Page 20 of Jaime's Story

“Not really,” Jillian answers as Maia tries to back out of the room.

“Stay, you’re family, even if you don’t share any DNA with us. Serena’s with the kids or she’d be up here too,” Julie reassures her, and Jasmine gives her a little hug putting a hint of color in Maia’s cheeks. “We choose our own family around here, and sometimes we like the ones we pick a bit more than those with our DNA,” she adds to her in a whisper.

“Isn’t that the truth,” Jillian states shooting a look my way making my brow lift curiously. “Don’t give me that look. Who was it that went out with Natalie last weekend and didn’t invite me?”

“We had a double-date with Jamison and Natalie. I didn’t go out with her by myself,” I argue returning her look. “And it’s not like we planned to do a double-date. It’s not our fault the restaurant didn’t realize that Jamison and I both made reservations since the restaurant only included the first initial and last name on them and thought it was a duplicate, resulting in them being short a table.”

“Why did you make the reservation instead of Bryan?” Jasmine asked and I let out a soft laugh as a flush slipped onto my cheeks.

“Because it was supposed to be a surprise. Wyatt and I finished up the second series of videos we were asked to do, so I don’t have to go in early anymore. Which meant being able to stay out later or meet him more often than we had been,” I state with a little shrug. Not about to add that I’d hoped the romantic spot would get him to finally give me a damn kiss.

The man is driving me mad with want—need. I could deal with the depth of it a whole lot better if he’d just give me some kisses. I didn’t think I’d end up having to share the romantic evening with my brother which kept Bryan from really even touching me unfortunately.

“Stay out later as in stay out all night?” Jasmine asks, wiggling her brows at me with a grin. “It’s going to be a whole lot harder for you to keep Dad from knowing you’re out than it was for me still being over here instead of in the east wing.”

“Well, it’s not like he’s got anything to worry about,” I grouse drawing five curious faces my way as Jillian’s jaw dropped a hint.

“Wait, he still hasn’t kissed you?” she asks.

“No,” I sigh. “He told me before the dance that he was sure if he did it’d spiral out of control too fast but that’s been over a month ago now and he’s still holding back.”

“Guess that’s something else you and Jackie seem to have in common,” Julie says giving us both little grins. “I mean she’s the one that was calling to complain to me when Ethan wouldn’t…”

“Stop it,” Jackie says with a groan, her cheeks filling with color. “Yes, Ethan wouldn’t fully make love to me until we were married because he was certain Dad would flip out if I got pregnant before the wedding. He did plenty of other things with me that I loved then and still love now to get us by until then at least. I wouldn’t worry about what Dad might do; he’s mellowed a lot more since then.”

“Plus while you’re one of his little girls still, everyone knows that he was so overboard when it came to Jackie because she was Mom 2.0 in looks and needs,” Jasmine adds. “I mean, he knew I was living with Adam before we got married.”

“But you were also engaged the majority of the time you were,” Jillian states and Jasmine gave a little shrug of acknowledgement over it. “Not to mention Adam while not a full-fledged extrovert like you, was a lot more comfortable with the big group than it seems Bryan is.”

“I don’t think it’s that,” a new voice behind the girls says drawing our attention to Jennie in surprise.

“You don’t?” Julie asks her and she shakes her head no, giving me a grin that’s nowhere near a normal Jennie smile but so much better than that blank stare that’s been a near permanent fixture on her face unless she was crying.

“No. I’ve seen the way he looks at Jaime. I think it’s more likely that he’s trying to be cognizant of the fact that Jaime’s not the kind of girl who’s comfortable being the center of attention,” she adds making my brow lift a bit in surprise. “Every time he stops in to pick you up his eyes devour you. He’s holding on by a very thin thread. When it snaps, he’s not going to be able to hold back, and since it seems most of your dates are in public…”

“They all have been,” I admit with another sigh, telling them about Bryan’s concerns about the guys thinking he was just someone to date rather than someone I was serious about with their lack of concern towards us, as well as his statements about us being from different social circles.

“So it sounds like you’re going to have to make the first move again,” Jillian says giving me a grin. “It worked out well the first time, didn’t it?”

“What’s that mean?” Jackie asked as I flush again, the color easily seen.

I fill them in on what led us to going to dinner that first night, then tell them the one thing I’d been holding onto the last two weeks. “He had flashes of his ex…fiancée when he saw me out with Jill, or the girls, and even us out shopping or getting something to eat so often.”

“I’m sorry, did you say ex-fiancée?” Jillian snorts, her eyes a bright blue burning shock.

“Yeah, they dated in high school and got engaged before they went to college. Him here and her out in LA. She didn’t want to come back when they were graduating so he went out to see her only to find her ‘knocking boots’ with two guys when they’d said they’d wait until marriage for that,” I add making brows lift again. “While they were in school, she never wanted to stay home with just him.”

“So us dragging you out of the house was doing the opposite of what we’d wanted to happen?” Jillian asked, her face scrunching a bit when I nod. “At least I convinced you to make the first move.”

“Convinced me? I think it was more of a challenge, wasn’t it?” I tease her. “It’s fine, really. He knows that I’m not lying when I say I’d rather be at home than out, he just hasn’t picked up the hint that it also means I’d rather stay in with him than even go out to eat.”

“I’d say then you’re going to have to tease or talk him into it the way I ended up pushing Ethan into us doing more before the wedding. At least he has his own place, and the guys don’t have keys to it,” Jackie adds making me laugh a little.

“Just make sure he knows that you don’t care how big and grand it is too,” Jennie says giving my hand a squeeze. “He may feel a bit hesitant to take you to his place when he’s always coming here to pick you up.”

“Ooohh…what if you surprise him by just stopping by his place one night,” Jillian suggests her eyes twinkling and I have to admit, it’s not a bad idea if I can’t get him to take me there himself.

“You could wait at the office one night to make sure that he’s home. Then take your favorites over and just surprise him at the door wearing something that will have him swallowing his tongue,” Jennie says with a nod and another grin for us that makes me feel so much better to see. I don’t know if I’d be saying the same thing if positions were reversed, wanting to see a new couple together and happy.

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