Chapter 32 – Jude
Chapter Thirty-Two
JUDE
Thank you, Mama D.
I’m not surprised that Mabel doesn’t want to bring attention to what happened between us and I’m fine with it. I sat as far away as possible to give her the room I would any other time we ate together. I don’t have to put on as much of a show, I’ve never hidden my interest in Mabel.
When my little siren ran her finger over my arm, I was barely able to stop my shiver that runs down my spine.
Or the twitch in my pants. I’m grateful for the glare Paul shoots me as I round the table.
It’s like a bucket of cold water and any arousal is momentarily gone.
I’m quick to load up my plate so I can get back to my new seat next to Mabel.
Friendly chatter fills the room as everyone discusses plans for the day but I don’t do much to contribute after sitting down and tucking in. Mabel’s chatting away with her sisters about wedding plans and I can’t stop stealing glances.
The legitimate joy on the trio of sisters’ faces as they discuss Elle and Patrick’s upcoming nuptials is fun to watch. I’m listening intently and almost jump out of my seat as something warm presses against my calf. A quick glance reveals it’s Mabel’s leg pressing against mine.
To hide my small smile, I grab my cup of juice and take a deep drink and press my leg against Mabel’s. Just a small pressure to let her know I’m here and I’m picking up what she’s putting down.
Or I hope I am.
I’m taking it as reassurance that even though she’s back to acting how she used to, she’s still here with me. My focus is split between finishing my meal and relishing in the feel of Mabel’s body pressed against mine.
“No way! Twin telepathy is a thing, you’re handing them the win if you put them on a team together!” Patrick sounds like someone threatened his woman’s honor or something. His indignation and drive to get a fair divide is almost comical.
We’ve been trying to pick teams for some type of game day that Mama D planned without telling any of us. I’m not sure why she didn’t plan teams like she planned everything else. That would have been helpful.
“Fine, fine. Girls against boys?” Lola offers, ever the peace maker, but I know Paul’s not going to agree to being on a team with me.
“You don’t want to be on a team with me?” Elle crosses her arms and scowls at her fiance, like he’s the one who suggested it.
“Of course I do! How about Mabel, Paul and Anika on one team. Me, my sweetheart, Lola and Jude the Dude on the other?” Mama D already announced Henry would be her partner in keeping track of the score and announcing rules. Henry was more than excited to be in charge.
The uneven numbers are giving me a headache and I’m very tempted to bow out of the whole thing. I’m not typically one to go against Mama D’s plans but this has become more trouble than it’s worth.
“You know what, I’m making lunch today and I think it might take awhile.
Take me out of the teams.” Mabel tosses her hands in the air, stepping back.
Mama D starts to protest but Mabel cuts her off, tapping on her lower stomach and faux-whispering, “I’ve also got cramps.
” Paul lets out a fake gag that has all of his sister’s rolling their eyes.
With Mabel’s abdication, Patrick is distraught by the idea of either not being on a team with Elle or letting Lola join her twin in the opposing team.
Lola, the kind soul, attempts to offer boys versus girls again but Paul shuts that down before she finishes her sentence.It’s clear as day that he wants to be on Anika’s team.
Finally, after too much discussion, Elle rolls her eyes and tells Patrick that twin telepathy won’t win over the combination of muscles between the three of us, and then with a very serious face flexes her arm until Patrick relents by squeezing her bicep.
“I didn’t think picking teams was what was going to hold us up so much.” Mama D chuckles as she stands from her spot on the ground, swinging Henry up onto her hip.
“Let the games begin!” Henry squeals in excitement and we all follow after the pair outside. I can’t stop myself from checking over my shoulder, trying to gauge the seriousness of Mabel’s reported cramps.
Also, probably, maybe, trying to see if I can get another smile from her before I’m forced to engage with the rest of her family while she starts prepping lunch.
I don’t get a glance at her, though, she’s off somewhere deeper in the house, but it’s alright.
We have time to be around each other, not just today but the rest of our weekend. Three more days.
I can only hope there will be time for us to be together while we’re here.
“Jude, dude, come on!” Patrick’s voice pulls me down the steps and to the side of the cabin where everyone else is, divided into our teams with Mama D and Henry standing right in the middle of what looks like a cornhole set up.
“Now, since this game is usually played in teams of two, you’re all going to have to do some sharing and rotating turns.
” A small smirk pulls at my lips at Mama’s words.
I’m no stranger to cornhole, in fact there’s a playset on the Farm that some of the workers at the Bunk House like to pull out after work when the weather allows. “Shit, we’re screwed.” Elle groans.
What? I want to assure her we’ll be fine but take a look over at the trio across the way.
Paul’s face is painted with a shit eating grin, Lola is trying to fight a smile and Anika is palming one of the bean bags, tossing it in the air every once and catching it.
It shouldn’t be intimidating but there’s a spark in her typically closed off expression that all but sends a shiver down my spine.