We hold the silence for maybe three seconds before we both start to laugh.
I lean back, satisfied that our moods have lightened. I have a feeling that I might have to do that several more times for Jensen today, but much to her probable disagreement…I make her laugh.
Before pulling out, I shoot off a text to Will and Callie to have them meet us at Jensen’s old apartment in about an hour. I want her done with that place today. I’m fine with letting her figure out what’s next on her own, but I’m not about to let her continue to have ties to this place so they can hold it over her head.
“Where are we going?” Jensen asks once she realizes I’ve turned the opposite way of her apartment. I don’t answer her and hit my favorites on CarPlay to make my next call.
“Why are you calling Lucie?” Jensen asks before the first ring.
“Impatient, much?” I mumble to her. “You’re gonna hear what?—”
“Hey, Beck,” Lucie answers.
“Hey, Baby Mama, how are you feeling?”
“Tired and nauseous, you know, the usual. How are you feeling about your new roommate?”
“I’m great…” I look at Jensen with a smile, but she’s giving Lucie’s contact photo the evil eye. “She’s hanging in there. Listen, think that kid of yours would want to have a play date with a dog for a couple hours?”
“Beck—” Jensen starts, but Lucie talks over her.
“I think Dex might kill you for it, but I’ll help calm him down.”
Lucie can’t see it, but a devilish smile comes to my face. “So that’s how you got pregnant. Every time Dex starts acting like a dick, youcalm him down. The team was wondering why he’s nicer now that he has you.”
“Beck!” Lucie squeals, but Jensen…Jensen folds her lips together the best she can, but the corners tilt up ever so slightly. I’ll still qualify that as a Jensen smile nonetheless.
“You walked right into that one. Come on, what’d you expect me to say?”
Knowing Lucie, her cheeks are probably bright red right now. “Just bring Dottie over and don’t tell that joke to Dex.”
“Thank you, we’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Oh, and Luce, Jensen needs some clean clothes to change into.”
“Okay, see you soon, Jen,” Lucie sings.
“Bye, Luce.” Jensen hits the End Call button on the screen with a huff. “My hips are not about to fit into Lucie’s clothes.”
“I’m assuming that’s a comment I don’t need to respond to, so I’ll just tell you the plan instead. We’ll take Dottie over to play with Miles for a couple hours, Callie and Will are meeting us at your apartment to get you moved out, where you can put your own clothes on then.” And because I can already see the argument about getting so much help all over her face, I lie for her benefit. “I want my shirt back…it’s cold as fuck.”
Jensen presses her lips into a thin line. “You know, there’s most likely a stain on your shirt now.”
“I’ll survive. Believe me, I’ve worn dirtier clothes over the years.” When I let that statement fully register, I double back. “Not that you’re dirty, I meant?—”
“I know what you meant, Beck.” Jensen’s shoulders drop a bit as she sinks farther into the seat. “Thanks,” she mutters.
I want to make a smart comment about her looking like she’s actually enjoying the truck she was making fun of me for having, but when her eyes fall shut, I’m fighting off the urge to rest my hand on her thigh.
I flex my hand against the steering wheel as the words my father said come back to haunt me.
Don’t rob yourself of that happiness. Your mother would hate to know you feel this way.
The look of utter disappointment is something I’ve never seen from him, but fuck, I can’t do it. I won’t.
Moving Jensen in with me temporarily is what any good person would do. Giving her my shirt when she needs it is what any good man would do. Me not giving up on our chemistry is more about how great we could make each other feel. But wanting to hear her laugh…resting my hand on her thigh while we drive…not wanting to go get her clothes for a while longer because I’d love to see her walking around in nothing but my T-shirt again…
Maybe we do need some ground rules.
As I park the truck at Dex’s, Jensen’s eyes flutter open. “Oh, we’re here.”
