Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
KASS
We were lucky enough that the weather decided to cooperate and give us a sunny day for Clover’s Survivor-themed party.
I had backup plans to do some things inside, but it limited what we could do.
I’m reminded of that as I look out at the sea of kids racing through the homemade obstacle course I set up in the backyard.
Clover is beaming as she waits her turn, standing there with her team in their purple bandanas.
Clover’s favorite color has always been yellow, so I was surprised when she requested her team color be purple.
I can't kick the feeling that it may have had to do with a certain purple-haired person we’re both quite fond of.
If phones could tell you to chill the fuck out, mine would be rolling its eyes at me.
I haven’t stopped checking my phone since she left this morning.
She let me know when she made it home safe, but it’s been radio silence since.
I’m trying my best to be present for Clover, but in moments like this, when she’s otherwise occupied, I can’t help but check.
Still no message. A part of me has been secretly hoping that she’ll show up. The other part of me, the part that’s rooted in reality, knows better. I guess that’s why my jaw nearly hits the floor when I see her walking around the corner of the house.
Her hair is braided back into two pigtails, and she’s dressed in an outfit that can only be described as “survival chic”. Her cargo pants look way too nice to have ever been worn outside, and her shirt might have been functional if the bottom half wasn’t cut off.
It amazes me how she never fails to grab the attention of everyone in the room—in this case, it’s everyone in my backyard.
“Blake!” Clover’s screech could likely be heard in space. She runs over and practically tackles B to the ground.
I didn’t talk with her about me and B’s relationship at breakfast, and the rest of the day, I was too busy setting up this party, so as far as Clover knows, B is here as her art teacher and the hero who rescued her from a scary situation last night.
A magic eraser couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I watch the two of them interact. My chest feels tight, and I can’t help but run my hand over it to ease the ache. At some point, I come to my senses and walk over to them.
“Dad, you didn’t tell me you invited B!”
“I invited her last night after your little rescue mission. Figured you owed her a piece of cake as a thank you for going to get you.”
“It’s ice cream cake!” Clover is positively beaming, her arms still wrapped around Blake’s waist.
Surprisingly, Blake looks comfortable there. “No shit! That just so happens to be my favorite kind of cake.” I love the way she doesn’t talk to Clover like she’s a baby. She’s blunt and acts like she’s talking to a friend.
“Mine too.”
“Hey, Clover, I think your team is waiting for you.” I nod my head toward the group of chaotic nine-year-olds screaming like their lives depend on the outcome of this relay.
“Oh crap! It’s my turn!” Clover bolts off without a second thought.
“You came.”
Blake tucks some stray hairs behind her ear. “I wish.” Her wink nearly knocks me off my feet.
“You naughty, naughty girl.” I wrap my arms around her, not caring what anyone around us thinks.
I expect her to look around, nervous about who might see, but her eyes are locked on mine.
“If you stay the night, I can make that happen.”
“Hmmm, convincing..."
My hand on her backside gives her ass a subtle squeeze, and her eyes dilate in response to it.
"Kasson, is this the girl you were talking about?"
Regretfully, I let her go and turn toward Clover's grandma. "This is Blake. Blake, this is Daisy's mom, Nancy." I lean over and whisper to Blake, "Sorry, I guess we're doing this now."
"Nice to meet you." Blake reaches out her hand, and instead of shaking it back, Nancy uses it to pull her in for a hug.
"Sorry, Blake, she's a hugger," I say too late.
With Blake facing away from me and Nancy's arms wrapped around her, Nancy mouths to me, "She's cute," silently, so Blake can't hear her.
All I can do is shake my head. Nancy's dad, who's walking up behind Nancy, mirrors my sentiment.
"Nancy, let the poor girl go before you scare her off."
Nancy releases her grip on Blake and pulls back, still holding her shoulders to keep her close. "We're very excited to meet you."
The embrace is going on longer than normal, so Daisy's dad uses a gentle hand to pull her back.
I pull Blake to my side. "I promise she's not always this clingy."
"Yes, she is." His honesty makes us all laugh.
"Oh, you stop making me look bad, you ass-hat." Nancy pats him on the belly.
