but he didn’t mention that. He said he was visiting his best friend and gaming and you were here too and you guys decided to stay overnight rather than trying to make your way home in the dark.”
Her head felt musty and full of cobwebs. Yeah, they would be suspicious. They must have been wondering about her new friend, Ross. But what could they say? She was an adult. They knew she’d never put JayJay in any danger. Other than nearly becoming comatose, it wasn’t such a big deal.
“It is your building. I mean, your family owns it, right? So, it wasn’t like you were out someplace particularly shocking.”
She nodded. “Why am I not sleeping in the couch bed?”
“We made it up and played on it and he fell asleep there. I left him and brought you upstairs. You never stirred once.”
She considered what he told her. He was nice, wonderful, and he bonded with her brother. She assumed anyone could or would if they only met JayJay. But more often, Jody watched the alternate version play out: people felt awkward and became cold, or fake, and appeared completely uncomfortable around him. JayJay didn’t always know what was wrong, but he instinctively reacted differently to people who were uncomfortable around him or responded negatively.
There was no bigger endorsement for Ross than that. She slipped her hand down the front of her body and smiled to see her clothing was still there. This guy was turning out to be totally decent. Not what she expected from their first introduction.
“And when I’m not down there in the morning?”
“I set the alarm for five. Figured I’d kick you out of bed so you would be there when JayJay woke up.”
“You figured it all out.”
“I figured out nothing.”
She twisted to glimpse him after hearing the stark, intense tone of his voice. He stared at her, looking confused. He moved until she found what she was looking for. Setting the foil package in her mouth, she rolled on top of him, straddling his middle. Startled, his hands came to her waist. “Jody, JayJay is right…”
She set her hand on his mouth, silencing him before she ripped the condom packet open and addressed his body. She fiddled with his clothes until she managed to pull him out. Rubbing and teasing him before she sheathed him, she pressed her mouth on his to keep him quiet. Their bodies moved together in a soft, familiar, gentle rhythm that displayed more caring and easiness than hot sex and orgasms. Even when it finally resulted in that, both were silent.
She rolled off him and instantly fell back asleep. When her clothes were being put on her again, Jody opened her eyes. “It’s five,” Ross said as he picked her up in his strong arms and took her down the stairs. Carrying her as easily as one would cradle a sleeping child, he watched her blink to get the grit out of her eyes.
“I can walk,” she hissed grumpily.
Ross set her down and nudged her sleeping brother to make enough room for her. He flashed a small smile before disappearing upstairs.
Jody was in the sofabed, clothed properly when three hours later, her brother stirred. She rolled over as JayJay sat up and asked her, “Do you think Ross has any Pop-Tarts?”
She smiled as her half-awakened brain tried to guess where they were. JayJay was already getting on with his life. He didn’t lounge in bed. Once he awoke, that was it.
“He does. But remember, only after eating your eggs.”
She turned around, fully sitting up when Ross’s voice answered JayJay. He appeared in his kitchen, clothed in a casual t-shirt and jeans, looking so yummy she wanted to take him upstairs again. Why couldn’t she seem to get enough of him? Physically, conversationally, and… (sigh) all the other ways. His smile just now. Knowing he had Pop-Tarts. Why would he have them? She spotted a fresh grocery bag on the counter.
“Did you go shopping?”
“I had no food in the house.”
He bought the Pop-Tarts for her brother. And the eggs? Yes. Ross was pulling stuff out of the bag, having shopped while she slept with no idea he’d even left.
JayJay went up the stairs to the bathroom. Jody got up too. “You went out shopping just for us?”
“For JayJay, mostly. I wondered if food could be an issue.”
“He’s very picky, yes. And he likes following his routine. Staying here was different. He liked it though because of the gaming and you, as it