Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

DAKOTA

“I’ll only be a few minutes. Do you wanna come with me or wait here?”

Jay’s head snapped toward me from where he was staring absently out the window.

“Huh?” His cheeks heated with embarrassment. “Sorry. I was in my head.”

I leaned over the console of the car and kissed his cheek. My poor man was so nervous that it was making me nervous, even if there was no reason.

After I talked to my mom, we all decided that it might be better for Jay to meet them for the first time in a less chaotic environment than our family dinners. They were overwhelming at the best of times, and my sisters didn’t know the meaning of subtlety. They would be interrogating him from the moment he walked in the door. Plus, Jay was finally signing the lease on his apartment the day of our next dinner. He was already stressed about that, and I didn’t want to add meeting my entire family to the mix.

So, instead of throwing him to the wolves, we were meeting my parents for lunch at a restaurant. If it went well, next time we’d invite my brothers, before finally taking the step to the whole family. When I talked to Jay about it, he was so fucking relieved that I knew it was the right decision. As much as I wanted to have him integrated with my family already, I had to be patient. He was making an effort. It was all I could ask.

But of course, he was still so damn anxious. He had been messaging me with questions all week while we were working, drilling me about my parents while we were together, and then he spent longer than I’d ever seen him getting ready. It was adorable, even if it was putting me on edge a bit. I was so distracted by Jay that I had left my wallet in my locker after my shift last night. Before we went to meet my parents, we stopped at the hospital so I could grab it.

“It’s fine. I just asked if you want to come in with me or just wait here? I should only be a minute.”

“I’ll uh, I’ll wait here if you don’t mind?” He scrubbed at his face, the skeletal tattoos on his hand peeking out from the long-sleeved Henley he insisted on wearing. I promised him that my parents weren’t going to care about his tattoos. My dad had more than a few himself, including a few from his Irish mob days that he’d tried covering up. But he told me he’d be more comfortable like this. Luckily it hadn’t been that hot of a summer so far and we’d be in air conditioning.

“Sure. I’ll be right back.” I kissed him and quickly left the car. I all but ran into the hospital, glad I hadn’t forgotten my badge too, so I could easily get where I needed to go without trying to find a coworker to get me to the lockers. I was still partly afraid that I’d come back and Jay would be gone. To the point where I kind of wished I’d insisted he come in with me. I had to trust him though.

I waved to Dr. Kiley, who was eating a sandwich in his office with the door open, before heading into the breakroom where the locker bay was. The wallet was right where I left it, and I shoved it in the pocket of my pants, waved to Dr. Kiley again, and got the fuck out of there. I was completely focused on the door, determined to get back to Jay as quickly as possible. I didn’t even see the other guy in the lobby until I walked right into him, literally.

“Oh shit, sorry.” I looked up at the guy, who was slightly taller than me with mousy brown hair and an average build and was holding a get-well-soon balloon and flowers. “I was distracted and wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay?”

“Dakota?” The guy smiled at me, while I frowned, trying to figure out if I knew him.

“Um, yes?” Maybe whoever he was visiting was a patient of mine.

“It’s John.” I blinked. Did I know a John? “From the grocery store…” He prompted when it was clear I had no fucking clue who he was.

It took a while for it to click, but then I realized who it was. The cashier from the other day. How did he know my name? I couldn’t remember if I ever told him. Then again, it was a small store and my mom and sisters were talkers, so it’s possible he knew it from one of them.

“Oh right. Hi. Is everything okay?”

The guy frowned, confused. “Huh?” I gestured toward the balloon. “Oh, right. Yeah it’s fine. Just visiting my…mom. She had hip surgery.”

Something about the way the guy stared at me set me on edge. It was like he wasn’t blinking. “I wish her a speedy recovery.” I shifted on my feet. I didn’t want to be rude, but I needed to fucking go. “It was nice talking to you, but I have to go. My boyfriend is waiting for me and we’re meeting my parents for lunch.”

“Oh right. You said you had a boyfriend. He made you come in here on your own?” Everything about his demeanor changed, and I took an involuntary step back.

