“I WANT my boys home for Thanksgiving. And you never come home. Your father will talk business with you if you want. But you will be here, Jett.”
My head fell back to rest on the leather of the SUV’s seat. Jerome hummed up front and ignored my growl of frustration. “Dad wants to talk business after he left me to run this one? No thanks.”
“I have better things to do than argue with my son, Jett.” My mom’s voice was laced with warning. “And I don’t have to. Because my sons listen to me. Get your ass home by Thursday.”
True to being a Stonewood, she didn’t wait for a reply before she hung up.
“What’s traffic like if I make a stop at Vick’s, Jerome?”
His shoulders lifted slightly. “Won’t be much different. I’ll reroute.”
I nodded and went back to staring out the window. Thanksgiving with the family meant Jaydon acting like a child, Brey and Jax pawing at each other, and for the first time in years, my parents probably doing the same.
I wasn’t enduring the night without backup.
I waited for Vick to buzz me into her apartment lobby and took the stairs two at a time. Better than waiting for the elevator that seemed slower than a sloth on one of its lazy days.
When she didn’t open the door immediately, I pounded on it.
“Give me a minute,” I heard.
A minute for what? I pounded again. “A minute for what? You just buzzed. Let me in.’
She opened the door and poked her head out to look down the hall. Then glared at me, her face scrubbed free of makeup. “Rude.”
“Think I care about winning over your neighbors? I don’t like waiting.’
She sighed.
I blurted. “I need you with me on Thanksgiving.”
She frowned. “I don’t … I’m sorry. What?”
“I’m going home. My mother’s request. I want you with me.” I walked in as she opened the door fully.
“That’s probably not a superb idea.”
I turned to assess her again. She looked young, cute. No makeup allowed a few light freckles to show on the bridge of her nose. “Did you just shower?”
“Yes.” She bowed her head and then looked toward her living room. “Like I said, I need a minute.”
“For what?”
She waved at her face. “To get ready.”
“We aren’t going anywhere. Stay how you are.”
She cleared her throat and then her hand moved to her neck. “I just … I’d rather put some makeup on.”
“No.” I blocked her path as she moved towards her hall. I tipped her chin up. “You remember the light in Hawaii? How you thought the sunset changed things?”
“Yes,” she answered quietly.
“It doesn’t. Just like some makeup on your face doesn’t change anything for me either.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment.”
“Take it how you want. You’re beautiful upside down and fucked or right side up and put together. It’s a waste of time for you to put makeup on now. Especially since I plan to take you in your shower later tonight.”
Her body shuddered. Then she pushed back the wavy blonde hair that fell to the base of her shoulder blades, completely undone. “I didn’t expect you, so my place is a little out of sorts.”
She headed to the living room, and I followed. “I’m not worried about it, Pix. You told me you were staying here for Thanksgiving. I thought I was too. So, come home with me.”
“I have work to do.”
“So do I. Work with me there.”
“Why?” She stopped what she was doing and straightened. In her white tank and black shorts, she looked so damn fuckable I barely contained the need to rush her.
“I don’t want to be alone dealing with the damn happy life everyone is living.”
Her head tilted just enough that the pink ends of her hair swayed over her tits. “Aren’t you living a fortunate life? The life you want?”
“Sure but it isn’t the one they want me to live.”
“So, are you ashamed?”
I raked my hands through my hair. “No, woman. Just come with me.”
“Why would I go sit with your family on a holiday, Jett? I’m not your girlfriend. It’s weird.”
“You aren’t?”
“No!” she practically spit back at me, busying herself with straightening her already tidy living room.
“So what the hell are you then?”
“I just figured … I don’t know. I was the person you were sleeping with.”
“We established we weren’t just messing around. You’re the only person I’m sleeping with, and I better be the only one you’re sleeping with too.”
“I have family to see on Thanksgiving.”
“You specifically told me this week you weren’t going to see them.”
“Well, maybe I changed my mind.”
“Pack a bag for Wednesday. We’re staying over two nights.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Tough shit. I want you there and you don’t need to be eating Thanksgiving dinner here all by yourself. You’re coming.”
“Can you be any more demanding?”
“Absolutely. Take off your top, hop up on that counter of yours, and spread those legs.” I pointed over to her kitchen. “I need to fuck some sense into you for thinking you could ever tell me no.”
Always up for a good time, my little pixie did exactly as she was told.
