"Good morning!" I place a peck on Dad's cheek and take a seat next to him at the breakfast bar in our kitchen. Across from me, Mom pauses in the act of placing eggs on Jared's plate and raises a perfectly arched eyebrow. Dad eyes me curiously and greets me in turn.
"Good morning, baby girl. You're oddly peppy this morning." He closes the auto magazine he's been skimming and tucks it under his plate.
"I think I'm finally over my jet lag. I had a good night's sleep." I fudge the truth a little because the real reason for my shiny happy self this morning is a six foot two soccer player with lips that don't quit.
"Oh really? How nice. I, on the other hand, was up half the night. Couldn't turn off those pesky voices in my head. Know what I mean, sis?" Jamie says pointedly from his perch next to Jared.
"Yeah, that's a real shame. Maybe you should see someone about that." I shoot him a look that clearly states the consequence for him opening his mouth about my visitor last night will be certain death. He relents and goes back to the mountain of scrambled eggs and bacon on his plate, grumbling under his breath.
"So Jessie, what are your plans for the day?" Mom asks over the brim of her navy blue 'World's Greatest Math Teacher' coffee mug.
"Well, Dean and I were going to hang out in the city," I say carefully, wary of her tone and the I Know More Than You Think I Do look on her face.
I notice Jared's face drops a bit and my heart sinks. I've been away for so long, he probably wanted to spend some time hanging out today since he and Jamie were together all day yesterday while mom and I shopped. I need a 'World's Worst Sister' mug. After some quick thinking, I add, "Jared, you're gonna come with us right? We've been away for a while, we'll definitely need a tour guide."
He lights up like it's Christmas morning already, and I kick myself for not including him to begin with; horrible, horrible sister. He tries to play it off, being a teenager and all. "Yeah, sure, that sounds cool." I smile into my eggs. What a little dork. I missed him more than I realized.
Without missing a beat, Mom clears her throat to get my attention. "That sounds great. But before you two get ready to leave, I need your help with a few things, sweetie. I mixed up a couple of gifts we bought yesterday and I just need you to help me sort them out so that I can put the right labels on when I wrap them. It won't take long."
"Oh. Okay, yeah, no problem. I'll go hop in the shower and get dressed, then I'll come down to go through them with you." I scoop up the last of my eggs and slurp down the rest of the coffee in my cup.
Dad looks up from his magazine and over at Jamie. "Jay, you gonna be ready to head over to Uncle Trent's place soon? He's expecting us over there to take a look at the engine on the Chevelle he just picked up."
"Yep, I'll be ready to go in ten." He casts one more narrowed look at me, then leaves to go change. I get up and follow behind him.
"I'll be down in a bit, Mom. Jared, be ready to go by noon, bud."
I catch up with Jamie as he's walking into his bedroom, so I slip in behind him and close the door. "What did I ever do to you?" I demand to his back as he combs through his closet.
"You mean other than that time your boyfriend chucked rocks at my window for ten minutes straight, waking me from a very nice dream about Channing Tatum? Or the part when I couldn't get back to sleep after that because you two wouldn't shut up for almost an hour?"
"I didn't know he was coming here, Jamie! And mom and dad can't know either. Dad would kill him. So cut it with the little innuendos around them please? I'm sorry he woke you, but please keep it to yourself." I beg him.
"I take it you two are back together, on account of the groveling on his behalf and all," he says over his shoulder.
"Yes. He spent the whole day tracking me down and he explained the situation. We're okay now."
"Care to share? The walls are thicker than I remember. I couldn't quite make out all of the dialogue." He pulls an old pair of jeans down from the top of the closet and tosses them on the bed behind me.
"It's a long story. He just had a really bad experience with a girl in his past. She didn't care about anything much beyond his money and his family's social status. He kept everything from me because he wanted me to get to know him, all of them, without all the other shit tainting things. I get it, now at least. I reminded him that I could absolutely not care less about that stuff, and he understands that keeping things from me isn't an option if we're going to be together. It's good. We're good." I take a deep breath after getting it all out.
