“Jared, you should know that I’m not going anywhere.”
He slapped me on the backside, not hard, but not soft either. “Yes, you are...to the shower. Quick,” he ordered.
I glared down at him. “Don’t flip me off. You know what I meant.”
His eyes went fierce. “I’m not losing you, Evie.”
“No, you’re not. I’m just telling you―”
“I spoke to Coby this morning,” he interrupted. “I know there’s no point in trying to change your mind so rather than―”
The front door slammed loudly and a ”yoohoo” interrupted our little talk. I jumped in shock from my straddled position and flew off the bed, my legs tangling in the sheets as I fell to the floor with a thud.
Jared let out a shout of laughter, gasping as he peered over the edge of the bed. “Are you okay?”
“Oh my God,” I hissed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I scrambled to get off the floor and made a mad dash for the wardrobe, flinging the door wide and racing inside. “Where’s my robe?” I muttered as I flung clothes about wildly. I careened back out the door. “Where’s my goddamn robe?”
Jared pointed to the chair in the corner as he untangled the sheet, pulling it up to his waist and propping a pillow behind his back.
“Is anyone there?” The voice appeared to be trekking its way up the stairs.
“You are so dead,” I said, pointing a finger at Jared furiously as I made a grab for the robe off the chair.
“I tried to tell you to get in the shower.”
I tied the belt and flung open the bedroom door to make a break for the bathroom when Jenna pulled back in shock, arm raised at the ready to knock.
“Evie, honey,” she said softly.
I opened my mouth to both speak and hustle Jenna down the stairs when Jared beat me to the punch.
“Hi, Mum.” Smiling wide, there wasn't a trace of embarrassment on his face.
She looked around me and her eyes widened as she took in her bare chested son sitting in my bed, busily tapping away on his phone. He looked comfortable, his demeanour practically shouting that my bed was a place he visited naked on numerous occasions. While this might actually have been the case, shoving it in his mother’s face was not currently on my list of things to do that day. I resisted the urge to close my eyes and ooze into a burning little puddle of mortification on the floor.
With a delighted smile, she said, “Hi, honey.”
“I uh…Jenna, how nice to see you,” I stammered and turned to glare at Jared when I heard his chuckle.
“You too, darling...” her gaze drifted from Jared to me and then back again “...you too. I’ll just wait for you downstairs shall I?”
Without wasting time to blast Jared for being an insensitive man-bastard and not telling me about his mother’s imminent arrival sooner, I made that mad dash for the bathroom and caught Henry running in before me, slamming the door in my face.
“Dammit, Hussy,” I shouted and banged the door down, willing him to appreciate my desperation.
“Too slow, Sandwich,” I heard him sing-song as I stormed back to the bedroom.
By the time I’d showered and slapped on a bit of mascara, blush, and strawberry lip gloss, it was close to nine. The heat already stifling, I braided my hair and dressed in a pretty lemon sundress with thin straps and delicate white crocheted lace trim and headed downstairs to find out what shit I was supposed to be doing today.
I found Jared on the phone in Mac’s office out back, so I left him to it and headed for the kitchen, catching Jenna clucking away busily in our linen cupboard as though doing a stocktake. When I reached my destination, Tim was loitering by the sink, and the kettle was boiling.
Tim chattered away as I ate my Coco Pops, talking about last night’s shooting incident for at least half an hour and finishing by telling me that he, Jenna, and I were off to get some Christmas shopping done today. I had no idea how Jenna had managed to convince Jared that going shopping was a brilliant idea in light of the shooting incident, but she was his mother after all. I decided I would watch her closely today to see if I could pick up any Jared handling techniques.
I also decided a battle plan was in order and began writing down some gift ideas. I’d only managed a few things at the Paddington Markets, and with Christmas only two weeks away, I needed to get organised. As I gnawed on the end of my pen, I contemplated what on earth to buy Jared. I never got around to giving him the surprise present I’d picked up, but that was before we were together. Now, I wanted to get him something that was a bit more girlfriend appropriate.
