“Show off,” I muttered.
He grunted as he brought the weight back up. “Kitten, this isn’t showing off. Would you like me to show you what ‘showing off’ is?”
“Yeah,” I smirked.
He put the weights down and took mine from me, stacking them both back on the rack in their rightful places.
“Come here,” he took my hand, guiding me to an empty area of floor, covered in a blue mat. “Lay down.”
“O-o-kay,” my voice quaked.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said with a chuckle, lowering himself over top of me. I was so short that his feet stretched way beyond mine. His hands rested flat on the mat, holding him above me. Our faces were even, just inches apart. “This,” he said, raising himself and then lowering, “is showing off.”
He did another pushup but this time when he came down he pecked my lips.
“Hmmm, I could get used to this. It’s like a reward system,” he kissed me a little longer this time before going back up.
“How long are you going to do this?” I asked.
“At least seventy-five more times, kittycat. Remember, this, is showing off,” he smirked.
“I get it, you have endurance and strength. Point proven, Jared,” I stared up into his warm brown eyes. “You can stop now.”
“But you look so cute lying beneath me,” he winked.
I paled, a part of me wanting to get mad, but I laughed instead. “Well, aren’t you being quite the naughty boy.”
He chuckled, kissing the side of my mouth.
“Yeah, my naughty side decided to come out to play. I try to keep it on a short leash,” he winked, grinning crookedly at me.
He continued to do his pushups, kissing me periodically.
“I’m getting tired just watching you,” I said.
He chuckled. “How is that possible? I’m doing all the work.”
“And it looks exhausting,” I replied.
“Eh, it’s not that bad,” he chuckled.
“Show off,” I said again, poking the cleft in his stubbled chin.
He surprised me by catching my retreating index finger between his teeth. He lightly bit it before releasing.
“Don’t poke me,” he purred.
I bit my lip. “If you’re doing pushups with me underneath you, what are you going to do with me, when you do sit-ups?”
“Hmmm,” he pondered. “I’ll think of something.”
He finished his pushups, stopping at one hundred and twenty-five.
“Sit up time,” he said rolling over and getting in position. “Maybe you can straddle me?” he winked. “As much as I like being on top, sometimes it’s nice to change up the view.”
“You are soooo,” I drew out the word, “full of it today.”
He grinned, watching me as he did his sit ups. “I like to lighten the mood. I don’t like it when things get so serious between us and we dwell on things we shouldn’t.”
I laughed. “It’s just surprising, seeing this side of you, that’s all.”
“You know I’m just joking, right?” he asked. “Although, I could get used to that view while I work-out.”
“I know, Jared. I’m not as breakable as you think I am, at least, not anymore,” I smiled. I had really changed since Jared came into my life. I wasn’t as easily startled. I laughed and I smiled more. I felt like an entirely different person.
“You’ve really come out of your shell,” he agreed. “I wanted to talk to you about something,” he ceased his sit ups, drawing a leg up and draping his arm over his knee.
“What?” I asked, a bit warily.
“Thanksgiving is next week, I really want you to come with me and Karlie, to Dan and Patsy’s,” he reached for my hand.
“J-Jared, I can’t,” I shook my head. “That would be imposing.”
“Dan and Patsy already told me to invite you before I could even broach the subject. They’d love to get to know you better.” With his free hand he forced my chin up so I had to look him in the eyes. “Please?”
“I don’t know,” I tried to pry my chin from his hand, so I could look away from his intense brown eyes.
“Please, Katy? We all want you there.” A thought seemed to occur to him. “You don’t have to go to your mom’s do you?”
I snorted. “She’ll probably call me the day before, telling me she’s away on some exotic vacation and she promises to be home next year.”
Jared looked at me sadly. “All the more reason for you to celebrate with us.”
I could see I wasn’t going to win this argument with him. “Sure. I’ll go.”
