Page 61 of Claiming What's Mine

Chapter Seventeen

Jayden

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Running a comb throughmy hair, I set it on the sink and used my fingers to move the hair around. The pit in my stomach was growing, spreading like a heavy mass. I wasn't sure why I was so nervous, it was just dinner.

It's not just dinner, it's dinner with Betty-Sue.

Spraying my neck with some cologne, I adjusted the sleeves on my navy blue button-up and checked myself over in the mirror.

I felt pretty damn good right then. With my collard shirt and jeans, my white sneakers matched nicely. There was no doubt in my mind that Blue would appreciate this outfit on me.

For as long as she knew me, my entire existence was spent in torn up jeans and dirty t-shirts, most of them were old band shirts from the eighties that no one remembered anymore.

“Is it safe for me to come in?” my sister asked, approaching the door with her hand over her eyes and one arm out to make sure she didn't walk into anything. “I don't want to interrupt private time.”

“Screw you,” I said with a chuckle, “I'm not doing anything, jerk.”

Beth laughed, stepping to the door and leaning against the frame. “Don't you look nice. Big plans for this evening?”

“Dinner with Blue, so I'd say yeah, I have big plans.” Brushing my hands down the front of my shirt, I puffed up my chest. “Don't wait up for me, in case you're wondering if you should.”

Beth rolled her eyes, letting her arms droop to her sides as she stuck out her tongue in disgust. “Don't worry, I won't.” Taking a step forward, she adjusted the fold on my collar as she spoke. “Are you nervous?”

“Nervous about what?”

“I don't know. It's been a long time for you two, I'd be nervous if I was you.” Her thin fingers ran under the collar edge, smoothing any creases.

God, she looked so much like our mother right then. The way her eyes moved over my clothes, fixing the fabric so it was perfect. She had the same dirty blonde hair, the same small button shaped nose, and the same serious stare. It was a stare that always struck a nerve, giving me chills.

“I'm not nervous.”

Snapping her eyes up to mine, she held them there for a second. There was something in her eyes, I just couldn't figure out what it was.

Dropping her eyes back to my neckline, she pressed the tips of her fingers down on the collar. “Then there's Bliss. . .” Her voice trailed off as she worked the material to make it flat on my skin.

What about Bliss? Why does she matter?

“So? She has a kid, why is that a problem?”

Beth let out a rush of air, holding her hands still. “It's more than a child, Jay,” she said, not looking up.

Does it really matter?