"I'm glad you're happy again, but just so you know, if he hurts you again he's dead. Not a threat, just a fact. Seeing you like that yesterday, I wanted to kick his ass. And you know that is so completely out of character for me. I don't like these violent tendencies that come along with you having a boyfriend, sis. So do me a favor, no more tears for a while." He pulls me in with one arm and places a kiss on the top of my head. My heart melts a little at the gesture, and his words.
"I'll do my best. You know he didn't set out to hurt me though."
"Doesn't matter. He got his one pass, intentional or not. Now get lost, I need to get dressed. Dad's waiting for me." He shoves me towards the door and I playfully flip him off over my head, then head down the hall to shower.
Half an hour or so later, I'm drying my hair in my room when I hear a faint knock. Switching the blowdryer off, I open the door for my mom who is carrying two big bags.
"Sorry, I got caught up talking to Jamie. I'm almost done, I just need to throw on some makeup and get dressed." I pick up the dryer and try to finish quickly.
Mom takes a seat on the bed and looks at me in the reflection of my mirror. The look on her face is somewhat wistful. I switch off the blowdryer again and step into my closet to tug on a pair of jeans and a long black sweater that leaves my shoulders partially bare. Back at the mirror, I sweep a little color onto my cheeks and swipe some mascara onto my lashes. Finishing up with some dark pink lipgloss I turn to my mom who has been silent this whole time.
"You know, I remember a time when you didn't own a single piece of makeup. Your wardrobe consisted of gym clothes and band t-shirts. Where did my little girl go?" She tilts her head as if seeing me for the first time in a long time.
"I'm still here, Mom." I sit next to her on the bed and curl one leg under the other as I turn to face her. "I just…I have different priorities now. I like to look like an actual girl now, and not some lazy gym rat. I blame Kelsey for most of this, she spends more time in stores than she does in class."
"As long as you're happy, baby. That's all your father and I want for you, for all three of our kids. If this makes you happy, then we're happy too." Somehow I don't think 'this' is just some girly clothes and makeup. I'm not sure where the conversation shifted, but I'm pretty sure we're discussing something completely different.
"I am happy mom. I promise."
"You didn't seem happy yesterday, Jessie," she says pointedly.
I sigh. My mom is too perceptive for her own good. "You're right. I wasn't. There was a misunderstanding, but everything is fine now. Honestly."
"Yes, well, let Dean know that the next time he wants to come over, we do have a lovely front door."
I feel all of the blood drain from my face. Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit! "Mom, I, he didn't—"
"I'm your mother, Jessica. I know all. I appreciate the fact that he didn't want to cause any drama in front of me or your father, and I do understand that he wanted to make things right with you, but in the future no more midnight visits. Especially not in your bedroom, sweetie. I trust you, and I trust that you're being safe. Your father…well, that's a different story." My mouth drops open and my eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. "No! No he doesn't know anything about last night. Do you really think he'd have been so calm at breakfast? No, this will be our little secret. But let's make sure it's the last one. I don't like keeping things from your father, but for Dean's sake, I'll give you this one."
I heave a sigh of relief, but am still horribly embarrassed. "Mom, how did you…"
"Jessica, do you really think I could sleep knowing that my daughter was in pain? One day when you have children, you'll understand."
With that, she stands and makes her way to the door. I notice the bags in her hand. "Hey, didn't you want to sort through those gifts?"
She turns and purses her lips, raising an eyebrow at me. Suddenly, I completely understand. I should've known better. My mom is the most organized person on the planet. There is no way she would've forgotten what gift she bought for whom.
"Nice, Mom. Real nice."
"Hey, just be happy your father bought it. Have fun today. Keep an eye on your brother."
Once she's gone, I grab my phone and send Dean a text message which he responds to almost immediately.
Me: Jig is up. Mom knew you were here last night.
Dean: Bottom line it for me. Do I need to leave the country or just skip town?
I laugh to myself and type a response.
Me: Relax. Dad doesn't know. She's cool. No more midnight visits.
