The Scale (Martha's Way)

by Mika Jolie

  Yeah, Minka Greene, slow down on the good times and your cheeks will thank you for it.

  In her birthday suit, she stood in the middle of the large bathroom. Something had to be done, especially since the chance of her slowing down on cuddling with Jason with a glass of wine was slimmed. Maybe she needed to rethink her goal, at least until next week. Feeling dejected, she walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom to get dressed. Her sister and Claire were due to arrive any minute. She noticed the shorts she wore the other day. It was a hot day and one of those days she wished she had the confidence to expose her legs, but alas, that would mean she would have to flaunt the dimples on her upper thighs. Nope. She needed tights. Within fifteen minutes, she was dressed with her hair tied into a loose knot. She applied the scant makeup she usually wore and finished it with lip gloss before making her way down to the kitchen. Standing by the counter, her eyes rested on the picture of Jason’s mother. Her fingers reached to touch the photograph. Dazzling blue eyes similar to Jason stared back at her. The woman was smiling with the wind blowing her hair, shading some of her visage. Minka found herself drawn to her smile. It was very similar to Jason’s. When most relaxed, there was something very comforting about him. Even during lovemaking, which was always intense, she was able to find solace in his arms.

  The doorbell rang then. Minka grabbed a banana before going to greet her sister and friend.

  “Where’s the big bad wolf?” Claire teased.

  “Paddle boarding with the others.”

  Keely smiled and winked at Minka. “What a visual.” She walked by Minka and stepped into the hallway. She scanned the house. “You’ve been keeping him busy, sis. He hasn’t done much since the last time Blake and I were here.”

  “Wow!” Claire exclaimed, entering the house. “He’s done a wonderful job. This is great. Has Jason shown you the before pictures?”

  Minka shook her head. “No, I know this house used to be his mother’s.”

  “Yes, it was.” Claire walked into the living room. Minka and Keely followed. “How do you like living here? I haven’t been here in ages.”

  “Well, I don’t live here.”

  The other women exchanged a look across the room. Minka walked past them to retrieve her vibrating phone. She quickly read the text message from Lily.

  I told my parents about the engagement. My brothers are on a mission to find Nate. First kill ask questions later type of thing. I’m doomed. So looking forward to this weekend. Say hi to your sexy man. I’m looking forward to meeting him. Glad you’re having fun. Love ya!

  Minka sensed her sister as she came to stand next to her. She closed the text and placed the phone in her purse.

  “Tell Jason you’re with us until the evening. He can jerk off if he can’t wait.”

  “Keely…” Minka shook her head. “That was Lily. She’s coming to spend the weekend with me. She broke up with her fiancé.”

  “Who is Lily?” Claire asked while admiring a picture of Jason and the others.

  “My sister’s BFF. Nice girl. I’ve met her a few times.”

  “Cool,” Claire responded with her usual enthusiasm. “Too bad I won’t be here to meet her. But in the meantime, we have a sea salt scrub waiting for us. So let’s head to the spa.”

  “I thought we were meeting with a photographer or something.” Minka couldn’t keep up with all the details.

  Keely smiled and sashayed her small figure past her. “Change of plans. Guillermo apparently spoke with Jason last night. Rita is at the inn right now for the decorations. Blake got the band since my darling friend refuses to sing.”

  “I’m on vacay,” Claire sang.

  “You’re never on vacation. You leave for Los Angeles tomorrow, remember?”

  Claire nodded, her thoughts seemed miles away. “True. But I moved a few things around my schedule so I can sing as you walk down the aisle and during your first dance.”

  Keely looked ecstatic at the news and pulled a grinning Claire into her arms for a tight hug. I love yous were exchanged. Minka stood in the living room, taking in the warm exchange between the friends. Unlike the other day, she didn’t feel like an intruder. She understood the significance of having your friend serenade you on that special day.

  “Let’s get going. And…” Her sister turned to look at her. “We want all the gory details about Mr. Montgomery. How is he in bed? How many times did he take you there? Are you guys in love yet? You know, all the dirty details.”

  “I thought you didn’t want me with Jason.”

  Keely waved one finger in the air. “I want you to have a good time and who better to have it with than Jason? He’s sexy, single, and obviously has the hots for you,” she added gently. “Just be careful.”

  “Well,” Claire said with a frown, “just don’t tell us how well-endowed he is. I really don’t want to know about that.”

  “I told you about Blake.”

  Claire shook her head. “And you really shouldn’t have. That was TMI.”

  Too much information. Minka wasn’t sure such a thing existed with her sister. Claire wasn’t the only one who had to endure the lengthy conversation as her sister went into great detail after her first night with Blake. Those fifteen minutes had been slow torture.

  As they walked out of the house to her sister’s car, her phone vibrated once more. Claire opened the back door and sat. Once inside, Minka reached for her phone to read the message.

  Have fun today. I’m going to be home early. Dad cancelled. I’ll make dinner. I’d like to have you for dessert.

  Even via text, the words affected her and triggered a vision of Jason with his badass tattoos, the wicked smile and the twinkle in his blue eyes. With reluctance, she admitted she was smitten. Looking forward to it, she texted back, then placed the phone back in her purse.