Even Blake, who I worry would be running to her car if I wasn't hugging her so close to my side, is laughing. "That's okay, my mother is also very affectionate. Both my parents are actually."
"Then what happened to you?" I tease.
Blake gives me a playfully disapproving look before swatting me in the stomach. It's not lost on me that she's mirroring Nancy's actions from moments ago, and it makes me smile despite the slight sting on my abs.
"Blake and I are going to go inside and get the cake. Would you guys mind supervising the next event? It looks like the obstacle course relay just finished up."
"Oh, we'll go get the cake. You two go have fun with the kids."
I don't have the heart to tell Nancy that playing pretend with a bunch of children isn't Blake's idea of a fun day.
I know she has a soft spot for Clover, but even I have to admit that some of these kids are real pains in the ass.
When Daisy's parents walk into the house, I pull Blake to the side of the house, where fewer people are, to talk.
On our way over, I flag down Raina and ask her to facilitate the tribal council.
She's just as shocked to see Blake as I am.
As we walk to the side of the house, Blake holds my hand. "Are they really voting each other off the island?"
"No. They're voting for the MVP of each event. The person with the most MVPs at the end of the games wins."
"Makes sense. Wouldn't want kids feeling left out."
"Exactly. One year, we tried to play musical chairs, and one kid who'd gotten out first and had been sitting on the sidelines for a while got mad and whomped another kid over the head with a chair. No more elimination games after that."
"Children are frightening."
"They can be."
"I have to ask...who do Daisy's parents think I am?"
"Long story, but when they showed up early to help me set everything up, they asked if Jade was coming today.
That led me to tell them about last night, which obviously involved you.
Nancy knew who you were from Clover's painting class.
She's usually the one who picks her up for me since she lives so close. "
"That actually makes a lot of sense. Here I thought you already professed your feelings for me to them."
I chuckle to myself. "Well, they probably picked up on that anyway, just based on how I talk about you. I don't know if you know this yet, but I'm a little obsessed with you."
"Oh, I know!"
When we get to the side, where no one can see us, I pin Blake against the house with my body. My hand cups the side of her face as I take in her features. Today she has freckles. Did she always have freckles?
"Are these...?"
"It's just makeup."
"Oh. I like it."
"I do get real freckles in the summer, though. Not as many as my friends Liam and Iris, but something similar to this." She points to the bridge of her nose that's dusted with fake freckles.
"I can't wait to see them."
"Oh yeah? Who said I'm keeping you around that long?" She's intentionally trying to rile me up, and I hate that it's working.
I press my body into hers a little harder. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to tie you to the chair downstairs so you can't ever leave me."
"Can you at least use fuzzy handcuffs this time? Those ropes would start to chafe after a while."
"I'll see what I can do."
I can feel her still smiling as I lower my head and press my lips to hers. She's only been gone a few hours, but I already miss the taste of her.
"Thank you for coming."
"You're welcome."
"What made you change your mind?"
"Quinn."
"And Quinn is...?" I wrack my brain, trying to remember that name.
"My sister's fiancé’s little brother."
"Remind me to thank him later."
"He accepts gratitude in the form of protein shakes and tickets to drag shows."
"Noted." A chorus of applause, mixed with disappointment, sounds from the back of the house. "That's my cue to head back."
"What's the next event?"
"I believe it's an eating competition."
"Oooo, I'll help with that!"
"Really?"
"Mhm."
I can't pull away just yet, so I run my finger across her bottom lip. "What forms of gratitude do you accept, Blake?"
"I'll tell you later."
A groan rumbles in the back of my throat at the thought of all the things I want to do to her to show her how much I appreciate her showing up today.
"Wouldn't want you to get hard in front of the children."
Another groan, and I'm tapping my forehead against hers. "Shit. You're right."
She laughs and shoves me off her. "Come on, Kass. The kids are waiting."
"I'm just gonna stand here for a minute."
She knows exactly what she's doing to me. Her cackle makes me want to pin her back against the house and show her that I'm in charge. But she's right. Now is not the time nor the place for that.
"Later, Blake. I'll make you pay for this later."