I gave a solemn nod, “Perfect. I'm going to have blue balls all night,” I told her, causing her to cackle. She was never one to hold back her true laughter and it made me chuckle.
“My girl, c’mere,” I pulled her into me and looked down at her, rubbing her bare arms. “Happy birthday.”
Surprise registered on her face and she cocked her head to the side, “Well, not until tomorrow.”
“You mean midnight,” I corrected her. “Going to give you the best birthday,” I told her matter of factly.
“Is that so, Mr. Scott?” Her eyebrows lifted. I loved holding her tiny body against mine. “Remember my 21st? That was your doing,” She bit her lip and shook her head.
I looked up at the high foyer ceiling and thought back… her 21st...
I snapped my neck down, “Oh, shit, that was 21?” I asked her with the sudden flash of a memory of me throwing her over my shoulder and hauling her out of a Windsor bar and holding her hair back that night in the shitty motel room. We went to Canada so we could all drink. That was our first official bar night together because she’d been too nervous to go out before then. She was way more of a light weight than we’d both expected at the time.
I cracked a smile at the memory, and she continued to shake her head.
“I forgot about that one,” I told her. “Well, if you need me to hold your hair back tonight, I am at your service,” I said valiantly.
She rolled her eyes, “I learned how to hold my liquor in this past decade.”
“We’ll see about that, Mom,” I gave the end of her hair a tug, and must’ve brushed her boob in doing so, causing her to freeze up and release a quick breath. I felt the heat rising in me, but I’d have to ignore it for now, “No bra tonight, eh? Trying to kill me, girl.” I winked at her and gestured for her to exit.
Chapter Thirty-eight: Jules- present
I felt like all had been righted in the world. I still couldn’t believe I was sitting in a booth at a bar with Paige and Ashlie while the guys were getting our drinks. Not our first drinks of the night. This was probably our fourth bar of the night.
“So, girl,” Ashlie started; her excited green eyes shone brightly even in the darkened bar, “How are things between ya’ll? I’m so excited about this!” Her southern accent came out more when she was drinking.
Paige looked at me in question as well.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, “I think I’m still in shock over being with him again. I thought all this was gone for good, ya know?”
They both nodded in understanding.
“So… what are you guys? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Because things don’t start over, they pick right back up,” Paige pointed out. “Would you consider marriage?” She asked with a hopeful look.
I pondered that question. With my inhibitions lowered, I answered truthfully, “I always did want that with Greyson. But I’m kind of scared of wanting that. I’m fine with what we have right now.”
“Hun,” Ashlie looked at me straight, “I really don’t think he wants to stay the way you guys are. He can’t keep his eyes off you. I think he’s scared you’ll disappear on him again or something,” she joked. “You aren’t going to disappear again are you?” Ashlie gave me a warning look.
I chuckled wryly, “I’m so happy I have you guys again. I don’t want anything to ruin it,” I said earnestly, looking between the two of them. “It’s been just me and Canyon for so long.”
“Well, you’re stuck with us forever now,” she said, “because Canyon’s calling me Aunt Ashlie and I fricken love it so much it makes me want to cry!”
“Well, even if you guys don’t work it out romantically, I have a feeling we’ll all be together for the rest of time,” Paige winked at me.
Max squeezed his way into the booth next to me then, shoving me further in with his hip. He put an arm around me and faced Ashlie, “What doesn’t make you wanna cry, Ash?” He joked.
“I am sorry for him,” Paige recanted.
“Love you too, baby!” Max called over the loud bar music. He was pretty sloshed. “So, while G is up at the bar paying for all us because he’s a rich ass and owes me, I would like to take credit for something.”
“Oh no,” Paige groaned and rubbed her temples.
“No! It’s a good thing! I did a smart thing, baby! You’ll be proud!”
I looked at Max curiously.
“So, I feel safe enough to let this out now, and like I said, I want the credit. So, I saw Canyon’s parent permission slip for the try-out and saw Juju’s name on it! So… that’s when I moved Grey as the coach from the ‘03 team to the ‘07 team… and voila! Magic! I knew something fucked up happened before,” he looked me in the eye. “I love both of you and you two deserve to be happy and together. We really missed you, Juju,” he told me gruffly.
