by LK Farlow
I look to Natalie for help, but the traitor just smirks at me.
“Yup. It happened, and now it’s done. A one-time thing.”
Alden steeples his fingers beneath his chin. “Really? You sure?”
My eyes roll on their own accord. “Positive.”
“Hmm,” he murmurs. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Subject change please. Talking about my sex life with my boss is crazy awkward, especially when all parties involved freaking know each other. No thanks.
“Where’s Tatum?” I ask before pouring myself a glass of ice water from the pitcher on the table.
“She’s with Alden’s parents. Should be down any second.”
I nod. “Are y’all excited for the honeymoon?”
“Yes! So much. But, at the same time, we’ll miss Tatum like crazy,” Natalie replies, her voice a strange mixture of elation and anguish.
Alden immediately begins whispering in his wife’s ear, trying to soothe her. The moment is intimate, and I look away, opting to study the menu to offer them a bit of privacy.
As I read over the choices, family and friends begin filing in and filling the chairs around us. Conversation flows, as does coffee, bottomless mimosas, and Bloody Marys.
After about fifteen minutes, a team of smartly dressed servers descend upon the table. “If everyone is here, we’ll begin taking orders,” one of them announces.
Natalie catches my eye, and I can tell we’re both thinking the exact same thing: everyone but Nate is here, and I can’t help but feel that his absence is entirely my fault.
chapter nine
Jenny
It’s been a month and a half since Natalie and Alden’s wedding. A whopping forty-two days since I last saw Nate. Coincidence? I think not. I’m honestly not sure whether I’m insulted or impressed by his efforts to avoid me.
Every single time Natalie has invited me over, Nate has been absent. Which, at first, wasn’t suspicious at all. I mean, he’s a cop and works long hours. But for him to be missing from every cookout and get together they’ve had—yeah, I’m not buying it.
But today his luck runs out, because I know there’s no way on God’s green earth he’d miss Tatum’s fourth birthday party. Aside from her being the peas to his carrots, she’d never let him live it down, bossy little thing that she is.
Currently, I’m flipping through the clothes hanging on the little industrial wall-mounted rod that I use as a closet, searching for the perfect outfit. I need something that screams waking up without you totally didn’t hurt…not even a little. Is that a lot to say via clothing? Probably. But I’m damn sure going to try.
The party starts in an hour, and I’m still wrapped in my robe, holding hangers up to my reflection and tossing the maybes down onto my bed. I’m just about ready to start narrowing down my selections when the sound of the doorbell ringing echoes through my cottage. Who in the heck could that be?
A glance through the peephole has me squealing in delight and flinging open the door. Without giving him a single second to prepare, I’m throwing myself into his arms and hugging him tight. “Oh my God! Where have you been?”
“Careful,” he whispers in my ear. “You keep this up, and I might get to thinkin’ you’re excited to see me.”
I step back from our embrace, smacking my palm against his chest as I go. “You hush. I am excited to see you. Seriously, where have you been?”
He shrugs. “Around. You know, here…there. You gonna ask me in?”
“What?” I snort. “Are you a vampire now?”
He lunges for me, acting as if he’s going to bite my neck. “I vant to suck your blooood,” he says, doing his best Dracula impersonation, and we both crack up.
“I’ve missed this—I’ve miss you, Jamie.”
“Missed you, too, Jenny-cake. Now, invite me in, or I’ll storm the castle by force. It’s hotter than a football player’s jockstrap out here.”
Grinning, I push the front door all the way open to lead my favorite—and only—cousin inside. “Welcome to my humble abode,” I tell him, sweeping my arm in a wide arc. “It’s not much, but it’s all mine.”
“Not much, my ass,” Jamie mumbles as he drinks in my little cottage. Well, I call it a cottage. Really, it’s a tiny-house—almost a freaking she-shed—tucked away toward the back of a little patch of woods my grandparents own. The land was bought with the intentions of building a family vacation home down here to escape the cold Smoky Mountain winters.
However, it’s been a few years, and construction has yet to start, so my grandparents graciously allowed me to call this little back corner my own. In return, I keep the grass tidy and the flower beds weed free. Really, it’s a win-win.
