I helped my mom with dinner most of the afternoon.I think she needed some mother-son time.We didn’t talk about Ainsley again, and that was fine with me.She made her point.
I change from my typical home ‘fit of athletic shorts and a t-shirt to dark-wash denim jeans, a black short-sleeve button-up, and my canvas high-top Doc Marten sneakers.I've been dreading this dinner all day, but I'm sucking it up for the greater good of everyone.I hear the front door open as excited hellos echo through the house.As long as the three of us have been best friends, so have our parents.
“Let’s get this shit over with,” I say to no one.
I stop suddenly once I enter the living room.Ainsley is alone, standing by the fireplace looking at old family photos on the mantle.Her head turns slightly to see me frozen like a dumbass.
“So many memories.What a shame it all had to come to an end.”She shakes her head, making tsking sounds in disappointment.
I don’t say anything; it’s all moot at this point.
“I wish there was a way we could move past this, go back to a time when everything was simple.I wish I didn’t leave school early that day.Most of all, I wish you could grow up, put your feelings aside, and realize that you want to be in my life, no matter what that looks like.”I gravitate toward her, without even realizing it.She turns to face me, standing directly in front of me.
Her long dark hair cascades over her shoulders and down her back in loose curls.The makeup she wears is subtle, only enhancing her features, not hiding them.The black lace dress is short, stopping at her mid-thigh.Her toned bronze legs are on full display for me, and I can’t help but graze her body with my eyes from head to toe.The black platform Docs she wears add the perfect touch.It’s good the walk is short—I’m sure she was freezing outside.Her hand comes up and presses on my chest, while I take my hand to brush her hair behind her ear.
“Do you feel that pull?The inexplicable need to be close?Fuck princess, I want to touch you in all the places you need to be touched.”Her tongue slowly rolls over her bottom lip before she bites the corner into her mouth.It’s sexy as hell, what she does to me.I need to make my point, so I grab hold of her waist and pull her close to me, leaving no space between us.She gasps at the sudden movement.
“Ace, I…we…this—” Her words are lost as she tries to speak.
“This is why we need space, Ains.Our circumstances haven’t changed."She needs to know this is the reason we can't go back to the way things were."Be a good girl, and walk away.Leave this room before I do something you'll regret.”My stern gaze tells her I’m not messing around.She catches me off guard with her next words.
“I didn’t sleep with Jackson.I mean, I didn’t have sex with him.We haven’t done more than kiss.”With that she walks away, and I’m left frozen in place again.I don’t know if it would have been better for her to tell me she had slept with him.I’m overcome with relief knowing she didn’t fuck him.No one else has felt the inside of her walls pulsating with need, seen her face as she comes undone around their fingers, or felt the slickness of her waxed cunt slide on their dick.I’m relieved, but maybe if she told me she gave it to him I would be able to move on.
Just then, I hear Morgan call out to me.“Bro, dinner is done!Come on, let’s eat.”
I shake the feelings that are racing straight to my dick.I’m sure it’s frowned upon to eat dinner with your family while housing a massive boner in your jeans.
This night is going to be the death of me.
AINSLEY
The long farmhouse-style dinner table takes up most of the dining room.The centerpiece is beautifully decorated and runs down the middle.It’s filled with vibrant greenery, oversized pine cones with plaid ribbon bows, and baby’s breath, creating an illusion of snow.Every room in the Maddox house is eloquently decorated, giving the perfect amount of Christmas magic.My house is close to the same.Our moms help each other decorate the last weekend in November, so it can be up the whole month of December.You would think a professional company came in to decorate.But no, our moms are too picky and controlling to let anyone else style their homes.
Joyful banter flows between our parents.Ace and Morgan seem to be having a hushed sidebar conversation that I am unable to hear.Then there’s me, swirling around thoughts of the heated moment I had with Ace.Why is it that Ace can barely touch me and my body explodes like a firework on the Fourth of July, but with Jackson, it's a flickering sparkler?
I’m about to ask the boys what they're talking about when my phone dings with a text message.I could have sworn I put it on sleep mode.My mom shoots me a “no phones at the table” warning look, so I place it in my lap and lean my neck back to peek at who it is.Of course it’s Jackson.My finger hovers over the screen to shut it off when I see the numbers nine-one-one with multiple exclamation marks.
I interrupt everyone at the table.“Mom.Excuse me.Sorry… I need to step away for a minute.”I hold my phone up and point to it, letting her know this is important.Everyone's looking at me with concern.Mom nods her head, giving me the green light.
“Go honey.I hope everything is okay.”I give her a smile to reassure her, but I’m not positive it is.Jackson has never sent me a nine-one-one message, so it can’t be good.
I walk upstairs to Ace’s room for privacy, on the off-chance this is a fake emergency, and Jackson's being dramatic.The phone rings a couple times before he answers.
“Toots!Hey!I’m in the hospital,” he says in a breathy, elevated tone.
“What the hell, Jackson?What's going on?”I ask.
“I will give you details when you get here, but babe… I seriously need you here.I can have the jet there in thirty minutes.”His voice is rushed and erratic.
“Yeah, okay.I'll leave now.”I agree, because Jackson is in the hospital.I need to be there for him.
“What the fuck is going on?”Ace snaps as I pull my phone from my ear.
“Jackson is in the hospital.I need to leave,” I say quickly.I have no time for reason; I just need to get to him.Ace nods without argument; he knows I'm there for the people I care about.
“Can you give me a ride to the airport?He’s sending the jet for me.”He lets out a frustrated sigh.I know it’s the last thing he wants to do and I hate asking him, but I don’t want to interrupt our parents’ get-together.I also saw Morgan drink a few beers, so he isn’t an option.All I know is I need a ride, and fast.
“Yeah, go tell your parents, and I'll take you.”I flash him a grateful smile at his offer to take me.It’s not like I got too many details—or any for that matter.Jackson was able to talk on the phone, so maybe his injuries are minor and he’s just scared.