Chapter 7
It had been another long day of working claims and sorting junk.
We’d determined that it made sense to come back around to the laundry room, kitchen, and living room at the end of our time here.
So we’d been sorting through the cabinets in the dining room, trying to evenly distribute the china between Jade’s box and Jana’s.
During my afternoon meeting, Jade went to a neighboring town and purchased bubble wrap so that we could pack up the pictures on the walls throughout the first floor.
Jade had stated that she’d keep all the family photos, and although I’d agreed at the time that Jana wouldn’t want any of them, staring at one of the two of them sitting with Santa had me questioning things.
Taking a picture with my phone, I sent a quick text to Jana.
Maybe not giving her the option to keep anything sentimental wasn’t the right move.
More than that, maybe seeing some of these things would pull at her heartstrings a tad.
A knock at the front door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Coming!” Jade called loudly, making her way from the living room.
Curious, I moved from my spot in the hall and walked toward the foyer. I stood beside the staircase while she answered the door.
“Hey Hunter, come on in,” Jade said, opening the door wide to a plump man in overalls. His dark hair was sweaty against his forehead, and he looked like he’d run here.
“Sorry I’m late. I got caught up at the Harrisons'. Larry couldn’t seem to come to terms with my prices. Old stubborn ass.” Jade laughed and smiled at Hunter kindly.
“Well, I appreciate you coming by. Let me show you around, and you tell me what I’ll owe you. I’ll try to take it better than Larry.”
Listening to their conversation, it was clear this must be Crissy’s husband, the contractor. Jade showed him a few areas of the house she thought might need updating for selling purposes. After he took notes, he said he’d write her an estimate and email it over.
“Crissy wanted me to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night, said she’d love to catch up with you,” Hunter said as they headed back to the foyer.
Having been eavesdropping on their conversation, not because it was interesting but mostly because it was something different from packing and wrapping things, I made my way back to my listening spot.
“Oh, well, that would be great. You think she’d mind if Libby comes too?” Jade pointed in my direction, where I was hovering by the staircase. I’d be a terrible spy, that’s for sure.
“Of course not. I’ll let her know to expect both of you. We typically eat around six. I know it’s early, but with the kids, we try to get them to bed at a decent time.”
“No problem, we will be there!” Jade responded, closing the door behind Hunter on his way out.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to hover.” Turning around, Jade gave me a teasing look.
“What is with you apologizing for everything?” She wasn’t wrong; it was an anxious habit of mine. Still, sometimes her directness pushed my buttons. “Anyway, it’s okay. If hovering helps you feel less jealous of others having my attention, then so be it.” I rolled my eyes at her stupid comment.
She’d mentioned at the restaurant that I was jealous of Crissy, and for the record, I don’t think I was. I just felt…awkward. The last thing I wanted to do, however, was get upset about it again. That would only fan the flames for her.
Without a response, I headed back to my spot and got back to work. I wrapped the Santa picture and set it in its own pile since Jana had yet to text me back.
“I can’t believe it, princess,” Jade stated, and I turned to face her. When I’d walked away from her, I thought she’d gone back to the living room, but I guess not.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. She pointed down to the wrapped Santa picture that leaned against the wall.
“You left something in an unorganized state? I can’t believe Ms. Strategy would do such a thing.” Letting out a huff of breath, I explained why it was sitting by itself.
“Don’t you have something you should be working on?” I asked her coldly. Raising an eyebrow at me, she gave me one of her intense green-eyed gazes. Staying annoyed with her was hard when she was so beautiful. I hated the mixed and strong emotions she always pulled from me.
“Well, I do, but I kind of thought we were having a conversation before you walked away from me, then I just couldn’t help picking on you. You’re just adorable when you’re all riled up.” Gulping, I ignored the butterflies that fluttered around my stomach and tried to compose myself.
“Sor—I mean, okay. Was there something else you needed to say? Because I didn’t have anything.” She giggled at my words, and that just made the butterflies flap harder. Her honey-sweet voice, which could be both gentle and commanding, sounded so pretty when she laughed.
“I wanted to make sure you were good with going to Crissy’s tomorrow. In all seriousness, I know you don’t know them, so you totally don’t have to come. And before you ask, I want you to go; that’s why I made sure the invitation was open to you.”
“That’s fine. It will be nice to get out of here for a bit,” I agreed, not sure why she wanted me to go so badly. Maybe she just felt bad about leaving me alone or something.
For dinner, we kept it simple and made our own sandwiches.
We ate together at the bar top before we went our separate ways.
I’d thrown on some pajama pants and a T-shirt before braiding my wet hair back.
I made my bed, well, Jana’s, and pulled some clothes to wear tomorrow out of my suitcase.
By the time all that was done, I accepted I was stalling.
Part of me wanted to go downstairs and repeat what had happened the night before.
I could still feel Jade’s hand running through my hair as I drifted off.
But the rational part of me knew I shouldn’t push things further with her.
It was totally against the friend code not only to hook up with their sister, but an estranged sister at that.
Still, I couldn’t just stay locked in my room all night.
I mean, I could, but I was making more excuses, I guess.
Checking my phone again, I still didn’t have a message back from Jana, and surprise, no new emails had come through since the last time I checked my phone, just fifteen minutes ago. With a sigh and a light slap to my forehead, I opened my door and headed downstairs.