  “It’s called infatuation,” her sister said. “He’s charmed you. I told you he would. He can’t help it. That’s who he is. That’s who they all are. Isn’t that true, Claire?”

  “Yes, they are quite charming. All four of them.”

  “It’s just fun. It’s not serious.”

  Her sister took her eyes off the road for a brief moment to look at her direction. “Do you want it to be?”

  She hadn’t given it much thought. The possibility of anything past next week had not been discussed.

  “No,” she answered. “We’re just having fun. After next week, it’s over.”

  The words didn’t appear to sway her sister, nor did they bring Minka comfort. She turned her attention to the street, enjoying the beauty of the island. Her mind drifted to what it might look like in the fall with the leaves changing. Autumn was always her favorite season.

  * * * *

  In black board shorts, Jason carried his paddleboard where Adam stood waiting for him. His friends glanced over at him and smirked.

  “To what do we owe this honor?” Blake asked, leaning on his board.

  He walked past them and headed straight to the water and dropped his board. “The old man cancelled our meeting and Minka is out with Keely and Claire, so,” he shrugged, “might as well get some exercise. So are you guys just going to stand there with those silly smirks on your faces or are we gonna race?”

  Getting together with the guys had been impromptu. The initial thought was to catch some waves in Aquinnah, but the waves were a bit too high so they opted for State Beach. One by one his friends joined him in the water and lined their boards. It had been a long time since the four of them had spent a day in the ocean battling each other. Adam spent half his time in Italy. Forrest was often buried in his practice or on the farm. And Blake now lived miles away. But none of that mattered at the moment. Jason felt at ease with the world, content. He gave them a crisp nod. They seemed to have understood the rarity of the situation and fist-pumped each other.

  “I never thought I’d see the day.” Blake was the first to speak.

  Forrest took a handful of water and splatted it on his face.
“What day is that?”

  Adam smirked. “The day Jason Montgomery gets a girlfriend.”

  Jason stood on his board and adjusted his weight. “I will let you have your little fun for the next two weeks.”

  “Seriously, first Blake and now you. Who is next? Forrest?”

  “For the record, I’m not walking down the aisle next weekend or anytime soon.”

  “Hey, I am looking forward to walking down the aisle.” Blake defended his upcoming nuptials.

  The other three men rolled their eyes at Blake.

  “You guys are just jealous.” He chuckled and settled on his board. “Keely is sweet, honest and loving.”

  “Sounds like a Hallmark card,” Adam mumbled and the others broke into laughter.

  “Don’t forget sexy as hell,” Blake bragged. “I get to go home to all that sexiness every day.”

  “So Blake,” Adam called over his shoulder, “Does that mean you’re okay with your best friend sleeping with your friend, soon-to-be sister-in-law?”

  Without hesitation, Blake shrugged his shoulders. “They are adults.”

  “I like Minka,” Jason admitted and not because he felt the need to appease any concern Blake might have.

  “A lot.” Adam grinned.

  “She’s fun to be around. Now stop being a slacker and let’s race.”

  Two hours later, exhausted from being in the ocean all day, Jason was barely in the house when he stripped off his shorts and made his way to his bedroom. Paddle boarding with the guys had been a stress reliever. After three lengthy sessions of pushing their physical limits, each one of them had crashed one by one. Adam had been the last one to collapse but Jason guessed that had been out of sheer stubbornness. He opened the door to the bathroom and stepped inside. On the vanity, he spied Minka’s makeup bag. Her morning spray of lavender still filled the room. A smile crossed his lips. The guys had teased him about his obvious attraction. Knowing that they all had put Blake through hell when he started dating Keely, he took it in stride.

  Dating, he mulled over the word. The last time he had a girlfriend was his freshman year in college. The so-called relationship had barely survived a semester, although not for her lack of trying. Looking back now, Jason felt remorseful over his behavior toward… He cringed. He couldn’t even remember her name. But, something told him he would forever remember Minka.

  He reached to grab a towel when he kicked a silver scale on the floor. Puzzled, he frowned. Since he didn’t own a scale, he concluded it belonged to Minka. He deduced she forgot to place it back wherever she had been hiding it. The sight sent a spasm of pain coursing through his body, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness. Memories of his mother flashed before him, the way he remembered her most as the healthy, beautiful woman she was to the skeletal figure she’d become before she died. A heaviness of reliving his childhood settled on his chest, making him nauseous. Jason stepped out of the bathroom and reached for his phone. Claire’s mother quickly answered the phone.

  “Rosa, I’m coming over on Friday for the weekend with a few guests.”

  There was a slight pause on the other line, then the woman spoke. “That’s wonderful, Jason. Should I tell your father?”

  “No,” he responded. This wasn’t a reunion with his father. It was more an act of desperation to distract Minka and help her deal with whatever she might be dealing with.

  “How many rooms do you need to be ready?”

  Jason took the time to go over the details with Rosa. He ended the call with his traditional love for the woman who raised him before sending a text to his friends, proposing they all go to the house he grew up in for the weekend. Adam along with Blake quickly confirmed but Forrest had a conference out of town. After he read their messages, he made his way back to the bathroom. He glanced at the scale once more, befuddled over why she would bring something like that on vacation. The only explanation was the obvious. She had a problem with her weight.

