Page 28 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“Hey,” Jamie replied, rubbing a spot on his face that I only now noticed sported a bruise.
I watched the exchange between the brothers, now knowing I was missing a piece of the puzzle. Hopefully, Jay would put it together for me if I could get him alone. I didn't know why, but the urge to understand Jamie was strong.
Shrugging off Jay's arm, I joined everyone else around the food. If our mouths were full, we wouldn't have to talk. Just what everyone wanted for their birthday party.
* * *
“Soooo.”Jay lifted my legs into his lap. “How is my Callie girl doing without me in town to keep her from becoming a hermit?”
I punched his shoulder.
“A cute hermit?” He grinned. “A very cute surfing hermit.”
“I'm just fine, thank you very much.” I couldn't help laughing at him. “Good, actually.”
“Good?” he yelled. “Call the band. We need to celebrate. Callie McCoy is good!”
“Shut it.” I pinched him before realizing everyone else had stopped to watch us when Jay yelled.
Parker flopped down onto the couch beside us. Her eyes skipped over me before landing on Jay. “Hey there, sexy.”
He only laughed and gave me a very Jay-like satisfied grin.
“Oh man, he's going to get a complex,” I groaned.
“How long are you in town?” Parker asked.
“All weekend.” He raised a brow.
“Fancy a bite?”
I stared at her open-mouthed. Forward, wasn't she?
“Sorry, Parker. I'm sort of seeing someone.”
My head whipped around so fast I was surprised I didn't break my neck.
“So, you two are together?” she asked.
Jay laughed, and I had every urge to use the foot that was in his lap to kick him where it hurt. “You should see your face,” he said to me, not quite answering Parker's question yet. “Don't forget, I can read your mind.” He looked back up at Morgan's sister. “Nah, I've started dating someone at school.”
Now I hit him for another reason. “You didn't tell me?”
“Don't tell me there aren't things you haven't mentioned lately.” His eyes flicked to Jamie, and I cringed. Did he know? “Plus, it's new. I didn't want to jinx it.”
I nodded, relief flooding through me. If Jay was in a relationship, it took some of the pressure off the two of us. I'd always felt like I should love him like that and guilty that I didn't. Now we could take a step back and just be friends as we used to be.
A thought struck me. “Uh, sorry I kissed you tonight then.”
He grinned. “One for luck.”
“Right, I'm going to get a drink.” I slid my feet from his grasp and stood up, not realizing Parker was following me until I reached the kitchen.
“You cool?” she asked.
“What?” I responded absently. “Yeah.” I twisted the top on a bottle of Coke and threw it in the garbage.
“Not exactly the birthday you'd imagined?”
