She Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 2)

Chapter 6: Jason

I knew that showing up uninvited to Ronnie’s graduation was a risk, but it felt like my only option. I didn’t want to risk her getting upset with me for ambushing her like that, but since her graduation from college is a milestone I’ve been counting down to for years, and she cut off the only other means I had for keeping in touch with her, I also didn’t want to miss it.

And I’m not sorry about that.

Seeing her up on that stage, beaming from ear-to-ear as she accepted her diploma, shaking hand after hand and basking in her moment in the spotlight, that’s a memory I wouldn’t trade for anything. As I sat there next to her mom, who surprised me when she reached over and clutched my arm as we were watching Ronnie walk across the stage, I was just so proud of her, and so pleased with myself for insisting that I be allowed to go.

But there are some things about it that I would take back if I could. I would do that entire first conversation with her mom over, for starters. I can’t help replaying everything she said to me and all the questions she asked now that I’m back in my hotel room and have all the time in the world to sort out what I should have said. The version of me in my head is much suaver and more composed than the one who fumbled his way through that entire interaction.

I’ve decided it doesn’t matter, though. I'm still a bit uncertain about how her mom ultimately ended up feeling about me, but in hindsight, she also offered a lot of clues that tell me it didn't go as badly as I originally feared. In the moment, I thought her suddenly being nice to me and inviting me to go with them to dinner was a test of some sort, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was just her way of trying to win herself an opportunity to get to know me more and observe how I am with Ronnie.

Which is one reason why I’m glad Ronnie turned me down when I gave her the option. It didn’t feel right. I saw how she reacted to her mom springing that on her. Everything about her face and her body language told me she felt trapped by it. She didn’t want me to come.

That hurt a bit at first, but now that I’ve taken more time to think about it, it was the right call. That invitation put both of us on the spot, and I have a feeling that it would have turned out to be an awkward disaster and her mom would have come away from it certain that I’m not the guy for her daughter.

Instead, I’m waiting on her text. I would love to be able to say I’m patiently waiting, but it isn’t true.

Part of me wanted to demand more details the moment she said she would text me. When will you text me? And what about? How do I know you won’t change your mind? But thankfully, the wiser part of me prevailed in that moment. I have a feeling that the reason she stopped talking to me years ago was because she eventually decided I was too overbearing and pushy about it, and the lesson I need to take from that is to let her lead in her own time, at her own pace.

It’s been hours since she made that promise, and I’m getting antsy. I have to keep fighting the urge to send the first text. I realize now that it would mean falling back into my old habits, the way I used to be with her, which eventually led to her cutting me off.

The first thing she saw in the morning was a text from me, and it was also the last thing she saw at night. Some women would appreciate that, but Ronnie isn’t one of them. She needs space and breathing room. She doesn’t want to feel cornered. She wants to feel like she has the option, like she can choose me rather than having me forced on her.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself as the hours and minutes tick by and I still haven’t heard anything. I must fall asleep at some point during my vigil because eventually, I find myself waking up with the light of morning washing over where I lie slumped on top of the bedspread, still wearing the clothes from the night before. And of course, the first thing I do is check my phone. Still no text.

To be fair to her, she didn’t say when she would be texting me. I assumed it would be that night because she made it seem like it was the consolation prize she was offering in place of dinner, but she could have meant anything by it. I can’t help feeling a bit dejected, even knowing it might not mean anything that I haven’t heard from her yet. It just feels so similar to what I went through with her once before, having to coach myself through the waiting and worrying with a hefty dose of wishful thinking until finally I couldn’t deny the reality anymore.

With a heavy sigh, I force myself to get up and make my way to the shower. I bring my phone with me and make sure the volume is up all the way so I won’t miss anything, but I can’t let myself just sit around waiting any longer.

After my shower, I busy myself with looking up Ronnie’s hometown and whether there are any places to stay nearby, since her mom told me yesterday that Ronnie plans to spend the summer there. There’s no point in me being holed up in a hotel room near her college when it isn’t even her college anymore.

My phone rings just after I click “confirm reservation” for a motel in a neighboring town, since it seems that there are none in hers. It’s my Alpha calling, and I know better than to ignore it despite my urge to do just that. After all, I could miss Ronnie’s text while I’m on the phone.

“Hi, Aly,” I greet her after my better judgment wins out.

“Uh oh, you don’t sound like a guy who got the girl,” she responds. She must hear it in my voice somehow. “Did you get to see her?”

