Jon thought it was best if I didn't drive home, so he helped me into his truck then walked around and got in.

I stared at the bookstore, dark once again after we left.

I was thinking something, but I wasn't sure if I could actually go through with it. It was a big step and I didn't know if I was ready.

I realized that Jon was watching me from the driver's seat. I gave him a small smile and looked back at the store, rubbing my cheek.

"What would you say if I wanted to open the store again?" I asked, quiet and hesitant.

He only paused for a second before he said, "I think that would be great, Beau." He sounded very truthful.

I sighed. I just didn't know about this. But I knew deep down that it was the right thing to do and I knew for sure that it's what Harrison would have wanted. He didn't want his beloved store to sit and gather dust and never have people read his favorite books.

I wrapped my arms around myself and Jon reached over, rubbing his hand over my thigh.

"It's scary," I said and paused for a moment. "Will you help me? Open the store I mean?"

"Of course, baby," he said without hesitation.

"I will have no clue what I'm doing," I said, laughing in a self deprecating way.

"It's okay. You'll learn along the way. And I already run my own business, I can help a lot."

"I know."

Jon must have been reading my mind because he didn't start the truck, just stayed in the parking lot while I thought. And I was thinking a lot.

There was so much stuff that needed to be done. There was one more step I needed to take, but it was even scarier than reopening the store.

I could tell I was getting choked up again, but I started talking before I could second guess my decision.

"Harrison's house—our home—has been my safety blanket for the past seven years," I said and I knew that Jon was listening intently. I kept my eyes focused on the store. "I moved in with him only a couple months after we started dating. I never regretted that decision. His home was my home as soon as I stepped foot in it. It was my favorite place to be. I loved being there with Harrison, cuddling on the couch and watching movies. And now..." I whimpered, eyes filling with tears. "It just hurts to be there, but I don't know if I can let it go."

Jon tucked my hair behind my ear.

"I can't even pay the bills." I sobbed. "I should leave. I should. I'll get my own apartment. I'll barely be able to pay for that."

Jon ran his hand through my hair for a minute, not saying anything. Just his presence and touch was calming to me.

"I have an idea," I said finally. I turned to look at him to let him know I was listening. He smiled. "How about you stay at my place tonight?" I opened my mouth, shocked. How was that a good solution? "Here me out," he said. "We don't have to do anything. We don't even have to sleep in the same bed. But you can see how you feel being away from home and decide what to do next after that."

I sighed. It was a good idea when he put it that way. I was still nervous to go to his place though. I knew he wouldn't expect me to sleep with him and I thought it was too soon for that anyways, but it might be nice to at least sleep in the same house as someone again. I had been alone for what felt like so long now.

"Alright," I said quietly. "I'd like to try." I looked over at him, a hesitant expression on my face.

This may have been even scarier than reopening the store. Jon and I seemed to be moving so quickly and it was frightening because it felt so familiar. Being caught up in a whirlwind romance.

I just hoped this one didn't end like the last one.

______

Jon first took me home so I could pack a few things. He stayed downstairs while I went up to what used be our bedroom and started packing some clothes. I just shoved a few things into the bag without really looking at what they were. I wanted to be in this room as little as possible. Especially knowing that I was staying at another man's house tonight.

I was still so unsure of what Harrison would think of my relationship with Jon. Harrison had always been so possessive of me and I had liked that a lot. I liked that Jon seemed to be like that too. It made me feel safe and loved when a man wanted me all to himself...maybe that was the wrong way to think of it, but that was just the way I was.

But Harrison being so possessive led me to wonder if he would've ever wanted me to move on. I liked to think that he would want me to be happy, but I just wasn't sure and that ate away at me.

I zipped up the bag and threw it over my shoulder before taking the stairs back down.

Jon grabbed my hand when I walked up to him and I smiled. I tried not to feel guilty holding another man's hand in Harrison's house.

"Do you want to get some dinner before we go to my place?" Jon asked as he started leading me to the front door.

"I don't really want to go out," I said truthfully. "Can we eat at your house?"

"Yeah, of course," he said quickly. "How about we grab a pizza on our way and we can eat it at home?"

I nodded, not pointing out that he said home and not his home.

He probably didn't mean anything by it.

I locked the door behind us and Jon helped me into his truck. I hugged the bag on my lap as he got into the driver's seat.

I hoped tonight would be okay. I even sent up a little prayer.

Please, please let the night go alright. Don't make me panic from being away from home. I would like to begin living like a normal person again...or maybe for the first time in my life.

_____

I held my bag and the box of pizza as Jon unlocked the door to his house.

It was a gorgeous one story bungalow in a nice suburb not unlike my own neighborhood. I almost expected him to live somewhere slightly more pretentious. But he had a very modest house and it actually made me feel more comfortable.

He unlocked the door and started flipping on the lights. It was nicely decorated, but not over the top. It was homey. After the small foyer, the kitchen was to the right. Next to that was the dining room and straight ahead was a living room area. It looked like around the corner was probably where the bedrooms were. 

"Make yourself at home, Beau," Jon said with a smile.

I blushed, smiling back. I walked over to the dining table and placed the pizza down. I put my bag down on the floor and shuffled my feet, waiting for Jon to do something before I sat down.

I didn't want to be nervous, but I was. I hadn't been in another person's house in a long time, let alone someone I had a massive crush on.

Jon came close to me and put a hand on my cheek. I looked up at him and he slowly started moving his face closer to mine. He was moving so slowly and I knew he was giving me a chance to pull away, but instead, I just moved my head closer to his and met his lips with mine.

