Playing House

Jo dropped her tray down on the cafeteria table and slipped into her chair. "I need a favor," she announced without even greeting Shae and Lizzie.

"Sure, we'll do it," agreed Lizzie popping a fry into her mouth.

"Don't you think we should find out what it is first?" Shae snickered at her sister. Then turning to Jo, "What do you need?"

"I need you to cover for me. Say I'm spending the night at your house tomorrow night if anyone asks."

"Okay… and you will actually be where?" Shae asked cautiously.

"With Alex," Jo replied simply.

"Aww, of course we'll cover for you," Lizzie gushed.

"Wait a minute," her sister argued holding up her hand, "like you aren't supposed to go out with Alex and you're going to see him anyway or like you and Alex are running away together?"

"Shae," Lizzie snapped.

"Hey, I deserve to know what I'm getting into here."

"No, no. I'm allowed to see Alex and we aren't running away," Jo rolled her eyes, "but his parents are going away for the weekend and…"

"And you want to play house," Lizzie interrupted with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, something like that," she blushed.

"Okay I guess we can cover for you. I mean you'll tell your parents you are with us and there's no reason they should find out any different right? I mean it's not like they call and check up on you," Shae reluctantly agreed.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you," Jo grinned at the twins.

"See deep down my sister really is a romantic," Lizzie teased patting Shae on the back.

"I wouldn't say that," she made a face. "I still think you have fallen for him too hard and too fast," Shae gave Jo a pointed look.

Jo nodded. It had happened fast. "Sometimes it's just right, you know," she said softly with a smile fingering the bracelet she always wore on her wrist. She had added a silver rose charm to the bracelet last week when Alex had presented that and a single red rose to her for Valentine's Day.

"I hope so. I hope you aren't setting yourself up to get hurt," Shae responded concern written across her face.

"Shae, shut up. She's happy, leave her alone," Lizzie admonished.

"Lizzie is right. I am happy and I know Alex will never hurt me. But I appreciate that you care," Jo squeezed her hand trying to avoid an argument between her two friends.

They finished their lunch talking about other things and after school Jo told Alex she was covered and could in fact spend the night with him. At dinner she asked for, and received, permission to spend Friday night with Lizzie and Shae. She packed some clothes and toiletries in her small duffel and brought it to school with her the next day. She hung back at the car waiting for her brothers to disperse when they got there. When they were out of sight and it was safe she jogged over to Alex's truck greeting him with a kiss and tossed her duffel bag inside before grabbing his hand and walking in to school together.

When they got home to Alex's house that afternoon, Alex took Jo's bag up to his room and showed her around the rest of the house she hadn't seen. Then they grabbed something to drink and settled in the living room. Alex turned on Sports Center and kicked his feet up on the couch. Jo took a couple of books from her backpack and sat on the floor at the coffee table.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked incredulous giving her a strange look.

"My homework. What does it look like?" she sassed.

"Okay, you do know it's Friday right?"

"Yeah, and if I do it now I don't have to worry about it the rest of the weekend. I promise it won't interrupt your stupid show," she rolled her eyes at him with a smirk.

"It's not that. It's just… it's Friday," he shook his head, "do you always do your homework right after school?"

"Yeah because then I have the rest of the weekend to do whatever I want," she was already working.

"Man, you really are a nerd," he chuckled under his breath.

"Hey! I heard that," she playfully smacked his leg.

Jo finished her homework in no time and had moved to sit on the couch with Alex. They were both sitting sideways facing each other and telling stories about their day. It all came so naturally to both of them, spending time together, opening up. Neither of them had ever been this close to someone or had this kind of relationship with so much understanding between the two. And not just a romantic relationship but any relationship at all, underneath it all they were really and truly best friends.

Alex's stomach growled loudly and Jo laughed looking at the time. "Wow, I guess it is time to eat. So am I supposed to cook for you or…" she trailed off raising her eyebrows and laughing harder at the look that had come over his face.

"No! I thought we would have something delivered," he said quickly.

"You don't think I can cook," she gasped putting a hand to her chest with a hurt look on her face.

"No, no it's not that," he appeased putting his hands up, "I just…"

"It's fine. You're probably right. I probably can't cook. I've never tried," she shrugged trying to hold back a smile, "How about Chinese?"

Alex, who thought he had really hurt her feelings, just sat there staring at her wide eyed for a moment before his own smile broke through and he chuckled. She laughed along with him.

"I thought you were really upset," he said through his laughter.

"I know you should have seen the look on your face," she replied catching her breath.

He pounced on her tackling her back on the couch tickling her. "You're mean, Wilson," he growled into her ear not letting up. She snorted loudly which caused them both to laugh even harder. Finally, Alex rolled off of her landing on the floor with a thump. They both lay there gasping for air and clutching their stomachs. New fits of giggles burst out from one or the other of them every so often.

When they were back in control, Jo grabbed the phone, "So is Chinese okay or did you want something else?" Her stomach growled now as if to point out that it really was time for food.

"That sounds great," he agreed.

