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13
Ally
Ibounce on my feet, my hands shoved into my shorts pockets, as I wait outside on the porch. Trent’s behind me sitting on one of the rockers, his feet propped up on the railing in front of him with a beer resting on his thigh.
“Jesus, woman, would you sit down already? You’re acting like you haven’t seen him in months.”
Turning my head, I stick out my tongue at him. “It’s been almost a month.”
He brings the mouth of the bottle to his lips while muttering, “I hope you get this excited to see me.”
I giggle and spin around. Putting my hands on the arms of the rocking chair, I lean down as he’s forced to rock forward. “Aww… you’re not jealous are you, baby?”
Lightning quick, he grabs the back of my neck and pulls my mouth to his. Just before our lips touch, he growls, “I don’t get jealous, because I know exactly what I have, and I know I’ll never lose it. And also, you better get more excited to see me than you get when you see your dad.”
Another giggle erupts from my mouth, and I decide to be nice and give him what he wants. “Every time I know I’m going to see you, even if I did just moments before, butterflies swarm in my belly. It’s been that way since we were introduced as kids.”
“That’s the right answer.”
I slap his chest and stand straight. Shaking my head, I turn back to the yard just as Andrew’s truck pulls into the driveway. I walk down the steps with a big grin on my face. His door is thrust open, and his big frame climbs out. He slams it behind him and opens his arms as I approach. I bury my face against his chest and breathe in his familiar scent. It’s silly to be so happy to see Andrew, but like Trent, I’ve grown used to seeing him almost every day since I came to live in Jaded Hollow. It doesn’t feel right not having him close.
“Fuck, Skittles, but I’ve missed you,” he mumbles against the top of my head, his arms tightening around me.
“I’ve missed you too.” Pulling back, I lean up and kiss his cheek. “How was the trip?”
“It was fine.” His eyes run over my face, then over the purple scarf on my head, hiding my shorn hair, taking his own assessment before he asks, “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.”
The passenger door closes, and I turn as Jase steps up. His embrace is just as strong as Andrew’s.
“Hey, pretty girl. It’s good to see you again.”
I pull back and smile up at him. “It’s good seeing you too.” I look over at Andrew. “I missed both of you.”
They were supposed to come a couple of weeks ago, but Jase came down with a summer cold. With my immune system down due to the chemotherapy, we all thought it was best they waited until Jase was better. The last thing I need is to fight off a cold when my body is already hard at work fighting against the leukemia.
With his lips twitching, Andrew whips out a bag of Skittles. I laugh as I snatch them out of his hand.
When I was little, Skittles were my favorite candy, hence my nickname. Any time Andrew came to Mom and Dad’s for a visit, he’d have a bag with him.
“You love me. You really, really love me.”
Andrew chuckles. “You’re a nut.”
Trent comes down the steps and touches fists with Andrew. Andrew gives him a look, and I know he’ll be grilling Trent later when they are alone. No matter how many times I tell Andrew I’m okay, he won’t believe me until he hears it from Trent.
“Come on. I want you two to meet Ashlyn and Dillon.”
I lead them up the steps and into the house. Ashlyn wanted to give us a few minutes alone when they first got here, so they stayed inside.
Ashlyn and Dillon rise from the couch when we walk into the living room and Ashlyn’s wide-eyed gaze moves to me. I know exactly what she’s thinking. Every woman thinks the same thing when they first see my dad. Andrew’s not only very tall and built like a tank, but he also sports quite a few tattoos. I’m not too much of a ninny to admit, he’s very good-looking too.
Jase, with his long, dark-blond hair, muscular swimmer’s body, and his own good looks, is very attractive too. The pair always turns heads anytime they are out and about around new people.
“Andrew, Jase, I’d like you to meet a very good friend of mine, Ashlyn, and her husband, Dillon. Ashlyn and Dillon, this is my dad, Andrew, and his partner, Jase.”
Jase holds his hand out first for Ashlyn and Dillon to shake. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
