With Liv’s help today, the work is done so much faster. She left a couple of hours ago to go home and get ready while I stayed here. I’ve gone back and forth all day trying to decide if I’m going to head over to Aaron and Whit’s tonight. It would be nice to see everyone.
To see her.
“You ready, man?” David asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“When did you get here?” I ask him.
“Just now. Liv’s in the car, sent me in to get you. You ready?”
Am I ready? I look around the bar; it’s slow for a Friday night. I have plenty of staff, and it’s not like I’ll be hours away.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I see a text from Whit. Swiping my finger across the screen, I see it’s a picture of her. Of Jamie. She’s sitting on the couch, legs crossed with a photo album in her hands. After a closer look, I see I’m the only one who got the message.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” I tell David, sliding my phone back in my pocket. I could’ve said no. I was really thinking about it, until I got that picture. She’s just as beautiful as I remember. I wonder if she’s still with that guy. I wanted to kiss her that night, more than I’ve ever wanted to kiss anyone, but I’m not that guy and I won’t do that to her. I don’t share, and I don’t poach on another man’s girl.
“That was easier than I thought,” David chuckles. “Liv sent me in to strong-arm you if I had to.”
“My sister has lost her damn mind,” I laugh.
“Hey, now,” he mock warns me.
“Admit it. She’s out there on this one.”
David grins. “There’s no stopping her when she puts her mind to it.”
Liv is set on fixing me up, and since that night by the pond, there’s been only one girl she’s pushing. From that text, it appears that she and our cousin Whitney are in on this together. Should make for an interesting night.
Liv grins when I climb in David’s truck beside her. She doesn’t say a word, but then again she doesn’t need to; I know what my little sister is thinking.
We pull in the drive and see Evan and Kinley are already here. There’s also a little silver car with Illinois license plates.
“Looks like everyone’s here,” Liv says.
I climb out and wait to see if she’s going to follow me. She doesn’t, sliding out the driver side door with David assisting her instead. She didn’t need it, obviously, but he’s gone for my baby sister. It was weird at first since he and I are friends, but after seeing him with her, the way he looks at her, I’ve adjusted.
I’m glad she’s happy. She deserves that. For the longest time, she had a huge crush on Aaron, but over time she moved on. I was glad because I just couldn’t see the two of them together. Everything worked out in the end.
Aaron greets us at the door. “Hey, guys, come on in. Everyone’s in the living room.”
I shake his hand in greeting and follow David and Olivia down the hall to the living room. Aaron takes his spot in the recliner, pulling Whitney down on his lap. Evan and McKinley are sitting in the same fashion in the other recliner. Olivia pulls David to the love seat, which leaves me to sit on the couch with Jamie, who is currently sitting in the middle with a stack of photo albums on one side. I take the spot and tap her knee. “Hey, stranger.”
“Good to see you,” she says, smiling.
“What you got there?”
“House pictures, pictures of the farm, of some shows,” Whitney answers for her.
“Basically getting to witness what’s been going on in my best friend’s life without being here.”
“I told you how to fix that,” Aaron chimes in.
Jamie gives him a soft smile. “You made a suggestion,” she corrects.
“So, I made a ton of snack food. It’s all ready to go whenever you all are hungry,” Whitney says.
“So what’s the plan for this evening’s festivities?” Liv asks her.
“Just hanging out. It’s too damn cold to do anything outside. Not to mention Aaron and Evan are outside during the day as it is.”
“Not all day,” Aaron says.
Whit waves him off. “So, movie? Cards? We’ll figure something out. Come on, let’s eat first.”
I remain seated while the others file out of the room. Jamie is still sitting with the album on her lap. I watch as she takes in each picture, almost as if she’s trying to memorize them.
“She’s good,” I say.
“She really is. She always has been. I used to drive her around and she would just take pictures of random stuff, but they always turned out looking like something… not random,” she chuckles. “You know what I mean,” she says, turning to the last page in the album. “How have you been?” she asks softly.
“Good, busy with the bar. Same old. How about you?”
“Working, story of my life,” she laughs. “My life is not near as fun now that Whit’s here. She was my partner in crime.”
“Do tell,” I say, not taking my eyes off her.
“Nothing bad.” She blushes. “Just… we were inseparable. It’s not the same without her.”
“Well you better use your time this weekend wisely, then. Now let’s go get some food.” I stand and offer her my hand. When she places hers in mine, I feel that current that I had convinced myself was a figment of my imagination. From her intake of breath, she feels it too. Reluctantly I release her hand, placing mine on the small of her back and leading her into the kitchen.
As we enter, I drop my hand, a task that takes Herculean effort. Only a crazy man would not want to touch her, be near her. She and I are the last ones to make our plates, and lo and behold, the only two seats left are the two at the island.
