“The alternative is her living with that idiot from Blackhawk. So, yeah, I’m good with this.” Jase gave her a side squeeze. “I’ll talk to Eli, get him to do the food for this thing.”
That would be amazing, but… “We really don’t have that much of a budget, Jase. I was just thinking like cookies and punch or something.”
“He owes me. I’ll call in a favor.” He caught her stare. “You’re doing it again, sugar.”
“Doing what?”
He traced the column of her neck with his fingertip. “Looking at me like that.”
“I’ll stop.” She glanced around the room instead, doing a mental catalog of all that needed done.
Jase tilted her face back to him. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”
Oh.
Well.
Oh.
19
Chapter Nineteen
Jase was working construction again, Babushka was settling into her new apartment, and Heather, Claire, and Velma were doing an impromptu let’s-dissect-Heather’s-life-choices at Velma’s place.
“I thought you were off men.” Velma settled into the white leather sofa.
“I was. But Jase and I... I don’t even know what happened, it just did.” Heather took an oversized gulp of chardonnay. “And mostly, it’s been amazing.”
“Mostly?” Claire asked.
“It’s just, this morning I was pretty sure he was going to break up with me. Like we’d had our weekend of fun and he was done.” And boy, was the weekend fun.
“But?” Claire pushed, her own glass of wine in hand.
“But then he didn’t. And he’s been really sweet.” They’d gone to the assisted-living center with Babushka. She liked the place, Jase was okay with it, and she signed the lease.
“I feel like I have to be the one to say this.” Velma paused and set her iced tea on a coaster. “I just think that for your first foray back into the world of dating, Jase may not be the best option.”
Like Heather hadn’t already thought that very same thing a thousand times.
“It’s just that I don’t think this is a healthy relationship when he didn’t even want to acknowledge you to his family,” Velma continued.
“I don’t know.” Claire sat taller. “Jase isn’t Mr. Commitment, but neither was Brek. I mean, who would’ve called that one? Your relationship with him didn’t exactly get off to a great start. It took time.”
Claire made a good point—no one in their right mind would’ve expected a guy like Brek to settle down and enjoy married life. Or someone with Velma’s particularities to be all in with a guy like him. And yet? He and Velma were happy. Blissfully so.
“What we need is a strategy for your heart.” Velma was ready to make a list, Heather could feel it.
“V?” Brek hollered from the nursery where he was getting Lily changed.
“Hang on.” Velma stood and pointed to both of them. “Don’t say anything until I get back.”
Velma scooted down the hallway.
“You think I need a strategy for my heart?” Heather asked Claire.
“I think you need to decide what you really want. If you really want to be alone, then do that. If you really don’t want that, then don’t. But don’t be afraid to try with Jase.”