Dean: No prob. Arms are killing me from climbing through your window anyway. ;-)
Me: P.S. Don't be mad, but I invited Jared today.
Dean: Why would I be mad? Can't wait to meet him.
Smiling, I tell him that we're leaving in twenty minutes and will meet him in about an hour. I finish running a flat iron over my hair and spray on some perfume to finish everything off. I tuck my phone, wallet, and keys into the designer purse Kelsey gave to me as my early Christmas gift before I left California, and knock on Jared's door on my way down the hall.
"Hey bud, you ready?"
When I get no answer I poke my head in to the room in time to see my little brother blushing and tucking his phone away.
"So, Hayley or Katie?" I ask, leaning against the doorjamb.
"Dude, how do you even know about them?" He asks with a roll of his eyes.
"Well 'dude', I know everything. I'm your sister. It's sort of my job." I sling my arm around his neck and we walk down the stairs together.
"Do you really like this Dean guy?" He asks when we're midway down the stairs.
I turn to him and raise an eyebrow. "Yeah. I really do. Whatcha gonna do about it, kid?" I tighten my grip on his neck and mess up his hair. He laughs and tries to wriggle out of my grasp, failing miserably. "Give it up, I'm still stronger than you."
"For now," he mutters as we round the corner into the family room.
I stop dead in my tracks when I see my mom sitting on the large sectional couch across from Dean. They seem to be having quite the conversation, since my mom's head is currently tossed back in laughter. Dean looks equally amused.
I clear my throat to get their attention. Dean gives me a cocky smirk and my mom smiles over at Jared and I.
"Oh sweetie, Dean and I were just having the nicest conversation." She turns her attention back to Dean. "Dean it was so great to chat with you in person. You drive carefully and take care of my babies. I'll see you again in a few days."
She crosses to us and gives me a kiss on the cheek and grabs Jared's face with both hands in a death grip. "Seatbelt. Listen to your sister and Dean. Try to give the phone a rest, those little girls can handle one afternoon without your attention."
"I got it, Mom," he mutters through squeezed cheeks. She laughs and shoves us all towards the front door, waving over her head as she rounds the corner into her office.
"So, change of plans?" I ask Dean.
"I thought it'd be easier if we drove together. Better of the environment too, carbon emissions and all. I was pulling up to the house when you texted me," he says with a wink.
"Dude is that your car?!" Jared screeches with his nose pressed up against the glass next to the front door.
"How about 'Hi, I'm Jared' before you start drooling over his car?" I nudge his shoulder with mine as I wrap a scarf around my neck and shrug into my peacoat.
"Sorry. Hi, I'm Jared. Now, is that your GTO?" He sticks his hand out to shake Dean's but all of his attention is out the window, literally.
"Nice to finally meet you Jared," he chuckles, shaking Jared's hand. "And no, that's my stepdad Nick's GTO. I left my Boss 302 back in California so he's letting us take his baby out today."
"You have a Boss 302? Oh man, I would kill for that car. What's the GTO, '65?" Jared asks, tugging on his coat and hat.
"Nah, '67. You'll have to come out and visit and we'll take a ride up the coast road in the Boss." Dean holds the door open for us.
"Sweet…," Jared mumbles in awe as he walks to the car for a better look.
I turn to Dean, wrapping my arms around my upper half to ward off the cold. "You know you and your stepdad have basically just achieved hero status with him, right?"
"Then I guess I should be glad he let me borrow his car and I didn't have to take my mom's Mini Cooper." He hooks his arm around my neck as I snort out a laugh and we head off on our little adventure.
"Thanks Dean, this was awesome. You were so right about ice skating, total chick magnet." Jared is leaning over the back of the seat, poking his head between Dean's and mine. "You're gonna get the GTO again for the movies on Tuesday right?"
"You know it, kid. Text me about the Eagles game once you talk to your mom and dad. Danny can get us down to the field level."
"Kick ass," he lifts a hand to fist-bump Dean and I clear my throat. "Sorry, butt," he corrects himself. "Talk to you later, Dean."
