4 - Jessica

Jessica

I linked fingers with Rachel as we near the front steps of Audrey's impressive two-story home. I knew there's a spare key on one of the gorgeous flowerpots. I slept over too many times before. When neighbors get too loud at night and to babysit when Kathie needs the nanny more. Yep, my besties share a nanny.

I ring the doorbell, looking over to Rachel who's typing on her phone. "We're really late."

"Don't worry about it," I say with a dismissive wave of my hot pink fingernails. I texted Audrey and Kathie if we could meet up at Audrey's. Chassie and Kylie came over – it's nice to have a wider circle of girlfriends. And then Rachel accepted my and Audrey's invitations so, that makes us six women on a girl's night. I'm feeling a little proud having initiated it.

The door swung open, a frowning Audrey coming into view. "You really need a watch with you. Fifteen minutes late, Jessica."

"And you need a honeymoon." I crushed her into a hug, prolonging it when she shifted in discomfort.

"I just did a full-face makeup."

"Then you shouldn't have done a full-face makeup when you asked the girls to meet up." She pats my shoulder, shaking herself free from the hug.

"Seriously, you really need to go on a honeymoon."

She ignored me, rolling her eyes and turning to Rachel. "Rach. I'm so glad you could make it." She smiles, giving her the briefest one-arm hug.

"Yeah. I had to make it up to you for missing your wedding." Rachel smiles apologetically. There's always been a gentleness to her that allowed her to pull off the lovely doe-eyed look effortlessly. She appears so sweet and docile even from across the room.

"I understand that you had to go home to your family for a few days." She steps aside, inviting us in.

My lips purse thoughtfully. "Where's Miles?"

"In his room. Vren's tucking him in." She led us to the kitchen and through the sliding doors that led to the backyard.

I snorted. "You don't let my Mile-sy do anything fun."

"It's bedtime." She frowned. "Your version of fun is making him stay up so late to watch movies with you."

A confused crinkle formed between my brows. "I do not. Who told you that?" Ugh. It was Miles and I's secret.

Her prefect brow twitched up. "No one. I just know it when my son and his godmother lie."

Rachel broke into a chuckle. "I can offer to babysit sometimes, Aud."

"Hush. You have enough on your plate."

Outside, there's a table set up by the swimming pool with happily chattering women who looked livelier when they saw me and Rachel.

Chassie George Forester is one of those very few gifted women whose body narrows and flares on the right places. Add in the hazel eyes that tease mischief and she is a temptation. Sat opposite her is her older sister. Kathie Jane Parkinson has the bubbliest face and brightest smiles at the ready. She's deemed the darling socialite in town while Chassie preferred a writing career, away from the blue-blooded upbringing.

Despite their family's money, they're the most genuine people on earth. And then there's Kylie Preston with her avocado Scrunchie and a matching top. She's the cutest thing but a lot of fire on the inside. This cutie here just lassoed the town Casanova with that spitfire attitude.

We exchange air kisses, and I took the vacant seat between Kylie and Kathie. Rachel sat next to Chassie. Audrey was on her other side.

"So, what were you going to tell us?" Audrey loops her fingers together on the table.

"Wait, we're not drinking martinis first?"

She gave me a look.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing the bowl of pretzels on the table since no one else is interested in it. "Fine. I'll fetch some water from the pool and hope chlorine tastes like martini."

"Jess, it's pretty late for martinis. I'm not going home and wake up my babies with martini-breath when I kiss them," Kathie pointed out.

I giggled. "How did you get away from the little monsters?"

Her eyes narrowed good-naturedly. "I'm not sure they'll like to know their godmother calls them little monsters. Anyways, Emma is mine for the night. Audrey needs her tomorrow."

"And Cade?"

"He's adjusted more quickly than I did, remember? Cadey's practically the major parent between the two of us."

"He's born a pro on everything. He can do anything with that IQ." I smirked, then turned to her little sister. "How about you, Chassie George? How did you get away from Ethan and Georgie? And you know, from your husband's grip?" I wagged my brows at her.

She laughs softly, her cheeks going a little rosy. "Ethan is a responsible big brother to Georgie. He takes it by the heart when I say he's in charge."

A series of 'aw. Shucks.' pass around the table.

Chassie hesitated to say something more but decided to put it out there anyways. "You know, Georgie lost an earring at the playground and shouted "Oh, my freakin' God!" to her daddy. Nathan was horrified."

All eyes centered on me.

"What? At least I don't say the actual curse words around your children. I'm a responsible Aunt and godmother. Besides, Kylie here spends a lot of time with her too." I offered her the bowl and she declined, her attention drifting to her phone that never stopped blinking.

I snuck a peek and just as I suspected, it's her boyfriend.

How long does Christian Parkinson lasts without his cutesy girlfriend, you wonder? No, he doesn't. A guy over six foot is completely wrapped around a small Kylie's finger.

Kathie clears her throat, gaining back my attention. "Cadey came home last night with a thousand-piece puzzle and we all know how much Chloe loves puzzles. She hugged the puzzle, jumping up and down, screaming, "Daddy, I freakin' love it!""