  About one hour later, he heard Minka’s voice mixed with the others, vibrant, filled with laughter. Jason smiled. Even Minka sounded more relaxed. He put his tools down and made his way down the hall where he was greeted by the three women. He reached for Minka and placed a kiss on her lips. He groaned, enjoying the taste of her lips against his.

  “She was only gone for a few hours,” Claire teased. “Anyhow, we are out of here. Have fun, children.”

  “I spoke to your mom today.”

  Claire nodded. “She told me. I guess I’ll see you over the weekend.” Jason watched her whisper something in Minka’s ear, to which she glanced at Jason, then blushed. Keely as usual gave him the If you hurt her, I will kill you stare before giving both of them a hug.

  Once alone, Jason pinned her against the wall and pressed himself close. His heart almost came to a stop when she wrapped her arms around him and smiled invitingly at him.

  “How was your day?” He traced his fingers over her cheek.

  “It was fun. We went to a spa. I was reluctant at first, but it turned out okay.”

  He lowered his head to her neck and breathed her in. “You smell good.”

  She giggled. “And you’re covered in paint. Keely blamed me for your lack of progress in the house.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’ll have all the time in the world soon.” The revelation failed to bring him any comfort. He stepped back, allowing her some room. “I’m taking you to Chappaquiddick over the weekend.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Your father’s house.”

  He nodded.

  “Claire mentioned you were going. I thought alone.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. She looked down as he watched. He reached for her chin and tilted her head back up. “Until next week, wherever I go you will go with me. Is that okay with you?”

  “Yes.”

  Unable to control himself, he lowered his lips to hers once more. Jason wondered how he would survive after next week, especially since the idea of kissing any other woman failed to appeal to him. “I invited the crew. I figure it’ll be a nice way to spend the weekend.”

  “Oh, yes. Good idea. What will I need to bring?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Typical things women bring to a beach house. Sneakers for hiking, a bathing suit for swimming, and as little clothing as possible,” he finished with a grin.

  Panic flashed in her eyes as he spoke, but it was quickly masked by a smile. Something inside him stirred with pain over the reality that she was insecure over her appearance.

  “Oh, my God, I completely forgot,” she said. “Lily is coming.”

  “She’s welcome to come along. As a matter of fact, I think it would be a great little excursion for her. Don’t you agree?”

  “I guess. I need to let Lily know of the change of plans. I’m going to call her.”

  He allowed her space to walk past him, and she nearly ran down the hall. Jason ran a hand through his hair as he let out a heavy sigh. How had he failed to notice her discomfort with her appearance?

  The cautious voice inside told him he shouldn’t care. He had no investment in her well-being. They were temporary with barely two weeks to be together. It was true that once Blake married her sister, she would be part of the pack but that wasn’t enough for him to spend time caring. Hell, he didn’t even want to care, but he did. It was too late for that.

  He walked into the kitchen and retrieved his tools. Standing in the empty room, he thought about his mother and her troubles. His father’s infidelity. Minka’s unspoken insecurity. He would make her open up to him. In his eyes, she was flawless. Her voluptuous curves had the power to drive him out of his fucking mind. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  * * * *

  Once inside the bedroom, Minka let out a deep breath before dropping her weight on the bed. She reached for her phone and text her friend.

  Change of plans, we’re going to stay with Jason and his friends this
weekend.

  The idea that she would have to wear a bathing suit in front of Jason and his friends was terrifying. If Lily wasn’t set to come for the weekend, she would have tried to find a way out of the proposal, but her friend needed the getaway.

  Her phone vibrated. Minka reached over and read the message.

  Great! I want to meet some hotties.

  Smiling, she responded.

  I have to wear a bathing suit. What am I going to do? How do I get out of it?

  With her lower lip between her teeth, she waited for her friend to answer. When it didn’t come, Minka rose and walked over to the bathroom. She spotted the scale at once. Closing her eyes, she grimaced over the misstep. Jason had to have noticed, yet he said nothing. Surely he must have concluded she was crazy. What woman in her correct mindset would travel with a scale? She smirked, but then again the women Jason frequented probably didn’t even own such a device. They didn’t need to. They were all perfectly built with curves in all the right places.

  Minka was still standing in the bathroom when she heard Jason calling her. Stepping into the bedroom, she walked over to meet him.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. She was sure she looked like she had just seen a ghost and was forever grateful at the sound of her phone on the nightstand. With quick steps, she read the text message from Lily.

  So, what’s the problem?

  Typical answer from Lily, she thought. It made sense because her friend, as supportive as she was, also belonged in the physically perfect category.

  “I was texting Lily to advise her of the change of plans.”

  He stood watching her for what seemed like an eternity. A part of her wanted to run into his arms, strip herself of her clothing and let him see all of her. Would he reject her? She didn’t think he would. Jason might have not promised her infinity, but he had not given her any reason to think he would walk away from her. She met his gaze and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling vulnerable and safe around him all at once.