Page 10 of Not Your Enemy
Having been eavesdropping on their conversation, not because it was interesting but mostly because it was something different from packing and wrapping things, I made my way back to my listening spot.
“Oh, well, that would be great. You think she’d mind if Libby comes too?” Jade pointed in my direction, where I was hovering by the staircase. I’d be a terrible spy, that’s for sure.
“Of course not. I’ll let her know to expect both of you. We typically eat around six. I know it’s early, but with the kids, we try to get them to bed at a decent time.”
“No problem, we will be there!” Jade responded, closing the door behind Hunter on his way out.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to hover.” Turning around, Jade gave me a teasing look.
“What is with you apologizing for everything?” She wasn’t wrong; it was an anxious habit of mine. Still, sometimes her directness pushed my buttons. “Anyway, it’s okay. If hovering helps you feel less jealous of others having my attention, then so be it.” I rolled my eyes at her stupid comment.
She’d mentioned at the restaurant that I was jealous of Crissy, and for the record, I don’t think I was. I just felt…awkward. The last thing I wanted to do, however, was get upset about it again. That would only fan the flames for her.
Without a response, I headed back to my spot and got back to work. I wrapped the Santa picture and set it in its own pile since Jana had yet to text me back.
“I can’t believe it, princess,” Jade stated, and I turned to face her. When I’d walked away from her, I thought she’d gone back to the living room, but I guess not.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. She pointed down to the wrapped Santa picture that leaned against the wall.
“You left something in an unorganized state? I can’t believe Ms. Strategy would do such a thing.” Letting out a huff of breath, I explained why it was sitting by itself.
“Don’t you have something you should be working on?” I asked her coldly. Raising an eyebrow at me, she gave me one of her intense green-eyed gazes. Staying annoyed with her was hard when she was so beautiful. I hated the mixed and strong emotions she always pulled from me.
“Well, I do, but I kind of thought we were having a conversation before you walked away from me, then I just couldn’t help picking on you. You’re just adorable when you’re all riled up.” Gulping, I ignoredthe butterflies that fluttered around my stomach and tried to compose myself.
“Sor—I mean, okay. Was there something else you needed to say? Because I didn’t have anything.” She giggled at my words, and that just made the butterflies flap harder. Her honey-sweet voice, which could be both gentle and commanding, sounded so pretty when she laughed.
“I wanted to make sure you were good with going to Crissy’s tomorrow. In all seriousness, I know you don’t know them, so you totally don’t have to come. And before you ask, I want you to go; that’s why I made sure the invitation was open to you.”
“That’s fine. It will be nice to get out of here for a bit,” I agreed, not sure why she wanted me to go so badly. Maybe she just felt bad about leaving me alone or something.
For dinner, we kept it simple and made our own sandwiches. We ate together at the bar top before we went our separate ways. I’d thrown on some pajama pants and a T-shirt before braiding my wet hair back. I made my bed, well, Jana’s, and pulled some clothes to wear tomorrow out of my suitcase. By the time all that was done, I accepted I was stalling.
Part of me wanted to go downstairs and repeat what had happened the night before. I could still feel Jade’s hand running through my hair as I drifted off. But the rational part of me knew I shouldn’t push things further with her. It was totally against the friend code not only to hook up with their sister, but an estranged sister at that. Still, I couldn’t just stay locked in my room all night. I mean, I could, but I was making more excuses, I guess.
Checking my phone again, I still didn’t have a message back from Jana, and surprise, no new emails had come through since the last timeI checked my phone, just fifteen minutes ago. With a sigh and a light slap to my forehead, I opened my door and headed downstairs.
Jade sat in the same spot, in the middle of the couch, as she surfed through channels. I took a seat a couple of feet away from her and curled into the blanket I’d left there last night.
“Anything you want to watch?” Jade asked, not looking away from the TV.
“Another movie, maybe something other than horror this time?” It came across as a question.
“No horror? You don’t like to be scared, princess?” She asked in that condescending tone of hers.
“I’m just not in the mood tonight, is all,” I replied in a huff. She tossed me the remote and tucked her legs underneath her.
“You pick, I’m down for whatever. I was about to settle on a game show before you came in here.”
After searching through a few streaming apps, I ended up picking a favorite of mine.
“You said whatever I wanted,” I commented, starting up a romantic drama. We sat in silence, taking in the movie and readjusting ourselves into more comfortable positions.
“Where I’m sitting really is the best spot to see the movie, so you should scoot closer.”
I’d be lying if I hadn’t hoped we’d somehow end up closer together, but thinking and acting were two different things. Unable to resist, I got up and sat back down next to her. We weren’t touching, but it wouldn’t take much. Some barriers had to be kept, right? Jade scooted closer until our legs were touching and her arm was around the back of the couch behind me.
“Now we both have the best view,”she commented.