He grinned, licking his lips. “Excellent. Karlie and I will pick you up Thanksgiving morning.”
“What can I bring? I won’t feel right if I don’t bring a dish,” I asked.
Jared snorted. “Trust me, you won’t need to bring anything. Patsy makes enough food to feed a small army. She can’t help herself.”
“Are you sure? I can make something? Or buy something?” I rambled.
He put a finger to my lips. “Don’t worry about it, kitten. Just wear something nice. Patsy likes for us all to dress up.”
“I can do that,” I nodded.
He leaned over, kissing my cheek and then my lips. “Okay, it’s time to get you in the ring.”
“Jared,” I whined as he helped me up. “I don’t want to.”
“Trust me, you’ll love it,” he guided me over to an area beside the ring. He’d already wrapped my hands, but now he handed me a light pair of boxing gloves. “Put those on,” he commanded.
“So bossy,” I smiled, slipping them on.
He grabbed some of those flat cushioned things that I’d seen the coaches put on their hands when they were practicing with their fighters.
Jared climbed into the ring and held the rope up for me.
With a groan, I tossed my leg over and ducked under.
Jared slipped the punching pads on, I guessed that’s what you called them, and said, “Hit them as hard as you can.”
I closed my eyes, steadying myself, and threw a punch. “Come on, you can do better than that!” Jared clapped the pads together before holding them out for me again. “Hit them like you mean it, Katy. Take all your anger, all your fear, out on them.”
I narrowed my eyes, pretending the pads were Preston, just like I did with the punching bag.
I punched, the loud slap echoing around the room.
Jared grinned, “Now that’s my girl.”
I hit the other one and Jared whistled. “I felt that one, Katy.”
Jared’s training and my self-defense training, kicked in and I punched those pads as hard as I could. I let all the hatred pour out of my body. I needed to let it all go. I needed to find my peace.
Jared’s encouragements faded to the background. The only thing I could focus on was punching the smile off that fucker’s face. He deserved to pay for what he did to me. Why should he get to go on with his life and be free and happy, when I had been stuck in this miserable in-between state? Why was I the one that had to suffer? He should too.
With a cry, I fell to the floor of the ring. Sobs raked my body; I couldn’t get enough oxygen to breathe properly.
“Katy,” I heard Jared say, tossing the pads away and sinking to his knees in front of me.
I tried to stop crying. I didn’t want to cry over what had happened anymore. I wanted to let it go. I wiped my face, the sobs still making my body flail.
“Katy, please, tell me what to do,” Jared pleaded, his brown eyes full of remorse. “Let me help you.” He reached out for me and I collapsed in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck. I held on to him like he was a life jacket keeping me afloat.
“I want to forget, all I want is to forget,” I sobbed.
He ran his long fingers through my hair. “I know, kitten, I know,” he said, and I believed him.
31
What on earth did one wear to go to Thanksgiving dinner with their boyfriend’s parents?
Jared had said to dress up, but what did that really mean? Obviously not jeans, but I didn’t want to wear something too fancy.
Oh, God. I dropped my head into my hands.
I had less than an hour until Jared picked me up.
Thankfully, I had my hair and makeup done.
I sifted through my clothes. There had to be something in here. I’d just bought all those new clothes.
I went through my dresses and decided that none of them were weather appropriate.
I settled on a pair of cuffed boyfriend trousers in a dark gray color. I paired it with a crochet ivory top with a flowery design. I assessed my appearance in the mirror and decided it was dressy without being over the top; exactly what I’d been going for.
I dug through the mess on the bottom of my closet floor and found a pair of black heels. My feet were going to kill me by the end of the day, but nothing else would look right with my outfit. I sighed; women would endure anything for the sake of fashion.
I grabbed my rose gold Michael Kors watch and put it on. I rarely got the chance to wear it because it was far too nice to wear with my everyday clothes.
I ran my fingers through my loose waves and checked the time.
Jared would be here any minute.
