Page 164 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“Are you okay?” I stood in the doorway. Did she even need to be punished at all?
“I’m okay.” Verity bit her lower lip. “I apologize for endangering Dean today.”
The look on her face shattered my heart.
“Oh, Kitten. I’m sorry your experiments failed. I’m not upset with you. Not one bit. I know it wasn’t on purpose, and everything turned out okay.” I crossed to the bed and cupped her face with my hand, desperate to reassure her.
Jonas glared at me as he continued to braid her hair.
“Also, you didn’t know.” I glared back. Jonas asked a lot of my kitten.
“Jonas is right. Protecting him should be common sense. I’d be gutted if anything happened. I...” Her voice broke.
“Kitten, it’s okay.” I squeezed her hand. “I’m happy Dean got his date. Jonas can braid hair. I didn’t know that.”
“I used to braid my sister’s hair,” he told me, his fingers moving deftly as he wove the hair together. It was like a crown at the top part of her hair.
I did, too. But not likethat.
“I’m fine. Hungry. And...” Verity glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “I have to leave soon. I wish I could stay longer.”
“If you need to stay, stay.” There was a gentleness in Jonas’ voice I hadn’t heard toward her before.
She sighed. “I need to get ready for the party.”
“You’re going to playlaser tag,not have a nine-course dinner. Get ready here. Wear the leggings you wore when you worked out with me this morning. If they need to be washed, we’ll throw them in on quick-wash along with anything else while you eat. They’ll only need a moment in the dryer. Jonas is doing your hair. You have makeup in your bag. Someone has a clean shirt you can wear.” I had plenty if she was going for theI just left my hockey-player boyfriend’slook.
“Wait, I have something, I have something,” Dean called as footsteps pounded down the hall as if he were running.
“Of course he does,” Jonas laughed. “Stay as long as you need. You’re always welcome here.”
“Thanks, but I need to get my gift for the exchange from home.” Her head tilted forward a little as he braided the lower part.
“If Mercy’s allowed to meet you at the party, have her grab it. You should eat some food and drink more water,” he told her as he continued braiding. A water bottle sat on the nightstand.
“Here.” Dean barreled in and flopped on the bed in only his underwear and a hockey-themed apron.
“Hey, I’m braiding here,” Jonas muttered in mock-annoyance.
“Oh, that’s pretty. You have two options. First one.” Dean held up a green crop top that saidGoalie Yogaand had goalies doing stretches on it. “Second.” This was a navy tank top with two pucks and a goose on it, which looked like it would be tight on him.
I burst out laughing.Puck Puck Goosewas a game often played in children’s hockey leagues. “These are so silly. Where did you even get them?”
“They’re from last year. That’s what happens when you let the EBUGs participate in the gift exchange.” Jonas tied off the end of her braid with a hairband.
“I love them. I got focaccia bread with olives in it, too,” he told us.
Verity gave him a look of mock horror. “You ate someone else’s focaccia bread?”
“It was only once,” he laughed. “She gave me some chocolate almond cookies today. I might not share, considering AJ ate them all last year.”
“Are you talking about Gwen? She gave Mercy some; they’re so good,” Verity replied. She looked at Jonas. “Thanks for braiding my hair.”
Jonas kissed her temple. “Anytime. If we’re going to wash anything, we should get it going.”
“Okay, I’ll go find my stuff. I should check my phone.” Verity scrambled up, gave Dean and I each a kiss, and left.
Dean pouted at Jonas, arms crossed over his chest. “You didn’t let me in.”