He leans down to my ear and whispers, "I like this guy, keep him around." I snicker and shove his face away as he reaches for the door. "I'll be inside in a few minutes Jared," I call after him as he races up the driveway.
I lean my head back against the seat and heave an exhausted sigh. It has been a very long day. Dean took us to Reading Terminal Market for lunch where we filled up on pizza and Bassett's ice cream, at Jared's insistence in the forty degree weather. We made our way to the Christmas Village where we split up and browsed for last minute gifts and Dean took a ton of pictures of the outdoor displays. He even let Jared use his camera to take a picture of the two of us in front of the LOVE statue. Dean talked Jared into ice skating at the river rink and he used his charm to win over all the high school girls skating without partners. I fell on my butt after two rotations so Dean and I sipped hot chocolate and watched my not-so-little brother in his element for a while. Our last stop was Boathouse Row. We'd never been there at night and the lights outlining each building, reflecting off of the river, were breathtaking.
All the while, Dean and Jared talked cars, soccer, girls, and while I did participate here and there, it was much more fun to sit back and watch the two of them. Somewhere in the back of my mind a thought kept resurfacing, that Dean would make such a good father one day. Not that I was worrying about things like that right now. No way. But it's nice to think about, in a super far away, not gonna happen any time soon, kind of way.
My cheeks heat at the thought of Dean and me and kids. It must be obvious because he reaches out and turns the heat down. "Too warm?" he asks.
"Just a little," I lie. I stifle a yawn and smile over at him sleepily. "Today was fun."
"And apparently exhausting," he says with a grin.
"Nah, you're just boring." I tease him and close my eyes feigning sleep with my head tilted to the side facing him.
He's quiet and I'm about to peek one eye open to make sure he knows I'm just kidding when I feel his warmth closer than it was a moment ago.
"Boring, huh?" I feel his hot breath skate across my lips and I'm frozen, eyes still shut, waiting. "We'll see about that."
His lips capture mine and my body is fully alert now. His hand comes up to wrap around the back of my neck, his thumb skimming my jaw. I moan softly, turning my body to face him and placing my hands against his chest, not to stop him but to pull him closer. His free hand glides over my hip and grasps my waist, cold fingers slipping beneath the fabric of my coat to the hem of my sweater and under. I jerk at the sudden icy sensation against my skin and he laughs into my mouth. Oh, he's totally going to pay for that one. I move my hands down his chest and lower, to the tops of his thighs. He leans back and sucks in air through his teeth and his lips come crashing into mine. I push back just as hard, taking his bottom lip between my teeth and just before he reacts I thrust both hands underneath his shirt and press them against the heated skin of his abdomen.
"Shit! Jessie!" His body cringes away from mine but I don't relent, flipping my hands to the backsides and placing the icy surface against him once again.
"Not so funny when it's you, is it?" I smirk at him.
"You're such a brat sometimes," he says, gripping my wrists and pulling my hands out from under his shirt. He places a kiss against my fingers and pulls me close one more time. "I had a lot of fun today, too." His lips barely graze mine before he pulls away abruptly. I look at him a little confused and he nods toward the house. Turning my head, I see my mom's brown hair peeking out from behind the curtains at the large bay window.
I laugh lightly and shake my head. "Guess I should get going."
"Yeah, I'd like to keep all of my essential parts in tact. Plus, I promised your mom no more messing around while they're in the house. Though she didn't specify what happens when they're gone, which I found kind of interesting."
The corners of my mouth quirk up. "Well we're not going to be finding out tonight." I reach into the backseat for the few bags I collected today. "So I guess I'll see you on Tuesday? I still can't believe you're coming with us to see this movie."
"Hey, I want to see Katniss kick some ass too." He reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and pulls me in for one last kiss before getting out of the car and circling around to open the door for me.
Hand in hand, we walk up to the house and say goodnight. I wait by the door, peering out of the side window until he pulls away.
More than satisfied with how the day went, I begin my trek up the stairs, stopping midway to call over my shoulder, "Goodnight Mom."
"'Night baby," she calls back from the living room. That woman has no shame.