Jade sat in the same spot, in the middle of the couch, as she surfed through channels. I took a seat a couple of feet away from her and curled into the blanket I’d left there last night.
“Anything you want to watch?” Jade asked, not looking away from the TV.
“Another movie, maybe something other than horror this time?” It came across as a question.
“No horror? You don’t like to be scared, princess?” She asked in that condescending tone of hers.
“I’m just not in the mood tonight, is all,” I replied in a huff. She tossed me the remote and tucked her legs underneath her.
“You pick, I’m down for whatever. I was about to settle on a game show before you came in here.”
After searching through a few streaming apps, I ended up picking a favorite of mine.
“You said whatever I wanted,” I commented, starting up a romantic drama. We sat in silence, taking in the movie and readjusting ourselves into more comfortable positions.
“Where I’m sitting really is the best spot to see the movie, so you should scoot closer.”
I’d be lying if I hadn’t hoped we’d somehow end up closer together, but thinking and acting were two different things.
Unable to resist, I got up and sat back down next to her.
We weren’t touching, but it wouldn’t take much.
Some barriers had to be kept, right? Jade scooted closer until our legs were touching and her arm was around the back of the couch behind me.
“Now we both have the best view,” she commented.
My heartbeat had picked up, and I was almost suffocated by her woodsy amber smell as it wrapped around me.
Her fingers found their way to my braid, and she tugged on it playfully. “How mad would you be if I undid this?”
“I don’t mind,” I whispered, afraid that the words might come out scrambled.
She hummed pleasantly at my words before pulling the ponytail holder from my hair and slipping it around her wrist. Strand by strand, she undid my hair and ran her fingers through it.
She took her time, not once pulling too hard or creating a tangle.
It was both relaxing and exhilarating to be so encompassed by her warm presence.
I did my best to focus on the movie, but my eyes kept shutting from how good her hand felt in my hair.
Its strength a reflection of working with her hands, no doubt.
“I love your hair! It’s so silky and thick. Your shampoo smells great too, like cherries.” Her tone was casual, and I was scared even a simple “thank you” would come out shaky.
After a few more minutes of torturous pleasure, she ceased. Her body turned until she was facing me.
“Here, turn for just a second and let me braid it back for you.”
Following instructions, I turned away from her and tried to sit still as she worked. Her hands skimmed my neck a few times, each instance sending a tremor through me. I found myself wishing she’d linger there.
Once she finished the French braid, we settled back against each other.
I looked over at Jade, who returned my gaze.
My eyes took in her long lashes, rosy cheeks, and those plump lips.
My mind caught up with my heart, and I realized I wanted to kiss her badly.
To know what she tasted like, to feel her warmth even closer to me.
But it was wrong. I shouldn’t, I couldn’t hurt my best friend like that.
Still, I couldn’t look away from her. What was a little kiss?
Just one innocent moment didn’t have to mean anything.
Meeting her eyes for a second, I leaned forward to see what she would do.
As if she’d been waiting for a signal, she met me halfway, and our lips pressed together gently before separating.
But one little, innocent kiss wasn’t enough.
Pressing my lips back onto hers, I lingered longer this time, trying to savor the feeling.
After a moment, I felt her tongue lick across my bottom lip, as if asking for entry.
I gave it without thought, using mine as well as the kiss turned from curious to lustful.
The arm that was behind me on the couch wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me closer.
I placed one of my hands on the side of her neck and the other on her slim waist. Her hand wrapped around the end of my braid and tugged slightly, not enough to end our kiss, but just enough to tease me.
As my tongue licked into her mouth, I moaned at the taste of her.
It was so much sweeter and warmer than I’d imagined, and I just couldn’t help but need more.
She pulled away a touch, running a finger over my bottom lip and then bracing her hands on both sides of my face. Her lips were on mine again, and she gave me several gentle, slow kisses.
“Fuck, princess,” she said, and the words had me noticing how wet I was. What was with her that made me feel so strongly, regardless of how insignificant the situation was?
“I…I like you, Jade,” I said, sounding foolish as I placed one of my hands over hers. “But we shouldn’t do that again.” The words didn’t feel right, and I hated that I’d spoken them. Still, it was the right thing to do. Underneath the lust, I knew that. Although it was buried deep at the moment.
With a grin, she leaned forward and kissed me again, nipping my bottom lip with her teeth lightly before pulling away with a pop. “Why is that?” she asked as I tried to get my heart out of my throat.
All I wanted was to kiss her again, lie down on this couch with her and maybe kiss her in other places. Composing myself, I swallowed and shook my head. Her hands remained as if she just couldn’t stop touching me, rubbing her thumb along my cheek.
“Because your sister is my best friend, and I know this would upset her.” I felt bad bringing it up, as if Jade wasn’t aware of the discourse between the two of them.
“So, you’re saying that you want to keep kissing me, but you’re putting those feelings aside to appease someone else’s?” Fuck, when she said it like that, it sounded dumb.
“It’s more than that. I…I don’t want to hurt her. That would hurt me too.” It didn’t sound much better, but it was the truth. Her eyes examined my lips before she closed them tightly. Leaning forward again, she kissed my forehead, sending me into a tailspin of need.
“Honestly, I think that’s bullshit. But for now, I’ll drop it.”
Jade's words weren't as sharp as the loss of her touch or as cold as the distance she placed between us.