I tried to straighten up my room. It looked like a tornado had hit it.
My phone beeped and I knew that had to be him.
I checked the text and saw that it was, indeed, Jared. I dropped my phone into my bag, grabbed a black jacket, and raced out the door.
The bright blue, hulking, SUV was easy to spot, when I reached the parking lot.
Jared leaned against the passenger door, arms crossed over his chest, grinning as he watched me approach.
“You clean up nice,” I smiled up at him, fingering the silver tie and then his purple button down shirt tucked into black slacks.
“I always look nice,” he chuckled, kissing my cheek and opened the door for me. “You look beautiful,” he said as he helped me inside.
“Thank you,” I blushed. He took my hand and kissed the top of it, before flipping it over and kissing the palm as well. “Thank you for agreeing to this. Patsy can’t wait to get to know you better.”
My stomach lurched at his words and I tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. Jared chuckled, closing the car door and jogging around to the driver’s side.
I swallowed. Patsy was Jared’s mother’s figure and I knew her opinion mattered to him. Dan’s too. So, what if they didn’t like me? I knew my fears were silly, I had had dinner with them before, at the restaurant, but this was different. This was a family setting and I wondered if I would truly be accepted.
“Stop it, Katy,” Karlie said from the backseat. “You look like you’re about to pass out. You have nothing to worry about. Patsy has gushed about you for so long. She thinks you’re wonderful and she loves the change you’ve made in Jared.”
Jared reached over and squeezed my knee. “You have nothing to worry about, really.”
“Okay,” I let out a gust of air, leaning back in the seat. “I’ll believe you.”
~***~
We pulled up in front of a modest, all brick, one story house with columns.
The door flew open and Patsy came running out before we could all get out of the car.
Karlie glared at an old truck parked by the mailbox.
“What is it?” I asked, puzzled.
“Holden’s here,” she snarled.
Patsy, overhearing, said to her, “Now, Karls, you know how Holden’s dad is. We’re the only real family he has. Please, be nice to him.”
“I’ll try,” Karlie grumbled, hugging Patsy.
Patsy released Karlie and turned to me. She didn’t try to hug me, and that made me a bit sad, but it was my own fault.
“I’m so happy you’re here, honey,” Patsy said. “It means the world to me and I know Jared’s ecstatic that you agreed.”
Jared grinned, slinging his arm around my waist and pulling me against him. He kissed the top of my head and murmured, “I am. I’m not too much of a man to admit that.”
I blushed.
“Let’s stop standing out here, in the cold,” Patsy ushered us inside. “I’m afraid Dan and Holden might eat all the food if we wait too long.”
I expected to find a very traditional style of decorating, on the inside of the home, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was homey. The couch worn, but not too worn, and the coffee table looked like it could tell a story or two.
Dan was relaxing in a tan recliner, a bottle of beer in one hand.
“Hey son,” He nodded at Jared. “Katy,” he grinned at me.
I smiled shyly and gave him a small wave.
“Where’s my little girl?” he peered around us, looking for Karlie.
“Hey, dad,” she said, going up and kissing his cheek. “Already starting in on the alcohol, I see,” she pointed at his beer.
“Your momma will only let me have them on ‘special occasions,’” he grumbled. “I fully intend to indulge. Jared feel free to help yourself,” Dan pointed towards what I assumed was the kitchen.
The house, being older, wasn’t very open. All the rooms were closed off from the other.
“Nah, I’m good,” Jared shrugged.
“Suit yourself,” Dan took a sip of his beer.
Karlie muttered, “I’m the one that’s going to need one.”
“Whatcha need, Angel?” Holden asked, coming into the living room.
“None of your business,” Karlie snapped, crossing her arms over her chest and going in search of Patsy.
Holden smacked Jared’s arm. “What the fuck crawled up and died in your sister?”
“Don’t use that language in my house, Marks,” Dan snapped.
