Read Online Off Limits by Kelly Jamieson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kelly Jamieson
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one to Brenda.
“It’s good,” I told the other guys after a sip. “Try some.”
“All right.” Gary went to stand but Jenna waved himdown.
“I’ll get it for you, Dad. Daniel? Connor?”
They exchanged a look and said, “Sure, okay.”
She hustled out and returned with three more mugs, then made another trip for a plate of cookies—more from the church bake sale. The ladies at the church must like that Brenda didn’t bake, since she’d apparently bought a shitload of goodies.
Jenna was being all busy hostess, but I got the feelingshe was avoiding dealing with what she was feeling about Jon not coming to church. She’d almost told me what the feeling was, but then he’d interrupted.
I wanted to be there for her. But that was so fucking awkward. Jon kept looking at me like he thought I was trying to steal his girlfriend, which was ridiculous.
Sort of.
Did he know about our history? I wondered, because I’d been nothing butbrotherly toward Jenna the whole time they’d been here.
Neither of them looked very happy, but nobody else seemed to notice. Daniel and Connor were arguing about their NFL team rivalry. Christopher started getting fussy and Emily yawned and stood. “I think Christopher and I are both ready for bed.” She crossed over to take Christopher from his grandma. “What time are we opening presents in themorning?”
Jenna spoke up. “Seven!”
Everyone else groaned. Except Emily. “I’ll be up then.” She smiled. “Me and this little guy.” She rocked him a little.
“I’ll come over at ten,” Connor said. “No earlier, dammit.”
“Fine.” Jenna smiled. “Ten it is.”
“I bought cinnamon buns from Sweet Treats,” Brenda said.
We all sat around awhile longer, finishing off the mulled wine and talking. Then Connorheaded out to his own home, Daniel joined Emily, and Brenda and Gary decided to go to bed too. That left me with Jenna and Jon. Still sensing the air prickling around us, I was outta there. I jumped to my feet. “Okay. Night all. See you in the morning.”
I clomped down the stairs to my room. Last night had been a late one, and I’d been up early, but I wasn’t tired yet so I turned on the big TVdown there and played some Xbox for a while, trying to ignore the sour ache in my gut.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected this Christmas to be like. I’d known that I’d be seeing Jenna again and I figured I’d handled that pretty well the first few years after we’d been in college together, so this wouldn’t be a big deal. I hadn’t expected her to be with a boyfriend. And I didn’t know if it made itbetter or worse that I’d taken an instant dislike to the dipshit.
Then there was the announcement that Brenda and Gary were going to sell the house and move, leaving me…I didn’t know where.
I fucking hated this.
My fingers clenched on the game controller.
This place and this family were safety to me. In a world where I’d lost everything, I’d found safety and security here. I’d always donewhatever was necessary to keep it. What could I do now?
—
I set the alarm on my cellphone so I’d be up by ten, but I woke up before it even went off.
Christmas morning.
I lay on my back in bed and stared up at the ceiling. I couldn’t control what was happening between Jenna and Jon. If she thought she was going to be happy with fuckface, it wasn’t my place to interfere. The thought of herspending the rest of her life with that guy made my skin crawl and my stomach heave, but clearly that was my problem, not hers.
But I
had
come up with an idea of something else I could do, something that would give me back some control.
I threw off the covers and hit the shower, then dressed in my oldest, softest jeans, a plaid flannel shirt, and thick gray socks. I climbed the stairs to thekitchen, smelling rich dark coffee mingled with the aroma of roasting turkey as I did so. Fuck yeah. Coffee. With the turkey I would take a wait-and-see approach.
I expected
“It’s good,” I told the other guys after a sip. “Try some.”
“All right.” Gary went to stand but Jenna waved himdown.
“I’ll get it for you, Dad. Daniel? Connor?”
They exchanged a look and said, “Sure, okay.”
She hustled out and returned with three more mugs, then made another trip for a plate of cookies—more from the church bake sale. The ladies at the church must like that Brenda didn’t bake, since she’d apparently bought a shitload of goodies.
Jenna was being all busy hostess, but I got the feelingshe was avoiding dealing with what she was feeling about Jon not coming to church. She’d almost told me what the feeling was, but then he’d interrupted.
I wanted to be there for her. But that was so fucking awkward. Jon kept looking at me like he thought I was trying to steal his girlfriend, which was ridiculous.
Sort of.
Did he know about our history? I wondered, because I’d been nothing butbrotherly toward Jenna the whole time they’d been here.
Neither of them looked very happy, but nobody else seemed to notice. Daniel and Connor were arguing about their NFL team rivalry. Christopher started getting fussy and Emily yawned and stood. “I think Christopher and I are both ready for bed.” She crossed over to take Christopher from his grandma. “What time are we opening presents in themorning?”
Jenna spoke up. “Seven!”
Everyone else groaned. Except Emily. “I’ll be up then.” She smiled. “Me and this little guy.” She rocked him a little.
“I’ll come over at ten,” Connor said. “No earlier, dammit.”
“Fine.” Jenna smiled. “Ten it is.”
“I bought cinnamon buns from Sweet Treats,” Brenda said.
We all sat around awhile longer, finishing off the mulled wine and talking. Then Connorheaded out to his own home, Daniel joined Emily, and Brenda and Gary decided to go to bed too. That left me with Jenna and Jon. Still sensing the air prickling around us, I was outta there. I jumped to my feet. “Okay. Night all. See you in the morning.”
I clomped down the stairs to my room. Last night had been a late one, and I’d been up early, but I wasn’t tired yet so I turned on the big TVdown there and played some Xbox for a while, trying to ignore the sour ache in my gut.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected this Christmas to be like. I’d known that I’d be seeing Jenna again and I figured I’d handled that pretty well the first few years after we’d been in college together, so this wouldn’t be a big deal. I hadn’t expected her to be with a boyfriend. And I didn’t know if it made itbetter or worse that I’d taken an instant dislike to the dipshit.
Then there was the announcement that Brenda and Gary were going to sell the house and move, leaving me…I didn’t know where.
I fucking hated this.
My fingers clenched on the game controller.
This place and this family were safety to me. In a world where I’d lost everything, I’d found safety and security here. I’d always donewhatever was necessary to keep it. What could I do now?
—
I set the alarm on my cellphone so I’d be up by ten, but I woke up before it even went off.
Christmas morning.
I lay on my back in bed and stared up at the ceiling. I couldn’t control what was happening between Jenna and Jon. If she thought she was going to be happy with fuckface, it wasn’t my place to interfere. The thought of herspending the rest of her life with that guy made my skin crawl and my stomach heave, but clearly that was my problem, not hers.
But I
had
come up with an idea of something else I could do, something that would give me back some control.
I threw off the covers and hit the shower, then dressed in my oldest, softest jeans, a plaid flannel shirt, and thick gray socks. I climbed the stairs to thekitchen, smelling rich dark coffee mingled with the aroma of roasting turkey as I did so. Fuck yeah. Coffee. With the turkey I would take a wait-and-see approach.
I expected
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