Chapter 32 #2
“What are you wearing?” my sister asks with a tad too much judgment in her tone, as she places a small bowl of cheerios on the table next to Lily and walks toward me.
I glance down, inspecting myself and huff out an annoyed chuckle. Jasper didn’t even fucking say anything.
“Aren’t those Jasper’s clothes?” she adds, as Major and Abby turn to look in my direction in harmonious motion, chuckling as they take in my mismatched attire.
My sweats I thought I put on are actually Jasper’s skinny joggers, if that’s even a thing. They fit far too snug around my tree trunks for legs and the shirt, well shit. I roll my eyes as I read the words, MOUNTAINS AREN’T FUNNY, THEY ARE HILL AREAS.
A vintage drawing of a mountain sits in the middle in between and it’s just so Jasper.
It’s also a size too small, which makes sense why I could hardly pull it over my head. I was just so flustered I wasn’t even thinking straight.
I’m still not thinking straight after everything that’s happened. And my sister, who has zero filter and suffers from verbal diarrhea disorder, can’t help herself.
“You look thoroughly,” she lowers her voice to a whisper so Lily doesn’t hear, “fucked.” She stops in front of me, brushing her fingers through my hair attempting to tame it, but then rubs her fingertips into my scalp messing it up even more.
“Did you wrestle Jasper and lose?” She laughs as she pulls at the hem of the shirt that rests just above the waistband of these tiny joggers.
“Knock it off.” I tip my head back as I slap her hand away. Unfortunately, she knows me way too well and reads me like a book.
“What’s up with you?” she asks as she glances over her shoulder looking at Abby, then back to me. “A mystery girl is here, you’re dressed in Jasper’s clothes, and Major is being weird.”
“Nothing,” I say too quickly to not be obvious. I avert my gaze and slow my words, trying to recover from looking guilty. “I was just in the shower, heard you guys come in and dressed in the first thing I could find.”
“Sorry, I’m late,” Jasper strides in the room with his usual confidence, “I was in the shower.” He kisses my speechless sister on the cheek then bounces over to Lily picking her up, swinging her around before bringing her in for a hug.
Rachel hums, giving me a calculated look and I palm my face.
Jesus fucking christ.
“It’s not what it looks like,” is all I can manage to say.
She hums again, this time her eyebrows raise in a slightly disappointed way. “Well, that’s a bummer. I hoped it was.”
I go to open my mouth to rebuttal, say something back, anything, but I can’t find the words. She steps away, heading over to sit with Lily, Jasper and Abby.
Has everyone known my annoyance with Jasper was always a crush? I didn’t even realize it myself at first. How could they?
Sure, I figured Major would know, being that he worked with us day in and day out, but others. No way.
Right?
I shake away my confused thoughts and walk toward Lily. She’s still in Jasper's arms but reaches out for me when I get closer. I can’t help the ear-to-ear grin that crosses over my face as I reach back.
“Hey, baby girl.” I intentionally brush my hand softly over Jasper’s as I pull her into me. Like I’m offering an olive branch, a silent apology for my stupid over-reaction. My eyes shift in his direction but he quickly pulls away, avoiding my gaze as he squats down next to Abby.
“Look, I got a doll,” Lily says, holding it up.
I inspect the tattered thing, cringing internally, but still manage to smile at her, “She’s beautiful, just like you,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“Are we all staying for dinner?” Major asks as he sorts some vegetables on the kitchen island.
Geez. Is it already time for dinner? I glance over at the clock, shocked to see it’s well past 7:00 p.m. and close to Lily’s bedtime.
“I’ve got to get Lily home for a bath and bedtime so we can be up early for Santa Claus,” Rachel singsongs walking back over to us.
A disappointed look must pass over my face as my sister gives me a tight-lipped smile.
She just got here with Lily and I haven’t had any time with her tonight.
The thought that I won’t get to tuck Lily in on Christmas Eve is like a guilt laced anchor weighing on my heart.
But it was either that or work on Christmas day and we all decided this was better than the latter.
And it is, but our shift switch doesn’t happen until 7:00 a.m. I just hope I make it home before Lily wakes up.
I kiss my baby girl and Rachel says her goodbyes making insinuating, inappropriate comments. Like, stay outta trouble you four, with a knowing tone, and work hard, play hard, with a wink to Major, like she suspects what’s happening between us.
Which…who knows. I don’t even know what’s happening between all of us.
With Lily in tow I watch Rachel leave and think to myself how grateful I am for her and everything she does for me and Lily. I honestly have no idea what I would do without her.
“I should probably head out, too,” Abby says and we all turn in her direction. Simultaneously our rebuttals overlap each other.
“No,” Major demands.
“No, uh uh,” Jasper whines.
“Don’t go,” I plead.
Her arms fly up in defense with a surprised look on her face that morphs quickly into a shy smile as a blush crosses her cheeks. I have to smother my own smile seeing how cute her reaction is to all of our neediness.
It’s a stark contrast from the woman we pleased less than an hour ago and I’m drawn to both versions of her equally.
“Okay, but only for dinner. Then I need to go,” she insists as she looks around the room at us. We all silently agree, reluctantly. Then she squeals as Jasper pulls her into his lap.
My eyes lock on hers as Jasper nuzzles into her neck and yet another displeased look crosses my face because it’s a sharp reality that what we’re doing here is temporary.