Always with You (WIth You Trilogy) (9 page)

Friday, 12th July 2013

We spent
the afternoon in a coffee shop. Jason took us all out to lunch and Ben even invited Jake along, which I thought was very considerate of him considering this was meant to be his day. I knew Ben had reservations about my brothers and it was very sweet of him to invite Jake for my sake.

Jake had been fairly
nice the whole time though. We still bickered a bit back and forth but he was never too mean or rough with me. It was actually kind of fun because I wasn’t afraid to get him back.

“Man, I can’t wait to get one of these,” Jake repeated, looking at Ben’s degree certificate once more.

“It’s pretty good,” Ben nodded.

“You got a job lined up?” Jake asked.

“Got a few offers,” Ben confirmed.

“Nice,” Jake looked impressed. “Everyone from my year just graduated and none of them have any hopes of finding work.”

“I lucked out,” Ben shrugged. “There are a lot of jobs in IT.”

“You gonna stay in Newcastle?” Jake said, taking a bite of his chocolate muffin whilst I bit back another comment about his blood sugar.

“Not sure,” Ben frowned, looking at Hannah who suddenly looked awkward. “I love it here, but I know Hannah misses her family. It’d be great if we could both find something by Nottingham.”

“
Nottingham,” Jake scoffed, winking at Hannah to show he was just kidding. “I get where you’re coming from. I’ll probably move back down to Derby next year as well.”

“Really?” Jason asked, looking up from our interlocking fingers, which he’d previously been focussed on.

“Yeah,” Jake shrugged. “Ian and Karl have been commuting hours just so we can all stay in Derby. Craig was the first one to live outside the county for any length of time, deployments aside.”

“I always figured I’d end up back in Derby too,” I shrugged. “I want to be near the family.”

Jason cocked his head at me and brushed his lips over my forehead gently, his warmth soothing against my skin. It occurred to me that I’d basically just told him where I wanted to live without considering any plans that he might have.

“But, I mean… I’m sure we could… like…”

“Shh, Jamie,” Jason grinned at my awkwardness. “Derby’s fine by me.”

“You wouldn’t mind living there?” I asked, surprised at how easily that had gone.

“I go where you go,” he smiled, squeezing my waist gently.

I smiled appreciatively and kissed him
chastely so I wouldn’t affront Jake too much.

“Besides, if Benji moves to Nottingham that means we’d only be half an hour away,” he grinned. “It’d be ace.”

I loved that Jason was thinking a few years into our future and planning on us being together. Whenever I thought about my future, I always saw us together. I wasn’t exactly at the wedding planning stage but I knew I wanted him in my life forever. I sometimes worried that it was crazy to be so head over heels in love with my first boyfriend but then he’d look at me with his eyes full of love and I knew I’d never find a connection that could hold a candle to what we had.

“So
, how are we celebrating tonight?” Jason grinned once a waitress cleared our empty mugs away.

“Town?” Ben grinned.

“Sounds like a plan,” Hannah smiled happily.

“I can hook you up with some VIP passes for a few places on the diamond strip?” Jake offered.

I tuned them out because I was looking at Xander and I knew what he was going to say without him having to say it. He wasn’t going to let me go. I stared at him across the table, mouth agape, silently pleading with him to let me go but he just shook his head ever so slightly.

Always aware of what was around him, Jason observed our silent exchange with a frown on his brow. “Xander, a word,” Jason nodded, cocking his head to the side. He smiled across at me and I understood that I wasn’t excluded; he wasn’t trying to go over my head.

I followed the two of them a few steps away from the others. Xander stood with his eyes on the glass façade of the café whilst he waited for Jason to speak.

“It’s just one night out, Xander,” Jason started. “I know you’re trying to keep Jamie safe, and I appreciate it more than anything, but we can’t just keep her wrapped up in cotton wool behind locked doors.” Jason spoke calmly, his voice steady and even.

I smiled up at him appreciatively and laced my fingers with his.

“
Not what I’m suggesting,” Xander replied. “Know this sucks for you two. Not doing it to be an ass,” he paused and looked pointedly at me.

I blushed and stared intently at my feet whilst squeezing Jason’s hand.

“If we were in Leeds and you’d given me a bit of warning, then that’d be fine. But I’m on my own here and there are too many unknowns. It’s not safe.”

“You really think I’m in danger here?” I looked up at him and saw that the coolness from his eyes had dimmed slightly and he appeared gentler once more.

He nodded.

I slumped in surrender
. I didn’t like the idea that I couldn’t even go out on a night out with Ben in another city. Very few people knew I was in Newcastle that day. I’d only told my brothers, Alex, and Adam, but Xander seemed capable and I had no choice but to trust his judgement and honour my promise to Ian. It sucked but I didn’t think there was anything I could do about it.

“Is there any
way we could just stay in and have a few drinks?” Jason asked Ben once we returned to our seats. I could tell Jason felt guilty for asking and I felt even worse because I knew he was doing it for me.

Ben glanced at me and understanding showed in his expression. “I dunno, Jay,” he shook his head. “You’ve seen how tiny our flat is.”

“It’s okay, you guys go have fun,” I smiled as best I could. “I can hang out with Jake, if that’s okay with you?” I looked up at Jake and he nodded.

“I’m not going out if you’re not coming, Jamie-Lea,” Ben smiled kindly. “You’re family.”

I blushed and smiled up at him shyly. Family was a tricky subject for the Reed boys, I understood that all too well. I loved that Ben saw me as part of the new family he and Jason had created for themselves.

“You can us
e our house,” Jake offered. “We have an end of terrace on Jesmond Road. It’s pretty decent size for parties.”

“Huh,” Ben said. “That’s right round the corner from us. Are you sure, man?”

