A couple of weeks had passed since Jude and I shared our first night together. Honestly, it was the best night of my life. Who knew that Jude was so passionate? There was no way that it could ever be better. I’m not sure what I was expecting. There were nerves, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit scared, but I had no reason to be. He loved me gently, and made me feel like a queen. I thought that maybe having sex would change things. I wouldn’t be a girl if I didn’t. But it changed nothing. If anything it heightened my love for him. I never felt more alive than I did while in his arms. There was no other way to describe it.

The moment we had another chance, it was happening again.

Oh, it was sooooo happening again.

Things finally seemed to slow down for Jude, once the builders officially broke ground. It took a few blueprints but they were eventually able to come to an agreement. They couldn’t make it exactly the same, but pretty close. At least that’s what Jude said. Building homes in the twenties compared to building homes now was a lot different. I couldn’t wait to see the finished product. If it was anything at all like the original it was going to be perfect, picture perfect.

There wasn’t much left for Jude to do, other than a little supervising. The builder had everything covered. I promised Jude that once it was finished I’d help him decorate, since his mom wasn’t able to. If I learned anything from my mother Andee Marcum, it’s the importance of being well decorated.

She’d be proud. Which was all the more reason not to tell her.

Speaking of the devil…

My phone rang just as I was leaving my second class.

I thought about not answering, but she was my mother. She’d continue calling until I did.

“Hey Mom,” I answered.

“Paislee,” she said cheerfully. “How are you sweetheart?”

I knew that tone. She wanted something.

“I’m good.” I lied. The last time my mother wanted something from me it didn’t end well. So, I thought all favor asking was over. I guess I was wrong.

“Good,” she said, not caring to hear anymore. Instead she proceeded, “Your father’s birthday is just a couple of weeks away and I was thinking about throwing him a surprise party. What do you think?”

Cleary, she wasn’t calling to ask me my thoughts on the matter. “Sounds fine to me.”

“So,” she paused for a brief second. “I was thinking that we could get together for lunch this week and do some planning. I was hoping you could help me with the guest list, and maybe we could go shopping to get you a new dress.”

Ah ha! There it was. I was getting roped into sending all the invites and she needed some excuse to go shopping.

I couldn’t possibly wear a dress that I already owned.

No.

That would be too easy, and far from “in season.”

“I think I have plenty of dresses, Mother.”

“Nonsense,” she quipped. “We will find you something new, and a great new bag. The invites will need to go out soon, so maybe I can just bring your Dad’s datebook with me, and let you do an email invitation.”

“Okay,” I agreed reluctantly. “But, I get to bring a date to the party.”

“Of course Josh is invited honey.”

“Not Josh, Mom.” I relented. I don’t know how many times I have to tell her for her to understand. She only wanted me to end up with Josh because his family had money. Shallow was her middle name.

“We’ll talk about it later. I’ve got to go. I’ll meet you Thursday evening for dinner. I’ll text you the time and place tonight, and please make sure you at least wear some mascara to dinner.”

“Fine.”

Once she said goodbye, I quickly hung up without replying. It was so easy for her to get under my skin. It was like she had a remote, and knew the exact right buttons to push to piss me off.

How old do you have to be to quit appeasing your mother?

I growled.

“Easy there killer,” a familiar voice sounded from behind me.

It was Bear. I’d know that voice anywhere.

“Hey you.” I said offering him a wide smile. Seeing those cheeks of his always brightened my day.

He rested his arm around my neck so that it hung loosely over my shoulder. “Hey,” he replied. “That wasn’t Tex you were talking to was it?” He eyed me curiously. There was no way I’d ever growl at Jude.

“Nope. It was my mom,” I crinkled my nose.

“That bad huh?”

“You have no idea.” I rolled my eyes. “Where are you headed?”

“I’m heading to the finance office. I have to pick up the flyers for the spring carnival. I promised my English professor that I’d hang some up around the dorms. He said he’d count my contribution as extra credit. Lord knows I need it.”

“Carnival?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “It’s this years fundraiser, and I hear it’s actually going to be fun. They have games and food. We should all go.” I could hear the excitement in his voice. It was sort of sweet.

“Sounds fun,” I replied cheerfully, wrapping my arm around his waist.