I take in the space through Jamie’s eyes, wondering what he thinks of it. It’s definitely compact, but it still has an airy feel—largely in part to the two huge sliding glass doors that make up the side wall, and the two skylights. The light, ashy oak floors and cream-colored walls help as well. From the front door, it’s a straight shot back to the kitchen, which is decked out with slightly-smaller-than-average stainless-steel appliances—it’s not by any means gourmet, like my best friend’s kitchen, but it gets the job done.
Along the wall opposite of my sliding doors, I have a little sitting area with a mounted flat screen, a loveseat, a coffee table, and a plush floor cushion that serves as the perfect seat to eat my dinners on.
Beyond that, there’s a set of five wider-than-usual steps that double as storage and lead up to the loft area where I sleep. And housed beneath the staircase is a three-piece bathroom that works just perfect for what I need.
“Jenny. This is amazing. When Geema said you were living in a shed, I definitely did not envision something that looked like this. Your pad looks like it could be the feature on small-space-living in Southern Home or some shit.”
I blush at his praise. My parents and grandparents are total technophobes, and I have yet to be able to convince them that I’m not living in a hovel. Jamie’s been off the grid, so to speak, or I would’ve had him video chat them just to prove them wrong.
“It’s exactly what I need right now.”
“Well, I approve and will sing my praises high and low when I get home.”
“You’re the best, Jamie-pop.”
He grins and hip checks me as he sets off up the stairs. “Jenny, why are your clothes everywhere? It’s like your wardrobe exploded.”
Oh, shit! Tatum’s party! “What time is it?” I ask him as I fly up the stairs after him.
“Half past twelve,” he replies, cocking his head to the side.
“Crap!”
Jamie quirks a brow at me. “What’s your deal?”
“It’s my best friend, Natalie, daughter’s fourth birthday party, and I’m gonna be late.”
“So, get dressed and go. I’ll chill here until you get back.”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “I…it’s not that simple.”
“It’s a kiddie party, not a fashion show.”
I toss myself back onto my bed, directly on top of the clothes I tossed there, and cover my face with my hands. “It really is, though.”
Jamie plops down next to me. “Why?”
“Well, there’s this guy—”
“Tell Papa J everything!”
Some of the anxiety knotted in my guts melts away as I laugh. “Okay, first of all, never refer to yourself as Papa J ever again. And second…it’s Natalie’s brother. We hooked up at her wedding in March, and he’s been avoiding me ever since.”
My cousin pops up off the bed. “Why? Did you go stage five?”
I roll my eyes. “Nope. Even if I wanted to, Nate didn’t give me the chance. He was gone before I woke, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“I see. Well, in that case, you need to look hott—that’s with two Ts, by the way.” He stands from the bed before offering me a hand. Wordlessly, he begins sifting through the pile on my bed. I’m skeptical when he grabs a pair of bla
ck cut-offs and a plain white slouchy tee. “Go change.”
I turn my back to him and do as he says, because honestly, everything I know about fashion has been handed down to me by my cousin dearest. Dude’s got an eye for what works. I shimmy into the shorts and pull the shirt over my head. It’s cute in a casual way, but nothing special. Maybe he’s lost his touch?
“I don’t know about this, Jamie,” I say, spinning back to face him.
“Well, not like that.” He moves over to me and quickly draws the hem of the shirt into a loose knot in the front, revealing more of my shape while still being tasteful. “Now, accessorize.” A delicate gold chain and arm cuff later, and I see he was absolutely right. I look hott, with two Ts.
As we make our way down the stairs, I ask him, “Are you sure you’ll be fine here while I’m out?”
He scoffs. “Well, yes, I would be. But I think I’ll tag along.”
Knowing that he’ll be by my side has a little more of my apprehension leaving me. “You’re the best, Jamie-pop.”
“Damn straight I am. Let’s roll.”
chapter ten
Nate
I wouldn’t say I’ve been avoiding Jenny, except the chicken-shit that I am, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. But today, seeing her is unavoidable. Even worse, I’m filled with equal parts excitement and dread.