“Yeah, that way I can make sure Jelly doesn’t drink too much,” he winked at me.

I rolled my eyes and slapped his hand away again when he tried to pinch me. “After seeing how drunk you got at your birthday, you can hardly comment on my drinking.”

“Are you forgetting your birthday?” Jake grinned.

I
repressed the momentary twinge of guilt upon hearing about my own birthday and focussed on answering Jake instead.

“I was happy drunk, you were catatonic,” I stuck my tongue out and he grinned.

“Speaking of drunk, me and Jamie can go pick up some booze for tonight,” Jason offered. “That okay, Xander?”

Xander’s lips formed a firm line and I thought he was going to say no but he just nodded.

“Nah, it’s fine, Jay,” Ben interrupted. “You don’t even drink. I’ll get the booze.”

Jason sighed and shook his head at his brother. “Nope.”

“Yes,” Ben frowned.

“Jamie, tell him what you do when your big brother wants to do something nice
for you?” Jason smirked, squeezing my hand affectionately.

I rolled my eyes. I completely understood Ben’s point but I also knew why Jason wanted to do something nice for Ben.

“You say ‘thank you’ and be grateful they’re not locking you in an airing cupboard,” I winked at Ben.

“That was an accident!” Jake protested but his smirk wasn’t very convincing.

Having found our way to a supermarket which wasn’t too far from Jake’s house, we arranged to meet back at his with the others later on.

Xander insisted on following us round the aisles with his permanent scowl and stiff posture. I was at least grateful that he was main
taining a little distance because I was fairly sure that I was going to start missing my privacy with him hanging around us all the time.

“Pass us a bottle of that whiskey, will you?” Jason asked, pointing to a bottle on the top shelf whilst he squatted down to grab a few boxes of beer.

I nodded and stretched my arms as far as I could to reach the bottle. Sod’s law dictated that it was just a few inches out of my reach so I stepped up on my tiptoes to try and reach it.

When that didn’t work I arched my back and my
fingertips just grazed the bottle. I became aware that Jason was being very quiet and turned around to find him stood staring at me.

“You could help me, you know?” I teased with a grin. He was smirking at me and his eyes bore that familiar glare that let me know he’d told me to get that bottle on purpose.

“I fully intend to. I was just enjoying the show a bit first,” he grinned, reaching above me to grab the bottle with ease.

He stopped right in front of me, close enough that his breath tickled my eyelashes
. The heat dancing in his eyes was intensifying to the point that my insides were squirming and I was wishing we were far away from a supermarket. Preferably somewhere with a bed but I’d make do with a floor, or a wall, or a chair, or…

“Stop looking at me like that,” he whispered, pulling me into him, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Like what?” I replied coyly.

He cocked his head at me with one of his
million-dollar smiles and I knew he knew what I was thinking. He was psychic after all.

“You started it,” I fake pouted when he nipped playfully at my ear. “You were looking at my bum.”

“Can you blame me?” He grinned, depositing the whiskey bottle into the basket so he could slip both hands under the hem of my top and into the waistband of my trousers. “Your bum is fucking perfect.”

He gave it a squeeze for emphasis and flashed a naughty smile, like he’d just gotten away with stealing a biscuit from the tin.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Xander glaring at us impatiently but I ignored him because I was enjoying my moment with Jason too much to let him bother me.

“Are you quite finished yet?” I smirked at
Jason whilst his hands continued roaming over my rear.

“Nope,” he grinned, squeezing a little harder. “Give me a minute.”

I fake sighed but really I was quite enjoying it, even though I didn’t think the supermarket was the ideal place for groping. I could feel Jason stirring against the zip of his jeans and I bit my lip to stop myself smiling in appreciation.

I ran my hands across the top of his boxers, one finger dipping inside. The curve of his back swelled outwards over the firm mounds of his buttocks and I was fairly certain I liked his as much as he liked mine.

“God you’re arse is so fucking perfect,” Jason groaned appreciatively. “I need to stop or Xander and the old lady on the next aisle are going to get a public show.”

I pouted as he drew his hand away and he grinned back, pressing a gentle, apologetic kiss to my lips. He was the perfect mixture of tender and naughty and I loved it.

“Come on, Xander looks grumpy,” Jason chuckled.

“Grumpier than usual you mean,” I laughed.

“Yep,” Jason nodded. “So hurry your perfect little arse up. That guy makes me nervous.”

“He does?
” I laughed, beaming up at him.

“Yeah. Kind of reminds me of Dr Evil.”

I almost bent over double at that and Jason winked at me as Xander shot us a look of annoyance and led the way towards the tills.

“Hey, Jason?” I whispered discretely, making sure Xander was out of earshot.

“Yes, little squirrel?” He looked up at me from loading bottles and boxes onto the conveyor belt.

“You know how you like my… um, rear?” I asked with my cheeks burning.

“Are you fishing for compliments, baby?” Jason chuckled low in my ear.

“No, it’s just
... You wanted to do that thing and then we only did it once and I’m worried that you haven’t tried again. Didn’t you like it?” I asked, spitting out my words in an awkward rush.

“Really, Jamie?” Jason grinned. “You still can’t say it?”

I shook my head at him, smiling despite my blush. We were in a supermarket. I could barely say it when it was just the two of us alone and naked.

“You want to know why I haven’t fucked your
ass again?” He whispered in my ear, obvious humour in his voice.

I nodded, and nudged him playfully because I knew he as teasing me.

“I know you didn’t want to try it, baby. But you did. For me. I also know you said you’d do it again, but that was also for me. It’s my job to know whether or not you actually enjoy things or if you just do them to make me happy,” he smiled gently as his hand cupped my face and I cherished the feeling that every little thing about me was important to this man.