Chapter 6 #4
“Your brother already popped up over here today, getting in my son’s head, and now you’re here. I can’t take this.”
“You know how much we love you, Harp. I know you and Joe have a deeper connection, and I’m cool with that.
We had this whole plan about treating you like the queen you are for the rest of your life, and then you were gone.
He blames me. Honestly, I blame me too. We didn’t speak for over a month after you left,” Jase stated.
“He loved you so much that it hurt me to watch him suffer without you. I don’t want to tell you the things he needs to tell you, but you do need to hear him out. ”
“Things are different now. So much time has passed, and I have a kid to think about now, Jase.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I know that, Harper.”
“Do you? If you were considering my kid, you would have never shown up here uninvited and unannounced with a chainsaw like you were filming a horror movie.”
“I know we hurt you, but please, baby, don’t give up on us. You know we would never purposely hurt you.”
Before I could come up with something sharp to cut through his resolve, the sound of pounding footsteps caused me to look back as Cam ran out onto the back porch.
“Mom, guess what I found!” he shouted as he came to a stop. I looked down in time to see the look on his face fall into a frown. “Doctor JoJo, I thought you left.”
“I’m not Doctor JoJo, little man,” Jase filled him in with a chuckle. He was amused.
Cameron’s eyes shot to me then back to Jase. I was kind of enjoying it too, so instead of speaking up, I let things play out. Cam eyed Jase suspiciously before he settled on an answer.
“So, are you like his brother or something?”
“You got it. I’m Doctor Jase.”
“Are y’all twins? You look just like him, but you talk kinda different.”
“Yep, we’re identical twins. Most people can’t tell us apart. even though my muscles are bigger, and I’m way more handsome than him.”
“That’s a lie,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
“So, you think he’s bigger than me?”
“You guys are pretty identical, but I do think your head is bigger than his.”
“Agreed,” Jase said, winking before returning his focus to Cam.
“I’ve never seen twins that were grownups before. You have the same face almost, except around your eyes looks different, and maybe your nose a little.”
“You’re very observant, big guy. How old are you?”
“Cameron, what were you going to show me?” I asked, interrupting their exchange. I didn’t need them getting too familiar. I was trying to get away from these fools, not pull them in closer.
“I was on my tablet, and I found a video about how to make a robot at home.”
“What were you doing on the tablet? You were supposed to be getting your school clothes together for tomorrow.”
“I did, Mom.”
“Well, go inside. I’m about to order the pizza.”
“Can the other Doctor Jay stay for pizza?”
“Doctors are really busy, baby. Maybe another time,” I said. Thankfully, that was a good enough response to send Cam flying back in the house.
“You got a good kid there,” Jase commented.
“Thank you.” I forced a smile.
“How old is he, Harper?”
“Look, thank you for doing what you did, but I don’t need you or your brother popping in and out of here like it’s an assembly line. I’m not doing that shit again, Jase.”
“Harper, if I feel like you need or want me, I’m going to be here.”
“Well, I won’t. I don’t need either of you coming around here confusing my son.”
“What would confuse him? He seems to understand the concept of twins.”
“You know exactly what I mean, Jase.”
“You know how much I like to work for it,” he said with a wink.
“Let me clean up my mess and get out of your hair for tonight. You know how to find me if you need anything, Harp. Don’t try to be so self-reliant that you won’t accept help.
I don’t want or expect anything in return. Remember, we were friends first.”
“I do remember.”
“Good. Good night, Harp.”
I took a deep breath and slowly released it. Jase had done a good job of making me feel guilty, but I still wasn’t inviting him in my house, not tonight.
“One dinner, Jase.”
“That’s a start. I’ll take what I can get.”
“Friday night at seven. Just a date, Jase.”
“I’ll be here.”
“I have a car. I can drive myself.”
“What kind of date would it be if I didn’t pick you up?” he asked, bending to pick up the chainsaw. His muscles flexed under the long sleeves of the shirt, reminding me to stand strong. My doorbell rang, making me appreciate the phrase saved by the bell.
“Well let me get that,” I said, turning to head inside. “Good night, Jase.”
As soon as I stepped into the house, I pushed the door closed behind me and fell against it. Why was everything with those two so intense?
“It’s just one date, Harper,” I whispered to myself.
The doorbell rang again, prompting me back to reality.
“It’s Pizza King, Mom! They came fast,” Cameron announced.
“What the hell?” I muttered to myself as I moved toward the front door.
I hadn’t even placed the order yet. When I made it to the door, I looked out of the peephole just to verify what my nosy son had already told me.
Sure enough, someone from Pizza King stood on the other side of the door, hoisting one of those warming bags.
Once I confirmed who it was, I opened the door to greet the young man.
“Mrs. Harper St. John?” he quizzed as he extended two boxes.
“Um, . . . sure. Thank you, let me get you a tip,” I said, knowing there was no sense in arguing with the boy. He didn’t know one of the two mad men ping ponging in and out of my life had ordered the pizza without my knowledge, and he didn’t need to hear the sordid details.
“I’ve already been tipped. I was told to make sure you knew that.”
“Well, thank you again,” I said, accepting the boxes.
I closed the door and walked the boxes over to the kitchen table. Sure enough, there was a cheese pizza. The smaller box contained lemon pepper wings.
“Go wash your hands, Cam,” I told my son as I walked over to the counter to get my phone.
It took a minute for me to find Jordy’s number in my call log, but when I did, I hit his contact. I opted to text him since I didn’t want Cam to hear our exchange.
Me:
I don’t need you to feed us, Jordy.
JoJo:
I think the correct phrase is thank you, Harper. Has my baby forgotten her manners?
Me:
I haven’t forgotten anything. That’s the problem. And there’s no Mrs. St. John here.
JoJo:
Do you prefer Mrs. Doctor Jordy St. John? I actually do, but you’ve been known to refer to me as possessive.
Me:
I’m not playing with you right now. Goodnight, Jordy. Thank you. You really didn’t have to do that.
JoJo:
Anything to lighten the load. You and our little genius enjoy.
I sighed as I put my phone down. I could already see that this was about to be a musical chairs event of them taking turns showing up to wear me down. The crazy part about it was, I was almost intrigued to find out what happened next.