“If they’re not, I’ll make them the fashion. I’ll wear pee pants to my next game.”
That set her off again on another laughing jag, clutching her stomach like it hurt to laugh so hard.
“I love you, Mikey.” She said it, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God. Did I just say that?”
“I hope so. You know why?”
She winced. “Why?”
“Because I’m in love with you.” Her eyes rounded, gaping at me. “I’m serious, Jessalyn. I’ve been so mad at myself because I threw away this beautiful love that you’ve given me. And maybe you didn’t mean it like I do, but I love you, and I need you to know it.”
Her smile was wide. “Yeah?”
I nodded, matching her expression. “Yeah. I love you. And I love your dimple. I love your pee pants. I even love silly old Yarn Wad.”
She turned to straddle me in her pee pants, and I didn’t even care. “I love you, Ben.”
“I love you more, Jessalyn.” I held us nose to nose, drinking in her smile. “Kiss for Daddy?”
Her warm laugh rattled out. “I think you’ve earned it.”
Chapter 49
Jessie
Kitty threw her arms around my neck as we walked in at her house. Guy put on a kettle for tea. We’d run the heat the whole way there, but I was still shivering. My clothes were soaked, between the rain and my little pee accident.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said. “I mean, are you okay? What the hell happened?”
“So, my wheel kinda fell off while I was driving on the highway.”
Guy’s hands were over his mouth. “During the storm, too? That’s so scary!”
Ben held me from behind, trying to keep me warm as we caught them up.
“I’m okay now. This guy helped me out,” I said, peering up at him. He kissed my hair and held me tighter.
“You’re soaked to the bone. Go shower and warm up,” Kitty said, pushing a steaming mug of tea into my hands.
I didn’t have to be told twice, heading for the guest bedroom. Mikey walked along with me.
“Ay, Mike,” Guy called. “Our shower’s actually the better one for sex.”
“Guy!” Kitty shrieked. “Jesus Christ!”
In the guest bathroom, Mikey helped me peel off my clothes, then had me hold my hot tea mug. He sat on the edge of the tub as the shower water heated.
“I feel like I should tell you some stuff, Jessie.”
“I’m ready to hear it.”
“I found out that my mom and Aunt Lori are lovers. She and Dad decided it was best if they still acted like they were togetherand Mom stayed in the closet. But my sister knew the whole time.”
“Benny,” I said, touching his arm.
“Yeah. I told myself that meant they didn’t love me, to keep that secret for so long. It really messed me up. I thought just Dad was the bad guy. But everyone had a little hand in it. He cheated, and they tried to work it out. Then they separated but stayed together for me and Laura. He got a new family, and she got Lori. He just came back on weekends to spend time with Laura and with me at hockey.”
I nodded, watching him.