Again, five pairs of eyes rested on me. I sighed. "Okay, I may have been using "freak" a lot to substitute "fuck" around your kids. I bet Cade didn't like that."

She giggles, shaking her head. "You should've seen the look on his face."

I munch on the pretzels. "I'd pay for that."

A nudge from underneath the table made me brush gazes with Audrey. "So, what's the good news?"

A rush of excitement spread a wide grin across my face. "It's not that big of a deal. Just the really well-known wedding planning company offering me to be their in-house photographer."

Delighted gasps sparked around the table. Audrey gave me an odd look. "And you took the job?"

"Yes. Why not?"

Kylie jabs my arm. "You refused to be tied down."

"I'm still a free bird." I shrug, her blinking phone earning my attention again. "You have the clingiest boyfriend."

She pressed her phone against her chest defensively. "He's not."

"He is," the women say in unison.

She gaped at them and then says nothing more.

"Don't even try to deny it. I can hear everything through the paper-thin wall when he sleeps over at your place."

A blush smeared her entire face, even reaching her ears. "Everything?"

"Everything." I threw an arm over her shoulders. "As your friend I'm happy you're constantly getting laid. But as your self-proclaimed older sister, I need you to know one thing: protection."

"Jesus. Jessica, leave poor Kylie alone." Audrey shot me a warning look. She's always been protective of Kylie. But I am too.

Chassie rolled her shoulders. "We all have men in our lives. We know how relationships work when they go to the next level."

"We've been through that phase. And we all know how to be safe." Kathie shrugged.

I narrowed my eyes. "Really? Should I point out that there's a particular someone in this table who got knocked up because of an unprotected wedding hookup and that—" my sentence ended with an oomph when Audrey jabbed me with her foot from underneath the table.

"Vren and I were drunk. At least I got a family out of it." She folded her arms over her chest.

"Okay, mama bear," I relented, rubbing my knee where her foot made an impact. "So, Kyles," I say, turning back to a blushing Kylie. "You know I won't shut up unless I hear you say it."

Kylie blushed harder. "I'm on the Pill."

I remove my arm from her shoulders and grinned. "There. I promise I won't ask for details. I think I had enough from the paper-thin wall. And besides," I trailed off, a delighted smile on my face when a little boy appeared from the sliding doors of the kitchen.

"Mile-sy!" I chirped.

He smiles, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

All heads turned toward the sliding doors.

"Sweetie, I thought your daddy's reading you a bedtime story." Audrey turns all the way around, extending a hand to her son.

"Uncle Christian is here." Miles stepped into his mother's embrace.

Our gazes zeroed in on Kylie who could only smile apologetically.

Miles shuffled away from his mother but only to give each one of us a sweet kiss on the cheek. I lifted him to my lap, peppering his face with kisses.

He laughs softly.

"You want me to read your bedtime story?"

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. Why are so surprised? I do it all the time."

"Because you're not on babysitting duty. Mommy, can Aunt Jess read me my bedtime story, please?"

Audrey's stoic expression softened. "Sure, baby."

He leapt off my lap and tugged at my wrist. He ushered me to his room and hopped to his bed giddily. "Tell me a murder story, Aunt Jess."

I close the door behind me. "Why do I get the feeling that you love me for my murder stories?"

He scoots to the side of his bed to make room for me. "Of course, not. I love you for you."

I giggled. "Let me be perfectly clear though."

He straightened.

I climbed to his bed. "I don't come here to babysit you. I come here all the time because I like hanging out with you."

He tucked his legs beneath him, blue eyes wide. "You do?"

"Of course. You're the coolest person I know." I drape an arm over his shoulders, lifting the storybook from the nightstand.

"You still think I'm cool even if I don't play sports like my cousins? My playmates think I'm lame."

"Sports doesn't define your masculinity. You'll know that someday. Women like men with brains."

His brows crinkled. "But everyone has brains."

"I don't."

He narrowed his eyes speculatively. "Of course, you do."

I wagged my brows at him. "Wanna cut my head open, Mile-sy?"

My heart welled when he fell into a fit of laughter. "It looks easier on the horror movies we watch. I love them."

"I thought you like watching horror movies and murder documentaries because it's with me." I feigned hurt.

"I love them more because it's with you." He flashes a toothy grin.

I ruffled his hair, heart swelling. "God, why am I sucker for you?"

He chuckles, scooting closer so he could nuzzle my chest. "Are we going to hang out soon?"

"Probably. Your Aunt Kathie is needing Emma more and more with the triplets."

He grinned.

"We have to lay low with the horror movies though. Your mommy found out we're staying up past your bedtime."

Miles purses his lips. "How did she find out. We never told anyone?"

"Her mommy sense is stronger than we anticipated."

He tilted his head to one side. "What's a mommy sense?"

"I think it's the sense a woman develops once she had babies."

"So, you don't have mommy sense yet?"

"Nope. I do have these incredible godmommy sense."

"Really?" He actually looked surprised.

"Yep. That means I know that your ticklish right here," I slipped a hand on the soft spot of his neck.

He laughed and tried to tug my hand away.

"And here," I tickled his sides.

Miles squirmed, laughing loudly.