36. Alex
36
Alex
“How is it possible to die of starvation on Thanksgiving Day?”
“You know there are so many things wrong with that sentence.” Gabby points a turkey baster at me.
Okay, so it’s not the real Thanksgiving and I might’ve had some cereal for breakfast, but the smell coming from our oven is making my mouth water. Last year, everyone spent Thanksgiving differently. Well, almost everyone. Michelle took Aly home with her to be her emotional support person, Jax and Carter each went back to their childhood homes, while Gabby and I both worked. I always volunteer to work the holidays so those with families can take the day off.
This year is similar to last year. Gabby and I are both working; Jax, Carter, and Michelle are still going home to their families; only this time, Aly is spending the holiday with her in-laws instead. Since we’re not going to be together again this year, the girls collectively decide to hold a Friendsgiving two weeks before the actual holiday .
“Damn, it smells good in here.” Carter walks through the door and takes a large whiff of the turkey roasting in our oven. Our kitchen was dedicated to cooking the bird. Aly is working on the side dishes at her and Jax’s place, and Michelle is baking up all the sweet desserts next door.
“What the hell happened to you? You look like the ghost of Christmas past. Did something explode over there?” I study my roommate, who’s covered in flour from head to toe. “Don’t tell me the pumpkin pie is all over the kitchen. I’ll eat that stuff straight off the floor and cabinets if I have to!”
“Alex!” Gabby puts a hand on her hip. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m not. Have you tried Michelle’s pumpkin pie? I’m telling you right now, if something happened to it, I’ll bring over a can of whipped cream and eat it wherever it splattered on the walls.”
“Nothing exploded.” Carters rolls his eyes. “All the desserts are safe. I need to take a quick shower.” He heads to his bedroom without another word.
“Weird.” Gabby looks at me. “What do you think that was all about?”
“Beats the hell out of me.” I shrug. “One minute those two are best friends and the next there’s some crazy tension going on between them.”
“Hmm.” She walks over to me and places her arms around my neck. “Sounds kind of like how we were.”
“Nope.” I lean down and kiss her on the head. “The difference between you and me and Carter and Michelle is that I was always clear about my feelings for you. Carter has his head up his ass, and I don’t know what’s going on with Peanut.”
“I don’t either.” She frowns. “I’ve tried talking to her, but she’s pretty tight-lipped when it comes to her love life. Between you and me, I don’t think she’s ever had a boyfriend. ”
“Everybody decent?” Aly cracks open our door to call in.
“Come on in, Legs.”
“Will you stop calling her that?” Jax appears behind Aly like a dark shadow.
“Why? I’ve been calling her Legs since the day we met.”
“Yeah, but we’re married now. It sounds weird.”
“I don’t mind it at all.” Aly walks toward the kitchen and looks through the oven window at the turkey. “It’s looking good!”
“Will you step away from the oven?” Jax huffs. “You’re too close.”
“Gabby, will you please tell my husband that I’m perfectly safe staying on the outside of the oven?”
“Umm…yeah. She’s fine, Jax.” Gabby covers her mouth to hide a smirk.
“I just don’t want her to get overheated,” Jax tries to reason.
“He’s been driving me nuts all morning. He insisted that he help with the cooking.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. I helped Gabby with the turkey.” I try to back up Jax.
“You were making the turkey dance while I was adding the seasoning,” Gabby deadpans.
“Where there’s fun, there’s flavor.” I earn a collective eye roll from everyone.
“Jax wouldn’t let me touch any sharp objects.” Aly shoots daggers over at her husband.
“They were getting too close to your belly.”
“Are you saying my belly is too big?”
“No! I’m saying you’re pregnant and… I’m not going to win this argument, am I?” Jax runs a frustrated hand over his face.
“Nope,” the rest of us say in unison.
“What brings you over here anyway?” I ask, hoping to change the mood in the room, though I know there’s no true animosity between the power couple standing before me. Even with their banter, they still look at each other like the other one hung the moon.
Aly pivots on her heels to face me. “So you know we’ll be moving into our new house once J.J. is here, and that time is coming up soon. I started getting sad about not seeing you guys every day.”
“Aww, don’t worry about that. You’ll only be a twenty-minute drive away. We’ll come over all the time.”
“No, you won’t,” Jax grumbles under his breath.
“What was that?” I cuff my hand to my ear. I know damn well what he said and just for that, I’m going to make up every excuse to show up and annoy the shit out of him.
“I said that sounds great.” Jax pastes on a fake smile.
“Anyway,” Aly says, ignoring her husband, “I was wondering if I could have a little memento to bring with me.”
“Did you have something in mind?” I ask, not sure where this is going. By the way Jax’s face is twisted and turning all sorts of red, I can tell he’s not happy about whatever Aly is going to request.
“Your Mr. February towel,” Aly states flatly.
“You mean the one Alex gave to me?” Gabby laughs.
About two years ago, I had my Mr. February picture from the calendar printed on a beach towel. I gave it to Gabby as a present shortly after she moved in. Fast forward a few months later and Aly used the towel to prank Jax at the pool.
“I’m surprised you’re okay with this.” I look at my grumpy friend.
“Gotta pick and choose my battles,” he grits through his teeth.
“I wanted to ask you both if it’s okay since it was a gift. I can have another made up for you. It’s just that the original one holds sentimental value. ”
“Aly, if it will make you happy, I’m fine with it.” Gabby gives her blessing.
“I’m fine with it too, and actually…” I run off to my room and come back a moment later with a padded envelope. I hand it to Gabby. “I was going to wait until Christmas to give this to you, but you can have it now to replace the one Aly’s taking.”
Gabby reaches into the bag and pulls out a new towel with an updated picture printed on it. “I didn’t know you had the photo shoot already,” she says, opening up the folded fabric.
“It was rescheduled a few weeks ago when you were working all weekend. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Gabby’s hand traces over the picture of me posing shirtless in front of a firetruck. A bouquet of roses is in one hand and a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates is in the other.
“You got February again?” Jax gives a sarcastic smirk. He’s heard me vent about it being the shortest month of the year.
“I think I’m being typecast.” I hang my head.
“I like it.” Gabby continues looking at the towel. “I have to admit, it’s fun saying that I’m dating a guy from a hot firefighter calendar, but I also like that you’re only on display for twenty-eight days.”
“Getting a little possessive of me, huh?” I walk over to my girl and wrap my arms around her waist. I’m so in love with this woman, I can barely contain myself.
“Maybe a little bit, Lieutenant Jones,” she says with a sultry voice and pulls me in for a kiss. I found out about a week ago that I’ll take over lieutenant duties come the first of the year. I think Gabby was more excited to hear the news than I was. She’s been referring to me as Lieutenant Jones ever since then.
Gabby insisted I call my family with the news. Fortunately, they were at some charity event and couldn’t talk for long, but they told me what they thought and it was as expected. Which is fine. I know now I’ll never gain their approval, and I’ve made peace with that. The only person I care about pleasing is the one who’s currently trying to climb me like a tree.
“And on that note, we’re leaving,” Jax says as the door clicks shut and I continue to kiss the hell out of my girl.