Thinking Tim might know, I interrupted his chatter. “What should I buy Jared?”
I tapped at the list with my pen in time to the mad bop of my hips as music played in the background. I started to chew the pen again as I contemplated my list so far. “Tim?”
Tim’s chatter died a quick death.
“Tim?” I frowned and turned my head.
“Uh, Evie...”
I followed the direction of his eyes and saw Casey leaning against the kitchen bench, arms folded and looking amused. I pulled the pen out of my mouth before it fell and straightened up, watching his grin get wider.
I smiled. “Hey, Casey.”
Tim said nothing which I thought was a bit rich. I mean, Tim worked for him after all. Surely, he’d gotten used to the way Casey looked by now. I hadn’t and still managed to say hello.
I elbowed Tim.
“Casey,” he managed feebly and I rolled my eyes.
“Cuppa?” I asked Casey.
“Uh, yes please,” Tim stuttered.
I looked at him incredulously. “Not you, dweeb. Casey. You’re supposed to be the one making it. The kettle’s been boiling on and off for the past half an hour.”
Tim came alive, pushing off from the bench as he suddenly found his voice. “Oh my God, are you retarded? Dean is the dweeb in our relationship, Evie.” Dean was Tim’s boyfriend, and at a muscle-bound six foot two, I highly doubted that Dean was the dweeb in anything.
I turned to him with a grin. “Oh yeah, if Dean is the dweeb, what does that make you?”
He smoothed his hair. “I’m the badass,” he said and then paused, “but I can’t talk about it.”
I refrained from pointing out that he already was. “Why not?”
He looked at me in disbelief. “Because the first rule of being a badass is that you don’t talk about being a badass. Period.”
“Why do you get to be the badass? I can be badass!” I retorted.
“Uh, honey, see? If you were badass your status would already be revoked because you’re talking about it.” He nodded knowingly. “Besides...” he waved his hand over at Casey who stood there watching our interaction with apparent fascination “...have you seen the people I work with? It’s practically automatic qualification into badass status.”
I rolled my eyes. “What’s a girl gotta do then? I’ve been involved in a high speed car chase, rammed a Camry off the road, been in hospital with a head trauma, slept with a badass―several times in fact―my brother is a badass, I’ve been shot at, and potentially scored a contract with Jettison Records. If that doesn’t qualify my membership to the badass club then I’m forming my own.” I folded my arms, letting my eyes narrow threateningly as I clenched my jaw.
Ignoring my look, Tim let out a little shriek that had Casey flinching. “You’ve almost got a contract with Jettison Records? Oh my God. Why didn’t anyone tell me?” He turned to give Casey a vicious look and Casey shrugged. “No one tells me anything,” he hissed.
With no tea or coffee in our immediate future, I reached over past Tim to flick the kettle on to re-boil, all the while Tim continued on his merry way with his little rant.
“Yes, thanks,” Casey said, arms folded, still leaning up against the kitchen counter.
I looked at him stupidly. “What?”
“Coffee,” he prompted.
“Right,” I muttered and pointed at Tim. “Make yo
urself useful Tyler Durden.”
He pulled a face. “Who the hell is Tyler Durden?”
“Fight Club,” Casey interjected and I grinned at him.
Tim nodded. “Okay, I can be Brad Pitt.”
I kissed him on the cheek and patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Of course you can.”
He pointed the teaspoon at me threateningly. “Don’t patronise me.”
I held up my hands. “Dude.” I turned to Casey. “Jared’s out in the back office.”
He rubbed at the back of his neck uncomfortably. “I’m here for shopping duty actually.”
“Seriously? What did you do in a past life to deserve that?”
He chuckled. “Somebody doesn’t like me, or...” he looked me over in a way that made me feel my sundress wasn’t enough coverage “...maybe they do?”
Jared rolled into the kitchen, freshly showered, and slapped Casey up the back of the head. “Heard that.” He leaned over and planted a swift kiss on my lips. “Where’s my mother?”
