Page 38 of Moonshine Lullabies

We lay close but not touching, each trying to gasp for breath silently. A minute later, the toilet flushed, the sink turned on, then cut off and light spilled into the hall from where he opened the door, right before it switched out and we could hear him shuffle across the hall and back into his room – the door shutting behind him.

I felt her head turn on the pillow beside mine at the same time I turned mine toward her and we both busted out in a fit of giggles, both of her hands flying up to cover her lips which I had to imagine were swollen from my kiss.

I wheezed, trying to suppress my laughter and keep it from getting too loud. She hissed“Shhh!”and I doubled my efforts to keep it quiet.

I reached for her and she rolled into me, putting her head back on my shoulder as I held her tight. Sighing out, I kissed her forehead, and she did that thing where it was like every muscle in her body just went lax.

I loved that for her. Loved it for me, too, that I could do that for her.

The mood was definitely ruined but not completely. Instead, it shifted to one of a comfortable and contented silence.

She pressed her lips against my chest in a chaste kiss and held me back and fuck… we’d only kissed, what? Twice now? But it didn’t matter, I knew it, probably before she did or maybe ever would.

Holding Jessie-Lou Gaudet like this felt just like coming home… a feeling I’d had yet to get since moving to Louisiana.

“You’re not upset, are you?” she whispered a minute later, and I chuckled.

“Not at all, sugar. Not at all. I like this just fine. Hell, even better than fine. We got all the time in the world as far as I’m concerned.”

She gave a contented and happy sigh, relaxing against me.

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” she said, and I dipped my chin, turning my head to press my lips against her hairline again.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” I told her and I felt her lips curve against my chest into a smile that’d like to make the Mona Lisa jealous.

“I am,” she said, and that made me smile.

“Me, too,” I said.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Jessie-Lou…

The rest of the damn week was a frustrating series of misfires. The next night, John-Paul was home for a night and several nights early – the boat he was out fishin’ on with our dad needing a repair. That kept Collier out on the couch and me one very sleepless and restless girl. We didn’t get to read, and I was a little frustrated by that, too. I didn’t want to skip ahead, so I just tried to settle down early but ended up restless and awake into the wee hours.

Collier didn’t look like he slept none too good either the next morning.

Thursday, we caught a bit of a break, or at least a light at the end of the tunnel when at dinner, Tate asked me, “Hey, Mom, can I spend the night over at Bertrand’s house tomorrow night?”

“You got detention at school?” I asked.

“Yeah, but it’s my last day… please?”

“Alright, but you need to come home and have supper first, and only if his mom says it’s alright. You have her send me a text.”

“Alright!” he crowed and took his phone out of his back pocket.

“Hey!” I barked lightly, and he looked sheepish and handed it over. I set it down on the other side of my plate.

“Sorry,” he said.

Collier raised an eyebrow, and I said, “No phones at the dinner table.”

“Ah.” He nodded in agreement. “Good rule,” he said and Tate deflated a little, sulking. I hid my smile with another bite of food. I could tell he was hoping Collier would take his side on that one and let him text his friend.

As soon as dinner was over, I handed him back his phone and he excitedly sent a text.

Collier had cooked dinner tonight, much to my surprise, so I got up to do the dishes. “I wash, you dry,” I called to Tate who was just setting down his phone.

---