Page 58 of Play For Keeps

She sighs against her pillow, and I wish I was cuddled up next to her.

NINETEEN

BACK SEAT MAKING OUT IS SO OVERRATED

Jake

I’m in Gran’s room at her assisted facility home watching her blow out her birthday candles. Sierra and Grayson are here too, and while I was nervous as hell to finally talk to them, I did, and I think we’re good. It took Gran’s birthday party for the three of us to be in the same room together. After stewing on their sneaking around for a good couple of weeks, I’m ready to move on. It also helps seeing my sister happy. And if she believes Grayson is the guy that makes her feel that way, then I won’t stand in the way. But if he hurts her— and I will make sure he knows this—I will personally see to it that he never walks again.

Sierra dishes out slices of the bright yellow birthday cake that she made for Gran, and we all sit around the coffee table. The cake tastes as good as it looks. It makes me happy that Sierra didn’t lose her passion for baking after our mom died. It’s sort of like having a piece of her with us. One day, we may have to share Si’s talents with the whole town. She’s hoping to have a bakery of her own in Reed Point.

Now that we’re talking again my sister doesn’t waste a minute—we’ve barely sat down before she’s peppering me with questions about Everly.

“C’mon Jake. When can I meet her? You’ve been seeing each other for months now. It’s my right as your sister to meet the girl who has you all lit up.”

“First off,” I shoot her a pointed stare. “I don’t remember it going down that way when you two started sneaking around.” I flick my fork between Grayson and her.

“Fine, I deserve that,” she says. “But it would be really nice to meet her. I’d love to meet her daughter too.”

I’ve told both Sierra and Gran a little about Everly and Birdie, but I haven’t opened up a lot. It wasn’t all that long ago that even a cup of coffee with Ev seemed like a pipe dream, so I guess I haven’t wanted to jinx things. I also feel this need to protect the two of them after everything they’ve been through.

I still find it so fucked up that her ex is such a deadbeat dad to Birdie. I will never be able to understand how he can go months without seeing her. Birdie is the coolest kid I’ve ever met. I meant it when I told Ev that I want to be a part of both of their lives. I love spending time with them—watching movies together, cooking breakfast in the morning. When I’m with them, it feels like we’re making memories. Part of me feels like my childhood was cut short the night my parents died. Sure, my grandparents were the best pseudo-parents a boy could ask for, but they weren’t my mom and dad. Everly does an incredible job making sure Birdie feels loved and wanted. If she’s willing to let me be a part of building a happy life for her daughter, I’m in.

Gran catches my eye and winks at me. “She must be something special for you to be so head over heels for her.”

“Who says I’m head over heels?”

Is it really that obvious?

“You are mad about this girl,” Gran scoffs. “I know when my grand-baby is in love. It’s written all over your face.”

I shake my head. I hate feeling vulnerable around people, it makes me feel antsy. I know that I have very strong feelings for Ev. Hell, she’s all I think about, day in and day out. I want to be with her every chance I can get. I’m definitely falling for this girl. But am I in love with Everly?

“I’m not getting any younger and I’d like to be able to tell Angie that I have more great grandchildren than she does,” Gran says, rolling her eyes. Angie lives down the hall, and she and Gran seem to be in constant competition about practically everything. “She rubs it in my face every chance she gets. I don’t know why she has to be so competitive.”

Grayson, Sierra, and I all look at each other and laugh. Gran is the most competitive woman on the planet. She once ate an entire raw jalapeno just because Tucker made the mistake of saying he didn’t think she could. He lost $50 on that one.

“Your Gran is right,” Grayson says. “You have this vibe thing going on, man. Like you have a happy aura around you.”

“What the f—fudgsicles are you talking about?” I ask, catching myself in time. “What the hell does an aura even look like?”

“Don’t worry, it’s a good look on you. Your energy is way less grumpy.”

Grayson is not picking up on my deep desire for this conversation to end. If Gran wasn’t in the room, I’d have kneed him in the balls by now.

“You should bring her around,” Grayson continues with a grin, clearly enjoying this. “We want to meet the girl who has you all gaga.”

“You can be an idiot sometimes. Are you sure you know what you’re doing with this guy, Si?” I toss a look at my sister, who’s giggling at the two of us bantering.

Sierra smiles, looking adoringly at Grayson. He kisses the tip of her nose and it’s enough to make me lose my appetite. “Think about it, Jake,” she tells me. “We’d all like to meet your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend yet,” I say before putting my empty plate on the coffee table.

“Semantics,” Gray says. “It’s just a matter of time.

I lean back into the couch, hands clasped behind my head, gaze pointed to the ceiling. He’s right: it is semantics. We just haven’t formally put a label on our relationship.

I intend to fix that.

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