Page 38 of Despite It All
I think Jett has the same feeling because he’s now staring at my lips, begging for the green light. I feel goosebumpsprickle my skin as his hands slowly slide up and down my arm.
Jett lets out a sigh. “Go change, Wy. Dinner will be ready when you get back.” He says it, and I hear it, but I can’t move. Not with his hands still on me. What could one more taste hurt?
“Mommy! I found a place,” Stevie yells from her room, and that does it. I step back and Jett’s hands leave my side. He gives me a soft smile and turns back to stir the food on the stove.
I can’t bring myself to say anything, so I tuck my tail and run. I grab a pair of command strips from the hall closet and put Stevie’s picture up where she requests then change into a pair of black leggings and my favorite pale orange crew neck.
I duck into my bathroom for a quick glance. Boy, was this a mistake. Why do I look so tired? I quickly dab a little bit of tinted moisturizer on my face and rub it in. My hair was pulled back half up by a hair tie, but I want to curse fine hair. It almost seems to clump together and looks stringy. Ugh. I run a brush through it and ultimately just decide to throw it in a clip.
Not entirely satisfied, but I feel a little better about going back out there now. I take one last look then get pissed at myself. Damn it, Wyla, you shouldn’t be fussing overyour appearance. We are not trying to impress Jett. His relationship with Stevie is your priority, not this.
Walking back to the kitchen, I give myself an internal stern talking to. We are not going to kiss Jett tonight. We are not going to fall for his charms… or his muscles… or those blue eyes.
When I turn the corner, Jett has three plates of pasta on the table. “The boss told me where each plate needs to go.” He laughs, and sits across from Stevie.
I slide into my designated spot next to Stevie. “Yeah, one day I tried to eat in a different seat and she let me know that was not okay.”
Stevie huffs. “That’s Mommy’s seat. This is my seat and now that’s Daddy’s seat.”
“I won’t dare sit anywhere else,” Jett jokes. And when Stevie seems pacified, he winks at me.
My stomach flips and my cheeks heat. No. Bad Wyla.
“So, Stevie, did you have a good day today?” I ask, going back to my regular tactic of keeping Stevie the main focus of all conversation.
“Yeah, I did. Daddy bought me a Barbie like you Mommy. Well, kind of. She’s the animal doctor, but it’s close. But me and Daddy said you are just as important as the doctor.”
Ah, my ever honest child. “Well, I’m glad you think I’m important.” I push the side of her hair behind her ear and behind her shoulder so it’s not hanging in her dinner.
“That’s what we said,” Stevie says, sounding exasperated.
I shake my head as Jett chuckles. “Stevie was a big help today. It seems someone else doesn't think I’m very bright either. Who knew I could be so wrong about so many things?”
With everything that I walked into after work, I don’t think this man could do anything wrong ever again. “Oh, yeah? What new things did you learn today?”
“Reaching for the red roses when the orange ones were right next to them was my first mistake.”
I snicker as I take a bite of this amazing dinner. I’m telling myself it is so good because I didn’t make it. I swear, meals taste better when you weren’t the one slaving over them.
“Then, I didn’t put the Barbies in the right place in the dollhouse when we were cleaning up. Barbie Rapunzel does not go in the bedroom.”
I shake my head, knowing Stevie gave him the whole speech with that move. “Oh no, she goes in the tower. Rookie mistake. She give you the full reason behind it?”
“Oh, in heavy detail.” Jett smiles at Stevie, and I know that not a moment of today was a burden on him.
My chest hurts the same way it has all week. He’s missed so much of her life, all because I was too chicken shit to stay the next morning and ask for his number. I was too scared of the rejection so I left.
I spent a lot of the meal dwelling on my actions five years ago. I do my best to mask it, but I’m positive Jett’s picked up on my mood change. I can barely bring myself to make eye contact with him without feeling like I need to apologize.
Once all of our plates are clean, I stand up and stack up all of the plates. “Alright, Stevie, you can play until I finish the dishes but then we have to start getting ready for bed.”
“Okay, Mommy!” Stevie jumps out of her chair and she’s gone in a flash.
I shake my hand with a small chuckle under my breath as I head to the sink but Jett stands and tries to take the plates out of my hand. “I got it, Wy. Go spend some time with Stevie.”
I pull them back. “No, Jett, you already cleaned and made dinner. The least I can do is these dishes.” I try to side step him but he blocks me.
“Wyla, there is no scoreboard here. I got to spend hours with her today and you didn’t. It will take me fifteen minutes to clean this up. Now, go.”
