Chapter 19 #2
“I’m positive. Thank you,” she told him, attempting to be nice in her dismissal. It didn’t appear he was getting the hint.
“I’d just hate to see such a pretty woman eat alone,” he responded.
“It’s fine, and I’m actually meeting—”
“There you are, Mom.” Landon’s voice cut her off. “Dad and I were looking for you,” she continued, and Jalen’s eyes went to Rohan, who was walking behind her sister.
Her boyfriend walked past the man at the table, around to her, and leaned down, kissing her for several long seconds before pulling away. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, babe,” she responded.
“You’re in front of my seat,” Landon told the man, and he said a quick apology before walking off. “What is with people today?” her little sister questioned. “First that harpy during Rohan’s meeting and now him.”
“Harpy?” Jalen questioned, and Rohan shook his head as he sat on her other side, across from Landon.
“She was a client who attempted to overstep those boundaries.” He then turned his attention to Landon. “Your sister pulled the same gimmick just now, then.”
Jalen laughed. “Yeah, it’s sort of a get-out-of-jail card. Typically, when I’m getting unwanted attention, I’ll give them the code word, and they go into daughter mode.”
“How often does that work?” he asked with a chuckle.
“All the time,” Landon responded, picking up her menu.
“Most men don’t want to date a woman who they believe has five kids,” Jalen told him with a shrug, and she didn’t miss the way he raised his brow at her.
“Well, it’s a damn good thing I’m not most men.”
“Indeed, you aren’t.”
“You also know that we’re her sisters,” Landon threw in. “But I guess you didn’t know that at first. So, you’re right.”
Jalen shook her head as she looked at her menu as well. When the waitress came to the table a few minutes later with an apology for making them wait to take their drink orders, they were ready to place their food orders too.
While they waited for their food, Rohan asked Jalen how work was going and if they were still on for later that night.
She told him they were, and that, surprisingly, work had been pretty easy.
They didn’t have a lot of kids checked in, which she was always thankful for because she hated to see kids sick.
When their food arrived, they made more small talk.
Her sister told her how impressive a particular department of Rohan’s marketing agency was.
Jalen was sure her sister was so taken with it because of all the supplies she was thinking of using over the next few days she would be there.
Which, honestly, Jalen couldn’t thank him enough for.
While she had some money saved up, it was for emergencies and Christmas, and she didn’t want to dip into any of it for the days she would miss while staying home with her sister. She couldn’t afford the five days she would have had to miss.
“You haven’t been giving Rohan any issues, right?” Jalen questioned once her sister finished telling her about the canvas she was drawing on.
“No, Jae,” Landon responded as if she were offended Jalen had asked her that question, and had it been six months ago, she wouldn’t have even thought to ask it. Now, things were different.
“We’ve been bonding,” Rohan interjected.
Jalen smiled at him, and she knew she would have to do something nice for him because he didn’t have to help her the way he was. Landon could have hung out at the hospital, but she wouldn’t have been able to keep an eye on her while she helped patients.
When they finished with lunch, Jalen tried to pay, but Rohan picked up the ticket, not even letting her see it, and handed the waitress his card. She side-eyed him but refrained from saying anything and then placed a tip on the table for their waitress.
Once he signed the ticket and placed his card back into his wallet, the three of them stood and headed out of the doors. She pulled her jacket on as she went. Though it was December, the temperature rose throughout the day, so sometimes she could get away with a jacket.
“You’re still leaving at five today, right?” Jalen checked with Rohan, and he nodded. “Alright. I’ll swing by when I get off and pick her up, and then I’ll see you tonight at seven-thirty?”
“You sure will, baby,” he responded, leaning down to peck her lips as they stopped at her car.
“Get a room,” Landon muttered.
When they pulled apart, Landon came forward, wrapping her arms around Jalen. Her little sister squeezed her tight, and Jalen felt as if she was trying to crush her bones.
“I love you, Jae, and I’m sorry. You’re the best mom.” Landon let out a little shaky breath. “See you later,” she added before turning and heading towards Rohan’s car quickly.
Jalen watched her go before turning her attention to him. “What was that about? Did she say something to you?”
He ran his finger up and down her cheek. “She just wants you to know she loves you. And I told you, we just bonded.” He leaned in and kissed her again. “I’ll see you later, baby.”
She got into her car and sat there for a moment.
She exhaled slowly, wiping the single tear that slipped down her cheek.
She hadn’t truly known how much her little sister’s negative words had affected her until she’d just expressed herself.
It was like a weight lifted from Jalen’s shoulders.
Though she hoped Landon didn’t think that would simply make things normal again, because she was still grounded.
Starting her car, she pulled out and headed back to the hospital.