Renee noticed that Jon hadn't called or texted her later that evening and she was worried even though she tried to keep her composure. Even though she had no real reason to be worried about him, she still cared about him a lot. But ever since she lost both her boyfriend and son she had been on edge. Jon finally came home with for dinner and sat it down on the table.
"Hey. Sorry I didn't call you. I took my friend back home and then went back to my job to make us burgers and fries."
"Oh, okay. That's fine. I know me pacing back and forth in the living room while waiting for you can be nerve wracking at times."
"I understand you're concerned and I should've called or texted you. I swear I am an idiot for not doing that."
"No, you're not. It's just…I'm very concerned about you. I know you'll be alright but I just care about you a lot."
Jon smiled a little and embraced Renee in hug and rubbed her back. His heat sank a little because he knew he was the reason she was suffering in the first place. All he could do was continue to treat her right and not worry her whenever he was gone. Before he knew it, he had opened his mouth to say what he should've said long ago.
"Renee, I need to tell you something."
Renee placed a finger on his lips and shook her head at him.
"I love listening to you talk but I know what you're going to say. You're probably going to say how you're sorry about what's I've been through but don't. I'm glad you care about my feelings and everything but dwelling on the past isn't going to change it. We do not need to dwell in the past. Please."
Jon nodded his head in agreement as he pushed a strand of hair out of Renee's face.
"You're right."
"I know I am. Now, let's eat this delicious food you made."
The sound of his cell ringing yanking Jon out of his sleep but thankfully Renee slept through it. Jon didn't look at his phone to see who was calling him this damn early in the morning but he knew it was.
"Hello?" he said groggily.
"Jonathan, I just got into it with my girl's dad. Can you please come and get it?"
"Seriously, Harry!? It's almost two in the damn morning!"
"Please, Jonathan! Just help me out!"
"Fine."
Jon begrudgingly crawled out of bed and went to get dressed. He would surely kick Harry's ass for waking him up out of wonderful sleep with Renee. He kissed her on her cheek, grabbed his keys and wallet and headed out of the door to get his dumb ass friend.
"I'm doing this shit again. Twice I've had to come and get you because you got into it with your girl's dad!"
"I'm sorry, man. Her dad is crazy."
"Maybe you two shouldn't have come to her dad's house then. I don't want to do this again, I'm telling you this right now!"
"I'm sorry man. I truly am. But you said it yourself you're willing to help me."
"I am. When you actually need help. Her dad is a problem you and her need to solve on her own. I have a girlfriend to look after now."
"This woman must have you whipped, more whipped than whipped cream itself."
"Do not say that. I really love this woman and I need to do right by her. She lost both her boyfriend and son in a short time this year. The least I can do is be there for her and be the best boyfriend I can be. I remember that very night I was driving down the street. It was pouring down raining as if some huge ass giant dumped a big bucket of water down on the city. Her son had got hit by a car while they were walking…I put my car in reverse when I passed her and helped her put her son in the back…it was a bad night. That's why I feel the way I feel about her."
"Wow. Well, now that I know that, it makes sense why you feel the way you do about her."
"I love you, Harry. I love you like a brother. But that's why I said what I said to you. That's way I've stopped stealing and have been on the right path. Hell, I even stopped drinking like a fish ever since I met my girl."
"You made a lot of changes."
"I owe it to her. I really do. I love her so much…I'm crazy about her."
"What's her name?"
"Renee."
"Pretty name."
"Pretty name for a pretty girl."
"Hopefully I didn't land you in trouble."
"No you didn't."
"I'll only phone when it's a legit emergency from now on. Or if I need you to pick me up from work."
"Now that's better."
Renee heard Jon come into the room and close the door. She cuddled up to him when he laid down beside her and put his arm around her waist.
"Was that a friend?" she murmured.
"Yeah."
"This friend likes calling you early in the morning when you're asleep."
"Yeah. He got into it with his girlfriend's dad and I told him that he and his girlfriend need to squash their issues with her dad."
"Yes, he does. Now, let's head back to sleep. If anyone else calls, who the hell cares."
"I love the way you think. I told him only to call for emergency and that's it."
"Now that's what I like to hear! Sleep time. Night, love."
"Night."
Fall had finally arrived and this meant hot apple spice and loads of cuddling and snuggling under blankets while watching television and eating delicious fall sweets. But Jon wanted to take Renee on a hike through the city trail before they did any of that.
Renee picked up a few yellow and orange leaves that had fallen on the rocks and shoved them in her pocket to keep as souvenirs.
"Having fun?" Jon asked.
"Yup!" she replied.
They continued walking on the trail, observing the dazzling scenery of the green trees, small little animals such as squirrels and rabbits. The air was cool and smelled like a fresh garden in the summer time. Both Jon and Renee were at ease as they walked together with their arms intertwined with each other, grateful that they had each other.
"This is very pretty," Jon said.
"It is. I didn't even know this trail existed!" Renee said. "How did you find out about it?"
"One day I had a terrible day at work and I needed to go somewhere to clear my head for a moment. I was driving and saw the sign to this place and immediately parked my car in the parking lot, bought a ticket, and started walking this very trail."
"It was a good thing that you had a bad day then. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't have stumbled upon this gem of a trail."
"You're right. I probably wouldn't have."
"But now we're here. Man, all this is very beautiful. We should come back tomorrow."
"We should definitely come back tomorrow."
Jon and Renee stopped by a shop at the end of the trail where Jon bought Renee a bunch of shirts, magnets, socks, and apple spice. Renee wanted to buy something for Jon but he refused and even tried to convince him to buy something for himself but once again he refused.
"As long as you had a great time and have some gifts to take back with you, that's all that matters."
"Aww."
Even the cashier couldn't help but say "Aww" as well when he heard Jon say that to Renee.
Grabbing her hand, Jon lead Renee out of the store then twirled her around.
"You are the sweetest thing I've ever met," he said.
"I better be!"
"You are!"
Jon pulled Renee to the side where no one could see them and gave her a long kiss on her lips.
"I love you more than anything in the entire damn world. And I want you to remember that, too. I know we cannot dwell in the past but after what you've been through I've made it my mission to make your life better. I hope I have."
"You have and I'm grateful. And for that, I say I love you." Renee cupped Jon's chin in her hands again and kissed him. "Now, let's go home and made some hot apple cider and cuddle under the blankets?"
"After we have sex right?"
Renee smirked at Jon and nodded her head.
"Sure thing."