Page 45 of Taming I Do
Before I let myself get too wrapped up in my own thoughts, Jasper came through the door and onto the porch.
“If you want to get a good spot for the movie, we probably ought to head over.”
Abby turned to Jasper. “Can I come with you?”
“You’ve got school tomorrow,” Mrs. Taylor said.
Abby opened her mouth to protest but one look from her mom made her snap her jaw shut.
Mrs. Taylor turned a kind smile to me. “Y’all have a good time.”
“Thanks again for dinner. It was wonderful.” I stood and joined Jasper at the edge of the steps.
“Don’t worry about waking anyone up when you get back. We’re used to everyone coming and going at all hours. I’ll leave the lights on, and the door will be unlocked.”
“Thank you.” I still wasn’t sure about staying over and sharing a room with Abby, but with my camper still being de-cricketed, I didn’t have much of a choice.
“Shall we?” Jasper offered his arm.
“Sure.” I took it, letting him lead me down the steps and to the truck.
He opened the door for me and slid a cooler in the back.
“What’s in the cooler?”
“You can’t watch a movie without refreshments.”
“Are any of your brothers going to be joining us?”
“I sure as hell hope not, but I figured we could take Buster if you don’t mind.”
I held back a laugh at the pained expression on his face. His brothers might tease, but as I was learning, that seemed to be what siblings did best.
“I’d love to have Buster join us.” Abby, Mrs. Taylor, and even Maggie waved until they disappeared from view. I took in a deep breath and tried to look forward to the evening ahead. Lying on a blanket with Jasper. In the dark. What could possibly go wrong?
Jasper
It seemedlike forever since I had been to the Sunday night movie at the Hampton barn. I tried to remember exactly how long it had been and what movie had been playing. A hazy flashback of Adeline and me watching an eighties rom com came to mind. I pushed that memory out of my head before thinking about Adeline ruined the whole evening.
Delilah held the blanket I’d grabbed in one hand and Buster’s leash in the other while I carried the cooler. I wanted to find a spot far enough away so she wouldn’t feel like everyone was watching her. Speak of the devil. Adeline perched on a blanket next to a thin man with a receding hairline. Could that be her husband?
She glanced up as we passed, her eyes narrowed.
I pretended like I didn’t see her and meandered through a sea of blankets until I reached a spot far away.
“How’s this?” I stopped at the edge of the small group of moviegoers.
“It’s fine with me.”
I set the cooler down and took the blanket from her. Every time I tried to spread it out, Buster leaped up and grabbed an edge in his teeth.
“Cut it out, Buster. If you let me get the blanket down, you’ll have a place to sit.” The scolding must have worked since Buster plopped down on his butt and huffed out a breath.
“Let me help.” Delilah grabbed the opposite corners and together we stretched the blanket out and laid it down.
“Thanks.” I motioned to the dog. “There you go, bud. Pick your spot.”
The damn dog walked in a circle, first one way, then the next, before plopping down in the middle of the blanket.
