Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,96
until we hear the door open and Matthew’s voice booming from downstairs. Jake stiffens, dropping me, and I almost fall to the floor. I start giggling uncontrollably.
“Fuck. Sorry. You okay?” I nod my head and pull my skirt down as I watch Jake frantically trying to do his trousers up. Hopping around the room, he falls down on the floor with a loud thump, resulting in my giggles turning into full-fledged laughter. I press my hand over my mouth, trying so hard to stifle the laughter, but it’s no use. The look of him crumpled on the floor while desperately trying to fasten his trousers is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time.
Jake finally manages to get up from the floor—trousers intact—just in time for us to hear Matthew knocking on the door.
“Everything okay in there?” he asks.
I look at Jake, still trying to stifle my giggles. He glances back, shaking his head and makes his way to answer the door. Once there, he spies my panties still laying on the floor, so he quickly sweeps his hand down, picking them up and putting them in his pocket.
As he opens the door, Matthew studies us for a moment and notices my silly grin. His mouth twitches up into a smile. “What have I missed?”
I start laughing again as Jake leads Matthew away from the door. “Nothing. Ana’s just a little drunk and fell over, that’s all.”
My laughter abruptly stops. The little shit’s blamed it all on me.
Matthew turns his head towards me with a smirk. “It sounds as though someone had a good time tonight and it’s only seven-thirty. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
I shake my head. “No, no. I’m fine. Right as rain, me … but thanks for asking. Your dad helped me out no end.”
Matthew smiles, obviously a little amused at my ‘drunkenness’, but completely oblivious to my insinuation. Jake, however, stiffens as he follows Matthew towards the stairs. “So how was practice?” he asks, starting his descent.
The boys disappear, and only muffled sounds can be heard after that. I stumble out of my work clothes and feel a shower’s in order after today. I step in and let the cool water envelope me as I close my eyes. Boy, I needed that.
Once all is done, I dry myself off and look through the wardrobe and drawers for some comfortable clothes. I eventually settle on a pair of short denim shorts and a loose-fitting, white blouse. As I head towards the stairs, the smell of cooked chicken greets me. My stomach instantly growls in protest as I walk in.
Jake, noticing a presence, looks up and smiles, handing me a very tall glass of orange juice. “Thank you.”
He gives me an appreciative look, and I nearly melt then and there. It’s amazing how my emotions seem to change so rapidly around him.
He carries on frying his chicken as Matthew turns to me. “Are you coming tomorrow night? I have a game at six against Richmond.”
I look to Jake, and he nods. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Great,” he beams. It should be fun kicking their ass.”
Jake spins around. “Hey, watch it, son.”
I instantly laugh. Jake certainly has a thing about people using bad language around him, yet he swears like a trooper. “Well, I’m certainly looking forward to someone around here getting their arse kicked.” Matthew looks at me, frowns, but then smiles. Jake just glares at me.
“Watch it,” he scolds.
I’m trying so hard not to laugh, but I can’t hold it in. “I’m sorry, but I can’t take you seriously when you have an apron on and you’re pointing a spatula at me.” Matthew rears into a fit of giggles, and at first Jake stands there unamused, but even he has to succumb to the laughter in the end.
“We are all so happy,” Matthew observes. “It’s nice to see.” As soon as he says those words, all the laughter stops immediately. Jake and I both smile at Matthew’s comment, and then we smile at each other. It seems we all agree with his observation. The sound of the doorbell ends our smiles and brings us out of our collective good mood.
I get up to answer the door, but a giant runs over to block my path. “Hold up. You are not answering that.” Jake flies out of the kitchen as I roll my eyes at him. He yells, “I saw that!” back to me.