"You sweet girl." Julie engulfs in a hug. A real one where you hold on tight and don’t let go. I hug her back the sa and realize I’m already a little in love with Mufasa’s mom.
"Let the girl breathe, honey," I hear Mitch say.
"Mind your business," she sasses back at him, making laugh. She lets go, her hands coming to my cheeks. "This world has not been kind to you, but you’re still as sweet as can be."
I smile back at her, my eyes filling with tears. "Thank you."
"No, thank you." She steps back, sitting down at the table with . We’ve been here for a while. With the amount of food she keeps trying to get to eat, I think she might be trying to fatten up.
"Why are you thanking ? It’s all of you who helped . I don’t want to know where I’d be right now if it wasn’t for Mufasa." It’s such a terrifying thought and one I never want to think about again. Mufasa is mine now. He’s in my life, and he’ll never let anyone hurt .
"And I’m not sure where our Mufasa would have been five years from now without you."
"He’d be a lumberjack," Mitch answers, walking by to go into the kitchen.
"Likely. He’d be up in that cabin all the ti alone. It’s a beautiful cabin, but no one should be alone that much. Mufasa never could find a girl that turned his eye though." I feel my face warm. "I’d always poke him because, well, that’s what moms do. He said he wasn’t settling. So when you picked up the phone the other night, I knew he’d found her. You." Julie’s smile is infectious. She couldn’t be happier that Mufasa and I are together. Even with everything that has happened.
"That’s really nice of you to say. I do love him."
"I know. It’s all over your face." Julie picks up the teapot and fills my cup. Mitch walks back in and hands his wife a cardigan that she slips on without either of them saying a word.
"He knew you were cold?"
"Yes, he can read better than I can read myself." Mufasa’s parents are too good to be true. I’ve never t a family like theirs before. It’s clear where Mufasa gets his looks since he and his dad could almost be twins. Although Mufasa is a touch bigger than his father.
"That’s really sweet."
"All my boys are well trained." She winks at .
I think Mufasa grew up with parents that truly love each other. I’m sure it made them want the sa thing, and that’s why he wasn’t willing to settle. It warms to think I give that to him since he’s given so much already.
"I believe it. It took you all of five minutes to get my life story out of ."
She smirks. "We all have our talents."
I glance toward the front door again.
"He’s fine, sweetheart. Mufasa always knows what he’s doing." She reaches out and grabs my hand. Julie is everything a mom should be. "He’s going to co back here, and then we’ll see about planning this wedding."
My mouth falls open. "We’re not engaged." We only said I love you hours ago, and just thinking about it makes my heart flutter. Marriage was never sothing I thought about until Mufasa.
"It’s better to get a start on these things. Unless you’re okay with a baby bump in the wedding pictures. I’ve always thought that was kind of cute." She leans over. "And sexy." I burst out laughing. "All I’m saying is think about it."
Oh, now I am thinking about it. Mufasa hasn’t asked to marry him, but things have been crazy. We did have unprotected sex, so I guess I could be pregnant right this mont. The thought isn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I can see living out in the cabin with a few little ones. It sounds like a dream.
I jerk around when headlights flash across the house, and I’m out of my seat, racing for the door. I fling it open and run towards the truck. He barely hops out, and I’m on him, jumping into his arms and kissing him.
"You’re back." Before he can respond, I’m kissing him again. I don’t want to stop but I need to look at him. I lean back and take him in. He looks fine, and I don’t think he’s been in any kind of fight. "You’re okay?"
"My girl just ran and jumped in my arms. Yeah, I’m okay."
I brush my fingers across his cheek, and I can’t stop smiling. Then I rember my brother. I was so wrapped up in Mufasa being back, I wasn’t thinking about why he was gone to begin with.
"He’s alive," is all Mufasa says and it’s cryptic. "And he’ll be staying away from you."
I nod because that’s for the best. It isn’t just anymore, and I have to think about the other people in my life who Jero could affect. I will not let that happen. I want a real family, and he’s not it, not anymore.
Mufasa gives my ass a squeeze, and I smile. "What about everything else?"
"Babe, I handled everything. You stick with , and I’ll always handle everything. You never even have to ask because I’ll already be doing it."
I kiss him again, and I can’t stop. I don’t think I’ve been this happy in my whole life. For once it feels like I have a chance at a real future.
"I take it everything went okay." I freeze and then slowly pull my mouth away from Mufasa’s. I should have known his mom followed out.
"Yep." He gives my ass another squeeze. I try to give him a look, but he only smirks.
"Don’t think you’re leaving here tonight. It’s late and you haven’t slept," his dad says, and I realize he’s right. I wanted so alone ti with Mufasa, but I need to rember that now I’m going to have Mufasa every day. Waiting one more won’t hurt.
"Good call, Pops, I’m beat," Mufasa agrees. "We’ll go ho tomorrow."
"Ho?"
"Yeah, ho."
"I really like the sound of that." I wiggle so he’ll put down, but he doesn’t. Instead he starts walking toward the house with in his arms.
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