Page 94 of Beg Me

“You kind of were,” Mira says, giggling.

Last night is a little fuzzy, some parts more than others. I distinctly remember getting back to my house and barely making it through the front door fully clothed. An art piece Gianna gave me for my birthday fell off the wall and shattered when Jory slammed my back against it while he was fucking me.

Somehow, I think Gianna will understand.

“I sat on his lap.” I go back to my task, mostly so they can’t see my blush. “We were fully clothed. It’s you two who are the problem. Your minds are in the gutter all the time.”

Mira laughs. “It’s amazing that you, of all people, can say that sentence with a straight face.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

“Oh, nothing.” Mira grins at our grandmother as she grabs the milk and butter from the fridge. “What did you think of Jory last night, Lolly?”

“I think that he would make beautiful grandbabies.”

“Lolly!” I pick my jaw up off the floor. She doesn’t know that our relationship is based on a lie Jory told Jasper in the bar, and I’d like to keep it that way. But that doesn’t make any of this less uncomfortable. “Let’s not … we’re not ready for that kind of language, okay?”

“You must’ve gotten that from your father’s side of the family,” Lolly says. “Because the first thing I see when I look at that man is give me babies.” She pauses. “Well, you babies. I was meaning if I was about forty years younger.”

Mira smirks. “You better watch her, Markie. Take it from me. When she starts talking about your man this way, it only gets worse.”

We exchange a smile behind Lolly’s back.

Sunday dinners now that Mira’s back in Sugar Creek are my favorite part of the week. Lolly and I have always shared a meal after church as long as we’re both in town—with her being out of town much more than me. But with the three of us together, and now Hartley, too, it reminds me of when our parents were alive. We’d all go to Lolly and Pop’s and have a big meal on Sunday afternoons. They’re some of the best memories I have of my family, and one of the traditions that I hope to keep alive if I ever have a family of my own.

“There he is,” Lolly says as the door opens. Hartley comes in looking like he sang karaoke last night. “How are you, handsome?”

He kisses her cheek. “Smells good in here.”

“You look like shit,” I whisper to my brother-in-law.

He leans down so Lolly can’t hear. “I just saw Jory in the driveway, and he doesn’t look much better.”

I drop the knife.

Hartley chuckles. “I have a feeling this is gonna be a good time.”

I glare at him as he washes his hands and then helps carry the food to the table.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, exiting through the back door before anyone can object.

The sun is hot on my face as I turn the corner of the house. The only other guy I’ve ever brought to dinner—besides a guy I dated in college—was Jasper. But he was so high the entire time that I’m not sure if I can even count him as present.

Any nerves I have of bringing Jory and Gus to dinner disappear as my gaze lands on the two of them. Dressed in jeans and polo shirts, they’re ridiculously handsome. Gus is such a mini version of Jory that it’s wild. And the flowers in Gus’s hand? Such a nice touch.

“Hey, guys,” I say, smiling at Gus. “You better be ready for some fried chicken, kid. Lolly has been cooking all day.”

“She made fried chicken? Are you serious?”

Jory laughs.

“She heard it was your favorite food,” I say.

“Heck yeah!”

I lean up as Jory bends down to plant a kiss on my forehead.

“How are you feeling this afternoon?” he asks, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I hated leaving you asleep without checking on you, but Gus got dropped off at like eight thirty this morning.”