It was a soft, gentle kiss and we stayed there awhile. There was no tongue involved, it wasn't a sexy kiss...just sweet. It was the perfect thing I needed to feel less nervous.

When Jon pulled away, I smiled shyly up at him. He said, "Let's eat," with a grin on his face.

He got plates from the kitchen and then we started devouring the pizza.

I swallowed a bite of cheesy, saucy, pepperoni goodness and lifted an eyebrow. "I thought you were a health food nut. This is like the second time we've had junk food together."

Jon wiped his mouth with a napkin and smirked. "Every man can enjoy a pizza every once in awhile."

"Well, if you expect to keep me around in needs to be more often than 'every once in awhile'." I gave him a serious look.

He chuckled. "Okay, noted."

I nodded, pleased with his answer and took another bite.

After we had eaten almost every piece of pizza, Jon asked if I wanted to watch a movie. I said yes and after we cleaned up we headed to the living room.

He had his arm around my shoulders the whole time and it felt so natural. Everything with Jon felt natural and that was still a little scary. I didn't even feel uncomfortable here at all.

But as the movie ended and Jon yawned, I got nervous again.

I wasn't quite ready to go to bed. That was going to be the scariest part, sleeping somewhere unfamiliar.

"Do you want to watch another movie?" Jon asked after another yawn. I frowned, feeling bad because he was already so tired, but I nodded. "Okay, baby." He smiled.

He turned on another movie and I snuggled against him further.

The second movie ended way too quickly and I swallowed, knowing that I couldn't put off bedtime any longer.

"You tired?" Jon asked, looking like he could barely keep his eyes open. I nodded, even though I wasn't. "I'll show you where the guest room is."

We got off the couch and I grabbed my bag in the dining room before he led me down the hall with the bedrooms. There was two on each side of the hall and Jon stopped at the first one on the right.

"This is the guest room," he said and opened the door, turning on the light. I peeked inside to see a bed already made up with two nightstands and a dresser. "My bedroom is this one." He pointed to the second door on the right. "You can come get me if you need anything, alright?" I nodded. "The bathroom is the second door on the left." I just nodded again.

He smiled at me and put his hands on either side of my face. "Goodnight, baby." I forced a smile and he bent to kiss my lips softly. He pulled away too soon and waited for me to go into the guest room.

"Night, Jon," I said and closed the door behind me.

I leaned against the closed door.

Okay, this would be just fine. It would be just fine, Beau.

______

I laid in the nice bed in the nice guest room in Jon's nice house...but I had never felt more alone.

The room wasn't even silent because there was the constant whirring of the ceiling fan, but I felt alone in quiet darkness. I flipped the lamp on to see if that would help and I turned over in the bed, trying to get more comfortable.

I tossed and turned for a few more minutes before I sat up.

I stared at the door.

I shouldn't.

No.

I laid back down and threw the covers over my head.

After about three seconds I threw them off again and climbed out of bed. I slowly walked to the bedroom door and paused with my hand on the doorknob.

I really shouldn't.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

The hall light was on and I smiled, wondering if Jon had left it on for me just in case I needed to do something like find the bathroom in the middle of the night. I looked down the hall, at the door that led to Jon's bedroom.

I really, really shouldn't.

I slowly walked down the hall, wrapping my arms around myself. I stood right in front of Jon's bedroom door and paused for a long time.

I reached a shaky hand out and knocked. But there was no answer.

I turned the doorknob to find it unlocked. I peeked my head inside the dark bedroom. Moonlight was shining in through the cracks in the blinds, so I could see Jon's sleeping form on the bed.

I scurried into the room before I could change my mind. I carefully closed the door behind me, then paused again.

I approached the bed agonizingly slow. "Jon?" I asked quietly. He was facing me so I could see that he was fast asleep and he was snoring softly.

I kind of smirked. Another snorer? Harrison had snored like crazy. I'd gotten used to it though.

"Jon?" I put my hand on the bed, still debating whether I wanted to get on the bed or not.

He still didn't wake up and I was getting a little annoyed. Couldn't he tell that I was having a dilemma here? I needed him and he had the audacity to keep sleeping.

I sighed then chewed on my lip. I carefully pulled the covers down on the side of the bed I was on and climbed onto the bed.

That's when Jon woke up. "Beau?" He asked, confused and barely awake.

"Can I sleep in here?" I whimpered.

He laughed a little, smiling. "Of course, baby."

My bottom lip quivered and I quickly scooted over in the bed and attached myself to him.

He wrapped his big arms completely around my body, hugging me tightly. "It's okay, Beau," he said gently and kissed the side of my head.

I whimpered again and then sighed, relaxing into his arms.

"I got you," he said.

Then I fell into the deepest, most restful sleep I'd gotten in over five months.

_____

Well, I have run out of my writing fuel (aka Diet Coke) so that means I must end the chapter! XD (And yes, I know that Diet Coke is basically poison and I shouldn't be drinking it, just let me die happily from my wonderful aspartame!!)

I have to say hello and thank you to all the new readers of this story! And thank you to the old and faithful readers too! But I was surprised this story was getting slightly more noticed lately, it has made me immensely happy. I'm assuming that many of you read Baby Doll and decided to see what else I've written, so thank you for giving this a shot as well!

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I feel like each chapter now ends with a healthy dose of cheesiness haha! But I feel like the cheesiness is needed when this is one of my saddest stories.

Please vote and leave me comment because I would love to know what you thought of the chapter!

Have a great day/night!