Jalen picked the six-year-old up from Landon’s back and carried her down the hall while Rohan followed them. She laid Omari on the bottom bunk, pointing to the top one for Nathan.
When they returned to the living room, they finished the rest of the movie before Mikal stood and told them she was going to bed. Goodnights went around, and Jalen checked the clock to see that it was now almost midnight.
“You want to choose a movie, Landon?” Jalen asked.
“Can we watchCandyman?”
“If you want to.”
Landon started the movie, and about halfway through it, she stood with a yawn. “I’m going to clean up the snacks and head to bed.”
“Don’t worry about it. I got it,” Jalen told her. She was still watching the movie and eating some Skittles, so she didn’t mind cleaning up when she was done.
When the movie went off, she sat up straight. She’d been leaning into Rohan’s side and stood, prepared to clean things up.
“Why don’t you go shower and get in bed? I’ll do this,” he told her.
“Are you sure?”
He leaned over and kissed her. “I’m sure, baby.”
Jalen thanked him before standing and going to her bedroom. She grabbed a pair of panties, shorts, and a tank top before entering her bathroom, starting the shower, and undressing as she waited for the temperature to rise. She stepped into the shower once it had.
Once out of the shower, she moisturized and pulled on her clothes. She knew she wouldn’t sleep until Kodi got home. Jalen hadn’t felt the need to give her a curfew because Kodi had always been responsible, and she deserved to cut loose. Her little sister had worked extremely hard to make sure she got into the college of her dreams, and Jalen was proud of her. Now, all Jalen had to do was get through this summer semester of her program, pass her certifications, and she’d be able to call herself a registered nurse.
She exited the en suite to find Rohan looking through his bag and pulling out clothes. She slid into bed as he entered the en suite. Jalen grabbed her phone from her nightstand, where it had been since Rohan had left earlier to pack some things. She checked it and saw that she’d received a text from Kodi while she was in the shower.
Kodi:I’ll be home in about an hour. So, go to sleep or have Rohan put you to sleep because I know you’re still up.;p
Jalen:Be careful coming home.
Jalen decided she wouldn’t respond to the second half of Kodi’s message. Sliding down in bed, she scrolled through videos on her phone, watching shorts until Rohan came out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a pair of lounge pants as he ran a towel over his hair.
Reaching over, Jalen turned her bedside lamp on as he turned off the overhead light.
When he slid into bed beside her, she placed her phone down, turning to look at him. She was going to thank him again forcleaning the living room, but she knew what his response would be. Instead, she moved over and laid her head on his chest.
“Have you heard from Kodi?” he asked.
“Yes, she’ll be home in about half an hour.”
“I’ll stay up and wait for her if you want to go to sleep,” Rohan volunteered.
“I’m fine. I’m not exhausted yet,” Jalen responded.
The two lapsed into silence as Rohan ran a hand up and down her back, and Jalen drew patterns on his abdomen. She hadn’t realized how long they’d been sitting in that comfortable silence until she heard what she thought was the front door opening and closing.
As Kodi went to pass her bedroom, she stopped briefly. “You’re not doing what I told you to,” the teenager stated with a smirk. “I put your keys on the table by the front door. Thanks again for letting me use your car.”
“It’s no problem,” Rohan responded. Kodi bid them goodnight, reaching in to close her door with a wink. “What did she tell you to do?” he inquired, and Jalen looked up at him.
“To have you put me to sleep.”
Rohan chuckled. “I would, but you don’t know how to be quiet, baby.”
Jalen pinched him, which only caused him to laugh more, but he wasn’t wrong, and she didn’t feel comfortable having sex with her sisters in the house.
Reaching over, she turned off her bedside lamp. “Goodnight.”
