Page 43 of Do It Yourself
Elle’s scowl is deep at my question which makes my stomach twist with nerves. Whoever the boys are, I’m going to make sure they get to the game night come hell or high water.
“Jude, Bennett, some of the Farm workers…Paul.”
Oh shit.
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah, no shit. I don’t know what the hell Paul’s problem is but he’s going to need to get over it and make sure Patrick has a nice time.” Elle’s voice is harsh. Patrick doesn’t have any family outside of the Farm, his parents passed away in a car accident when he was younger, and Elle is very protective of her man. So protective that she crushed the roll that was in her hand. “I can talk to him. Paul loves Patrick, I’m sure he can agree to get alongfor a night.” I offer, knowing if anyone can talk Paul into a grin-and-bear-it situation for a night with someone he hates, it would be me. Well, also Mama but she had to throw in the temptation of Anika being here this weekend. Elle nods and mutters her thanks, turning her back on me to throw away the trashed roll.
I’ll do anything to help out my family, but this opportunity to speak with Paul about Jude is advantageous for me as well. I should probably feel skeevy about using this situation in part for my own interests but I know that if what has happened between the two of us never happened, I will still bend over backwards to make sure Elle and Patrick have the best possible experience. Elle is one of my favorite people in the whole world and Patrick is perfect for her in every way.
With resolve I wrap my arms around Elle in a quick hug, “I’ll do my best to talk to him this weekend, okay ?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
JUDE
Lunch had been delicious and the rest of the afternoon games went off without any more secret talents coming to light, leaving us pretty evenly matched. Mama D had tried to coax Mabel into joining the games but she just brought up her cramps again.
I did not like the idea of Mabel suffering like that. Every part of me wanted to sweep her up in my arms and take her to bed where she could relax on a heating pad while I played sexy butler for anything and everything else she could need while she rode the crimson wave. During a previous relationship, I’d done some research and discovered orgasms could actually help period cramps.
I was definitely not opposed to getting a little messy if it helped Mabel out.
Lost in thought, I completely missed the sound of something whizzing through the air until said something bounced right into my eye. More than likely dislodging my retina from the rest of the eyeball.
“Shiiiii-p lap is going out style. Are you okay, Jude?”
My vision was blurry as hell with tears but I knew the blob in front of me was Patrick thanks to his award-winning censorship in front of Henry.
If I wasn’t half-certain I’d just lost complete and total use of one of my eyes, I probably would have teased Patrick for almost swearing. His fiance’s sailor mouth was finally rubbing off on him.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m okay. What the hell was that?” My voice is coming out a lot rougher than I intended but, shit, the orbital assault hurt.
“Shuttlecock. Got to keep your eye on the prize when you play badminton, my dude.” This fucker could barely keep the laugh out of his words.
“Judey, come on, we need to get that cleaned out. That shuttlecock has hit the ground more times than I care to count.” Cool hands wrap around my bicep and I let Mama D lead me back into the cabin. I’m not super confident washing it out is going to do anything when that shuttlecock more than likely popped an eyeball like a water balloon but I can never say no to Mama D and, honestly, how embarrassing to lose an eye while playingbadminton.
Chapter Thirty-Five
MABEL
Watching the smirk on Paul’s face as he lined up that stupid shuttlecock, and served straight into Jude’s eye…yeah, I saw red. Every part of me wanted to jump from my camping chair, stomp over to my little brother and ask him what the hell he was thinking. I wanted to grab two fistfuls of his shirt and shake him until he told me why he hated Jude so much and just beg him to get over it.
Did I do any of that?
No. Of course not.
Did I follow my Mama to help make sure Jude was okay and offer him a sliver of the comfort he gave me when we were alone?
Well, now you’re just talking crazy.
I sat in my camping chair, doing my best to keep my features natural while Lola turned on our brother and, in a much calmer tone, asked Paul why he was being such a jerk. Anika was quick to take Henry inside as Paul sputtered for answer. Patrick had followed Mama D into the house and Elle was stomping over to me while the twins talked in hushed tones.
“I’m getting real fucking tired of this. PJ needs to get his shit together.” Her arms were crossed and I could see a pink tinge on her cheeks as she glared at our siblings.
“I know, I was planning on talking to him tonight but maybe I should let him stew in whatever the heck just happened and talk to him tomorrow…”
I was being selfish, again. I didn’t want to have to think about trying to talk to Paul when Jude was hurt. I wanted to go find him, pull him to the closest comfortable surface and wrap myself around him. For the foreseeable future, if possible. I shouldn’t be putting my wants ahead of Elle’s worry that Paul was going to ruin a once in a lifetime experience for Patrick.
