Chapter 9
“So, Libby, is it? How long have you known Jade?” Crissy asked me while cutting into her chicken.
I’ll give her this: her food was good. But I also knew this dish could be better with more seasoning. It was a rude thought for me to have, but ever since that night at dinner when we met, I couldn't stop feeling odd about the woman temporarily championing Jade's attention.
“Not long, I—," I cleared my throat. "I’m actually best friends with her sister and just kind of helping.” It was the nicest way I could think of to describe the situation.
Crissy looked surprised by my answer but was soon distracted by her toddler pulling on her sleeve. Their brown curls were barely visible above the pedestal dining table.
“I know what you’re thinking, Crissy, and the answer is no, we haven’t made up.
But Libby here is a goddess, and has been helping in her place to keep us from fighting.
” Okay, so clearly Crissy knew a lot about the drama.
She nodded and gave Jade a quick smirk. “You guys trying to beat the Duggars?” My jaw dropped at Jade’s question.
I mean, four kids were a lot but nowhere near twenty-plus.
At least Jade wasn’t only direct with me.
Crissy laughed while she finished chewing her food. “We are done, I swear! I couldn’t handle another one.” It surprised me how easygoing she was, but I guess you’d have to be to be friends with Jade. “Hunter wants a cover-up done. You still at the same shop?” Crissy asked, changing the subject.
“No, I opened up Canvas in Riley a few years ago.”
“Oh wow, that’s awesome. I’m still working at Mann’s.” I had no clue what Mann’s was, but I smiled and nodded while they continued to catch up.
“Crissy and I used to be in choir together,” Jade stated, looking over at me.
“I didn’t know you could sing,” I stated, imagining how pretty her singing voice must be.
“Honey, she can’t sing for shit. That choir was an embarrassment to the school,” Crissy said with a choked laugh.
“Unfortunately, I think she’s correct, but you can be your own judge later if you want.” I blushed at her teasing words. She was always so smooth with her lines, and they worked on me too well.
“Remember that tournament we went to in Manson?” Crissy asked Jade.
“How could I forget? I’m pretty sure I found one of the shirts we made in the guest closet the other day.”
After dinner, Hunter, who had offered little to the conversation, left to take the kids to bed.
The three of us sat in the living room drinking a glass of wine while Jade and Crissy continued to chat.
She sat in a tan recliner while Jade and I sat on the leather couch across from her.
There were various toys and stuffed animals on the rug below us, but it was actually a very comfortable space.
“Oh, Libby, Jade has to tell you the story about her promposal.” Jade gave Crissy a dirty look.
“I know embarrassing things that you did too, least you forget,” Jade responded, sounding more playful than anything.
“Oh, come on, it was sweet!” Crissy pressed.
With a roll of her eyes, Jade started. “I thought I was in love with this girl in my algebra class. She was new in town, which was hella rare in Clark, and I just knew we were kismet and all that. Junior prom was coming up, and all these guys were asking girls with posters and flowers. I thought it would be cute to ask this girl, who I did not know very well, to prom by coordinating a surprise flash mob during lunch. Well, the flash mob composed of the theater team and myself, so it was a real A-team.”
Crissy snickered into her wineglass, and Jade shot her a mean look.
“I’d borrowed the stereo from the choir room and turned it on, signaling the start.
The first guy forgot his part, which made the rest of them jump in late.
It looked insane, and I was too embarrassed to even ask her after their piss-poor performance.
They got written up for disturbing lunch, and I just didn’t go to prom. ”
“That sucks,” I said with a chuckle. It was a funny story, but it was also sweet. Just imaging a younger Jade wanting to give her crush such a sweet gesture.
By the time Jade and I got home, it was late, and I was ready for bed. Heading up the stairs, Jade called for me from below. Turning around, I looked down at where she leaned against the banister.
“Too late for a movie tonight? We could watch Pride I should just go take a shower and then hop in bed. Maybe text Jana and check in, pick my clothes out for work tomorrow, work on my knitting.
“Sure, let me change and I’ll be back down.” I had no control with her, and the more I was around her, it only seemed to get worse.
“Don’t be long.”
I made quick work of changing into some cotton shorts and the T-shirt I had been wearing earlier today.
Making my way back down, Jade was in her typical middle of the couch spot.
She had our movie pulled up on the TV and my blanket sitting next to her.
She patted it warmly in invitation, and I smiled at her eagerness.
As the movie played, I decided I wanted to be bolder tonight. Grabbing Jade’s arm from behind my shoulders, I examined her tattoos closer. They were so unique, and they fit what I knew of her so well.
