She knew our family was crazy and more times than not, inappropriately crude. But she never could jump in and role-play the bullshit quite like the rest of us. Jessica? She could do it like she’d been born into our family, but she was downstairs with all the kids since her knocked-up state prevented her from drinking with us.
“Anyway, he rolled his hot, sweaty, rippled-muscled body off mine and said between labored breaths, ‘Baby, I think you’re missing something.’ I shrieked. He calmed me down and then we looked for my missing leg. Never found the damn thing.”
We fell into a fit of laughter, except for Anne. She had a permanent grimace etched across her face. I’m sure she wondered how we could joke about my missing limb.
Easy. It happened.
It couldn’t be undone.
We’d met our grieving quota years before.
Life was too damn short, so we did what the Jones women did best… we drank until we collapsed into a giggling stupor.
“You’re dating a celebrity, Lake. Has that sunk in yet?” Lara asked.
“Not really. I mean… we haven’t been dating during his regular season. There’s always someone snapping a photo or asking for his autograph, but I have this feeling when training camp starts things are going to change… a lot.”
“There’s going to be crap in the tabloids all the time,” my mom added.
I nodded, refilling my glass. “Yeah, we’ve already had some of that. Honestly, I can’t believe any of you haven’t seen me in some trashy magazine. I never dreamed I’d make it this long without you discovering the secret identity of my new boyfriend.”
“You told me his name, sweetie.” My mom gave me thestink eye. “Just not his last name.”
I grinned behind my wine glass. “I wanted you to meet him before you got any preconceived ideas about my ‘celebrity’ boyfriend. And I wanted to feel secure in my relationship with him before bringing him to…this place.”
“Good call.” Anne smirked.
Cage looked up and caught us gawking at him through the window, and he grinned then winked.
“Oh. Dear. God. He winked at me. Do you think Drake saw him wink at me?” Lara fanned herself.
“Wine… I can have a sip and not kill my baby, right?” Jessica came in the kitchen with Grant on her hip and exhaustion on her face.
“Shift change.” Anne took Grant from her. “Besides, you can handle the inappropriate talk better than I can.”
Jess kissed me on the top of my head. “Pour me an ounce of wine, Sis, and I’ll give you my first born.”
I laughed, pouring her an ounce, maybe two. “Don’t let OCD Jones catch you.”
Jessica sat down next to me and rolled her eyes, bringing the glass to her lips.
My mom’s and Lara’s eyes grew wide, their smiles pulled tight into grimaces.
“No. Way.”
Jessica closed her eyes and grumbled as I turned. Luke stood behind her with the intercepted wine glass in his hand.
“Dammit, Jones! You’re so controlling.”
I giggled, missing their angry banter that always turned into Luke saying something that rendered Jess speechless. That day was no exception.
After setting the glass on the counter, he bent down andkissed her cheek while resting his hands on her belly. “How does it feel to carry such an important part of me inside of you?”
She frowned. “You don’t play fair. You never have.”
Luke stood with a proud smirk stuck to his face. “Dad’s taking the hamburgers off the grill.”
“I’ll set out the salads and chips.” My mom stood, draining the last of her wine with a satisfied sigh as Jessica glared at her. “Oh, did Tom remember your veggie burger?”
