Page 59 of Until Forever

“You’ve got it,” June adds and takes some of the items out back.

July and Willow help her, and Harmony takes the cake she brought and places it in the fridge. I work my way through the two sides, carrying them outside and setting them side by side in an aluminum pan. Sauntering over to the cooler, I grab the single bag of ice, remembering that it’s the one thing Jasper failed to get when he and JJ went to the store this morning.

Jasper whistles at me as I make my way back to the table. I shake my head, working hard to stifle the smile that so desperately wants to escape. My mind goes back to us in my bathroom only an hour ago, the picture of us watching each other through the mirror as he railed me from behind, sending beads of sweat across my chin.

I fill the bowls with ice then take the rest back to the cooler. From the corner of my eye, I see them look at me, something telling me I’m the topic of conversation. When I step back into the kitchen, the cool air immediately wraps around me. The girls are standing around, their eyes glued on me.

“What?” I ask with a frown.

“We saw that.” July grins.

I sigh, dropping my head back then inch deeper into the room. “Not this again.”

With her brows raised, June shrugs. “All we’re saying is it doesn’t look like nothing, as you so forcefully put it at Wes’s party.”

Harmony steps between us, her hand going to my shoulder. “Leave her be,” she coerces.

“Thank you.”

“So, he lives here now. Family BBQs and shit,” Harmony points out while wiggling her brows.

I wave her off, not wanting to admit anything.

“Oh, come on, we’re not going to pretend like I haven’t seen the glow you’ve been sporting lately. Much like right now, actually,” Harmony continues.

“You two have been humping, a lot, and it’s written all over your face,” July denotes between sips of lemonade she’s poured into a cup.

I open my mouth to speak, only closing it because there’s nothing I can say to that. Any of it. I did tell them there was no story between Jasper and me, and I thought I meant it. But then everything changed, and we’re now writing the next chapter of our lives together.

A smile peaks, and this time I can’t hold it back, so instead I shake my head and grab the pitcher of lemonade. “Okay, fine. Yes, he’s living here.” I shrug. “And we’ve sort of been trying to see where things take us.”

“I bet JJ is happy about that.”

I sigh with my shoulders raised. “Actually, we haven’t told him.”

“So where does Jasper sleep, then?” Harmony asks with a wicked grin.

“With me, but he makes sure he’s on the couch before JJ wakes up.”

“Scandalous,” June jokes.

“Stop.” I glance in her direction. “It’s all still so new, and I don’t want to confuse him.”

“And you’re scared?” Willow asks.

“Yeah. We’ve been happy, the three of us, and a part of me still wonders if this is permanent. When he first got back to town I was thrown off, pissed, and skeptical about everything pertaining to him. But then I see him with JJ and how in love he is with him and I tell myself that maybe it’s worth it. That while it’s been fast and sometimes frightening, the connection I still feel to him is right. You know?”

At the same time, we all stare out of the window, me at Jas while they’re probably watching their spouses.

“Trust me. We get it.” July places a hand on my shoulder. “We know what love looks like, and he definitely loves you.”

I swallow a breath and exit the kitchen to place the lemonade on the drink table. The sun is bright, but my eyes adjust quickly in time to catch a glimpse of JJ running toward me. He’s out of breath with sweat staining the collar of his shirt.

“Mommy,” he breathes out. “Can I have something to drink?”

I rub my hand through his hair. “Lemonade, water, or a juice pouch?”

“Uh.” He squints and spins in a circle. “Juice pouch. The red flavor.”

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