, his lack of self-confidence off the ice is a little shocking."Never underestimate how much good you do and have done for your family. You sound very lucky to have each other."

Without thinking any more about it, I grab his hand from my knee and interlace our fingers, resting it on my thigh.

Jon quickly glances down at our joined hands, his features softening. "Can I tell you something? Well, two things actually."

"Sure, you can."

He hesitates for a brief moment, clearly unsure of his next words. "Number one. I'm not the person they make me out to be. The womanizing cocky bad boy. It's all just a front, you know? Engineered to keep people from discovering that underneath the bravado, I'm pretty weak. A trembling mess consumed by anxiety over mine and my brother's future."

I squeeze his hand tighter. "That doesn't sound like the words of a weak person to me."

He puffs out a breath, one devoid of humor. "So, I've been told before. It's funny though, isn't it? The bad things people say are always easier to believe."

I nod, staring out the passenger window. "I can definitely relate to that."

There are a few beats of silence, but it's not uncomfortable. We simply sit with each other's truths.

"What's number two?" I finally ask, turning back toward him.

"Number two is dependent on number one."

"What do you mean?"

"Because if you're okay with number one, then when we get out of this car, I'd really like to kiss you again."

"In the kitchen, honey."

Stepping through the front door of Jon's parents' house, I'm met with the heavenly scent of home cooking. We take off our shoes at the front door, and Jon takes my jacket, offering a reassuring smile. It's not only the nerves twisting my stomach into knots but also the feeling of a family. The safety and comfort of coming home to Mum and Dad. I miss this.

"They're amazing, and they're going to love you," he whispers in my ear as he guides me down the large entryway toward the back of the house. It's a big corner property with a wraparound porch. The house is painted an ivory color with a red door and two bay windows each with seats, the perfect place to curl up with a book I imagine. The house is classically styled with dark hardwood flooring throughout, and as we make our way down the hallway to the kitchen, I cast a quick glance left and then right into the main living room. There's a feature fireplace along the back, with sky-blue walls and a large cream sofa. I can hear the TV, a hockey game is clearly in progress, albeit it's out of sight. The dining room on the left is already set up, the table laid for royalty. My stomach flips once again. It's clear Jon's mum has gone to a lot of effort.

Entering the kitchen, I'm blown away as it spans the entire width of the property with a garden room attached at the back. The back wall is completely glass, offering an incredible view of the backyard, which is huge. Fir trees line the end of a beautiful garden, and to the bottom left I can see a raised pond, and the two acres, by my best guess, are decorated with a combination of camellias, cherry blossoms, and rhododendrons. It's too early in the season for many of the shrubs and flowers to bloom, but I can tell this place is a sensory paradise.

"Oh, honey, it's so good to see you. I've missed you so much." Jennie spins around from the stove where she was stirring a pot and makes a beeline for her son, wrapping her arms around him and pulling his large frame to hers.

I'd say Jennie is no taller than me with shoulder-length dark brown hair not dissimilar to Jon's. When she turns to face me, her gray eyes warm instantly; I can totally see where her son got his looks. She's beautiful.

"You only saw me last week, Mom." Jon kisses her on the cheek before turning to me as well. "Mom this is?—"

"Ohmygod, Felicity, it's so amazing to meet you! Ah, you're so pretty!" Her hands fly to her cheeks as she takes me in from top to bottom. "Jon, you never said she was this beautiful."

Jon flushes, and it's possibly the first time I've seen him a little embarrassed. It looks cute on him.

"As a cucumber. Yeah, right." He rolls his eyes and stuffs his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.

"Oh!" Jennie waves her hand in front of her. "Never mind that."

"Mom, this is Felicity, my friend, and Felicity this is Jennie, my slightly deranged mom." I don't miss the accented way Jon says friend, but he's sticking to the agreement, and I appreciate that. After all, we aren't anything more and we don't have any other label.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Morgan." I go with a traditional greeting and hold my hand out to her with a sweet smile.

"Wait? What! Sh-she's, y-you're, British?" Jennie's mouth hangs open and Jon smirks. He clearly didn't tell her that part.

"All the way from sunny blighty," I say, exaggerating my accent a little.

"So cute!" And with that, Jennie pulls me into the biggest, and possibly tightest, hug of my life. "I love her already!"

"For fuck's sake," I'm sure I hear Jon mutter under his breath. I get the feeling Jennie likes to wind her son up and it would appear she's pretty good at it, too.

"Where's Dad?"

"He's out the back with Adam. They're putting up lights to get ready for the holidays," Jennie finally releases me from her vice-like grip.

"He's home?"

"Yes, honey, he made it back this weekend, but he's only staying tonight. He seems to be in good spirits, but his support worker, Angie, tells me he's had another difficult week," Jennie replies, making her way back to the stove.

"Want to come meet them?" Jon eyes me and tips his head to the back door.

"Yes sure, let me just grab our shoes."

We make our way out the back and across the gravel driveway, which runs the length of the property. "This is an impressive place."

"Yeah, it's perfect for them. Even though we didn't grow up here, it feels more like home than the previous house ever did. As soon as I bought it, my dad was able to quit work, no longer having a mortgage to pay, and spend time with Mom and Adam. It's the best thing hockey has ever done for my family."

He's incredibly generous. This house is a small estate which no doubt cost more than I will ever see in my lifetime. "It's beautiful. Do you think you'll live here when you're older and you know, your mum and dad pass?" I don't know what makes me ask the question, but from losing my parents so unexpectedly, I guess it's always at the back of my mind.

"No. The house is written into Adam's name." We round the side of the garage. Adam is attempting to detangle a string of lights, and James is halfway up a ladder.

Placing his hand on the small of my back, Jon steps forward a couple more paces. "Alright, you two."

James's head whips around and Adam's eyes shoot up. "Son, great to see you." His dad's eyes then meet mine. They're a deep-brown color and his hair is even darker, almost black, from what I can tell under his gray baseball cap. I'd pin James at around six-foot-one and Adam at a similar height. However, Adam has the most beautiful blue eyes. I first noticed them when scanning photos at Jon's place, but they're even more striking in real life. His hair is slightly lighter, a mousey brown, tousled and thick. He's a gorgeous man with a chiseled face and strong jaw. In fact, the whole Morgan family is beautiful. There's no doubt they have strong aesthetic genes.

Jon lifts his hand to Adam, offering him a fist bump. "Alright, bro, great to see you."

Adam's eyes dart from Jon to me and then back to Jon again. Initially, I think he's a little overwhelmed with my presence, but then he surprises me and smiles, and oh boy, he has dimples too. Adam's smile reaches his eyes as he returns the fist bump and quickly resets his attention to unraveling lights.

"You must be Felicity," James says as he climbs down the ladder, wiping his hands together before offering one out to me.

"I am; nice to meet you, Mr. Morgan."

James stills and looks across at Jon.

"Yes, she's British. Yes, Mom was shocked, too. And no, she doesn't live in a castle."

James throws his head back and laughs. "I'll assume you've been Jennie'd in that case."

"Yes. She's a liability."

James lets out a knowing laugh. "That she is, but she'll never change."

"Need any help?"

"Ah, no, son, you spend time with your girl. Adam and I have got this covered, haven't we?"James looks over his shoulder at Adam, who's crouched by a box, and he hums in agreement."Food shouldn't be long, and then we'll be in."

"Okay, I'll take Felicity back inside, but let me know if you need anything."

"Felicity?"

"Yes, Mr. Morgan?"

"Please call us James and Jennie, and it's great to meet you. Never did I think I'd see the day when my son brought a woman home."

I hear Adam snicker from behind his dad, and Jon low groans.

"You too M…James."