I clear my throat. “I do.”
“Aren’t you Mr. Fancy?”
She has to be smiling.
I grin and lean closer. “Are you impressed?”Dude,you’renottrying to impress Val Elliott.
“Very.”
So, okay, maybe I am trying to impress her because the mere idea has me wanting to puff out my chest.
Get ittogether,Hall.“How about we eat some of my mom’s berry cobbler and watch something? Her cobbler is legendary. Do you want yours with ice cream or whipped cream?”
“Both?”
“Both it is.”
I stand and reach for my plate, but Val stills my hand. “Your mom cooked so I’ll clean up.”
“I don’t think so. You’re the guest.”
“And my folks taught me to offer to clean.”
“And you did. I appreciate it. Now let me clean up.” I raise a brow.
Val makes an irritated noise. “Don’t be stubborn. No one likes to do the dishes.”
“Are you offering because you think I won’t do a good job since I can’t see well?” My shoulders tense, waiting for her answer.
“I mean, can you? But, no, that’s not why I suggested it. I genuinely want to help.”
I rub my face. Why is everything getting under my skin today?
“Jabari?” Val asks gently.
“I’m okay.” I tilt my head left, then right, letting the satisfying crack ease some of the tension. “Just a little irritable for some reason. But it’s definitely me and not you.”
Val snorts. “I already knew that.”
A chuckle falls from my lips. “Always quick with the retort.”
“I have to be around you.”
The sound of plates being stacked reaches my ears, and I remain quiet.
“Look,” she says from behind my back. “If you’re going to brood, then I’m putting you to work. You can dry and put the dishes up since I don’t know where anything goes.”
“Or we can leave them, get our dessert, and watch a movie.”
“Option B it is.”
16
Val
If anyone told me I’d be huddled under a blanket, watching a movie in Jabari Hall’s movie room, I would’ve laughed them out of the place. Since that’s exactly what I’m doing, I pinch myself for a reality check instead.
After grabbing dessert, Jabari led us to the theater room, which has the most luxurious sectional I’ve ever seen. It’s deliciously soft, and I might actually fall asleep if he doesn’t pick a comedy or action film. The last thing I want to do is end up drooling and embarrassing myself.
