Page 16 of Cherish

I shake hands with Dee first, but she pulls me into a hug. Her fiancé hugs me next.

“The French toast maker?” I ask before I can think better of it. JD’s friends look at me, shock written on their faces.

I can feel the color creep up on my face, but I’m grateful when no one asks any questions, but the couple look at each other knowingly.

“What’s all this stuff?” JD asks, thankfully changing the subject.

“My mother sent food, and I baked your favorite. Mama’s actually coming over later with Tash and Chris.” She goes on about people I don’t know. I figure out Jacob Clark and Jason were college roommates and have been friends since they were eighteen. In fact, his entire family will be here later for the party.

I can’t take my eyes off the couple. The way she leans into him as if her body and his work in sync. His arm remains around her waist, and the way she lays her head on his shoulder makes me feel hopeful and lonely all at once.

Simultaneously, Jason and I take steps closer to the couple, our bodies almost touching. With his arm still around her waist, they walk to the table and begin to take things out of the bag.

“Can you get the rest of the stuff from the car, handsome?” she asks him. “I’m going to set up a little dessert table for JD.” He kisses her on the lips. The kiss isn’t inappropriate, but I can tell it’s a kiss filled with promises of what’s to come. Then he slaps her ass and walks out of the house.

I don’t know what food she brought, but it smells incredible. Soon, Jacob returns with another huge bag and he pulls out a huge cupcake stand.

“You have friends?” I tease Jason.

He casually leans down to whisper in my ear, “Quite a few actually. I’m very lovable it would seem.” His warm breath sends electric waves through my body.

“Doubtful. That’s a face only family would find lovable.”

He smiles again before he spins me around and places both hands on my shoulders. “Is that your way of asking to meet my family, Alex?” He leans down again. “You want to meet my mother? Get her approval?” He grabs a piece of my hair and rubs it between his fingers, his eyes never leaving me. “She’d like you.”

“Get over yourself.” I try to swat his hand away, but he blocks it.

“I’d rather have you over me.” His eyes darken, and he lowers his voice. “Wrapped around me, or better yet, under me.”

My body has betrayed me, and despite the cool temperature inside the house, I feel a fire raging inside me.

“You’re even prettier when you blush.”

“I’m not blushing,” I lie. “It’s hot in here.” I make a show of fanning myself with my hand.

I look around the room to find Sandy leaning against a counter, arms crossed and watching us. I move away from Jason and offer to help, but she decides she’s going to put the dessert in the fridge until later. I don’t miss the satisfied smile on her face before, though. Thankfully, Jake returns, and she turns her focus back on him. While they rearrange the fridge, Jason crosses the room and stands next to me, our shoulders now touching. My breath hitches when I feel his fingertips slide along the length of my arm.

As if it didn’t happen, he walks away from me and grabs a beer for himself and his friend. Sandy refuses the beer and makes a pitcher of drinks for non-beer drinkers.

Intrigued by the couple, I watch as they practically do a dance in the kitchen. Anticipating each other’s moves, they work together in sync. When he’s not grabbing something, his hands are touching her or he’s kissing her cheek.

I take a minuscule step closer to Jason. I stop breathing when he hooks his pinky with mine. I turn to look at him, and our gazes lock. I offer a shy smile, and he reaches over with his free hand to put a piece of my curly hair behind my ear. Because of the humidity, my hair is extra poufy, and the piece of hair refuses to cooperate and stay behind my ear.

“Your hair’s as uncooperative as you are, angel.” This time I do stop breathing at the endearment. I’ve dated before. I’ve had a few boyfriends, but none of them have ever gifted me with an endearment. “Maybe I should say hell’s angel, hm?”

I involuntarily let out a laugh and try to move my pinky from his, but he holds on to me, daring me to pull away. This time, when we look up, we’re the ones being studied. We’re not only caught by the lovebirds, but at that exact same moment, Ananda and Mellie come through the sliding door. I jerk my body away from Jason and walk outside without a word.

I take the empty loveseat and watch from the outside. Mellie hugs them both, then she tugs Sandy away from Jacob and gestures for me to come back inside.

“I was just thinking that Sandy would complete our foursome.”

Jason snorts into his drink.

“Good luck with that,” he says to his sister.

“What foursome?” Jacob asks.

“The brown girls’ version of Sex and the City. Boston instead of New York City. Sandy can be our brown Carrie, because, girl, you are killing it in that outfit.”

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