These warring feelings have me questioning if I’ve suddenly become a teenage girl or some shit. However, all of my emotional turmoil over seeing Jenny Jones will just have to wait, because right now, I need to help my niece celebrate.
Gift in hand, I let myself into Natalie and Alden’s house as the note on the front door instructs. I head straight through and out the kitchen door to the backyard, where the party seems to already be in full swing.
Their already-amazing backyard has been completely transformed into any kid’s dream. There’s a bounce house in the back right corner, an oversized bowling setup, chalk to draw on the patio with, bubbles, and more.
My sister spots me immediately and breaks away from Alden to come and greet me. “You’re here!” she exclaims, as if I’d be any place else.
“I am. Where’s my girl?”
Natalie’s eyes glint with something, and while I can’t quite name it, I don’t like it. “Jenny? She’s not here yet.”
I grit my teeth together. “Not. Who. I. Meant.” Should have seen this shit coming. Ever since our vanishing act at her wedding, my sister and her husband have been giving me relentless shit, trying to get me to admit that I was with Jenny. But, forget that; they don’t need to know shit.
Like the little brat she is, Natalie just laughs. “Yeah, I know. Tatum is in the bouncy house with a few friends.”
I give her a terse nod and set off in that direction, stopping by the gift table on my way. However, before I can make it across the yard, Alden closes in on me.
“ ‘Sup, brother,” Alden calls out, clapping me on the back. “Glad you made it.”
I roll my eyes at my best friend, opting to not engage. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“Right, right,” he murmurs in a smarmy tone that he knows will get under my skin.
“Got something you want to say?” I ask as I scan the backyard. It is quickly filling with more and more people—most with little rug-rats in tow. But still no Jenny. Not that I’m looking for her.
Alden answers my question with one of his own. “Looking for anyone in particular?”
My eyes fly back to him. “Nope. No one. Just taking it all in.”
He nods knowingly. “Ah, and here I thought maybe you were looking for Jen—”
A loud yell pierces the air, cutting him off. “Uncle Nate! You’re here!” Saved by Tatum, thank God.
I squat down, bringing me closer to her height. “Of course I am, Tater Tot.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and practically tackle-hugs me to the ground. “I’m so-so-so happy you’re here! Will you jump with me?”
I look from my niece to the bounce house and back. “I might be a little big for that, but what if we bowl?”
Tatum steps back from me and thinks it over for a second. “Deal.” She sticks her little hand out toward me, and I shake it. “Now, c’mon, Uncle Nate. Time’s a wasting.”
I can’t help but smile at her sweet, bossy, quirky nature. This kid really is something else.
We’re on our third frame when Jenny arrives. I haven’t seen her, or heard her, but I swear, the air changes with her presence. I can physically feel that she’s here, and really, it kind of agitates me. What right does she have to have that kind of power over me?
Discreetly, I scan the yard. When my eyes land on her, my agitation morphs into anger. She’s dressed casually, yet somehow, she looks like sex personified. And to make matters even worse, she didn’t come alone. Who brings a fucking date to a kid’s party? And don’t even get me started on the D-bag glued to her side, with his pansy-ass glasses and flannel shirt. It’s May, and the dude is dressed like a lumberjack.
I try to look away from her and to focus all of my attention on Tatum, but my eyes—and my thoughts—keep drifting to her. She looks so damn beautiful it hurts. I want so badly to pull her aside and ask who the guy is, but that’s irrational as hell, seeing as I have no claim to her.
If anything, I should be happy to see she’s moved on so easily—after all, I’m the one who repeatedly told her I wasn’t the man for her. But, that doesn’t mean Hipster McGee is either.
“Uncle Nate!” Tatum yelling draws my attention back to her. “I got a strike! I’m winning!”
“For now,” I tell her, doing my best evil villain impersonation.
“Puh-lease,” she scoffs with all of the sass of a four-year-old can manage—which is a lot. “Everyone knows girls rule and boys drool.”
“Everyone, huh? Everyone like who?”