The food arrived and Jo spread it out on the coffee table while Alex went to get plates. "You didn't get any forks," she started to get up.

"We don't need forks, we have these," he said dishing out some rice with a set of chopsticks.

"You can actually use those things?" she asked surprised.

"Yeah, it's not so hard, just try," he handed her a set. She tried and tried but just couldn't get the hang of it. "No, like this," he said scooping up a bite and feeding her.

She tried one more time before dropping the chopsticks and pouting, "I can't do it. You just want me to sit over here and struggle so you can eat all the food," she poked her bottom lip out.

He laughed as he went to the kitchen and returned with a fork for her. "I gave you a bite," he winked. She stuck her tongue out at him and took the fork, finally able to enjoy the meal.

After they finished eating and everything was cleaned up Jo perused Alex's movie collection. She chose a couple and they cuddled up on the couch to watch. They kissed and flirted throughout the movies.

At the end of the third movie Alex decided he wanted a shower. Jo followed him up stairs and explored his bedroom while he was in the bathroom. Impressed, she looked at his trophy shelf, running her fingers over the name plates on numerous wrestling trophies. She continued around his room taking it all in. When she had finished, she undressed and picked up the t-shirt Alex had changed into after school that he discarded on his bed before heading to the shower. She slipped it over her head and breathed in the scent of him with a smile. She neatly folded her clothes and put them beside her bag, fluffed up the pillows and crawled into bed to wait.

Alex returned to the room wearing only his boxers. He grinned at the sight of Jo dressed in his shirt, her hair spread out around her on the pillow, in his bed. His breath hitched and his heart skipped a beat when he caught her ogling his bare upper body.

Jo had seen him like this a handful of times since their first encounter, but she couldn't get over how damn good-looking he was. When she tore her eyes away and looked up he wore a cocky smirk on his face. She blushed turning her eyes away, "Shut up,"

"I didn't say anything," he snickered getting into the bed next to her.

"You didn't have to say anything. Your face said it all," she muttered embarrassed having been caught gawking at him.

He nudged her chin with his thumb and brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss, "I'm sorry."

She met his eyes and gave him a small smile. With one more peck on the lips she got up. "I'm going to go brush my teeth and get ready for bed," and headed to the bathroom. Now it was Alex's turn to stare. His shirt just covered her ass and he had a perfect view of her legs. While she was gone he checked the night stand to make sure he had condoms in there.

When she came back into his bedroom, Alex's eyes were once again drawn to Jo's shapely legs, until she cleared her throat. He chuckled at this time having been caught himself. He looked up into her face and was speechless. He had never seen her without makeup before and she was gorgeous. Not that she wasn't with makeup on but this was more natural. Her skin had a glow to it, her hair framed her face perfectly, and there was just a subtle beauty to her.

"What? You're staring," she said self-consciously.

He shook his head, "Nothing. You're just beautiful."

A soft pink flush spread up her cheeks at the compliment. "Scoot over so I can get in," she demanded playfully shoving his shoulder. He didn't budge so she made to crawl over him. Halfway over he grabbed her pulling her down and kissing her deeply. She brought her hands up to his face and returned the kisses.

They pulled apart to catch their breath and Jo rolled off Alex snuggling into his side with her head resting on his chest. "This has been the best day. Spending all of this time with you. Not having to say goodnight and take you home," he said playing with the ends of her hair.

"Mmhmm," she agreed scattering kisses across his naked chest. She had kicked her left leg across his and felt his body responding to her actions. Encouraged, she continued with the kisses and licked and bit at his nipples. She moved further down until she reached her target. She did all the things she had learned over the weeks, during their stolen moments, that drove him crazy, bringing him to his climax. When Alex's breathing had returned to normal and he had come out of his daze, he flipped Jo over and returned the favor. They stayed up late into the night making sweet love.

Jo woke up the next morning laying on her side with the weight of Alex's arm draped over her waist, the warmth of his chest pressed against her back, and his even breathing tickling her ear. She sighed in contentment; she didn't want to ever move. She laid there in his arms as long as she could. Glancing at the clock, that read 10:43, she eased out of bed careful not to wake Alex and padded over to her bag grabbing some clothes and heading to the shower.

A few minutes later, Alex woke up to an empty bed and for a brief moment thought last night had only been a vivid dream. Sitting up in bed he shook the sleep from his head and then noticed the sound of the shower. Smiling to himself he picked up the pillow Jo had slept on and inhaled her scent that softly lingered on it. Getting up and stretching he dug out some clean boxers and sweatpants to put on and went to the kitchen to rummage for something to eat.

By the time Jo had finished her shower and gone downstairs to find him, Alex had toast made and two glasses of orange juice poured. "Sorry, it's not much," he gestured to the table.

"It's fine. Toast is good," she replied wrapping her arms around his waist and giving him a good morning kiss.

They spent the day together, ending up going out to eat and then to a movie before Alex dropped her off at home. When Jo got ready for bed that night she couldn't help but think about how lonely her bed was going to be without Alex to share it with.