“There’s going to be a kissing booth,” he eyed me with a grin.

“Oh yeah.”

“I can’t wait.” His eyebrows rose, and it made me realize that my loveable bear was still a typical guy under those squishy boy cheeks.

“You’re such a pig.” I playfully jabbed his stomach.

“No, I’m a bear,” he growled.

He was insatiable, but I loved having him as a friend. Sometimes it felt like he was a little brother to me, even though he was older. You never knew what kind of mischief he was going to get into. Everybody found a way to watch over him and make sure he was safe, and at times it could be a fulltime job.

“I better get going. I have one more class today before I meet Letty.”

“Alright,” he leaned in and kissed my cheek. “See you later. Oh, and tell Tex he has to go to the carnival too.”

“I will. Bye, Bear.”

* * *

“How did I let you talk me into this?” Letty’s eyes narrowed and I thought she might claw out my eyeballs, but she looked gorgeous.

She turned around and faced the mirror, and the look on her face softened. I knew it would the moment she could see her reflection. I wanted her to accompany me to my Dad’s birthday party so we were shopping for the perfect dress. If I was going to look the part, then I was taking my friend down with me.

We were supposed to be shopping for a new printer for our dorm room since ours took an unfortunate tumble to the ground and broke into pieces. Once I got her out and into a few stores, dress shopping just happened.

And no… I’m not my mother.

Letty normally wore black. She always covered herself in an attempt to hide from the world. I’d never once seen her wear a dress, or anything that showed off her legs. Oh, and sparkles were a no-go.

She was crazy; because the girl was the most uniquely beautiful person I’d ever met.

“You look amazing.” I shook my head. “You have to wear this dress. It’s perfect.”

It was knee length with a gold halter-top and navy blue skirt. There was beading and sparkles on the top that shimmered as she moved. It fit her like a glove.

“I can’t believe I’m wearing a dress.” Her hips moved a little to the side as she took it all in. Her head snapped to the left and she gave me a sneaky grin. “Don’t tell anyone, but I like it.”

I squealed. “Your secret is safe with me, you hard ass.”

We laughed as she twirled around, the bottom of the dress flowing with her.

“Go take it off. I’m buying it,” I told her. I wasn’t taking no for an answer, though she gave me a worried look. “Don’t give me that look. It’s a size six bitch. I can always borrow it.”

I could tell she wanted to fight me on it, but I gave her a little shove back into the dressing room. This was a battle she wasn’t going to win. The dress was made for her, and I had Daddy’s black Amex card. I rarely used it, but if it was a clothes purchase they never cared.

My phone rang from my bag, so I fished it out.

“Hey, you,” I answered quickly as soon as I saw Jude’s name. I hadn’t talked to him all day, so I was excited to hear his voice.

“Hey, Darlin. How was your day?” He said. He sounded tired.

“It was okay. Besides the conversation I had with my mother, but I’ll tell you about that later. What are you up to?” I asked.

“I had to get my paper turned in for my business class, so I was in the library finishing up. Then I had to meet the builder about a change we had to make,” he sighed. “Now I’m grabbing a quick bite to eat with Fox and Obi.”

“Dang. You’ve been busy.”

“Do you have class tomorrow?” He asked me.

“I have a lab, but it’s later in the afternoon. Why?”

“I thought maybe you’d want to come to training with me tomorrow? You listen to me talking about it all the time. I just thought maybe you’d like to come see me in action.”

Mmmm. The thought of Jude in action was kind of exciting.

“Plus,” he said. “It’s supposed to rain.”

“Yes,” I answered. “But it has nothing to do with the rain.” I lied.

“Right.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “We have to be there pretty early.”

“Alright, but I’ll need coffee.”

“You got it. I’ll text you later before bed.”

“Okay,” I smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Darlin.”

I slid the phone back into my bag, and took Letty’s dress to the counter to pay. After we finished I talked her into grabbing some supper before we headed back to the dorm. It still amazed me at the friendship that the two of us had. In the beginning, I would’ve never guessed that we would be this close, but she had been there for me. She listened to all my crappy drama. She binge-watched Netflix with me. I seriously couldn’t ask for a better girlfriend. I couldn’t wait for the two of us to have our own place. It was going to be amazing, and she wasn’t going to have to stress so much. That was worth it all.