“Ugh! Tell him, Miss Jenny.” My spine goes ramrod straight at her name.
I turn to face her. With my gaze low, I start at her feet and drag my eyes slowly up her sexy, exposed legs. Not caring one bit that her date is right beside her, I pause at the small, barely there sliver of exposed skin at her waist, remembering just how her belly quivered under my touch, before continuing up to meet her eyes.
“Yeah,” I rasp out. “Tell me, Jenny.”
Her cheeks pink at my charged tone, but her eyes are hard. “It’s scientifically proven. There’s even a book or two about it, Nate.”
I smirk at her. Damn, a lot has changed since that night. In the past, she would have blushed and mumbled something incoherent before excusing herself. I gotta say, though—this new, confident Jenny is hella hot.
“If it’s in a book, it must be true,” I murmur.
Instead of responding to me, she crouches down and addresses Tatum. With their heads bent toward one another, they talk in hushed whispers too low for me to hear.
I continue ignoring Jenny’s boy toy, but with the way he’s openly glaring at me, it’s getting a little awkward. I mean, what is this dude’s issue?
However, I’ve never been a pansy, so I stick my hand out to him and introduce myself. “Nate Reynolds, and you are?” Hopefully my sizing up the competition—so to speak—comes across as a friendly gesture, even if it’s anything but.
“Jameson Reed.” He shakes my hand with a strong grip—the kind that says he has something to prove. Well, guess what, buddy? So do I…I’m just not sure what it is yet, because the pretty little thing crouched at my feet seemingly has me tied in knots.
After what feels like forever, Jenny stands. “Tatum, I’d like you to meet my…Jamie.”
As if she’s only now noticed his presence, Tatum’s gaze snaps over to him. “Oh, um, hi,” she squeaks out before giggling down at her feet.
Jamie offers her what appears to be a genuine smile. “I hear today’s a special day.”
Tatum bounces on the balls of her feet, nodding. “It’s my birthday. I’m four.”
“Four? Oh, wow. I
thought you were at least seven!” Jamie croons, like the suck up he is.
“No, silly. Just four. But, that’s still almost growed up. Do you…you have a girlfriend?” She rushes out that last bit, and damn if I’m not waiting with bated breath for his answer.
Except he gives nothing away; he only grins. “Aren’t you a little young for all that?”
Tatum rolls her eyes. “My daddy says I am. He says I can’t date until I’m thirty. But, if you wanted to be my boyfriend, I bet he’d be okay.”
“You’re a cutie, kiddo, but we’d better listen to your dad, okay?”
Tatum pouts for a minute but ultimately agrees. This dude is making it hard to hate him with how sweet he’s being to my niece. That is, until I see him wrap his pinky finger around Jenny’s—a subtle yet familiar gesture.
I’m itching to find an out as an awkward silence settles over our little group. But, when in the company of kids, silence never lasts long. “Mr. Jamie, did you know my uncle Nate is a police officer?”
Jamie regards me coolly. “Is he? That’s a good job to have.” I can’t tell if he’s dissing me or not.
“He is! He has a badge and handcuffs and a gun and everything! What do you do?”
“I’m a pilot.”
Tatum’s eyes double in size. “Like you fly an airplane? A real airplane?”
“Sure do.”
“That is so cool!” Tatum squeals. “I’ve never been on a plane!”
“Wanna know what’s even cooler?” Jenny asks, and Tatum nods furiously. “Jamie doesn’t just fly the big planes, he also works with a charity organization and helps them. Sometimes he helps flies in supplies to places that don’t have easy access, and other times, he helps transport sick people to hospitals that are far, far away.”
I’m not sure Tatum even knows what half of that means, but she’s looking at Jamie with hero worship in her eyes anyway. “Whoa. Is that why you have those big muscles? From all that helping people?”
At that, both Jamie and Jenny smile. Me, though—I scowl. “Nope, those are from CrossFit.”
“Okay, Tater Tot,” I interrupt, not wanting to hear anymore of this bullshit. “Let’s finish our game so you can go play with your friends.”
