“Jessa, is Grant coming over?” Trey hollers over.
“Yeah, I think so. Let me text him again. I swear he’s at work more than home lately.” Oh great, her husband’s never home, somehow her and Rob have become all chummy. Why do I even care? I shouldn’t care.
“If so, I’ll have to order another pizza for his lard ass.” Trey kids and Kailey sweeps in, taking the baby from Rob’s arms.
“I’ll take her.” She goes over to the window and peers out, a smile quick to form on her face. “They are having so much fun.” Then she twists toward me. “Although, you might want to warn your mom, Paige. They’ve turned him into the prince. Foil sword and all.”
“Don’t knock the sword. I worked hard on that.” Rob stands up and ventures to the window, watching Matty hold the handmade sword from cardboard and foil in the air. “They were dressing him up as a princess; I had to put a stop to that shit.”
“Shit,” Drew mimics and Kailey’s head flips over to him sitting on the floor playing with some cars.
Her hand flies up in the air, Trey laughs and I bite my lip. “One day and you’ve already ruined my precious nephew.”
Rob backs up, holding his hands up. “I’m sorry, Kailey.” He truly appears to mean it, but Trey laughs harder and Kailey does, too.
“Please, Rob, let’s remember who lives in this house. He learned it from Trey about a month ago and it’s his favorite word lately.”
Rob’s hand covers his heart. “Thank the lord.” It’s nice to see him show his caring and considerate side. Not plaster on the usual asshole one.
“Grant’s in. He’s leaving now,” Jessa tells Trey and he nods. Jessa and Rob share a look and immediately Rob goes outside.
She goes to follow, but Kailey glances over to me. “Paige, you should see Matty out here.” Jessa stops and peers over to me.
I meet her by the window and find a happy Matty. It doesn’t happen nearly enough and it pulls a smile from my face. Then they veer to Rob and he’s sitting on the table, his fingers tapping along it. “Go talk to him.” Kailey nudges me with her shoulder.
Following her directions, I slide through the doors and sit down next to him. “I hope Matty wasn’t too much trouble today. Thank you again.” I cross my legs and Rob’s eyes watch them the whole way. A shot of electricity shoots through my veins.
“The kid is cool as shit. He opened up as soon as we walked through the door.” He watches Matty, raising his sword and the girl’s bow down to him. “He’s got game already. You had better watch out.”
I laugh and swivel my chair for a better view. “Don’t teach him too much now.”
“It’s not me. The kid’s a natural.” His fingers continue to tap in an uncomfortable drum.
Swiveling back around, his eyes are so lost, I’m not sure he’s entirely with me. “We can go. You can drop me off at my car, I’ll grab Matty. Then you’re free.”
His head tilts and his eyes dig into mine hard. “No. Matty’s having fun.”
“But you aren’t. I get it, so let’s just go.” I’m trying my best not to outwardly call him out on the yearning for his ex-girlfriend.
“What do you get?”
“That Grant’s coming. You know.” I fidget my hands in my lap. “That you probably don’t want to be around him, with Jessa being your ex.” Stashing all the insecurities that she’s everything I’m not. She’s got that whole punk girl image with her short hair, tattoos, and vintage clothes. I’m sitting here with unruly curly hair, lanky body and head-to-toe Express.
His lips drop a little and he licks his lips. “Paige? You think I want Jessa?” His condescending grin has me second-guessing my assumption.
“Sometimes it’s hard to let go.”
“Not in this case. We just had to clear the air. But I like it.”
“Like what?” I swivel my chair to check on Matty again, but Rob swivels me back around.
“I like it that you’re all, jealous and insecure.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. I wish my attraction for Rob would disappear. That I could believe he’s the scumbag he comes off to people. I’ve seen too many good things he’s done to lie to myself. The developing desire for him will only hurt me regardless of now or later.
“I’m not insecure.” I narrow my eyes and my head shakes a little, fighting his words.
He closes my hand in his and his thumb glides over the top of my knuckles. Goose bumps spread up my arm. “Good. Because you don’t even come close to her.” My mouth opens and I’m in awe of his asshole remark. “You’re so far ahead of her, your taillights are hardly visible.” I hate that I’m enlightened that he knocked Jessa down in order to boost me up, but I can’t lie. His admission is nice to hear. Especially since I feel exactly the same way about him.
“Rob?” I question and he doesn’t move his hand from mine. “What are we doing?” I whisper and he retracts his hand.
“Flirting.” He goes back to tapping the table and my stomach drops at his confession.
Standing up, I look down at him, but his eyes focus on the table in front of him. “If that’s all you’re doing, stop it.”
When my hand is on the knob of the screen door, he draws my attention. “Paige?”
I wait for him to finish the sentence. “I’m just being a good friend. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“I’m not sure what I want,” I admit and escape inside the house.
THE NIGHT CARRIES on with a lot of inside jokes between Trey and Rob. Razzing each other about stories from their years before any of us. How the band started and their first gigs. I purposely sit on the opposite side of the table from Rob. I’m growing old from his hot and cold actions. I get the past and the hurt, but you can’t continue to fuck with people’s emotions and assume they’ll still be there.
“So Paige, what are you majoring in?” Grant leans across his wife to ask me.
“Hospitality.”
“Oh, that’s awesome. Like work for a hotel or restaurant?” Jessa sits up straighter and I watch Grant place his hand on her thigh. I crave to have someone that makes such simple movements of affection. As though Grant doesn’t consciously even know he’s doing it, he just loves her.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll be able to score you guys some killer rooms at a five-star hotel someday.”
“Could you imagine, babe?” Jessa shoots Grant a look. “Plush robes, deep tubs for soaking, five-star room service.” She leans back in her chair, her arms falling to her sides. “I’m there.” She closes her eyes and Trey throws a piece of crust, hitting her square in the chest.
“Wake up into mommy mode.” He points to her baby, wiggling in his arms.
She laughs and then pins Grant with her eyes. “Oh, no, it’s daddy time now.” Grant doesn’t skip a beat, swerving around the table and picking up his daughter. He cradles her in his all-American muscled arms and rocks back and forth.
“You know when baby number two comes, there isn’t going to be a ‘your turn-my turn’ debate, right?” Trey points to her stomach and I follow his finger in awe.
Jessa must notice my agape mouth. “Yes, he knocked me up again,” she jokes, massaging her nonexistent belly.
When I look at Grant, he just mouths love you to her and she shakes her head, clearly happy to be carrying his second child.
“Whoa, I suddenly feel like an underachiever around here.” Rob speaks up.
“You have a pseudo,” Kailey offers pointing to a passed out Matty on the couch.
I stand up to retrieve him. “He’s my pseudo. Rob’s just the babysitter.” I scoff and he follows me over to Matty. “I think it’s time I get him to bed.” I struggle to get my arms under his and he fights me in his asleep.
“I’ll carry him.” Rob’s hand brushes against my stomach, scooting me out of the way. With ease he hoists Matty up in his arms and begins walking to the door. “Thanks guys, it’s been fun.”