“So while the ladies are out shopping, what do you all say we do some fishing tomorrow?” Evan asks.
“I’m in,” Aaron says.
David looks at my sister, as if getting her approval. She smiles up at him and rolls her eyes. He doesn’t need her permission, but he seeks it anyway. “Me too.” David grins, kissing Liv on the temple.
Suddenly all three guys are looking at me. “You in?” Aaron asks.
“I don’t know. I have to check in at the Tavern—” is all I can get out before Liv is interrupting me.
“Nope. We did it all today. Besides, the staff will be there. If not, call someone in. You don’t have to be there every minute, Mike,” my sister scolds me.
“I know that. I just like to keep things running smooth,” I tell her.
“It is and you do. Take time for yourself.”
“Come on, man. You know you want to.” Evan grins.
I look around the table as they all wait for my reply. When I feel Jamie’s small hand on my arm, I turn to face her. Her green eyes sparkle up at me.
“You should go,” she says, her voice soft.
“Yeah, all right. What time?” I say, never taking my eyes off hers. She smiles at my answer and moves her hand back to her lap.
Evan chuckles. “The girls are meeting here at eight, so why don’t we do the same?”
“Eight.” I clear my throat and pull my gaze from Jamie. “Yeah, sounds good,” I tell him. Thankfully, the girls start talking about shopping, and I take the time to evaluate what just happened. One touch, one offered suggestion from her, and I’m changing plans. I have to find a way to fight this attraction I feel for her.
“Now what?” Aaron asks Whit. We’ve all cleaned our plates and are just sitting around the table shooting the shit.
“I don’t know, what do you guys think?” she asks us.
“Did you get the theater all set up?” Kinley asks.
“Yes!” Whit claps in excitement. “We finished it last night.”
“I say movie night,” Liv chimes in.
Evan, Aaron, and David are all smiles. Of course they’re all for this idea; they get to snuggle up with their woman and hold her. Me, well I get to figure out how to not touch her. I need to make it down to the basement first and grab a single seat.
“Let’s do it,” Whit agrees.
The guys all nod their agreement and stand to follow the girls downstairs. I do the same, but my hurry is for a totally different reason. I’m halted, however, when Jamie stands at the same time and stumbles a little. I reach out to grab her, my hands resting on her hips. In the commotion it’s just us, the others already out of the kitchen and on their way to the basement. So what do I do? I pull her back to my front. Placing my lips next to her ear, I whisper, “You okay?”
She nods.
She doesn’t try to pull away, so I push a little more. “You still with him?” I ask her. It’s the same damn question that’s been on the tip of my tongue since the moment I found out she was back in town.
“No.” Her voice is soft.
Hell yes! Keeping a firm grip with one hand, the other goes on an adventure as I slip it under her shirt. I feel her tremble once I reach skin and I stop, placing my hand on her flat stomach.
“We better go catch up,” I say. It’s not what I want to do. Not even close. I want to pull her out to my truck, but my truck’s not here. So instead, I slowly remove my hand from under her shirt, resting it back on her hip. “Lead the way,” I tell her.
She stands to her full height from where she was resting against my chest. I keep my hands on her hips as we make our way to the basement steps. Not five minutes ago, I was dreading this, but now I’m hoping the girls want a true movie night and turn the lights down low. She’s single now… or is she?
“Wait,” I say before she can start down the steps. “Is there anyone else? Are you with anyone?” I clarify.
Turning to look over her shoulder, her green eyes are filled with heat as they peer into mine. “No.”
Not able to help myself, I lean down and kiss her temple, releasing her hips and following her down the steps.
Our friends and my sister are all coupled up, leaving only a small love seat available. I fight a grin knowing I’ll get to be next to her.
“Hey, man, can you kill the lights? It’s the switch behind you on the wall,” Aaron says from where he and Whitney are lying on the couch. Liv and David are curled up on an oversized theater chair, Evan and Kinley the same.
I hit the switch, casting the room in darkness. Reaching out, I grab Jamie’s hand and lead her to the love seat.
“What are we watching?” I ask the group.
“Some new thriller,” Liv mumbles. She doesn’t seem too upset, even though I know she hates scary movies. Hell, none of the girls like them, yet they’re all snuggled up. That’s when I realize my boys are geniuses.
Again, I fight a smile as I settle onto the love seat with Jamie right beside me. Aaron hits Play as I reach over and link my fingers through hers. I give her a little tug and she easily slides closer, resting her head on my shoulder. It’s dark enough and our seat is farther in the back of the room than the others. They can’t see us.
This night just got a whole lot better.