Chapter 40 – Mabel
Chapter Forty
MABEL
Ihead back upstairs to rejoin the family after my shower.
Everyone outside of Jude is relaxing in the living room, Elle and Patrick walking down from the loft at the same time I’m coming up.
They both look freshly showered as well, which means they shared a shower.
That thought pulls a snicker from me. I step between the pair of them, swinging an arm around their necks.
“You two are nasty.” I draw out the A until Elle pulls some type of gymnastic move to flip my arm off of her while also pulling Patrick’s body against her own.
I’m laughing as I join the rest of the family, settling next to Lola on a love seat.
Mama announces it’s movie time. She turns on the large tv and flips through the different streaming options we have.
We all settle in to relax as a family. I do the best to ignore the small pang in my chest at Jude not being here, but it feels like our family puzzle is missing a piece.
Eventually it gets late enough to justify dinner, and soon after, Jude rejoins the rest of us.
Dinner is a smorgasbord of leftovers from previous meals and works as a ‘fend for yourself’ kind of night.
After everyone has eaten, some of us split off to play the card game that Patrick brought while some continue to watch movies.
It’s a relaxed evening, everyone’s getting along.
I feel more content tonight than I have in a very long time.
I wish it could always be like this.
Jude and I spend the night in my bed, it seems like just being in his arms is enough to keep my anxiety at bay and, unfortunately, we haven’t found the need to have another cock-warming session.
I’m half-tempted to ask for him to slip in regardless because I have no idea when we’ll be able to share a bed again.
Probably never, if I’m being honest with myself.
The family departs in waves. Anika, Paul and Henry leave first thing in the morning, Mama and Lola a little after breakfast. They end up taking home a lot of the supplies I brought up.
Jude is next and I curse Patrick and Elle for lingering around, making it impossible for me to do anything except ignore him as he leaves the cabin, popping our small bubble of stolen touches and sleepy nights together.
I feel dirty not being able to react to his departure, but it’s not really Elle or Patrick’s fault. It’s my own fault for giving into the temptation that is Jude Daniels. My phone buzzing with a notification pulls me out of my negative thoughts.
Ali M
Hey! I know it’s late notice but do you want to get together for lunch tomorrow??
Me
Yes! Do you want to meet at the cute little cafe downtown?
Ali M
That’s perfect, see you then!
Me
“Alright, it’s become perfectly clear that you two are waiting for everyone to leave so you can defile our family vacation home.”
Patrick splutters, stumbling over his words and cheeks turning a bright pink. Elle is less affected by my words, only crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow before clearly stating, “Yeah, we are so can you get out of here?”
“Say please.” I have to bite my lips to keep my laughter from exploding out.
“Fucking please.”
“Your wish is my command, you dirty horn dog.”
“Get the fuck out, you freak.”
This time I do let my laugh escape, it echoes against the walls as I rush out the front door. I don’t stop laughing until I’m peeling away from the cabin in my truck. I turn my radio up louder than my thoughts and sing along as loud as possible the whole way home.
The return to real life is jarring.
When I pull in front of my house, my throat hurts from scream singing for the almost two hour drive. I’m not going to unload today, I left later than I had planned-a lame attempt to get a few extra moments with Jude-and I’m fucking tired.
Scream-singing to avoid thinking about what went down with Jude, how Paul would react if he found out, and most of all, how I didn’t want to stop only worked until I pulled in front of my house. If I let myself stay awake, I’m going to spiral.
Instead, I walk into my home and head straight to my medicine cabinet to grab a melatonin gummy.
Two melatonin gummies. I quickly remove my bra without taking my shirt off, kick my sandals into the corner and head straight to my room.
I do jumping dive-bomb into my unmade bed and cocoon myself into the softest blanket.