“Sweetie, my boys know that cuties like this are always invited over, though I didn’t get a chance to get him specific toys. I’ve got some treats and a few toys that I just happen to have that he can enjoy while we’re eating.”
“Ma, he’ll be just fine taking a nap on the floor. You don’t have to go to any trouble.”
Ry walks into the room and gives me a bear hug, the kind that can only be described as brotherly. The only thing missing is the noogie at the end of it.
“Jane, Ma loves dogs and will take any chance she can to spoil one. Who else would have random dog toys in their house?”
“Good point. So do you guys do this every Sunday?”
“Yep, and everyone makes it to at least two a month as that’s Ma’s rule. You, young lady, are now included in that,” Pa says from his spot at the table.
Feeling that warm and fuzzy feeling that I do anytime I’m here, I try to hold back the tears of acceptance that are threatening to fall. I’m not a crier, damn it.
Seeing that everyone is grabbing a place at the table and wanting to make some amends with Juan, I grab a seat next to him. He doesn’t seem to notice as he’s in a conversation with Max about his house search. Feeling like this is the time for me to put my big girl pants on and make a move, I decide to go for it. I slowly reach under the table and lightly squeeze his thigh. His muscly, thick thigh. I go to move my hand back to my lap, but he grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. Looking over at him, he’s staring right at me with those deeply hazel eyes under the few pieces of hair that always seem to flop forward, giving me the chance to give him a little smile and mouth the wordsorryto him. He squeezes my hand again and holds it for a few seconds before letting go so I can grab the dish that Rory is passing around.
Sunday supper is amazing. The back-and-forth between all the siblings, Ma and Pa interjecting some advice or comment about a long running joke… this is what family is. It’s having that inside joke that is twenty years old, right along with an argument that’s been going on for just as long. The animated stories that you know have been told a million times. This is the dream that I’ve always been too scared to have and hope for, yet it seems so close I can almost touch it.
Juan
I don’t think I’ve been turned on at the dinner table ever in my life. I was surprised to feel Jane’s hand on me after we sat down. I was sure she was still mad at me. My woman’s got a fire inside of her that I don’t think she knows is there. I think I deserve a medal for not reacting when she put her hand on my leg, when all I wanted to do was haul her over my shoulder, take her home, and discover her body inch by inch with my tongue. I wanted to run my hands over each curve and land on her delectable ass as I finally get a taste of her.
I know we need to wait to go out in public as anything more than friends, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to wait another day to taste my woman. Arguing with her and being put in my place by her did something to me.
Everyone is finished eating, so we stand up and start to gather the dishes to bring into the kitchen. Jane starts to get up to help.
“Stay here and visit with Ma and Pa. You’re a guest tonight.” I can see the fire starting in her eyes again as she itches to argue with me.
Ma saves me.
“Jane, sweetheart, come sit with me and we can talk baking. None of my kids have an interest in it nor have the talent for it like you do.”
Saved for a time, I take the last of the dishes into the kitchen and hand them to Rory who is washing them. Max is in the pantry with Ry, trying to find something while the girls are putting the table mats and such away. Taking the minute of privacy I have with my brothers, I start the conversation.
“I need to take Jane home tonight. You both good with that?”
Ror nods while grabbing the kitchen towel.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m having dinner with her at her place tomorrow alone. J, what are you thinking?”
Jon looks at both of us. “Well, I did kiss her first and I’m claiming the first chance at that luscious ass if she lets us.”
“What’s with all the shit-eatin’ grins, brothers?” Max asks as he and Ry come into the kitchen.
Ror hits him with the towel.
“Nothing, just talking.”
“Sure, you mean you’re trying to tell me that you weren’t just talking about the logistics of gettin’ some with the woman currently sitting next to Ma?”
Jon grabs him by his shirt and looks him in the eye.
“Don’t talk about her that way. She’s not a lay, not someone just to pass the time with. With any luck, she’ll be our wife, the mother to our children,our forever.”
With his eyes as big as saucers, Max glances at Ror and my faces. Seeing no humor, he chokes out, “Got it, brothers. Didn’t mean any harm.”
Ry, the fucker, chuckles, and points toward J.
“Brother, you should have seen the first day they met her. Jane went toe to toe with them. I think she was this close to sticking her tongue out at Jon. It was fucking awesome.”