“Sorry, sir,” Holden straightened, waiting for Jared to answer.
“Nothing,” Jared shrugged. “She just doesn’t like you.”
“What’s not to like?” Holden threw out his arms.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” Jared raised a brow.
Holden sighed, letting his arms drop. “She acts like I kicked her puppy or something. I didn’t do anything.”
I hated to inform Holden, but I thought the fact that he hadn’t done anything, was sort of the point.
Jared shrugged. “Maybe she’s PMSing or something.”
Holden made a face. “Does that shit last all month or something?”
“Holden,” Dan growled warningly.
“Sorry,” Holden apologized. “It won’t happen again.”
“I don’t know, Holden,” Jared said, guiding me to the couch and sitting down. He pulled me down beside him and squeezed my hand. “I don’t understand how that works.”
I laughed. “Holden, she’s a sixteen year old girl, you just get on her nerves.” I wouldn’t betray Karlie’s trust by telling him about the crush. I also didn’t think Jared would take that news very well.
Holden made a face and muttered, “Women.”
“Dinner’s ready!” Patsy called out.
Jared squeezed my hand again. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Come on, Pop,” Jared patted Dan’s shoulder. “Turn the TV off.”
Dan grumbled and the TV went black. He stood and I could hear his joints pop and groan. He chuckled. “I’m not as young as I used to be, Katy. This old man is falling apart.”
“No, you’re not,” Jared said, leading me through the house, past the kitchen and into a large dining room.
The walls were a dark blue and the furniture was mahogany.
Jared pulled out a chair, motioning for me to sit down. I did and he scooted me in.
I smiled over at him as he took the seat next to me, beside Dan. Karlie sat across from me with Holden beside her. Patsy sat to my right.
We joined hands and Dan said grace.
“Dig in,” Dan said, when he was finished with the prayer.
We each took a dish, putting a l
ittle on our plate before passing it to the next person.
The amount of food was a bit overwhelming.
I dipped my turkey in gravy and bit into it. It was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted. “Patsy, this is delicious,” I gushed.
“Thank you, dear,” she smiled, sipping a glass of wine.
“Eetsrawlyood,” Holden mumbled around a mouthful.
“What was that?” Patsy chuckled. “And please, chew with your mouth closed, dear.”
Holden cheeks colored and he swallowed. “It’s really good.”
“I’m glad you’re all enjoying it. Ready for seconds?” she looked at Jared’s almost empty plate.
“Almost,” he laughed, shoveling some mashed potatoes into his mouth. “I miss your cooking.”
“Then, you need to start visiting me more often,” she took a dainty bite of food.
Jared nodded, “I’ll get right on that, we’ll be here next Friday.”
Patsy laughed. “I just hope I can make enough to feed you. Are you not feeding yourself,” she asked as Jared started piling more food onto his plate.
“You know I feed myself,” Jared smiled lovingly at Patsy.
“I know,” Patsy nodded. “Sometimes it just tastes better when someone else makes it.”
“Exactly,” Jared pointed his fork at her.
“When are you going to grill again for us?” Dan patted his stomach. “That was the best burger I’ve ever had.”
Jared laughed. “Pop, we’ll talk about that when the weather warms up. It’s too cold to be outside, grilling.”
“Just put a jacket on,” Dan grumbled. “Then you won’t be cold.”
I found myself smiling at their familial banter. When I was home, Thanksgiving dinner had never been like this. First off, it was catered, my mom never cooked anything, and secondly, no one spoke. It was a silent affair in the Spencer household.
“Karlie, have you and Rodney gotten your routine for the Christmas recital figured out?” Patsy asked.
Holden growled when Patsy mentioned Rodney, but everyone pretended nothing had happened.
“Yeah,” Karlie shrugged. “We changed a few things around but we’re happy with it now. I can’t believe the show is in three weeks. We’ve been practicing non-stop. The bottoms of my feet are killing me.”
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