15. Family Dinner

Nour

One night off between two back-to-back home series is a luxury. A perfect time to chill and rest your mind, body, and spirit. That is exactly opposite of how we've spent our day. Aside from our well executed lunch break, we haven't stopped.

"Last load," AJ says, leaning back in the seat of the U-Haul that we rented to make driving back and forth from the storage unit that we rented after the fire to store the new furniture we bought, not wanting it to end up waiting longer to get set up than we had to.

"And then we set up," Blaze groans.

"Rome wants us for dinner," I remind them. "We can do beds after. The rest can wait."

"Sounds like a fucking plan."

We pull in and park the U-Haul, heading right over to CeCe's place.

When we walk in, Rome, Jillian, CeCe, and Cora are all sitting around the island with a large paper spread across it.

"What are we eating tonight?" AJ asks, rubbing his stomach.

"A takeout buffet is on its way." Cora laughs.

Blaze does something completely out of character and ruffles her hair. "You should be a poet."

Everyone looks at him, including Cora, whose face is crimson.

"What? Is it not okay to do that? It's not like I groped her ass."

"Right?" she agrees. "Like, seriously, not a big deal."

My eyes catch Jillian's, and she smirks.

"Moving on," Rome mumbles then stands up straight. "Cecelia has asked me to move in, so I wanted to give you guys the option of?—"

AJ grabs my hand and raises our arms. "We call Rome's pad."

"Is Locke keeping his?" Bennett asks.

CeCe smiles. "No, he's happy at the beach."

"So, you have two freed up?" AJ asks.

"Rudy G. wants one of them, and both Masters, Henley, and Cody Vanders have expressed interest. I wanted to see how you guys felt."

AJ is the first to throw in his choices. "Rudy G. and Vanders have my vote, obviously."

"Vanders getting divorced?" I ask.

"I didn't ask," Rome states.

"All of them have three bedrooms; everyone could fit," Cora offers.

"Not opposed to a roommate, but I'm not moving in with any of them," Blaze mumbles.

I look at AJ, and he nods. "You could move in with us."

"You sure?"

"A hundred percent."

"Aw … look, the family is staying together." CeCe smiles. "That makes me so happy."

"Now that that's settled"—I point to the paper—"what's this?"

"Jillian's buying a flower shop," Rome says proudly. "Made the move with none of our input but has a solid plan to?—"

"Do more grown-ass woman shit?" AJ asks.

Jillian smiles as she looks down at the paper. "We're just drawing it out to see if what I want will actually work."

"So, no more graduate school?" I ask.

"Definitely not in Montana." She smiles at Rome. Then looks at me. "The two schools I wanted the most, I was waitlisted, which was a kick to the ego."

"Sucks," I tell her.

She lifts a shoulder as she looks back down. "Maybe it all happened for a reason."

The fact I want to believe it has something to do with me is fucking wrong on every level, and yes, I will be checking to see if my balls have been removed ASAP.

Cora chimes in, "She's taking classes online from both schools toward a different degree as a backup, and we're going to be roomies someday."

"Damn right, we are," Jillian agrees.

Cora points to the paper. "We're going to have the penthouse, with exclusive roof access for our party pad."

"It sounds so much better that we're going to have walls and a running toilet and have to rough it out until all the other apartments are done and rented out so we can afford to upgrade our air mattresses."

"The Harts are buying up Trenton. I like it. Fucking real estate tycoons." AJ claps his hands and rubs them together.

"And Jillian can join the very exclusive, nepo baby club." Blaze looks at her. "We meet the first Monday of the month."

"Oh no, she won't have that. No help from us," Rome states.

"Get over it." Jillian hip-checks him.

"You changing the name of the shop?" I ask.

"Not a chance." Roman chuckles.

"Actually, I am changing it."

"What?" Rome asks, seeming offended.

"I mean, can you blame her?" AJ laughs. "Etta?"

"Oh, AJ …" CeCe whispers.

"What?" he asks.

"That's our grandmother's name, and it stays." Jillian laughs as AJ slowly sinks down until he can't be seen behind the island. "It'll be Etta Harts, with no E like our last name, and flowers."

"That's beautiful, Jillian."

"Thanks, Nour."

***

I read over the message Jillian sent again, trying to figure out how to reply, because after the past couple days, she's become more real to me.

GoodTimesOnly: You have a *baseball emoji* game tomorrow night and ur not soliciting. What gives?

GoodTimesOnly: OMG, please tell me you're not being a bitch *baby emoji* about a thirty-minute date that you were basically on and actually saw me leave, alone.

What does one say to that? Yes, Jillian, it did actually piss me off. Or, Actually, Jillian, I orchestrated us showing up at O'Donnell's because after your call with your old man, it became a safety concern, and I shared your location with me and defend that with the fact that now that Roman knows, I don't feel like it's my responsibility, so I will again be stealing your phone to remove myself from your find a friend app, so I do not show up on every date you will inevitably be going on in the future … until I can convince myself it's not your tits that bring me luck, of course.

SportsManSam: Truth, I'm not interested in any game aside from baseball, which I take very seriously. The thought of being with someone who another guy thinks he has a shot with, not my thing.

SportsManSam: Even if that guy is a fucking tool.

GoodTimesOnly: *crying baby emoji*

Jesus, good luck to the man who falls for her and tries to be "vulnerable." I called bullshit that women actually want that long ago, and now I have proof.

GoodTimesOnly: *screen shot*

The photos are of a text message between them, with him asking if she's okay, and her thanking him for his concern. Then him asking her out again and her telling him …

GoodTimesOnly: *screen shot*

Another picture comes through with her reply.

I realized that you and I are looking for two completely different things. You want love; me a good time when I can squeeze it in. Best of luck, truly.

SportsManSam: Straight and to the point, but still …

GoodTimesOnly: *eye roll emoji* *zzzz's*

SportsManSam: On a completely different *music note* congrats on the new venture.

***

Game one against the Twins, no RBIs and only one run in.

SportsManSam: So …?

GoodTimesOnly: I send you a titty pic, you better make sure my vibrator's in my room at Rome and CeCe's tomorrow.

SportsManSam: *finger emoji* *left arrow emoji* pinky promise.

GoodTimesOnly: *titty pic*

Game two against the Twins, 2 RBIs, made it home twice, zero outs.

***

I sneak away from the boys and belly up to the bar, hoping to get Jillian's attention before they notice.

Walking toward me, she holds up a hand for me to give her five? Whatever, fine.

I tap her hand.

"Good game, Uyar."

"Gonna grab a round, but really wanted to tell you that I got busted trying to sneak your little buddy into your room today."

She arches a brow. "Really? Is that going to be your story?"

"One hundred percent truth, and the fact I know your RV is locked because I was trying to put it in there?—"

"Okay, fine, but I want it back."

"Meet me out back after your shift, and I'll put it right in your hot little hand."

"I think you can be more creative than that."

I look at her sexy, red glossy lips. "Yeah?"

She shrugs. "You, maybe not. But SMS, he most definitely has the capability."

***

The skies lit the fuck up at two in the morning, and the rain began coming down in buckets. The forecast, it's not letting up until dawn.

Vibe in my pocket, umbrella over my head, and blanket tucked under my arm, I make my way into the larger of the two barns and up to the second floor, set on being creative.

I watched her dot move from the bar all the way to our street, and when she pulls in, I send her a message.

SportsManSam: Look up.