Middle of Knight (Jack & Jill 2)

She nodded. “But I’m not.” A painful laugh broke from her chest. “He didn’t ask me … and I don’t think he will.”

Jackson kissed the top of her head. “He’s a fool.”

Resting her forehead on his sternum, she nodded. “Tell me a story, like a Sesame Street story.”

“Pfft … none of that.” He retreated to the kitchen, stealing another juice box from the refrigerator. “Ryn agreed to marry me.”

“Peachy.” Jillian hopped up on the counter and took the juice box Jackson offered. “When’s the big day?”

“We haven’t set a date yet. I think I should ask her father first.”

“Good call. She give you her virginity yet?”

A small smirk grew around his straw. “She has a daughter—twenty-one.”

“You should ask for her permission as well. I’m guessing it’s proper etiquette. Though she won’t give it to you.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s going to be pissed that her ‘old’ mom is marrying a guy that she wants to nail.”

Jackson tossed the box in the trash and grabbed a Red Bull to wash down the juice. “I’m pretty sure a woman can’t actually ‘nail’ a guy—not the right equipment. I can’t believe you sold enough Lascivio crap to win a car. You’re clearly not the sexpert everyone thinks you are.”

“Whatever. So how did it happen?”

“The proposal?”

“Yes. Did you get down on one knee and all that jazz?”

“Nope. I gave her the option of marriage or meaningless sex. She thought about it for a while and chose marriage. I think it was a good choice. But I also think it’s going to be a while before we have sex. For some reason she feels the need to ‘prepare’ herself. What do you think that means?”

Jillian giggled. “I’m not sure. She’s pushed a baby out of her vagina so accommodating your wee little penis shouldn’t be the issue.”

That earned her an exaggerated eye roll.

“Maybe…” she held up her index finger “…she doesn’t think that’s the hole you’re going to use.”

“Really? You think she’s preparing herself for anal sex with me?”

“No, not really.” She returned the same eye roll. “I think you make her completely self-conscious. She probably has a bit of overgrowth.”

“Pubic hair?”

“Maybe.”

“Huh … maybe I should tell her I’ve had sex with women who have pubic hair and it’s no big deal.”

They both laughed.

“Yes, there might even be an e-card that says that. No sense in beating around the bush.”

“Good morning.”

Jillian hopped off the counter.

“Hey, Brooke.”

Jackson gave her a half-smile and went to his room.

“He didn’t have to leave … unless you two were talking about me?”

“No.” Jillian laughed. “Unless you have pubic hair.”

An uneasy smile tugged at Brooke’s mouth. “I … I have some.”

Jillian’s smile doubled. It wasn’t a question and the fact that Brooke shared that personal bit of information with her was too hard to take seriously. “A landing strip?”

“Huh?”

Jillian shook her head. “Never mind. So how’d you sleep?”

Brooke shrugged, taking a seat at the table. “Honestly, not so good. I can’t stop thinking about Cage. He’s not going to take the news about AJ very well. He idolizes his dad. That’s why he’s here. Cage couldn’t wait to graduate high school so he could move closer to AJ.”

“Then I’m even more surprised AJ’s parents want him to move to Portland and leave Cage behind.”

Brooke gave Jillian an uneasy look. “Cage is one of the reasons they want him to come to Portland. They don’t want him feeling the burden of being pulled between football, school, and AJ’s treatment. And …”

“And?”

Brooke released a heavy breath. “Jim’s worried that AJ could do something.”

“Something?”

A single nod. “He thinks AJ could become suicidal if or when things get bad.”

Every ounce of her wanted to refute what Brooke said, but she couldn’t. Of course AJ would rather die than live in misery or be a burden to anyone around him. Jillian would have been the same way.

The dense silence weighed heavily in the room.

“So, anyway, are you joining us at Lilith’s for tea and coffee in a little bit?”

“I have something I need to do before we leave for the game later.”

Brooke nodded. “Okay, well I’ll see you a little later then.”

Jillian’s mouth pulled into a tight smile.

*

Dark, full clouds stretched for miles. Mother Nature painted the sky to match the mood. Perhaps it was to give the Monaghan family permission to feel sad. So much sadness.

“Jillian.” Jim answered the door. “I assumed you’d be having coffee with the ladies.”

“Not this morning. Is AJ here?”

“He’s still asleep. I didn’t want to wake him. Char said he was awake most of the night. Migraine.”

She frowned. Guilt for not being there seeped into her conscience.

“I’ll tell him you stopped by when he wakes.”

There was no need. Jim didn’t know Jillian and since he said she should leave, then he most certainly didn’t understand her relationship with his son.

“Actually, I’m going to peek in on him.” She stepped past him, not waiting for his approval.