Page 40 of Honest With You

My phone buzzes beside me and I see a text pop up from Stephen.

Stephen: How is she doing?

Me: She’s eating her body weight in junk food, so much better.

Stephen: Good. She’ll be crashing soon then. Keep me updated. I have to take care of something urgent so I’ll be home late. But if you need me, call and I’ll come home.

Frowning, I lean over to show Reese our brother’s cryptic text, only to find she’s fallen asleep. The box of chocolate marshmallows sits empty on the floor next to her discarded heating pad.

Me: Ok. Be safe.

Stephen: Make sure your bf goes home by 9. It’s a school night.

I roll my eyes. He won’t even be home by nine and he has the gall to send Jesse home?

Me: Uh.. for you too?

Stephen: Haha you got jokes now Ace. Maybe the bf isn’t so bad if he helped you find your sense of humor.

Me: Definitely not bad at all.

Stephen: Ugh. See you both later.

“Ava.”

I look up from my phone to Jesse standing in front of me. He nods his head toward the swinging doors that lead out into the backyard.

I ease Reese off my lap, careful not to jostle her awake, and pull her blanket tighter around her.

I take Jesse’s outstretched hand and he intertwines his fingers through mine. We make our way out the door and into the backyard, which is one of my favorite places in this house besides my room.

We walk out into the lounging area that has a loveseat, matching outdoor swivel chairs, a fire pit and string light curtains framing the area that provide a sense of privacy. Just when I think we’re going to stop and sit, he bypasses it and heads towards the olympic size pool and garden that could rival the gardens at Balboa Park. He looks around and then grins down at me, before leading me past the chaise lounge chairs surrounding the pool. Suddenly, I know exactly where he’s taking me.

He’s headed straight to the daybed on the far end of the backyard right by the bar. It’s completely secluded, away from the prying eyes of anyone who might look out. A private area framed by two trees, one mango and one lemon.

I laugh at his audacity but follow him onto the bed, remaining perched on the edge of it. If I ventured deeper into the cushions, we wouldn’t be doing any talking, judging by the way Jesse’s eyes keep dancing all over me as he sits beside me.

“About last night–”

“I want to clear–”

We speak at the same time before bursting into laughter at the absurdity of it. I gesture for him to continue while swinging my legs back and forth, staring at my lap so I can fully be in the conversation without getting distracted by those pools of blue that drag me in every time and make me forget all conscious thought.

“About last night… I mean this morning– the kiss and—” He blows out a breath, shaking his head before reaching for my hand and squeezing it.

My eyes instinctively raise to meet his.

His eyes are searching, probing… full of hope.

“Do you like me, Ava?”

I nod, pulling my lower lip between my teeth wondering how to phrase my thoughts.

“Then tell me what you need from me. I’m trying not to push. I’m trying not to scare you away. To try to ease you into the idea of giving this a shot but being around you makes it hard for me to even think let alone think of anything but touching you.”

The earth shifts beneath me and suddenly, it’s just us two. Never mind that we’re in my backyard where my sister could easily walk in on us. I only see him.

I’m in his orbit and he’s in mine. Nothing exists beyond this stratosphere.

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