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There’s been a natural balance in our relationship since the beginning. We met back in college, and everything seemed to fall into place. There was once back then when we fooled around, and not even that made a dent in our friendship like everyone expected.
But this touch is possessive and tender, and I feel something new emerging.
Jay helps me stand while Sage makes her way over to us.
She sticks out her hand to greet Jay, and he meets her with his right hand. Which makes me aware of our hands clasping together. I look to Jay as Sage introduces herself and see a solidness to him. The set of his jaw has changed, and there’s a steel to him that wasn’t there before. They mirror the harsher calluses I felt on his hands.
I wonder what changes he sees with me.
“Sage. It’s nice to meet you, Jay,” she greets.
“Same.” He looks at me, and we lock eyes. “Thanks for taking care of her.”
“Of course. I’m glad you are finally able to be together.”
Something about the phrasing of Sage’s words makes Jay tense up, but we are interrupted by the entrance of Ember and Cy before I can overthink anything.
“Emmy!” Kieran jumps up from the ground and races to them, with Spencer close on his heels. “You have to meet Spency.”
“I’m guessing this is him?” They muse.
“Yeah. He’s my new best friend.” Seeming to realize what he said, his face goes blank. “Sorry.”
Ember reaches to ruffle the kid’s hair. “That’s alright, bud. You can have more than one bestie.”
“Really?”
“Of course, you can, Kieran,” Sage affirms, but there is a sad look in her eye.
I have a feeling Kieran doesn’t really have many friends. He’s a really good kid, but not the best with social skills. Plus, with what little I gather about their life before whatever brought them here, I have a feeling he wasn’t ever in a position to make friends in the first place.
“Ay, tèt zozo. Got anymore krap pou fi ou?”
Ember lets out something between a cough and a choke at Cy’s words. Jay stares at him for a moment. Probably trying to figure out what the man said.
“Anything else you brought with you, Jay?” Ember offers. Something tells me it is definitely a paraphrasing.
“Oh, no.” He turns to Kieran. “Hey, Kieran. Wanna keep an eye on Spencer for us?” I swoon internally at his use of “us.”
“Can I, Mom? At least until I have to leave for camp?” The energy in Kieran’s words is infectious.
“If it’s alright with Juliana, then it’s fine with me,” Sage confirms. Her son’s grin widens rapidly.
“You sure you can handle it? He can be a handful.” I eye him carefully.
“I promise I’ll take good care of him.” Children have the most altruistic honesty about them.
I squeeze Jay’s hand and tug him after me. “Let’s go to my room.”
“My room, is it?”
I pause to think about it before responding. “I guess so. I’ve been here long enough.”
The way he looks at me with such understanding and patience rattles me.
Goddess, I missed him.
Strangely, I hesitate at the door to my room. It feels so weird to bring Jay here. So much has happened he has missed out on.
