39. Celeste #2
I let my heavy eyelids droop closed. “My parents would send me to a birthday party and forget to tell the kid’s parents.
I was young, so I didn’t know enough to ask what the cupcakes were made with.
So, I’d end up at the hospital instead of at a sleepover with my friends.
Or we’d go on vacation in another country, and I’d end up having an allergy attack because my parents couldn’t figure out how to say no dairy in another language. ”
Jason’s arms tighten around me. “They should’ve been better with you. You deserved better.”
I hike a shoulder. “I turned out okay on my own.”
He presses a kiss to my shoulder. “You turned out better than okay.”
Sleepiness overcomes me as we lie together. I stifle a yawn. “I’m gonna sleep so hard after this.”
“Does the medicine make you drowsy?”
“It does. I’ll probably sleep half the day away tomorrow.”
He heaves a sigh, and I know he’s beating himself up about this.
“Listen, Jay. It was sweet of you to go through all this trouble to set this night up. No one’s ever done that for me.” I let out a laugh. “Even if you are my best friend’s husband.”
“Can you do something for me?” he asks.
“Sure.”
“Do you think you can try to look at me as more than your best friend’s husband?”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. I’d like to think that I’m one of your best friends.” He swallows. “Not just someone you associate with because of Kourtney.”
A small smile creeps onto my face. “Sure, boss man. I can do that.”
We lie together until the water loses heat, and then I drain the tub and dry off. I brush my teeth while Jason heads to his room to change out of his wet boxers, and he returns with one of his T-shirts.
He pulls the shirt over my head. “Let’s get you into bed.”
I glance down at the shirt he picked for me. It’s black with the Goldfinches’ yellow logo on the front. “Your name is on the back of this, isn’t it?”
He chuckles as he ushers me into the bedroom. “Save your voice. You need to rest.”
I shake my head. “Does it really bother you that I wear Trenton’s jersey and not yours?”
“Not as much as the reason why you don’t wear it.” He pulls back the comforter on my bed. “But I get it. Trenton is one of the best players in the league.”
My mouth drops open. “You think I don’t wear your jersey because you’re not good enough?”
He fluffs my pillows and doesn’t meet my eyes.
Is this what he really believes?
I crawl across the mattress and sit up on my knees, cupping his face.
“Look at me. You’re one of the best players I’ve ever seen.
You’re beyond talented. Every time I see you on the ice, my chest swells with pride.
So don’t think for one second that I don’t want to wear your jersey because you’re not good enough.
Honestly, I don’t wear it because I like pissing you off. ”
A laugh bursts from his throat. “You’ve always enjoyed fucking with me.”
“And you like fucking with me. It’s our thing.”
His eyes bounce between mine, and he lifts his hand to my cheek. “Get comfortable, and I’m going to get you some water.”
I burrow under the covers, and Jason returns with a bottle of water and a bucket. He sets them down on my nightstand, and then he climbs into bed beside me.
I glance over my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
His arms wrap around me, pulling my back flush against his body. “I’m going to lie here with you, if that’s okay.”
Either I’m too tired to argue, or he just feels too good to push away.
“Fine. You can stay for five minutes.”
I pass out in two.
Kourtney
It’s after midnight when I get home.
The lights in the kitchen are on, and my eyes widen when I see the table covered in half-eaten dinner. The food was left out, and wine was left in their glasses.
Damn. They must’ve barely been able to keep their hands off each other if they couldn’t make it through dinner.
I grin as I creep down the hallway, excited to wake them up with middle-of-the-night sex.
To my surprise, they’re in Celeste’s room.
Jason is sitting up against the headboard, while Celeste is fast asleep beside him.
He jumps out of bed when he spots me in the doorway, and guides me out of her room, closing the door behind him. “Hi, baby. How was work?”
“It was fine.” I press a kiss to his lips and waggle my eyebrows. “How was your night?”
His eyebrows collapse. “Celeste had an allergic reaction.”
My head jerks back. “What?”
“They must have put cheese in the meatballs.” He pinches his eyebrows. “I’m such a fucking idiot. I shouldn’t have trusted them with her allergy. I should’ve cooked her dinner myself. She got so sick. She was puking, and she had to administer her EpiPen.”
I gasp. “Oh my god. Is she okay?”
“She’s asleep now. She took an oatmeal bath, and then she passed out in bed.” He shakes his head. “I haven’t been able to sleep. I keep checking to make sure she’s still breathing.”
My heart wrenches in my chest. “She’ll be okay, baby. She just needs to sleep it off. You did good taking care of her.”
“I fucking poisoned her.”
“It was an accident. She knows that.” I stroke his soft hair. “I know how scary it is seeing her like that.”
He frowns. “So much for date night.”
“Trust me, the way you helped her tonight means more to her than anything else.” I kiss his lips again. “I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll meet you in her bed.”
He gestures to the kitchen. “I should clean up our food in there.”
“Leave it for tomorrow. It’s been a long night.”
Jason nods and shuffles back into Celeste’s room.
When I return, I slip into bed behind him. He’s wrapped around Celeste, so I wrap myself around his body like a koala hugging a tree. He takes my hand and holds it against his chest.
He won’t get a wink of sleep tonight.
My sweet husband.