“Yeah, I saw her, and we spoke for a couple minutes. It was her mom I spent most of the time talking to, though. Thanks for the heads-up on that, by the way. I had no idea we would be sitting next to each other.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d need a heads-up on that. I kind of thought it was implied when I told you that your ticket was one that Ronnie reserved for friends and family. And family. Of course her mom was going to be there.”

“Alright, you have me there,” I chuckle awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed now that she put it that way. “But I guess what I mean is I don’t know enough about her to know what sort of family to expect, and in my mind, there was this fantasy that it would just be me out there watching her, and then after we’d get a chance to talk, just her and I.”

“And I’m assuming that wasn’t how it went?” She’s quiet for a second before I hear her gasp and then add, “Oh gosh, I just realized something. You’re right that I should have warned you, but not about that. What I didn’t even think to prepare you for was how intimidating her mom can be.”

“Uh yeah, that’s a warning I could have used ahead of time,” I laugh, but mostly at myself. “She definitely made me nervous. I’ve never been so uncomfortable just carrying on a basic conversation, but I assumed it was because I so badly wanted to make a good impression. I think she figured out early on that I’m interested in Ronnie.”

“Yikes. And no, that’s not just you. She makes me nervous too.”

“That’s oddly comforting.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” she says before pausing again, but I can sense there’s more she wants to say, so I wait.

“So, how did it go then?” she wonders. “Her mom was there, but you said you did get to talk to Ronnie?”

“Yeah, it was awkward, and her mom was being weirdly pushy. It was almost like she wanted to see how Ronnie would react to me, so she invited me to dinner with them. But I could tell that Ronnie wasn’t cool with that, so I told her it was okay if she said no. And she did.”

“Ouch. Sorry, Jason.”

“Uh yeah, it’s okay. I think, anyway. Ronnie said she would text me.”

“Oh,” Aly sounds both surprised and pleased. “Well, that’s something. And I’m assuming you’re feeling glum because she hasn’t yet, but you have to think about it from her perspective. Graduation day is super stressful, and it’s everything she hates all packaged into one. Noise, people, no books around for miles.”

I can’t help laughing at her joke, also appreciating everything she is saying and hanging on her every word. It helps to hear Ronnie’s closest friend telling me the same things I’ve been telling myself.

“So, she probably went home, took a hot bath, and crashed out for the night, completely exhausted,” she continues. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much yet. But let me know if you don’t hear from her by tomorrow, and I’ll see if I can find out where her head is at.”

“Thanks, Aly,” I tell her gratefully, exhaling in relief.

Aly usually refuses to get involved, but I guess she meant what she said the other day when she told me I could come. She misses her friend and agrees that it’s time to take action.

“You should know that I’ve made a new reservation,” I inform her of my change in plans. “I’ll send you the details after we hang up, so you’ll know where I’ll be until further notice.”

“Got it. I figured you’d eventually move locations once you figured out where she’s going to be after graduation. Which is where, exactly?”

Interesting. I guess for once, I know something that Aly doesn’t.

“Home,” I tell her, trying not to sound too proud of myself. “For the summer, anyway. After that, a grad school I have yet to learn anything about.”

“Hmm,” Aly says mysteriously before going quiet again. I hate when people do that. So suspenseful.

“Well,” she says eventually, “this is just me theorizing here, but if she’s spending the summer at home, I will tell you two pieces of information that might help you. You should look up Clarice’s Shop of Wonders and see if you can manage to cozy up to the woman who runs it, because Ronnie is close to her and spends a lot of time there. If you give Clarice my name and tell her who you are to Ronnie, I’d wager a guess she will want to help you. Oh, and don’t tell her mom about it. I doubt she’d be cool with the fact that Ronnie is close with someone like that."

"Okay," I try to interject, but Aly is already moving on to her next point.

"And secondly, if you can manage to come up with things to do that will get Ronnie out of the house, she’ll be more inclined to agree to that than to an official date. I’m talking casual hangout stuff, not fancy dinners at restaurants. She loves music, she loves books, and she gets restless being stuck in the house babysitting her sisters all day, every day. And that’s all I’m willing to tell you.”

“That seems like more than two things, but I’m not complaining," I chuckle, amused but appreciative, nonetheless. "Thanks, Aly. I have a feeling it will help.”

“Of course. Now, get off the phone in case your mate texts you,” she scolds me playfully.

“Yes, Alpha,” I tease her back, still smiling as I end the call.

As much I didn’t want to answer at first, I’m glad I did. It cheered me up considerably, which carries me through the process of packing up my stuff and checking out of the hotel, preparing to make the drive so that I can park myself closer to where Ronnie lives.

Now all that’s missing is a text.