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Chapter 20
Tyler
Ipark in the street because the pizza guy is blocking the driveway, then hurry toward the door.
“That’s a big pizza for a skinny thing like you.”This guy acts like he’s playing a movie role.Who talks to a woman like that?
Jasmine meets my gaze over his shoulder, and a smile spreads across her face.“It’s big enough to share.”She’s talking to me.
When he steps closer to the door, two things become abundantly clear.The guy hasn’t heard me coming up the walk, and he misunderstood her meaning.“Well.Um, I am scheduled to deliver for another two hours, but—”
I feel compelled to save the guy from horrible embarrassment, or maybe I can’t stomach whatever might pop out of his mouth next.“I made it.And right on time it looks like.”Thankfully, the porch steps are wide, and I slide past the delivery fellow and give Jasmine a quick peck.
Some people would call it guy code, but there’s no deciphering necessary.Kissing her in front of him is like flying a banner behind a plane.I’m not claiming possession.I just want him to leave her alone and to stop saying stupid things to her.
Her eyes are twinkly as they reflect the porch light.If it weren’t for the pizza between us and the guy behind me, I’d spend more time adding to that sparkle in her pretty brown eyes.
“Oh.Well, if y’all need more pizza, I’ll be delivering for a while.”The young guy tucks the insulated bag under his arm.“Have a good night.”
“Thanks,” I say, hoping he’ll make wiser choices with his words in the future.
Jasmine carries the pizza inside, and I follow once the delivery driver has pulled away.
“I can’t believe what he said to you.Do you get tired of stuff like that?”
She shrugs.“I try to ignore it.”
“You shouldn’t have to ignore it.He shouldn’t say it.Dang.I’m surprised you don’t go around telling guys that they’d be better looking if they closed their mouth.Yikes.”I’m not typically a soap box kind of guy, but irritation explodes in my chest every time I think about what he said.
Jasmine wraps her arms around my waist.“We aren’t going to let it ruin our dinner.And your timing was perfect.I saw you and made the comment about sharing, but I didn’t consider how he’d take it.”She presses up on her toes and gives me a kiss on the cheek.“Sometimes if the situation warrants, I speak up.Other times, I don’t give it that much energy.Ignoring is sometimes easier.”
“Makes sense.But I’m sorry.”
“At least you didn’t accuse me of bringing it on myself by being skinny.”As soon as the words leave her mouth, she spins around and walks into the kitchen.
Before joining her, I convince my inner caveman to put away his club.Quietly, I ease up beside her and rub her back, then pick up the box and plates when she nudges them toward me.
“Let’s eat on the couch.”Her voice is strained, controlled.
Keeping my mouth shut for a few minutes will avoid my behaving like a chest-banging fool.I can’t protect her from past hurts, but I can be here now, and no one here needs clubbing.Besides, I’m not even sure what to say.
The glasses clink as she sets them on the table.“Once we grab slices, I’ll tell you more.I won’t drop a comment like that, then leave it festering for a week or more.”She lifts the lid.“I wasn’t sure what you liked or didn’t like, so I went with an all-meat.”
“Looks good to me.For future reference, the only things I don’t like on my pizza are pineapple and anchovies.”
With two slices on her plate, she snuggles into the corner of the sofa.Then I pile slices on my plate and sit close enough to her that her feet are against my leg.I’m craving that physical contact.When I bared my hurts, her fingers brushing against my hand soothed me.And I want to return that favor.
Silence hangs in the air as we eat through our first slices.After all the work today, we’re both starved.
Her toes curl against my jeans, and I rest a hand on her foot.
“My biological dad was never in the picture.I know his name, but he was long gone by the time I was walking.Mom never really talked about him.When I was still in diapers, she remarried.And then all her energy was used to make sure my stepfather was happy and content, which was an impossible task.I’m not sure if he hated me or if I was just an inconvenience, but he never missed an opportunity to accuse me of trying to get attention.”She stops and nibbles on her crust.
I give her foot a squeeze.“Sounds like someone I wouldn’t like.”
“I became really good at being invisible.It worked a lot of the time.And I carried that skill with me even after I escaped that situation.”She chews her bottom lip on the right side, always the right, then pinches her lips together.“Invisible people rarely get unwanted comments tossed at them.But they also don’t get noticed.”
“Your mom never intervened?”
