I need her to be sure on her own, but there’s nothing that says I can’t get ready for when she comes around to my way of thinking, now is there?
HAYDEN
“I could kiss you right now.”
From across the powder blue booth in Tulah’s Diner, Amelia wrinkles her nose. “Please don’t. You’ve kissed my brother and probably had other parts of his body in that mouth.”
“Oh, my God.” I cover my face with my hands to hide my bark of laughter and the heat in my cheeks. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
“Me, too, because that visual…” She shivers and makes a gagging face. “No thanks.”
I giggle again and slide my glass to the edge of the table as the waitress comes over with a pitcher of fresh lemonade. I thank her and turn back to Amelia. “So, you think your mom will go for this? I mean, it’s a little shady.”
“My mother has been on cloud nine since you came back to town. In fact, if she knew that Jesse was being a schmuck right now, she’d be all up in his business about it.”
“He’s not really being a schmuck,” I sigh, stirring the straw through the drink. “He has a point.”
She surveys me for a moment, eyes dancing back and forth between mine. “If he walked through the door right now and dropped to one knee, what would you say?”
“I’d tackle him before he even got the question out.”
She laughs. “Okay, then.”
“I love him, Amelia. He’s the best person I have ever known.”
“He is pretty awesome,” she agrees. “As far as brothers go. But don’t you dare tell him I said that.”
“You talking about me?” Out of nowhere, Jinx appears, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans with a Cheshire cat smirk on his face.
“Stay back, Satan,” Amelia snarks, making a cross with her fingers. “I did not summon you.”
He chuckles, and probably to piss her off, slides into my side of the booth. “I know you’re not talking about Jesse, because there’s nothing awesome about that ass face.”
Amelia snorts and I punch him in the thigh. “That’s my man you’re talking about.”
He grins as the waitress strolls over with a take-out container in hand. “Thanks, Tate. Can I get a Coke and some silverware? Probably just gonna eat this here to annoy Amelia.”
When he winks, the young girl bites her lip and lowers her lashes coyly. “Sure thing, Jinx.”
Quick movement ensues beneath the table and then Jinx jumps. “The hell, Lee!”
“She’s a senior in high school!” Amelia scolds.
“I’m just being friendly, jeez.”
“Well, don’t be.” Her glare is so intense even I shiver. “I already have one brother acting like a moron right now, I don’t need two.”
He glowers for a moment before shifting his gaze to me. “So, Jesse’s being stupid, huh? I wondered why you were here with Lee instead of him and Jett.”
While he opens the take-out box and pops a french fry into his mouth, I give him the rundown on what happened. By the time I finish, he’s going to town on his burger.
“So, what are you going to do?” he asks as soon as he’s done chewing. “You got any ideas?”
“I have a few.” Amelia and I share a smile. “You want to help?”
He dips his chin. “Hell yes, I do. I’ll never pass up an opportunity to make my brother eat his words.”
“You know that neither of you have to do this.” I glance between them, grateful for their company and even more grateful for their willingness to listen and not immediately think the worst of me.
“We love you, girl.” Amelia reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “And we’ve known for a long time how much Jesse loves you, too. We’re doing this for him, just as much as we are for you.”
Silly tears begin to sting in my eyes and I wave a hand in front of my face. “You guys…”
Jinx slings an arm around my shoulder and kisses my temple. “This is what family does, Hay. And you’re part of ours.”
Chapter 31
JESSE
“Daddy, I have to poop again.”
Are you friggin’ kidding me? Our asses haven’t even hit the pew yet.
“One of these times you’ll remember to make him go before you leave home,” Ma mutters, barely glancing up from the weekly bulletin and clearly not interested in bailing me out this time.
“Come on, little man.” I grab his hand and lead him back down the outside aisle, only to do a double take when we near the last pew. Hayden’s seated on the opposite end near the middle aisle, smiling sadly when she spots Jett and he doesn’t notice her.
We didn’t talk at all yesterday, which means she hasn’t spoken to or seen him since Friday afternoon when I took him to Becca’s. We decided to go back to splitting our time with him and, since my weeks are so busy, she offered to let me keep him over the weekend. I feel like a complete dick for agreeing to that, seeing her now.
Which is why, when we return from the bathroom, I nudge Jett ahead of me, telling him to go back by Grammy, so I can dip in by Hayden.
“Hey,” I whisper, squatting down beside her in the middle aisle. “Why don’t you come and sit with us? Jett will love it.”
“It’s okay. I’m good,” she says with that same defeated smile.
“No lying in church, city girl, now come on.” I tip my head toward the front and, after a reluctant moment, she stands and follows. “Look who I found,” I say quietly to Jett, letting Hayden slide into my spot next to him, while I take the outside seat next to her.
Jett leaps into her arms and she barely gets her hand over his mouth in time to cover his squeal, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“I’m happy to see you, too, sweet pea,” she whispers before pressing a smacking kiss to his cheek.
Ma’s eyes meet mine behind them and a slow, pleased smile tips her lips. She reaches across the back of the bench to rub my shoulder, too.
I’m not going to enjoy the third degree I’ll get later when Hayden doesn’t join us for lunch, but right now, sitting next to her like this… it feels right. She’s been family in my heart for so long and to have her here, mixing in with our crazy bunch like it’s the most natural thing in the world, it does something for me. Something I can’t explain, except to say that I really hope I didn’t make a mistake by cooling things down. Because I like this. A lot.
“You have enough room?” she asks quietly, as the church bells ring and Jett wiggles his butt between her and Ma, forcing her shoulder and hip into mine.
“Yep.” Though I’m definitely going to have a hard time walking out when the service is over, given she’s wearing one of those short, flowery dresses and I know all too well what’s hidden beneath it.
“Good.” She smiles up at me, and with her eyes locked on mine, not only sets her hand on my thigh, but curls it around so that her fingers are tucked between my leg and the seat. “Let me know if that changes.”