I folded my arms and arched a brow. “Why, Jared, you sound a wee bit scared. Shall I go get her?”
He cleared his throat. “No, no, I’ve got to get going. Walk me out?”
I nodded, leaving Casey and Tim to the kitchen as I followed Jared to the door. He pulled me in close, and I rested my hands on his chest. “Don’t be fooled by Casey’s looks babe. He’s the meanest, toughest, and smartest son of a bitch I know. He’s also a good friend, so I know he’ll take good care of you.”
I wasn’t surprised. The man had rolled his car and walked away. That was pretty impressive in my books.
“Him being with you is the only reason I’m letting you go out shopping okay? Make sure you stick to him like―”
“Velcro, yes, I know.” I nodded and waited patiently for his lecture to continue. My eyes started to glaze over as he went on a bit more before tuning back in.
“...and make sure you keep your phone switched on at all times.”
I nodded at that very important piece of information, wrapped my arms around his neck, and tugged him down for a kiss. He ran his hands down my back and cupped my ass, pulling my hips in tightly against him.
“Be safe,” he whispered against my lips.
“You too,” I whispered back. “You’ll be back for dinner?”
He nodded. “I’ll be back for dinner,” and with that, he opened the door and left and I walked back to the kitchen to get my cup of tea.
* * *
“I can’t believe neon is back in.” Tim held up a hot pink shirt with a glittery heart plastered over the front of it. “Fucking neon...” he shook his head forlornly “...next thing you know everyone will be wearing plastic mesh shoes in outrageous orange and singing 'wake me up before you go-go.'”
He paused for a moment to shudder, and I snatched the shirt out of his hands. “Oh my God.” I showed it to Jenna. “This is so cute!”
Jenna nodded in agreement. “It is cute.”
Tim looked like he was about to burst into tears, and I chuckled. “Seriously, Tim, it’s for Jake’s four year old niece. It’s all about pink and nothing but the pink. She’ll love it.”
He took a deep breath through his nose, lips pressed flat. “Fine,” he muttered, “but I don’t have to watch you buy it.” He turned away as Jenna and I moved to the front counter to pay for our things.
As I was reaching for my purse I got a message from Mac.
M: Can you hit the supermarket on the way out? I’ll send through a list.
We walked out to find Tim chattering away to Casey, who was standing at the entrance of the store, arms folded, nodding vaguely as his eyes continually swept from left to right without actually appearing to move at all. “And so Dean told me to stop being ridiculous because Eric and his brother couldn’t care less. Then with half the people coming being vegans it’s turned the whole thing into…”
Casey grabbed my arm in what appeared to be welcome relief and tucked me close as we started to move along again. I leaned up to whisper in his ear. “Casey, we need to somehow ditch Jenna. I need to get her Christmas present, and I don’t want her to know.”
He stopped and turned around to face Jenna and Tim behind us. As I was still tucked to his side, he dragged me around with him in an awkward shuffle. “I have to visit the men’s room. Unfortunately, that means Evie has to come with me.” He gave me a convincingly apologetic glance. “How about we meet for lunch somewhere in ten minutes?”
I cleared my throat loudly and gave him a look. I planned to buy Jenna a pair of rose gold earrings to match the pretty bangle I’d seen her wear on special occasions, and I was lucky if it wouldn’t take me all day.
Casey rolled his eyes. “Okay, twenty minutes.”
“Alright,” Jenna agreed. “What does everyone feel like for lunch?”
“I could do Mexican. There’s that new place that just opened that makes yummy fresh tortilla chips and salsa.” I smacked my lips.
Tim shuddered. “We’re not doing Mexican, Evie. My insides would go into complete revolt. I vote Yum Cha. I need some steamed dim sim.”
I shot Tim a withering look. “Some badass you are if you can’t handle Mexican food.”
“I’ll have you know―”
“Enough,” Casey growled, looking as though being flayed alive would be enjoyable right about now. “Jesus. We’ll meet at the café we stopped at for coffee on the way in, okay?”
