Yup, things are changing, all right. Something in my pants. But I don’t tell her that. Instead, I sit through the forty-five-minute service with a raging fucking hard-on and gut full of regret.
I might’ve put us on ice, but something tells me she isn’t going to make it easy on me.
HAYDEN
“I’m thinking tomorrow,” I mutter to Jinx as we file out of church. “I know it’s last minute, but the sooner we do it, the better.”
He nods. “Yep, I can make that work. Good with Amelia?”
“Uh huh.”
He flashes a discreet smile. “Then, I guess we have a date.”
I bite back a smile of my own, because, holy crap, I’m doing this. I’m really doing this.
JESSE
“It was nice to see Hayden in church today,” Ma says a couple of hours later when I come in from the patio to grab a drink for Jett, who’s pushing trucks around on the deck with Jinx while Dad and Aiden talk baseball.
“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?” She’s not Catholic, so it had surprised me a little, too.
“We talked for a second on the way out and it sounds like we’re going to bring the office applicants in for interviews as soon as possible, huh?”
We are? That’s news to me, although it’s probably for the best. I can’t have Hayden putting in extra time for me forever, especially given the current state of things. And the fact that she’s still helping out, despite what happened on Friday night... well, that says a lot about her character. Says a lot about mine, as well, knowing I shoved her away in one regard, but need to keep her close in another. What a dick.
“Right,” I say tightly. “She’s got her own work to do. Can’t be doing mine forever.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t mind.” Ma smiles as she tosses a pasta salad and I’m reminded that, aside from Aiden, no one knows we’ve taken a step back. “Anyway, I’m looking forward to you finally finding some permanent help.”
Yeah, me, too. Except, I’d like it even more if that permanent help were Hayden and doesn’t that make me an even bigger, hypocritical dick.
“Oh, and don’t forget the heritage festival is next weekend, too. Please tell me you don’t have any jobs scheduled.”
Ugh, that friggin’ festival. I scratch a hand through my hair and sigh. “No, unfortunately.”
Ma gives me a knowing glare. “Don’t be a party pooper. You know you always have fun.”
I don’t mind the festival. The food is great and it’s always nice to see old friends and family. Jett loves the carnival part of it and the street dance at the end of the night is always a good time. It’s the damn heritage part I’m not a fan of. Specifically, the Polish garb Ma makes us all wear.
“Jett’s outfit fits, by the way. Though, he’s about as thrilled to wear it as I am.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, you boys. It’s one day. And not even the whole day, so suck it up, buttercups.”
“Do we have a choice?” I ask, grabbing a bottle of apple juice from the fridge.
“Nope.” She flashes a grin over her shoulder and bats her eyelashes. “And you can bet your dupa that as long as I’m alive you’ll be wearing your stroje ludowe to every single festival.”
I don’t want to, but, dammit, I grin. “Great.”
She laughs. “Just think of how handsome you’ll look for Hayden.”
Fuck. I hadn’t thought about that. And I know she plans on going, because she signed up for the pie baking contest.
“Aww, you’re blushing,” Ma teases. “Maybe we’ll get her into a dress next year, too.”
If she’s still around next year, I’ll gladly dress up with her.
“Daddy, my drink!” Jett yells through the patio door and Ma chuckles again.
“I love you, Jesse Aaron,” she coos, as I sigh and offer a half-assed smile.
“Love you, too, Ma.”
HAYDEN
By the time Jett and Jesse pull in just before six o’clock, I’ve worked myself up into a nervous frenzy.
I’ve paced and prayed and cooked my butt off all afternoon. It wasn’t part of my “be brave” plan, but Jesse’s sort of olive branch at church inspired me.
“Mama, I’m back!” Jett hollers as he bounds through the door a few seconds ahead of Jesse.
“Sweet pea!” I throw open my arms and scoop him up into a bear hug. “How was your afternoon?”
“We went fishing and I caught a big one!”
“You did?” My gaze meets Jesse’s over Jett’s shoulder and he shakes his head, using his fingers to indicate it was barely a few inches. “I’m so proud of you!”
“We having fajitas?” he asks, wiggling out of the hug and back to the floor. “I’m hungry!”
“We sure are.” And as tempting as it is to ask Jesse to stay, I’m not going to. I’ve done something else instead. “Why don’t you go and get washed up while I help Daddy carry some stuff out to his truck.”
“Okay!” He hurries off and I go to the boxes on the table.
“This is for you,” I say to Jesse without making eye contact. “Can you grab the bigger one? I’ve got the small one.”
In my peripheral, he eyes me suspiciously, hands tucked into his pockets.
“What is it?” he asks, taking a reluctant step forward.
“Food. Because I know you’ll be too busy again this week to cook. The chicken casserole and the stuffed shells are still warm, so you’ll have to put them in the fridge as soon as you get home.”
“Hayden…” He’s close enough now to see exactly what I’ve done and not be happy about it.
“I love you and need you to eat, okay? Now grab the box.” I pick up the small one, full of dessert and salad fixings, and wait at the door, using my hip to keep it open.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“Well, I did and there’s nothing you can do about it. Now grab the box.”
He scrubs a hand around his jaw, but ultimately does as I say. “Jesus Christ, this is more than two things.”
“It’s enough for five days. Lunch, too.”
“Babe…”
Mmm hmm, frat boy. Tell me again that I don’t know what I want, I dare you.
“You trying to prove a point or something?”
I pop my lips with a pointed, “Yup.”
He makes a throaty sound, but doesn’t say more as he carries the box to his truck. I follow and wait patiently while he situates both in the back seat next to Jett’s booster seat.
“Thank you,” he mutters, clearly thrown off by the gesture. “You really didn’t need to do all of that.”
“I wanted to. Again, because I love you.” And I’ll say it a million more times if that’s what it takes for him to believe me.
He chuckles lightly and then abruptly stops, his eyes on my chest. “Is that mine?”