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I’ll be with her in just over twenty-four hours from now, I can last that long surely.
Chapter 5
Jasmine
I can’t stop my smile from falling seeing the text from Adam about his babysitter cancelling on him for tomorrow night. I’ve been anticipating it from the second he asked, and even after seeing him earlier, I’m just as eager for it. I’ve never felt like this in my life, and it boggles the mind just how hurt I feel.
“What’s wrong, Jas?” Jaime asks, pulling my attention over to her and off my phone.
I didn’t plan to have dinner with them tonight, but Mom and Dad are over at Jude and Eden’s watching their kids for them to have date night. It’s something Mom and Dad were adamant about having themselves, so when Jaime came over to see if I wanted to join her, Jillian and Jeffery in ordering pizza and watching Jordan’s NBA team playing I thought it'd get my mind of my wait for tomorrow night.
Jordan’s twenty-three now, in his first year with the NBA, and he’s been able to play at least a few minutes most games. We haven’t seen much of him since season training started. The team he’s playing for is based three hours away from us, so it’s not so simple to get to see him.
“I uh…have a date tomorrow night. Or I guess I had a date tomorrow night,” I tell her, making her brows scrunch in question as Jeffery yells at the ref on the TV about a stupid play.
“He cancelled?”
“Not exactly,” I sigh. “He’s got guardianship of his niece. Her mom died two years ago when she was seven. His babysitter cancelled and he’s trying to find someone else, but he’s already checked with all his normal sitters and they’re busy.”
“So she’s what, nine now?” Jaime asks.
“Almost ten, yeah,” I answer.
“I know he doesn’t know me, but I could do it,” she says, and my eyes widen in surprise. Jaime gladly will babysit for any of the family, but usually doesn’t do it for anyone else, not wanting the hassle of dealing with crazy parents, and it’s not like she needs the money.
“Really?” I ask, anxious to text Adam back to let him know she’ll help before she even answers.
“Yeah, really,” she says, and I can’t stop the smile that hits. “And that’s why,” she adds confusing me. “I’ve never seen you look that sad or that happy just now. I swear, seeing the way you looked reading that message was like seeing Mom when Dad’s not at home at night. So yeah, I can watch the niece and you all can go out on your…”
“First date,” I admit, blushing when she lets out a loud laugh, drawing Jillian’s attention our way.
“What’s so funny?” Jillian asks looking between us suspiciously.
“Looks like another Cartwright is about to be off the market. I mean, if the idea of having to reschedule a first date makes Jas so sad looking, it’s definitely love,” Jaime says, and my heart stops for a moment before pattering away with my emotions.
Holy crap, that’s impossible right? I mean, I’ve only seen him twice and both times he had Cleo with him.
“Ooo-la-la, do tell,” Jillian teases but I shake my head no at them with an attempt of a stern look. “Okay, don’t get your panties all twisted, Sis. If you do, you’ll be squirming for the wrong reason on the date.”
“Jill!” I gasp.
“Oh come on, Sis. I’m almost eighteen. Mom was barely older than me when she got the hots for Dad.”
“She was already nineteen so cool it and behave, Jill,” Jaime says, rolling her eyes at the sister who is definitely the opposite of her, but they love each other to bits. They’re just under two years apart in age, but only one year separated by school with Jaime’s August birthday not having her start school until she was six already and Jillian’s May one letting her start at five.
“Just teasing her, so want to tell us all about him since this game is boring,” Jillian says and I shake my head at them, before shooting back a text to Adam with Jaime’s offer.
‘Hey, I’m sorry about your sitter. I’m with my sisters right now though and Jaime offered to babysit if you’re okay with it. I promise she’s been around babies and little kids her whole life. She was two when my older sister had her first baby, and my sisters-in-law just had a few more last year who aren’t even one yet and she’s helped out with all of them and watched Serenity for my sister recently. She’s quiet and responsible.’
I wait nervously for his response and the smile that hits makes the girls giggle at me.
Cleo says if she’s your sister then she’s got to be awesome as well, and I don’t want to have to reschedule, so we’ll gladly take her up on that. Just let me know her normal rate and I’ll make sure she gets it.
‘Normally she only sits for family, and we give her Amazon gift cards because the girl loves books and her Kindle. Twenty should be fine and maybe some money for take-out for her and Cleo?’
Twenty for at least three hours? That doesn’t seem like enough, baby.
‘I was going to handle the rest since I kind of pushed her onto you all, but I’m sure Cleo will have fun with her. She can bring her Kindle that has just the kids stories, and they can read something together if nothing else.’