Realising he had just about reached the end of his patience, we quickly agreed and peeled off in different directions.
I held up a pair of solid small hoop earrings to one ear and rose gold studs with intricate threads to the other. “What do you think, Casey?”
He shrugged noncommittally and I turned back to the assistant and sat them down on their casings. “What about those drop earrings there with the diamonds?”
He opened the tray and got them out. “These are forty millimetre and eighteen karat gold. The diamonds are point five carats each.” He held them up to my ears, and I felt his fingers brush my cheek a little. “Are they for yourself? The rose gold compliments your beautiful skin and those gorgeous dark eyes of yours.”
Confident the assistant was simply flirting to help the sale, I battened down the hatches in preparation for a shameless price negotiation and gave him a brilliant smile. Casey, thinking the man was flirting, tucked me back into his side and glared at him in irritation. “We’ll take them.”
“Casey, I haven’t decided yet,” I argued. I turned back to the assistant. “They’re for my uh...” I paused. Did I say boyfriend’s mother or mother-in-law? It wasn't like we were married, but “boyfriend’s mother” didn’t feel enough to encompass the relationship we had.
“Mother-in-law,” Casey supplied before I could say any more.
The assistant rang up the sale and twenty minutes later found us sitting in the café with Jenna and Tim, Casey with his back to the wall and my chair pulled closely to his side.
We placed our order for lunch, and Jenna, having taught Mac everything she needed to know on how to spend money, pulled out her shopping list and turned to me. “Do you have your list?”
I picked up my handbag and sat it on my lap. Casey sighed in exasperation as I repeatedly jabbed him with my elbow while I dug around in its hidden depths. It couldn’t be helped. We were sitting so close I may as well have been in his lap. I gave an apologetic smile.
“I just have to get those shoes we looked at for Mac and then I’m done.”
We chatted until the waitress returned with our sandwiches, and I heard my phone beep a message. I pulled my handbag back up on my lap to dig for my phone and Casey sighed.
“It’s probably Mac with the supermarket list she said she’d send through.”
I frowned at the blocked number and opened the message.
Hello, beautiful Evie. I like your new male accessory. What a collection you have. You certainly managed to land on your feet after last night but not to worry. Your day wi
ll come.
My breath hitched as I fumbled the phone with clammy hands and it dropped to the floor. Casey picked it up and promptly read the message, a frown marring his brow.
“Fuck.” He pulled out his phone and started dialling.
Jenna patted my hand soothingly. “What is it, honey?”
I showed them both the message.
“Frank,” Casey said into the phone as he indicated for all of us to round up our things and move out. I looked forlornly at my sandwich as we were ushered out the door, Casey throwing some cash on the counter on our way through, continuing his phone conversation.
Chapter Seventeen
Christmas day was spent at Steve and Jenna’s house by the barbecue and pool since Christmas in Australia was in the middle of summer and hot. The food was kept simple with grilled steak, cold roast chicken, and salads. Presents were unwrapped and Jared loved the coffee machine I’d bought him so much, I spent the next hour making him espresso until he was completely buzzed.
Jared bought me a beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings that I specifically remember eyeing in the jewellery store with Casey, and I made a mental note to message Casey later to say thanks. Later that afternoon, Jared answered a knock at the front door of his parent’s house and returned with a big white box. It was tied with a bright red bow, and I squealed with delight when Jared said the box was for me.
I was lying out by the pool in a cushioned deck chair and sat up as he set the box at my feet. “Who’s it from?”
“Just open it, babe.”
Everyone crowded around and waited for me to open it, Coby and Mac swimming to the pool edge and resting their elbows on the sandstone pavers as they watched. I gave them all a suspicious look when I heard an odd sound and quickly pulled the ribbon apart and took off the big white lid.
I let out a shout when a pair of big brown eyes attached to a ball of soft reddish brown fur and a wagging tail yipped at me. Tears filled my eyes and I brought my hands to my cheeks in disbelief as I raised my eyes to Jared’s.