“Hello, Brax, come on in. Rowen’s almost ready.” I hug her slight form, worried I’ll hurt her if it’s too much. She returns the hug.
“Hi, Mrs. Jennings. Rowen can take her time. I’ll hang out with you and Mr. Jennings, if that’s okay, or I can stand out here,” I offer.
“Nonsense. Come on in. Rob is being a fuddy duddy. He can’t handle the fact that Aspen left, Rowen is dating, and he has zero control over Peyton, but we never did with that girl. Keep this between you and me, but I’m blaming Bridger for that.” She laughs slightly, then covers it up with a cough.
“Your secret is safe with me. Let’s get out of the cool air.” She holds my hand, squeezing it for a moment before loosening it. I close the door behind us, then follow her into the living room, where, sure enough, Rob Jennings is sitting in the same recliner he’s had for what seems like forever.
“Talia, I told you I would have gotten the door.” He heaves himself up. I watch the interaction between them.
“Like you wouldn’t interrogate him outside and not in front of me. Oh no, you don’t. This isn’t my first rodeo. You remember what my father did to you? I will not have you do that to Braxton. We’ve known him since he was knee high to a grasshopper. Now, say hello and be nice.” She pats his cheek affectionately.
“Yeah, sure. How ya doing, Braxton? Keeping busy with the shop?” He turns to acknowledge me, causing me to smile at how he’s done a complete one-eighty.
“Doing good. Definitely busier than ever. How have you been?” I shake his hand. We shoot the shit for a minute, both of us still standing, him apologizing for not looking at Rowen’s car sooner. I shake my head. That’s when Talia chimes in. “Sit down, you two. I’m about to break my neck looking up at you.”
We listen to her, all of us talking, Rowen’s mom saying she’s hoping to be on the mend after her last bout in the hospital. Rob side-eyeing her like she’s lost her marbles. They’ve been like this for as long as I can remember.
All of us stop talking as Rowen walks around the corner. Her hair is down, straight as a board, shinier than normal, a light dusting of makeup on her cheeks and around her eyes. It’s her lips that draw me in, slicked with some kind of gloss. It has me licking my lips wanting to taste them, even if they leave my own with color on them.
“Jesus, Rowen, we aren’t poor, but with those jeans you’re wearing, people will think it,” Rob says. Talia laughs.
“You look pretty, Ro. Don’t let the grumpy miser make you think anything else,” her mom says. I take in what she’s wearing. The white sweater is tight, showing off her curves. Her jeans are ripped from ankle to her upper thighs in every which way, giving me all sorts of ideas. Her black heeled ankle boots give her that added height, so she’ll fit nicely in the crook of my arm.
“I know that, Talia, but half her pants are gone. I hope you didn’t pay for those.”
“Dad.” Rowen rolls her eyes but doesn’t say anything else.
“He’s not wrong, Rowen,” I say gently to her as I make my way towards where she’s standing. My hand finds hers, lacing our fingers together.
“See you tomorrow.” She waves with the hand I’m not holding.
“Have a good time. Don’t worry about me. Okay?” her mom asks.
“I will, and I’ll also worry about you. Dad, call me if you need anything.” She untangles our hands to walk to her parents, kissing them both on the cheek before she returns to me. I place my hand on her lower back as we make our way out of the house. She goes to grab the small bag she left beside the door, but I take it from her. Not saying anything, she rolls her eyes at me this time, but I see the smile she’s holding back.
“Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings,” I say over my shoulder, and then we’re off to the Lodgeview Fall Festival. I have a date with my woman, and now that her parents seem to be okay with us, all we have left to do is deal with Bridger. I shake my head, not wanting to have those thoughts on my mind, especially not tonight.NineRowen“I have no idea how you managed to get me to not only ride all of the rollercoasters and eat so much fried food, but play all the games as well. Thank you so much for taking me out tonight,” I tell Braxton. We’re on the Ferris wheel now. I’m as close to Braxton as humanly possible. Mostly because there’s a huge stuffed bear beside me, but mainly because those jeans that are ripped to shreds, yeah, he has his hand inside them, his pinky finger slowly moving closer to the seam of my panties.