17. Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Jamison
L illy’s head lay on my chest and our legs laced together like a puzzle. We fit together perfectly. I held her close and kissed the top of her head.
Then it hit me.
I just had sex with my best friend’s sister . . . again .
But lying here with Lilly after sex felt both comfortable and familiar. We were both older now, and—hopefully—wiser after what we’d been through in our marriages, and both having to navigate single parenthood.
“Hey,” Lilly said. “You good?” She leaned up on an elbow, her hand tracing circles on my chest, just like she used to. It was as if years had never passed and we’d picked up right where we’d left off.
I kissed her and lingered on her lips. There was nothing I wanted more than to stay cuddled with her for the rest of the day, but I was pretty sure my lunch hour was over. “I have to find my phone and check the time,” I said quietly.
She placed a kiss on my chest, and I pushed off the bed.
I found my phone in the pocket of my jeans, where I stepped out of them and checked the time. Yep, as I figured, lunch was over.
“I gotta get back to work.” I turned, and my breath caught in my chest. Lilly looked like a goddess lying under my sheets, the tops of her breasts exposed and her arm draped above her head on the pillow. “You are beautiful. Thank you.”
Her smile lit up her face. “For what?” she asked as she sat up, the sheet held close to her body.
“For giving me the best lunch break ever.” I leaned over and cupped her face in my hands. “I can’t explain what’s going on here.” I kissed her gently, softly. I needed her to understand that even though this was crazy and unexpected, I didn’t regret any of it. “But I loved every second of it.” I searched her brown eyes for any traces of doubt.
But they glittered and matched the smile on her face. “I did, too,” she said as she kissed me back. My heart stuttered, then relaxed. I brushed my hand through her hair and enjoyed the kiss, savoring her taste. When she pulled away, everything seemed different, complete.
“Lilly, I can’t tell you how glad I am that you came home. This was so unexpected. Thank you.”
“You already thanked me, and I don’t understand what else you can be thanking me for.”
My gaze held hers. “For still wanting me after all these years.” I didn’t realize until this moment how true those words were. I was so glad she still wanted me. After over a decade apart, we fit together like we were meant to be.
“Oh, Jamison…” she whispered.
I gave her a quick kiss cutting off her words. “I’ve got to get back to work.” I said as I reluctantly stood and got dressed. “But you just made this day so much better.”
“I’m glad,” she said with a seductive smile as she pulled on her panties and hooked her bra.
I was completely captivated by her and watched as she finished getting dressed.
When she turned around, her teasing, sexy smile was back. “Like what you see?” She raised her brow, and teased me. “Maybe you’ll think of me during your boring meetings.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, stood on her toes, and gave me a hard kiss I wouldn’t soon forget. “I’ll talk to you later,” she whispered as she left the room.
I listened for her light footsteps on the stairs, then walked back into my office. I sat at my desk and set about getting my mind back on work so I could get this day over with.
I froze as a thought slammed into my brain.
I had sex with Lilly. And I didn’t use a condom. “Shit.”
I leaned heavily against my desk. I wasn’t worried about diseases. I hadn’t had sex in two years—two long and horribly lonely years—so I knew I was clean. Surely she was too. No, I knew she was clean.
But still. If this was going to be something that happened again, I had to be prepared. Hell, I hadn’t bought condoms in forever . Who knew I’d be thirty-six and needing to worry about having safe sex? So much for one marriage to last a lifetime.
My phone vibrated on my desk—a text from Lance. LANCE: Hey. What do you say we get together tonight? Meet me at Jerry’s
Fuck. How could I be around him and act like I didn’t have sex with his little sister? Yes, decades ago I did it plenty, but I was different then.
I leaned into my hands and rubbed them hard into my eyes. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Lance and his lectures about needing to get with a woman. It was his typical rant. Maybe I could get out of it. Dude, I’m tired. I don’t feel like going out. LANCE: Bullshit. You stay in too much. You need to take advantage of being child-free. Yeah, I’m child-free. That’s also why I want to stay home and enjoy my quiet, clean house and watch something adult-like on television. No princesses necessary. LANCE: That’s fucking lame. So I should start taking advice from a single guy? LANCE: Don’t forget, you’re single, too, and you’ll never meet anyone if you don’t get out of your house. Anyway, we’re not going out till seven, so you have plenty of time to relax in your quiet and clean house.
Touché . Single I was, though highly interested in someone—someone I couldn’t let him know about. But the “we” bothered me. You said we. Who’s we? LANCE: Doesn’t matter. Just don’t be late.
“Fuck.” I had a choice. I could either do what he asked or find a new best friend.
I really contemplated the latter. But at a little past seven that night, I was there, parking next to Lance at Jerry’s Pub. I wasn’t even technically late. I figured I could give him a couple hours, leave by nine, and still get into bed by a decent time.
