Page 52 of Love Unbound
Ben held up a small toy car to show her, saying, “Jo-dee, I have a Lightning McQueen car! I want to race Tris!”
Jodi laughed and hugged the little boy tight. He had been a surprise pregnancy for her aunt and uncle, nearly ten years between Ben and their middle child, Kylee, who was nearly fifteen. Ben turned to look at Free, waving shyly. Free smiled back, and said gently, “Hi, I’m Freeman. Who are you?”
“I’m Benjamin Lee Kendall,” he said, enunciating each word as if he’d been practicing. “I get to go to kindergarten soon!”
Free smiled at Jodi before turning his attention back to Ben. “Kindergarten? That’s pretty important. Are you ready?”
“I think so,” he said nervously.
Aunt Summer reached over to ruffle Ben’s hair. “He’s going to do great,” she said encouragingly. Free stood then, in order to hug Summer and shake hands with Micah. “It’s been too long, Free! We were so happy to hear you were home.”
Jodi saw her aunt’s eyes take in the two of them, together. Free’s hand had been riding high on Jodi’s thigh when the three of them had walked up. She was grateful her family had taken this newwhatever this wasbetween her and Free in stride. The age difference was a big deal to Free, but seemed to be a non-issue to everyone else. She hoped that helped Free resolve himself of any of the lingering guilt he may be feeling over theirage gap.
Ben hopped off Jodi’s lap when several other cousins zoomed past them, and he ran several feet away, then stopped short, turning back to his mother. “May I go play with Ross and Jake, please?”
Summer nodded, sitting down on one side of the picnic table as Shaun and Tommy stood, walking together toward the pole barn to get another round of drinks. “Go ahead. Only to the fence, though.”
“He’s adorable,” Free laughed as he raced off.
Micah chuckled. “He’s a hellion. Tanner and Kylee did not get into nearly as much mischief as he does on his own. Imagine my surprise when Summer told me a week before Kylee’s tenth birthday that her period was late. I about had a heart attack.”
Summer rolled her green eyes heavenward. “He acts like he doesn’t know how babies are made.”
Jodi stopped breathing for an extended heartbeat, her mouth going dry.
Babies. She knew how babies were made.
She hadn’t even thought about the possibility of pregnancy. And she and Free had not taken any precautions.
Free must have had the same thought, his eyes slicing over to hers. His eyebrows were raised slightly. She shook her head, barely, lowering her eyes guiltily. She watched as he swallowed hard. She felt like her head was spinning.
The sun had begun its descent toward the horizon, casting the gathering in long shadows as the sun descended behind the tree line on the western edge of her grandparent’s property. String lights that had been suspended from tree to tree began to glow as the shadows deepened. Free motioned with his head toward a grove of willow trees on the far side of the yard, and Jodi nodded. Her heart was in her throat.
They excused themselves, but ran into Shaun and Tommyas they exited the pole barn, fresh beers in Tommy’s hand for himself and Free, and Shaun had taken the liberty of pouring Jodi another cocktail. Jodi accepted it and downed half of it, excruciatingly aware of Free’s eyes on her. Shaun and Tommy wandered off toward the fire, while Jodi and Free continued toward the fence line beneath the massive willow tree.
They were silent for a long time as they stared out over the cornfield beyond the fence. “I didn’t think to ask,” Free finally whispered. “You’re the first woman I’ve been with that I haven’t used a condom with. It never even occurred to me.”
“I stopped taking my birth control when Josh and I divorced. I had no interest in dating…” Jodi murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Free said gently and gave her a crooked grin. “I’m as much at fault here. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”
Jodi wouldn’t admit that the thought of a baby with Free wasn’t a terrible one. Whateverthiswas, it was much too new, though. She didn’t know what it was, yet, if it was anything. Or what his feelings for her were.
She did quick math in her head, counting back the days. “I can’t promise for sure, but I think we’re okay. I should know in about a week.”
Free nodded, smiling gently at her again. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. “We will just be careful from now on.” He winked at her. “Don’t think I’m even close to being done with you yet, Jodi.”
To make sure she understood exactly what he meant, he dipped his tongue into her mouth, at the same time running a hand up between her thighs. The drapery of the willows’ low hanging boughs offered them enough privacy that no one would see what he was doing to her. Jodi sighed, but it turned into a moan when he nipped her lower lip with his sharp white teeth. His fingers played at her through her jeans and she groaned when he stopped.
“Shh,” he whispered hoarsely, covering her mouth with his own again, kissing her until she was breathless. His chest heaved with each deep breath he took when he released her mouth finally. His lips moving against hers as he spoke, he whispered gruffly, “If you come right now, that doesn’t count as one of my five.”
Jodi thought she might die of the fire that consumed her at his words.
Free nipped her lip again and chuckled when her knees buckled slightly. “Let’s go, you shameless hussy.”
The sun was setting as they walked back toward the party, and if possible, more people had shown up for the festivities. The dance floor was nearly packed with line dancing couples, and Jodi smiled when she saw her parents and her grandparents twirling to a rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Good Time”.
Micah was tending the growing fire in the massive fire pit when Jodi and Free walked up. Free stepped over to assist in placing two large wooden pallets on the fire, which didn’t take long to catch.
