“I’m going to have to bag skate for the next three weeks because of this,” Blake groans, jokingly. I rub his shoulder, hiding my laughter at the sad truth. If there was one thing my dad loved to give out as punishment, it was bag skating.
forty-seven
Blake
“So… What are yourintentions with my daughter?” Coach asks, completely out of nowhere. He’d been sitting on the back porch, watching Cleo and Ryan run around the backyard, tackling one another until now. Though the question was out of nowhere, it wasn’t unexpected so, without hesitation, I turn to face him.
“I intend to treat your daughter like the princess that she is, and love her unconditionally. I want to be the safety net that Cleo looks to when her anxiety gets the better of her and the person that makes her laugh whenever she’s gone on one of her spells of boredom. I intend on being the guy who wakes up at 5 a.m. to buy her Pink Truffle donuts from The Sugar Hole because she likes them fresh and the guy who’s there whenever she wants to go shopping because let’s face it, the girl's a shopaholic,” I say, stunned with my honesty and how fluid everything I said came out. I had never admitted these feelings out loud or to myself before, but I’m glad that I did because the more that I think of my words, the more I agree with them.
I want to be all those things and more for Cleo and I intend on doing it all sooner rather than later.
“Do you know who posted that tape of her?” He asks, still focused on his kids in front of us as he speaks in a lower tone.
“Jace, Sienna, and I are still looking into it but we’re getting down to the bottom of it,” I assure him with a light pat on his shoulder.
“Oh, Thank God. How has she been doing?”
“She had a bad panic attack when she first found out about it being leaked but I think her being home has been good for her so far, this is the most I’ve seen her smile in weeks.” I sigh, following Coaches line of sight to the “twins”.
“I talked to her about it yesterday when you boys were watching that princess movie on the couch and she wasn’t as open about it with me. I’m happy she has someone like you, Blake. I know that I get on you at times and like to play the role of the macho man, but you’re a good kid.”
“Aw! Thanks, Coach. Look at you, going all soft on me.” I cheese at him, harder than ever, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as he groans.
“I take it all back, you’re the most annoying kid I’ve ever met.” He chuckles, and I shake my head laughing with him. “But seriously kid, you break my daughter’s heart, I won’t hesitate to kill you and spread the remains all over the Potomac.”
I gulp, taking a step back from the shorter guy because as much as I love my Coach, I know that he doesn’t make light threats.
Later that evening, Thanksgiving at the Jones’ is in full swing. A-list celebrities and athletes walk around the house carelessly for the simple fact that they’re all a part of the Jones family.
I’m at a loss for words as some of my favorite singers and athletes sit around the living room and dining room, all eating the delicious food that Gloria, Coach, and Ryan made this morning and last night.
Cleo emphasizes that she’s not allowed in the kitchen after The Great Popcorn Fire of ‘17 where she left popcorn in the microwave for too long and in turn almost burnt down the house.
Sienna and Cleo sit around on the living room floor; Cleo eats while the two of them talk and laugh until the door rings.
“Blake, can you get that?” Cleo asks, completely zoned in on her conversation with the pink haired ballerina in front of her.
Nodding, my stomach fills with butterflies at the thought of me opening the door at her parent’s place.Cleo trusts me to the point that she has me opening the door. I’m smiling from ear to ear as I open the door, only for my smile to drop and the butterflies to wither away at the sight of the person in front of me.
“Ew. Sheactuallyinvited you.” Denver rolls her eyes as I open the door. I immediately walked her back down the stairs. What the fuck is she doing here? My cousin isn’t dressed in her usual choice of clothing this time; instead of her signature leather jacket, she wore a cardigan and replaced her normal red lip with a pink gloss.
What the hell?
“Why are you here?” I ask, stepping out into the cold November air with her, I instantly tug off my jacket passing it to her. Denver’s a cold person both literally and figuratively and my aunt would kill me if her anemic daughter died from being frozen to death.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Now move out of my way, this apple pie is going to get cold from being out here.” She sighs trying to walk around me but I'm in front of her almost immediately.
“Who invited you? This was supposed to bemyweekend to impress the in-laws. I can’t have your snarky ass messing up my first impression,” I groan as my cousin stomps on my foot.
“And this is also my chance to impress Ry—Cleo’s parents. So do me a favor and get the fuck out—”
“You said Ryan!” I beam, mouth dropped as Denver throws me a searing glare.
“What’s taking you two so long?” Cleo’s amused tone filters into our conversation as she stands at the top of the stairs with her hands on her hips with both Ryan and Sienna on either side of her.
“Oh, this is too good.” Sienna chuckles, clapping her hands slowly as Ryan tries and fails to pick his jaw up from the floor.
Ryan doesn’t waste any time talking to anyone and simply walks down the stairs, grabs the pan of apple pie from Denver’s arms, and walks her back into the house. I chuckle as he shuts the door behind the both of them, locking it.