“Excuse me?”

Something darkened in John’s expression, but before I could really process it, the automatic doors of the hospital slid open and I saw Jay walking through.

Relieved, and more than ready to go, I met him halfway and wrapped my arms around him. He ducked his head and I kissed him lightly. Normally, I wouldn’t do that at my workplace, but I was feeling all kinds of off, and besides, I was never going to turn down a kiss from Jay. He was always a little clingy, when he wasn’t pushing me away, but after our conversation/fight from the other day, it’s been on another level. We couldn’t stop fucking touching each other. Not that I was complaining.

Still, I think Jay could tell something was up. He frowned at me. “Everything okay? I know I told you I’d wait in the car, but I changed my mind. Is that okay? Were you able to find your wallet?”

I smiled. “Yeah, baby. It’s fine and I found it. Sorry it took me so long, I ran into someone.” I turned around to gesture to John, but he wasn’t there anymore. Weird. “I guess he left.”

“Did he say somethin’ to you? Somethin’s wrong.” His tone deepened and his whole body stiffened, ready for a fight. That probably shouldn’t have turned me on, right?

“Oh no, it’s fine. He’s the cashier at the store near my parents. He’s a little odd, but he’s harmless.”

Jay didn’t seem convinced, but I’d already spent too much time worrying about this guy. I took his hand and led him out. He let me pull him away but he kept twisting his head around like he expected John to jump out from the shadows or something.

When we got to the car, I pushed him against the door and cupped his cheeks. “Jay, everything is fine, okay?”

“It didn’t seem like that. You were uncomfortable when I walked in. I saw it from the door.”

My stomach felt all swoony. I didn’t need him to be all overprotective of me. I was capable of caring for myself. Didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it now and again. Still… “Don’t get me wrong, I’m kind of here for this caveman protector thing. But can you maybe look a little less murdery when you meet my parents?”

That seemed to do the trick and Jay snapped out of whatever hold he was in. “Shit. I’m sorry. I’m good. I promise.”

“Okay. Come on. Let’s go so we’re not late.”

Jay took one more long look over my shoulder before agreeing. I waited till he was in the car and the door was shut before I ran to the driver’s side and got in.

“You sure I look alright?” Jay asked for the fiftieth time as we stood in front of my car in the parking lot of the small Italian restaurant. I saw my parents’ car parked by the door, but they must have been waiting inside.

“Like I already said, yes, you look amazing.” He really did. His dark gray Henley fit his slim frame nicely and covered most of his tattoos that seemed to be a worry for him. His black jeans were slightly loose around the waist and I had a feeling he borrowed them from Beckett. They still looked good though. He was wearing his usual beat-up high-top Chucks, but I convinced him they were fine. He would’ve been way too hot in his boots, and that was all he had besides his work boots. His dark brown hair was styled back, unlike his usual loose and shaggy look, and I was pretty sure he trimmed the sides up this morning.

Jay tugged on the sleeves of his shirt. If he kept doing that, he’d stretch it out. Since I saw the tag still tucked in the back, that I discreetly tucked back in for him, I had a feeling he bought it just for this occasion and planned on returning it after. He wouldn’t be able to do that if he kept tugging at it. I grabbed his hands before he could pull again.

“Jay.” His eyes snapped to mine. “Take a breath for me, love.”

I inhaled, giving him something to follow. He matched my breaths, in and out for a few seconds, before I was sure he wouldn’t pass out. “We don’t have to do this. They’d understand if you need to wait. I’d understand,” I added, because I was pretty sure that would be his bigger worry.

Jay shook his head though. “No. No. I can do this. I want to do this. I’m being weird. Let’s go.”

He started to turn away to head to the restaurant, but I stopped him. “You’re not being weird. Get that through your head right now. It’s okay to be nervous.”

He let out a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “Yeah. Yeah, okay. I am nervous. But I still want to do this.”

Sure that he wasn’t lying, I knocked my shoulder into his arm. “Let’s go then. Just be yourself, Jay. Everything will be good as long as you be yourself.”