“It isn’t…I’m not…” Jalen took a deep breath, trying to collect her words.
“You don’t have to explain,” Kodi told her. “Just know that the next time she gets out of line, I’m going to pop her. And the next time she says that shit. She and I are going to throw hands.”
“It isn’t your job to deal with this,” Jalen told her.
“It isn’t yours either. Unfortunately, our egg donor decided kids were not a priority.” Kodi stood. “I’m going to make sure the twins are putting their shoes on so we can go.”
She watched as Kodi left the room, and she shook her head at the fact that her seventeen-year-old sister had just given her a lecture. Whether that had been her intention. Kodi had been right. A part of Jalen felt as if she would mirror her mother, and she wasn’t sure she could do that. Not with the wounds still fresh in her mind, even after so many years, with the physical scars still plaguing her when she looked into the mirror. But she also knew there was a difference between discipline and abuse.
Deciding that thinking about those events of the past would put her in a depressed mood, she shook it from her head and finished getting ready. They needed to leave in a few minutes in order to make it on time.
When Rohan had initially invited her and her sisters to Thanksgiving dinner at his house, she’d been a little skeptical. However, after a couple of days of thought, she figured there was no harm in doing so. A part of it was not knowing whether they were at the stage where she and her sisters should meet his mother, or if they were really ready to spend a holiday together. They’d only technically been dating for a little under three months.
She realized how ridiculous that was as well. It made no sense for her to be skeptical about celebrating with the man shewas dating. Especially one that had feasted on her like the Last Supper.
Jalen thought about that night often when she was alone in her room, on the phone with him, and both times he’d taken her out since then. She’d stared at his lips, and he’d chuckled. Jalen was more than sure he’d known what she was thinking each time he’d caught her.
Movement outside of her door caught her attention, and she saw her sisters filing down the hallway, Landon bringing up the rear begrudgingly. Leaving the bedroom, she followed behind them. She went into the kitchen and grabbed the cake she’d made to take with them.
“Let’s get going,” she said.
It was almost thirty minutes later when they were pulling up to Rohan’s house. His vehicle was the only one she saw. Looking at the clock, she found they were early.
They all filed out of the car and to the front door. Jalen knocked, and it was only a few seconds later that the door opened.
“Hi!” Omari greeted excitedly before anyone else could. “Is Alynn here?” she then questioned, and Rohan chuckled as he stepped aside for them to enter.
“Not yet, but she’ll be here soon,” he responded as they walked in.
“Sorry, we’re a little early,” Jalen apologized.
“No worries,” he assured, leaning down to peck her lips.
“I hate to interrupt you lovebirds, but where do you want this?” Kodi asked, holding up the cake.
“I’ll take it,” Rohan told her. He then pointed Kodi toward the living room and told them all to make themselves at home.
Jalen followed him into the kitchen, intent on seeing if there was anything he needed help with. When she stepped inside, the smells that had greeted them at the door hit her full force.
“Do you need help with anything?” she questioned, and he shook his head at her.
“Everything is done. We’re just waiting for the others.”
Jalen watched him take the lid off the cake she’d brought to look at it. She watched as he licked his lips, and her eyes seemed to get stuck there. He said something; she was sure he did, because his lips were moving, but she hadn’t heard him. It wasn’t until his deep chuckle pulled her attention that she realized she’d been caught yet again.
“You know, baby,” he started as he walked around the island to stand behind her. Rohan wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I wouldn’t object to having you for dessert.” He nipped at her ear. “But the kids are here, and we’ll have other company. So, it’ll have to wait, but whenever you want it, just ask.”
Before Jalen could respond, there was a knock on the door, and he released her, heading out of the kitchen. She squeezed her thighs together, taking a deep breath. Why did he have to tell her that? Now, that was all her sex-deprived self was going to think about. It was going to be a long dinner.
????????????
Rohan listened as his mother and girlfriend laughed in the living room. He wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but they’d hit it off right away and had been almost inseparable from the time his mother had walked in the door. Not to mention, she’d fawned over all the children in the house. He hadn’t missed the pointed look his mother had given him or the way his brother had tried to contain his laughter.
Kodi was with the younger children, stating that she wanted to ensure the twins didn’t get into anything they weren’t supposed to. Rohan had tried to tell her he wasn’t worriedabout that, but she insisted she was fine with hanging out with them. Landon, who had said little the entire meal and had been standoffish, had asked if she could go outside to the backyard, which was where Rohan was currently headed. She hadn’t been rude by any means, answering whatever questions were posed to her, but she hadn’t willingly joined any conversation.
He knew she had been giving Jalen some problems recently, and he could only attribute it to the fact that she was coming into her own, and sometimes that meant putting parents, or parental figures, through the wringer. He was sure he hadn’t been the easiest teenage boy starting out.
He found her sitting at the table outside, sketching. Rohan didn’t want to seem as if he was intruding on her, even though it was his house. So, he knocked on the door he’d just opened to gain her attention. When she looked up at him, he stepped outside.
