A Boy Worth Choosing (The Worthy Series Book 2) by S.M. Smith

reach over and grab her hand.
    “Okay,” she sighs, “I will try.” She gives me a more genuine smile, and I’m glad to see a piece of her back to normal. I have no delusions that she will be back to normal anytime soon. 
    The rest of the drive seems to drag excruciatingly longer than normal, but as soon as I pull into the church parking lot, she seems to liven up a bit. Mr. St. James is checking the mailbox when I open the door for her and she jumps out as if nothing is wrong. A piece of my heart twinges, wishing she would get back to being this way with me.
    “Hi, Daddy.” She beams and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
    “Hey, kiddo. Stephen, how are you this morning?” Jack reaches out to shake my hand.
    “I’m well, sir, thank you.”
    “You kids have a good drive?” he asks as he walks his daughter toward the building.
    “We did.” I cover for her.
    “That’s great. Well I think your mother has a few things for you two to do this morning, so I’ll let you get to it.” Jack smiles as he opens the door for us. He gives me a questioning look as I walk through the door, and I try my best to give him a reassuring look, but I don’t think he’s very assured that everything is alright.
    ***
    Jessie opts to ride back to her house with her father, saying she would like some time with him before they head over to my parents’ house before lunch. I don’t know if she wanted time with him so much as to have some time away from me, and I honestly try not to let it get to me. Apparently I’m not doing a very good job.
    “Okay,” my mom says, throwing her potholder on the counter as she closes the oven door. “Spill. What is up with the two of you today?”
    “Why, mother, I have no idea what you mean.” Okay, so it’s probably pretty obvious I’m a little irritated.
    “Do not take that tone with me young man. You and Jessie have been colder than cold today. For the last two weeks, you two have been floating around here like it’s all sunshine and roses. And you two can’t even look each other in the eye today. What is going on?” She gives me the same terrifying look I got when I shot the pole lights out with my BB gun when I was ten. I was scared of her then, but I know she’s a softy now.
    “Nothing we won’t overcome.” I press my lips, not really sure I’m ready to confess to my mother that I have every intention of marrying Jessie someday.
    She raises her eyebrow at me as if that answer is highly unacceptable. I sigh and momentarily hope I’ve gained reprieve from my father as he walks in. But the look on his face says he isn’t missing this for the world. I’m pretty sure the air is being sucked out of the room.
    “I may have told Jessie my intentions for our relationship last night,” I confess slowly.
    “And just what are those?” My father’s eyebrows nearly hit his receding hairline. I’m starting to squirm just a bit. I haven’t felt this guilty since I had to tell them about Zoe Hadley. I’m not sure why, I haven’t knocked up Jessie yet, not that I intend to until well after we’re married, but still…
    “I-“ I swallow the lump that is growing exponentially in my throat. “I have every intention of marrying her,” I say slowly. Once it was out, I felt only a little bit lighter for about two seconds. The shock on my mother’s face was comparable to the look I got when I told her about Zoe’s abortion. Oh boy… “Not necessarily anytime soon.” I add in an attempt to defuse the situation a bit.
    “Well…” Mom stares at me as if I’ve grown two heads. But the look on my dad’s face, well that looks a little like pride.
    “Son, that is great news. So….did you propose then?” my father asks. I’m pretty sure my mother’s heart has stopped; if not, she’s at least stopped breathing because her face is turning a weird purple color.
    “Relax, Mom. No, I didn’t propose. I told her she was my future and that-“ I almost tell them about the delay in