Chapter 257 Chapter 257
Jesse watched Evanna pace back and forth beside the jeep. Getting up off the step he went over to her. “It’s just my family...”
She spun around and glared at him, “just your family?” She blinked at him, “only the most important people in your life.”
Jesse smirked, then forced it from his mouth, “it’s okay, you don’t have to worry about them.”
“I do.” She crossed her arms over her chest, “they matter. What they think of me matters.”
She looked like she was going to vibrate right out of her skin. “I’m not,” her brows furrowed, “I probably don’t make a very good first impression, you know, I’m rough around the edges,” she cringed, “Aunt Tillie used to tell me that.”
“Hey,” he grasped her shoulders gently, “listen the only thing they’re going to care about is if I’m happy— if you’re happy.” He followed the movement of her head with his own until she looked at him again, “they’re not going to care if you are proper or rough around the edges,” he offered her a smile, “when you meet my sisters, you’ll get it. Trust me.”
“They should meet Leah first,” She whispered, then chewed on her lip.
“They’ll meet her another time, it’s fine.” Leaning down, he kissed her mouth softly, so she’d stop abusing her own lip. “In case you didn’t know, this mating thing is forever, there will be plenty of opportunities for them to spend time with both of you,” he kissed her again because his cat was prodding him to be closer, to calm their mate, “even Minn, they’ll get time with her too.” Even though she nodded, her expression told him that she didn’t agree with him. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her gently. “If you can’t do this, it’s okay.”
“I’m sorry. I really want to meet them.” She looked up at him, “I do.” Stretching up, she kissed him quickly and then pulled out of his arms. She rushed over to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To change. I need to convince Leah to come out. I can’t do this.”
He stared at the closed door. Shaking his head, he looked over at Thera, “she can chase down an intruder, but not meet my family.” He blew out a breath, hopefully, Leah was okay with this. He knew his parents would understand, but Evanna was going to be hard on herself over this, he knew it.
The sound of a vehicle had him turn to watch the SUV come up the hill. Thera was up on her feet, beside him now. “It’s okay, girl, they’re friends.” He brushed his hand over the back of her neck. “My sisters are going to love you.” That was the only part of his job that he didn’t like, having to spend long periods of time away from them. He’d been an only child for thirteen years and wanted a sibling, then he got two at one time. There had been a few years he wasn’t sure he was going to survive them, but now that they were older, he wouldn’t change a thing.
As soon as the wheels stopped moving the back doors opened and out jumped the teenagers. They both raced to the front of the vehicle and then stopped, their eyes on Thera. “Can we pet her?” Jaide asked, an excited look on her face.
Jesse looked down at Thera who was scenting the air, “that’s up to her.” He walked toward them, so they wouldn’t rush at the cat.
Joslin squealed and jumped at him when he was a foot away. He caught her when she lunged at him and hugged her. “I missed you.”
He grinned and then leaned back and looked at her. “You are getting tall.”
She gave him a pleased grin. “I’m a quarter of an inch taller than Jaide.”
“Your shoes had thicker souls when we measured.” Jaide nudged her out of the way and hugged Jesse. She looked up at him, “I like the shaggy hair.”
Jesse laughed, “I haven’t had time for a haircut and now that winter is coming, I might as well leave it.”
She pulled away and looked at Thera, “she’s so pretty.”
As if the compliment was acceptable, Thera came over and bumped her head against Jesse’s leg. “She won’t object to you petting her.”
Both girls dropped down onto their knees and rubbed their hands along her coat.
“She’s so soft. Oh,” she looked at her twin, “go get what we brought her.”
Jesse glanced over at his mother, “you brought Thera something?”
Joslin rolled her eyes, “of course we did. She’s going to love us.”
He smirked. “I’m sure she will.”
Jaide jumped out, leaving the door open, and held up a bag.
Jesse didn’t need to ask what it was, the bloody raw meat was easy enough for him to smell, even through the plastic. He looked down to see Thera knew what the offering they’d brought was as well. “Be polite.” He told her.
“Girls, offer it to her, then leave her be while she eats it.” His father warned.
Jesse heard the trailer door open and turned to see Leah standing in the doorway. He smiled at her and went over. Holding out his hand, he grasped hers firmly when she placed it in his. He could tell by the look on her face, she was still, foggy as Evanna explained it, and not entirely sure what had brought her out. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Evanna was afraid she was too rough around the edges to meet my family.”
With a startled expression in her eyes, she looked up at him. “That explains it. Her forcing me out is not normal.”
He grinned, “she was freaking out.” Putting his arm around her, he glanced at his folks. The girls were standing with them now, looking like perfect children. He smirked, knowing that was a lie. “Come on.”
After another unsure look up at him, she nodded her head slightly.
He stopped so there were five feet between them, trying not to make her too uncomfortable. He motioned to his sister’s, “this is Joslin and Jaide.”
Leah gave them a hesitant smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” She looked from one to the other, “you really are almost identical.”
“See,” Joslin looked at Jaide, “I told you there were differences.”
“Girls now is not the time for that discussion.” His mother issued them a warned look and then smiled at Leah. “I’m Jesse’s mom, Joanie,” she held out her hand.
Jesse moved with Leah, staying close to her side, so she’d know he was there if she needed him. She took his mother’s hand and shook it slightly.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Pruitt.”
“Oh, please, Joan or Joanie is fine.”
“Jasper,” His dad didn’t hold out his hand or move toward her. “We’re glad you’re here.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.” She leaned into Jesse’s arm and wrapped her hand around it.
Jesse could feel the tension in her grip.
“Oh, we brought you something.” Joslin spun around and went back to the open door.
“It’s not new,” Jaide explained, “but we don’t need it anymore because the Alliance gave us new laptops for our schooling.”
Joslin came rushing back and held out a tablet. “The case was all covered in stickers, so we took that off.” She looked at Jesse, “you can get her a new case, right?”
Jesse nodded.
Leah took the tablet and looked at it. “Thank you.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He leaned down, “it’s a tablet, like my laptop, only no keyboard.”
“Oh.” She looked at it again, “Oh, thank you.”
“We loaded it with movies, so you have something to do when Jesse is mumbling over his laptop with work stuff.” Joslin grinned at him.
Leah smiled shyly, “thank you.”
Jesse gave them a look then grinned at his mother.
“You will,” Leah cleared her throat softly, “you will have to show me how to work it? So, I can watch the movies.” She looked from Jaide to Joslin.
“Yeah.” Joslin nodded, “sure.”
“We can sit over here and do it.” Jaide went over toward the foundation of the house.
“Okay.” Leah looked up at him, he could see she was working hard to stay calm. He gave her a slight nod.
With slow steps, she clutched the tablet against her jacket and went over to where the girls already were.