Lance was at a table for six with Robert Macintosh, a guy we’ve known forever, and Robert’s fiancée, Melissa. Two other women sat with them whom I’d seen around town but didn’t know. Lance had his arm around one of them.
Yep, it looked like I was stuck in a blind date, totally set up. I really need to find a new best friend. I puffed out a breath. He has your best interests at heart. Relax a little.
I slapped Lance on the back a little harder than necessary when I got to the table, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Jamison, buddy. You made it.” He stood and patted my back in a man hug. “I ordered you a beer, and some appetizers are coming.”
Sitting back down, Lance put his arm around the brunette again. “Jamison, this is Jayla, and her friend is Ella Raye. They both teach English at the high school.”
I nodded as I greeted the women, then shook Robert’s hand. All three girls sat next to each other around one side of the circular table, so thankfully, the only empty seat was between Lance and Robert. I took it and found myself directly across from Ella Raye.
As we ate and drank, it quickly became obvious Lance and Jayla were interested in each other. This was strange to me. Before the dinner at Kaye’s, I’d had no clue he was interested in anyone. Now, here he was, all up into Jayla, and she was hanging all over him. They were acting like college kids, and it made me realize I was over the basic dating rituals.
“Have y’all noticed the state banner at the school?” Lance asked the women as he threw his arm over my shoulder. “Jamison here threw for a state record that year. It still holds today. Between his amazing arm and my receiving skills, we were an unstoppable combo.”
“You do realize that was almost twenty years ago, right?” I asked him.
“Yeah, well, if you would’ve avoided injury in college, I might be able to brag on your professional career.”
“You have to excuse Lance,” I said to the girls. “High school was the pinnacle of his success. That’s why he’s back there teaching. He’s trying to relive his youth.”
The conversation went on like this, Lance and I ragging on each other like always. Finally, all three women went to the restroom together.
“So,” Lance said. “What do you think?”
“About?” I tried to act like I had no clue he was trying to fix me up and took a sip of my beer.
“Bullshit, bro. You know about what. Ella Raye is perfect for you. She’s fun, pretty, intelligent, and can hold her own when talking about football.” Lance held his hand out, palm up. “Well?”
I held his gaze but didn’t give him the satisfaction of an answer.
“Lance, don’t you see he’s not interested?” Robert said.
“Bullshit. He’s been into the conversation, right?” He turned to me.
“Yeah, I’ve been into the conversation. She’s fun.” I couldn’t lie. She was.
“See,” Lance said to Robert. “Told you he’d like her.” He had a goofy grin on his face.
“Whoa. Slow down. Yes, she’s nice, but like her? I don’t know her.”
“You’re overthinking things,” Lance said. “I thought we could go out after the jamboree. Not a big deal. It will give you a chance to get to know her better. What do you say?” Lance sat up tall. “Jamison, you haven’t gone out with anyone in . . .” He looked off in the distance. “Fuck, a long time. You need to get back out there.” He narrowed his eyes. “Or do you have someone you’re interested in? If you do, and you’re keeping her a secret, fess up, and I’ll lay off. That is, of course, if I approve.”
When I didn’t answer right away, his eyes widened, and he made a pouty face.
Damn, I hated it when he did that. Since we were kids, he had a way of making me give in. Whenever he wanted us to do something we weren’t supposed to, or that one time he wanted me to go on a double date so the girl he liked would go out with him, I couldn’t say no. But I sure as hell was going to try this time.
My gaze met his. “Yeah, there’s someone I’m interested in.”
“What?” His brows went up. “Who?”
I shook my head. “Too early to share. But trust me, she’s amazing.”
“Why don’t I know about this?”
I shrugged and sipped my beer.
“Is it serious? Are you an item?”
I did what I had to do—told the truth. “No. We aren’t an item. Yet.”
He slapped his hand on the table as I caught a glimpse of the women coming back. “Good,” he answered quietly. “Then you have no reason to not give Ella Raye at least a try.”
I smiled as the girls joined us. I guess he was right. I didn’t have a good reason to not go out with Ella Raye. Well, I did have a good reason. Hell, who was I kidding? I had a perfect reason to not go out with her. But if I pushed it more, he would question me.
I was grateful when the discussion change to Saturday’s jamboree. I could always talk football, and since I was a volunteer coach for the offense, I had plenty to add.
“We could all go together, you know,” Ella Raye said, her words rushing out. She smiled at me across the table.
“What a great idea,” Jayla agreed. “I don’t know much about football, but I enjoy watching.” She glanced at Lance.
“Jamison and I will be there with the team, but we can get together after.”
“You know we’ll be there,” Melissa said, her hand resting on Robert’s atop the table.
All eyes turned to me.
Unless I wanted to spew out something like, I’d love to, but I’m sort of interested in your sister—so interested I just had sex with her earlier today, and I hope to again; I had no reason to not agree.
“I’ll see, but I can’t make any promises.” My smile didn’t meet my eyes, but no one noticed.