“I’m not,” I countered, feeling my eyes starting to droop from all the excitement and yummy treats. “And I love you three too. Besides, knowing the three of you, I foresee lots of… situations… like this in the future.”
“You know us so well,” Reid said, Jesse and Kingston laughing in agreement before we all fell silent again. It only took a few more minutes until my eyes had fully closed, a couple thoughts filling my mind as I started to drift off.
I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
Nebraska really is starting to be pretty perfect.
7
February 15th
My quiet, studious boyfriend reading to me? I’m in heaven.
#ReadingForTwo #Snuggles #StressFreeSaturday
“You two have fun,” Reid called, waggling his eyebrows as he and King left. I narrowed my eyes on him but didn’t say anything. Sitting in an empty room with one of your boyfriends while he reads to you can definitely be the start of something more... steamy, but there won’t be any of that since Stella and Kaleb are across the hall. The two of them were painting the spare room for Reid since his parents were finally allowing him to go get the rest of his belongings tomorrow.
“Ready, Em?” Jesse questioned softly as soon as we were alone. Nodding, I curled into his side, propping my legs in his lap.
“What are we reading?” The cover was darker with pops of orangey red embers around a woman. “Born of Embers? Looks good, what made you pick it?”
“It looked like something you’d enjoy. I ended up reading a portion the other day in class when I was done with a test early,” he explained, opening the book.
He started reading, and in the first few paragraphs my brows rose sharply. It seemed darker than our normal reads, but as he went further in, I began to realize why he picked it. The female main character was abused by her parent, but she got out and found people who cared for her. With the turn of each page, I felt more and more connected to Jesse, as if he was telling me about himself without his own words.
“Enjoying it so far, Em?” he asked after we were a few chapters in. His gentle tone was soft and hesitant, almost vulnerable. Shifting slightly, I looked up at him, my gaze trailing over his handsome face as he stared at the book.
“Yes, I am.” My fingers traced circles over his chest, the motion seeming to ground me to Jesse in our intimate moment. “I’m loving the main character's strength even in the midst of everything. How about you?”
“It’s different, but I’m finding myself enjoying it,” Jesse admitted, finally looking at me. His dark brown eyes were sparkling, but it wasn’t a happy, joyful glint. Shadows danced in front of them, his lips curling down at the corners. We didn’t talk for a long while, letting the moment of understanding grow.
“I’ve actually been having some similar kind of… reactions,” I told him quietly, hoping to help show him I understood—that I was here for him. “Like Nix, with the being on edge. Even though it’s not nearly as bad as Nix’s experience, it’s still there. Also being more worried about situations that may or may not happen. Lots of nightmares,” I rattled off, wondering if I was putting my foot in my mouth by bringing it up.
“I’m sorry, Em.” Jesse laid the book down on his stomach, his free hand coming to brush a few loose strands of hair behind my ear. “I deal with those too. Have you maybe… I don’t know… considered going to talk to someone?” he hedged tentatively.
“I was wondering if that might be a good option. I just… it’s kind of terrifying at the same time.” Voicing my fears for the first time was almost as scary as the idea of going to a therapist, but there was also a small feeling of release in letting them slip out just the tiniest bit.
“Well,” he started, his thumb tracing over my cheek, “I could go with you if you want. I could stay in the waiting room or something, so you’re not alone?”
In that moment, with such an enormous and heartfelt offer coming from Jesse, nothing else filled my mind. There was only me and Jesse. Warmth and fuzzy emotions nearly burst from my heart it was so full. Jesse might not be the most outgoing or affectionate in front of others, but in moments like these I knew that he loved and cared about me as much as I did him—as much as Reid and Kingston did.
“I’d love that,” I murmured after a little while when I realized I hadn’t said anything. A dazzling smile appeared, his warm lips pressing into my forehead in a tender kiss before he picked the book back up.
“I would too, Em. Ready for more?” he asked, shaking the book lightly. Snuggling in, I nodded.
I will always be ready for more when it comes to my boyfriends.
February 17th
No school means no stress.
#HomeworkWho #NotTodayMrDeRosa #MotivationMonday
A melodic ringing filled the room, stirring me from sleep. Grumbling under my breath, I blindly reached out to my nightstand. It took a few clumsy pats to find it, but when I did, I peeled my tired eyes open to see who the heck was calling so early.
“Good morning!” Lyla sing-songed brightly as soon as I answered. Instead of giving her an echoed sentiment—or even a greeting at all—I made some weird unintelligible sound to let her know I was listening. “Wakey, wakey, sunshine! What are you doing after school?” Lyla asked, abnormally peppy for a Monday morning. Groaning, I flipped over to my back and shoved my hair out of my face so I could talk to her.
“Uh, nothing I don’t think. Also, there’s no school today for some teacher’s work day or something but I hadn’t made many plans. Why?” I blinked and stared at the ceiling as I waited for my brain to come online from the depths of sleep.
“Okay, good. Stay free for the afternoon-evening time frame. I have somewhere I’m taking you at six.”
“That doesn’t sound at all suspicious, but all right. It at least gives me time to wake up since someone decided to call me extra early.” Finally feeling awake enough, I pushed to sitting, stretching as I did so.
“I wanted to make sure I got to you before anyone else! Also, wear workout clothes and make sure you have your hair up. I’ll let you know when I’m heading to you.”
“Okaaaaaay,” I hedged, unable to contain the hint of suspicion in the word. “I’ll play along. Just make sure we’re not going somewhere where I’ll die from exercising.”
“We won’t, Miss Dramatics. All right, you go back to bed or whatever it is your pretty little head is doing today. I’ll see you later!”
“Bye, Ly.” Chuckling to myself, I hung up and looked around. I was already up at that point, and I knew if I tried to fall back asleep, it would just make me feel worse when I finally got up. Getting off the bed, I went about my morning routine, taking a bit of extra time to pamper myself. It’s not like I have anywhere to go this morning, I told myself as I washed off the face mask when the twenty-minute timer was up. I had just tossed my hair into a messy bun and sunk down into my office chair when my phone started to ring.
“Hey, Dad,” I greeted, holding up my phone when I realized it was a video call.