Page 39 of Worthy Now
No longer able to ignore the heat of his gaze, I glance at Jake and we exchange a secretive look while everyone around us seems completely unaware of just how profound this moment truly is. Then he pulls me into his side like he needs to feel me close and presses a kiss to my temple. Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Jackie scribbles down our orders before disappearing into the kitchen.
Anna throws me a look I can’t quite decipher, tilting her head before asking, “So, are you moving in with us? Because, if so, I’d like to put in a request to renovate the spare room in the basement. There’s only so much a girl needs to know about her big brother.”
Jake hits his sister with a fierce scowl.
“What?”
“Quit making her uncomfortable.”
“Erm, I know I’ve only known you guys for a few days,” Caleb points out. “But I’m with the kid on this one. Having had firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to share a bedroom wall with you two, I gotta say. If anyone’s making people uncomfortable, it’s you guys and your vigorous lovemaking. I mean, sheesh. It never ends.”
“Word,” Anna mutters, shoving a finger down her throat and pretending to gag.
Jake chuckles, taking a generous sip of beer to hide his amusement. By the time the food arrives, the conversation around the table flows easily as we laugh and share childhood stories with Caleb, who seems to gobble them up. Jake is in the middle of telling the one about how I almost lost the tip of my index finger—it got tangled in some fishing line, and I refused to let go of the pole—when he absentmindedly dips a wing in sauce and takes a sizable bite.
His animated words come to an abrupt halt as his face transforms into a mask of terror, before he covers his mouth and starts gagging. I jump off the bench to let him up, and he tumbles out of the booth, stopping just long enough to right himself before making a mad dash to the bathroom. Jackie and Carter break into hysterics while the rest of us look on in confusion. Megan’s eyes pinball back and forth between her husband and the older woman before popping wide when realization strikes.
“Oh no, you didn’t!” she gasps, disbelief stamped all over her features. “Tell me you didn’t switch out the ranch dip for blue cheese. You better fucking run, honey, because you know he’s going to kill you the second he stops retching in there.”
Carter wipes the tears from his cheeks and seems to have a hard time catching his breath.
“Baby, if I die with the image of his face fresh in my mind, then it was well worth it. Shit, did you see the fear in his eyes?” he cackles, barely able to get the words out. Jackie leans over the table and places a can of chilled ginger ale beside his abandoned plate.
“He’s gonna need it,” she says, a mischievous twinkle in her eye that makes her seem ten years younger.
We suck in a collective breath when the door to the men’s room opens, and a sickly-looking Jake slowly makes his way back to us. No one dares say a word. His skin is still clammy when he falls into the seat beside me, and his expression can only be described as murderous as he glares at Carter, who does his very best to keep a straight face. But Jake knows him better than anyone and isn’t fooled by the innocent act.
“You know you’re dead, right? The second I feel up to it, you’re done for,” he croaks, reaching for his drink and taking a generous gulp before swirling another around in his mouth.
“Don’t be too hard on him,” Jackie says around a rattling laugh. “Believe it or not, the whole thing was actually my idea.”
Jake gapes at the older woman and presses a hand to the center of his chest, looking both heartbroken and betrayed at once.
“How could you? And here I thought we had something special.”
“Oh, don’t be a drama llama,” she scolds, not in the least affected by his puppy-dog eyes. “Ever since the original blue cheese incident, you’ve acted like such a diva. I assured you over and over that it was an honest mistake that would never happen again. I personally checked every order you placed since to ensure your delicate tastebuds wouldn’t ever have to suffer another assault. But my word wasn’t good enough for you, was it? Sitting here like a king and having Carter taste-test the damn sauce for years. Sniffing it a million times before you deemed it safe for consumption. You were a real pain in the ass, so I bided my time. Told myself I’d strike when you least expected it and teach you a lesson. And when you dipped without the customary sniff the last time you were here, that’s when I knew it was time.” Jackie puffs out her chest, looking mighty proud of herself. “I’m sorry, son,” she tries to soften the blow, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “But that’s what you get when you act all high and mighty in this town. You should’ve seen your face. Best fun I’ve had in years, but I got my revenge, and I promise I won’t do it again.”
“Damn right you won’t,” he mutters, still looking a little green around the edges. “Because no way in hell am I ever dipping my meat in your sauce again, Jackie.”
“That’s what he said,” Caleb mutters, and we all stare at him with matching expressions. “Oh, come on. Like you weren’t all thinking it.” I huff out a laugh before I snatch a wing off Jake’s plate. Submerging it in the remaining blue cheese dip, I pop it into my mouth and give a low moan of appreciation. Jake visibly pales as his upper lip curls up with distaste.
“I hope you don’t expect me to kiss that mouth anytime soon.” Jackie belts out a laugh. Giving him a good-natured slap on the back, she announces, “Wings are on the house tonight,” before she saunters off, still cackling as she goes.
“Well,” Jake says, pressing a hand to his middle. “I’m gonna head home. I’m not feeling so hot.”
“You want us to get those wings wrapped up for you?” Carter asks, still grinning widely.
“I think I’m good. Thanks for the warning, by the way. I’ll keep that in mind.” He sends Carter a dark glower and rises to his feet. Turning to his sister, he asks, “Do you need a ride, or are you staying?”
“I’ll catch a ride with Megan and Carter later, if that’s okay with you?”
“Fine by me. Just watch your back. Can’t trust a traitor.”
“Oh, for the love of God,” Carter mumbles, rolling his eyes.
“We can take her back. We’re headed to your house after this anyway,” I offer, dipping another wing and trying not to laugh when he looks like he’s fighting the urge to slap it out of my hand.
“I’ll say it again, if you were hoping to get lucky tonight, you’d best quit eating this shit. I don’t kiss women with blue cheese breath.”
