Chapter 11
WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY
WADE
“Hey, hey, hey,” Jasper announces as he and Abby walk into the living space.
“Well, look who finally decided to join us,” Major says, playfully but still with that bossy undertone he likes to use on everyone.
I make my way further into the room as my thoughts run rampant after the conversation I just had with Major.
He’s a voyeur.
I’m more than shocked by this. Major loves being in charge. He loves being in control of everything. I can’t imagine him just sitting there watching.
There’s no way he’d just be quiet and watch. He would be the director, still telling everyone what to do.
My cock twitches at the idea of that. Being told what to do to Abby…to Jasper.
Fuck.
I shake those thoughts away as I mindlessly make a snack platter for everyone.
I usually make mini snack platters with a bunch of fruit and crackers for Lily and I find myself just making a bigger, cooler, adult version of one.
I use a variety of fruits that Jasper brought from his farm.
Pears, pomegranates, kiwis, and oranges.
Along with different colors of grapes spread across the platter.
I place aged cheeses and nuts in between the bunches of produce and even though I prefer the summer fruits, this platter isn’t half bad.
My eyes stray over to where Jasper and Abby are sitting on the couch. They’re so close to each other, her leg is flush against his and they’re both carefree and laughing.
Abby looks up, catches my gaze and smiles and I can’t help but smile back. She turns away and begins to sort through the games on the coffee table while asking Major about some of them.
I can see in my periphery when Jasper looks in my direction, but I’m going to find my inner toddler and pretend like I don’t see him. Maybe I can hide behind a curtain or duck slowly, elevator style, behind this kitchen island.
Jesus, listen to me.
I want to be pissed at him for not only walking in on me like he did, but worse, walking out. He literally just left me in a dramatic, vulnerable state with my confused thoughts…in the dark.
I understand why he did it. I hate it, but I understand it. There was nothing but awkwardness that was going to come out of him staying in that room with me.
And thankfully he left because Abby showing up was the best date I’ve had in a long time.
At first I thought Jasper sent her to check on me, but she came on her own freewill and brought that damn fire truck Lego. She might as well have brought a heart shaped Lego, because she’s quite literally rebuilding mine.
I’ve felt more emotions in the last few hours than I have in years and my mind is having a hard time keeping up with it. Abby’s kiss, Jasper's touch, and Major’s confession. It’s a lot to take in.
“Can I help?” Jasper is suddenly standing next to me and I flinch at the sound of his voice. I was so lost in my own thoughts I didn’t even see him get up. A pained look crosses his face quickly before he covers it up.
“Sorry,” I confess, “I didn’t see you there.”
“Looks good.” He leans over inspecting my carefully curated snack platter then snags a piece of fruit ruining the perfection of said platter.
“Hands off.” I can’t help the lopsided smirk as I attempt to smack his hand away.
“Nope.” He pops the P then leans in and whispers in my ear, “Can’t help myself.” A full body shiver runs over my body with those three little words. Stepping back he winks, then rounds the kitchen island sitting back on the couch next to Abby.
I roll my eyes and smother a smile at his uncanny ability to make me feel at ease even with the intensity of everything that has happened in the last couple of hours.
I guess he’s always had that going for him—making everyone feel comfortable and cared for, a characteristic that I’ve always been attracted to but would mask in the form of jealousy because I’ve refused to accept that attraction.
I stand, watching the three of them talk about their favorite board games.
Abby and Jasper are sitting next to each other on the three person couch, while Major took a seat in the chair opposite the coffee table.
Thankfully there’s one more chair next to Major and across from Abby and Jasper so I’ll have the comfort of the coffee table separating us.
My body is too tense to squeeze in between the two of them. I continue to watch and mindlessly sort the food as Abby and Jasper sneak glances my way and it’s obvious that Major can’t keep his eyes off Abby.
I grab some crackers, pick up the plate, and take a deep breath. Whatever happens, happens. Taking a page from Jasper’s manual on life, I need to be more open, less rigid, and not so hard on myself about all of this.
I already put too much pressure on myself when it comes to Lily and far too much pressure on how I perform at work. Which we should. People rely on us.
But I know that I need to relax a little and not take every passing moment so goddamn serious.
I suck in a deep breath and head over toward the couch, putting the snack platter down on the coffee table with the bowl of popcorn I made. It’s nothing extravagant but it’ll do for board games, I suppose.
“Wade, wow. This looks amazing!” Abby beams as she picks up a sliver of a pear and slides it over her tongue, chews then moans. “So good.”
We all pause a beat, taking in every last soundwave of her delicious moaning.
“No, pumpkin,” Jasper says, leaning closer to Abby, “that moan is what was good.” He reaches past her, picks up an orange slice, then hangs it over her mouth. “Open.”
Abby’s eyes bounce between me and Major as we both sit like statues watching the interaction.
A tight bashful smile crosses her face before her teeth graze over her bottom lip. She breaks out into a full smile then slowly, so sensually opens her mouth and pushes out her tongue.
Jasper sucks in air between his teeth, resulting in some type of animalistic hiss before he places the small juicy wedge on her tongue.
Abby closes her mouth over it, inadvertently getting the tip of Jasper's finger. He lets out a husky growl, before clearing his throat and pulls his hand away, trailing it down her chin.
Jasper’s lustful eyes flutter between her eyes and lips, as he grips the fabric of his pant leg. Grabbing it as if to prevent himself from wrapping his hand around her face and pulling her into him.
I peek over at Major and I don’t know if he’s actually breathing. Like his breath got stuck wherever his thoughts are.
Me? Well, I’m shifting in my seat trying to hide the raging hard on that I shouldn’t have.
“Well, now that we all know the only way Abby is allowed to eat her fruit,” Major shoots a confident wink in Abby’s direction and her cheeks flush an adorable shade of pink, “Shall we start a game?” Major finishes completely composed, like he wasn’t just a frozen gargoyle a moment ago.
“That sounds like a great idea. What game are we playing?” Abby’s cheeks are still flushed as the question leaves her lips, a shy glance bouncing between the three of us.
Jasper’s body is still turned in her direction. His lustful eyes bore into her, the lids of his eyes fluttering between her mouth and eyes. His chest rises and falls heavily as if he’s trying to maintain his oxygen levels.
He seems to be in a bit of a stupor and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him speechless, the man talks to everyone, incessantly actually. So, the fact that he hasn’t said anything in the last sixty seconds says something.
“Scattergories?” I throw out my vote.
But Jasper quickly vetoes that, spitting out, “Truth or Dare.”