“Do you have any more tattoos, or just these?” I asked.
“I have more; I’ll show you sometime.” I ran my fingers lightly down her arm, simply relishing the feel of her warm skin.
“Other than being super, owning a tattoo shop and being extremely direct, what else is there to know about you?” I asked, trying to put a spin on her earlier words.
“I like art, not like how my mom did, per se. I’m not a collector, but I enjoy making art, drawing, going to galleries, things like that.
I’m a big thrifter. Antiques, clothes, jewelry—all the good stuff.
Let’s see…I love music, indie, rock, R I understand she’s your friend. I’m happy that she’s had someone like you in her life.” I expected her to tease me about apologizing, not make me feel all warm and fuzzy.
“That’s kind of you to say,” I said, looking into her eyes.
“I want to kiss you again,” she said, and my throat closed a bit at her words.
"I still think it would be best if we didn't. Not that you paid attention to that when you kissed my cheek this morning."
Leaning in slightly, her mossy green eyes locked on mine. "I'm sorry," she whispered, sounding honest.
"I'm not," I replied boldly and pushed my lips to hers.
It was even better than I remembered it being. Her taste, her tongue against mine. My arms were around her neck, one hand buried deep in her soft hair. Her hands slid down my waist and back up again as we needily kissed each other.
Slowing down, we both kissed each other tenderly, taking our time pulling our lips apart and bringing them back together.
Her thumbs kneaded my hips, and it all felt so good.
As content as I was to have this sweet moment with her, I also wanted more.
Couldn’t help thinking about seeing her other tattoos, how beautiful she’d look naked.
She pulled away and gave me a slow smile before leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose.
I kissed her cheek and then couldn’t help but keep kissing her smooth, warm skin.
I kissed down to her jaw, taking my time.
She moaned when I reached her neck, savoring her scent and the feel of skin against my lips as I nibbled there.
Her arms held me tightly to her, hands rubbing up and down my back.
Pulling back, her lips found mine again, and the slow kisses from before were now frenzied.
She’d pulled me so close that I was basically straddling her thighs, and I hoped she wouldn’t be able to feel how wet I was.
One of her hands slid under my shirt until her fingers ran up the skin of my back.
She left a trail of warmth everywhere she touched, and I loved how her skin felt against mine.
Everything about this felt right—hot, exciting.
Deep somewhere inside, I knew I was hurting my friend, but it was so overshadowed by my need for Jade.
Like a morning alarm that's incorporated itself into your dream instead of successfully waking you up.
We’d eventually split apart and, just like she’d done to me the night before, I leaned in to kiss her forehead. I could see color in her cheeks that I so rarely brought out of her. She was so gorgeous like this, wrapped around me, feeling desire from my kisses.
“I like you, Libby,” she whispered, bringing my fingers to her mouth to kiss and rub against her skin. Fluttering her eyelashes at me, she went back to giving me an intense look.
“I like you too, Jade.” It felt so silly to say back to her, but she made me feel young and excited. Like I just had my first kiss or something.
Realizing I was still straddling her, I moved until I was sitting beside her again. The movie was only about halfway through, but I knew it was late and I needed to get to bed. Plus, I didn’t trust myself not to end up in Jade’s lap again.
“I know I promised a movie night, but with work in the morning, I should hit the hay.” Her hand still held mine; she was rubbing her thumb over the back of it.
“No worries. We can finish your movie tomorrow night.” With a nod and a smile, I got up from the couch. Jade turned the TV off and followed me upstairs.
“Offer still stands if you ever want to sleep in my room,” she said as I was walking through Jana’s doorway. “We could just cuddle,” she said, and I bit my lip in consideration. It would be lovely—the smell of her sheets, holding her against me all night.
Before I could reply, my phone started ringing.
“That’s Jana. Maybe another time?” I asked, feeling like a coward.
“Night, princess,” she said with a smile before closing the door behind her.
Jana had nothing new to say, just called to keep her word despite the late hour and tell me about the continuing stress that was her job.
Although she would ask how things were going, it wasn’t like I could share much with her.
She didn’t want to hear about Jade, and packing boxes wasn’t that interesting a topic.
It was obvious we both still felt on edge from our earlier conversation.
Which, after everything that just happened downstairs, fueled the guilt seeping in.
I showered and crawled into bed, setting my alarm for only a few hours from now. Of course, all I could think about was Jade, kissing Jade, being in Jade’s lap, what it would be like to be even more intimate with Jade. Fuck, just trouble—she was pure trouble.