Wounded (In My Dreams) (12 page)

Plus, I found we were showering more than once a day. Had to wash off all the sweaty sex we were having again once I was healed.

Jasper was actually unloading everything with the owner when my phone rang. I grabbed it and stepped out on the back porch so I was out of the way and got the best reception.

“Hi, Lily,” my mom greeted.

“Hey, how are you?”

“Good, good. Busy of course, but that’s nothing new.” I bit back a smile but still nodded, not that she could see it. My mom’s idea of busy was visiting family, running errands, and trips to all her doctors for her dozens of ailments. Other than that, she slept most of the time. I mean, crazy sick with the flu was her normal amount of sleep.

“That should keep you out of trouble,” I chuckled as I plopped down on one of the seats outside. “How’s dad? What’s new?”

“He’s good,” she hedged and I braced for impact. My mother was never subtle so whenever she treaded lightly, something big was going on. “We’ve been kind of worried since we rarely hear from you and you didn’t even invite me to come visit this summer.”

“Sorry, things have been crazy. Besides, it’s more a standing invitation if your schedule ever clears up.”

“Well it has actually.”

“Oh?” I squeaked, my palms getting sweaty.

“Yes, and your dad still hasn’t seen your place. It’s been well over a year now, and since the weather’s cooling off, I thought now would be a good time. He could see your fireplaces and we can use them.”

We both laughed at that. My mom loved having a fire going, and since she didn’t have any at her house, I built them constantly when she visited.

“Actually, now’s not the best time. My bathroom is just starting to be remodeled and the house is a mess.”

“Oh, the owner finally came through with that promise? Maybe we
should
come. That way your dad can make sure he doesn’t mess anything else up.”

Yeah, the owner’s ineptness was kind of legendary. “He’s actually not the one doing it.”

“Shit. Did he hire creepy
professionals
again?”

That also was kind of his MO. He’d hire cheap people, who normally didn’t have a contractor’s license, and looked more like they were casing my house than there to fix things. Or I couldn’t get them to leave. Like it was play time and I was the amusement. I finally told him that he wasn’t allowed to send his second-rate people in here unless he came to supervise and actually
did
it. Because one of the last times, he sat there and just let them go wherever when I specifically said certain areas were off limits.

There was
no
reason the A/C guy need to be in my bedroom checking things out. I could go in there and make sure the vent was blowing. It was just
creepy
. And I had specified that. And then they looked at me as if I was insane when I blew my top.

Creepy men in bedroom was a no-no. I know, I was
such
a demanding bitch.

“No, actually he didn’t hire anyone. Um, I’m actually living with someone so they’re doing it.”

“What?”
I winced, hating when my mom’s voice took that screechy tone. “Since when? Who? Like living,
living
with them or you got a roommate? If you need the money from a roommate—”

“No, not a roommate, and yes, living together. It’s complicated and a really long story.”

“You were dating someone and didn’t tell me?”

“Well, not really dating,” I sighed, realizing how bad this all sounded. I’d not told my family about Jasper at all, leaving him out of conversations. But I wasn’t going to
lie
about him. There’s a difference between excluding details and flat out fibbing.

“Well who is he? What does he do?”

“Um, he’s great. He was a Marine, but now he helps me.”

The line went dead silent. “What? He sponges off you?”

“No, that’s not what I said. It’s complicated, Mom. He’s not using me.”

“We’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Mom, no, that’s not—” I cursed up a storm when I realized I was talking to a dead line. She’d hung up.

“Want to tell me why I could hear your potty mouth all the way out front as the owner pulled away?” Jasper chuckled as he stepped out onto the porch with me.

I blinked at him a moment before opening my mouth and then closing it like a fish. “You should go. Run. Fast. Hide
wherever
. My parents are coming tomorrow and my mom hung up on me before I could explain about us—”

“She was so shocked we’re together now?” He hugged me tightly, and I felt my face heat up. “Lily? What’s the big deal?”

“I never told them about you,” I muttered. He flinched and slowly pulled away from me. “Until now and I blew it big time.”

“Why
didn’t
you tell them?” he asked, hurt all over his expression. “Are you embarrassed by me? Is that why you want me to leave?”

“
What?
No, Jasper! I’m embarrassed in advance for what they’re going to do when they get here though.” He just frowned at me so I plopped down on the bench seat, sighing. “Jasper, I know how much you’ve always helped me, having you here is wonderful and now I love you. But look at the situation from an overprotective parent standpoint. It’s not something easily explained.” He didn’t say anything, still only staring at me so I tried again. “Look, my parents are conservative, old school.

“They live in a box of ‘normal’. Things are supposed to go a certain way to them. And we’re Chicagoans, we’re not a trusting breed. What we have is great, but it’s outside that box. They wouldn’t understand it and not raise hell.”

“I’m not running, Lily. Either you love me enough for this to be real, someone you would introduce to your parents, or I can’t do this.” He stormed back into the house and I scrubbed my hands over my face.

“It’s your funeral,” I muttered to no one, hating that I screwed things up
again
.

7

Jasper barely spoke to me that night, immediately getting to work on tearing out the shower. I stayed out of his way, trying to get everything done I’d need to so I could spend time with my parents while they were here. But since he had to walk
past
my office each load of crap he took out, it wasn’t like we weren’t seeing each other. Each time he headed out, I’d open my mouth to say
something
, but what?

We ate separately and he turned in before me. Finally when I crawled into bed with him, well after midnight, he was staring at me as if waiting.

“I’m not good with this stuff, Jasper. You have to be patient with me,” I begged, reaching out and taking his hand. “I’m not embarrassed by you. You’re
amazing
. I love my parents, and we’re pretty close, it’s just they’re judgy so things are tricky.”

“So it’s not me, it’s you and them?” he snickered, rolling his eyes at me. “You act like we were drunk in Vegas and met, eloping that same night. You’re not pregnant. We’ve not done anything wrong.”

“I know that. I’m just not sure they’ll see it as that,” I whispered.

“Lily, you’re making a—Jesus, you’re
shaking
. Babe, just breathe, okay?”

“I don’t want to lose you and I don’t see this going any way but them freaking out and blowing up everything we have.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You forget how charming I am.” He gave me a wink and pulled me against him. “We’ve got this. So we’ll explain what we have, show them while they’re here. It’ll be fine.”

I fell asleep praying he was right, but not very hopeful.

The next day I was a
mess
. Normally I had more time to prepare before my mom visited and my
dad
never had. I changed the sheets in the guest room even though they were clean. I made sure all of Jasper’s stuff was out of there so they could use the drawers.

Then I raced out and picked up the basics I knew they would need—non-fat milk, coffee creamer, stuff I never used or didn’t prefer. Luckily the cleaning lady had just come so really things weren’t so bad. I did hide everything that was strewn about my messy office and tried to make sure everything was in its right place throughout the house.

I smoked
all
the ribs Jasper had picked up, made coleslaw, prepared potatoes, a big salad, and even garlic bread. My dad really was old school that there should be everything at a
real
meal. Mom wasn’t so picky.

Jasper just chuckled at me, careful not to make a mess outside the bathroom.

By the time five o’clock rolled around, I was freshly showered and pacing in the garage. I knew exactly how long the drive took from Chicago and the way my parents thought, so how many stops they would make and everything.

Sure enough, quarter after five, I saw their SUV driving towards my house. I had a flashing thought about running inside and locking the door, but knowing my dad, that wouldn’t have accomplished shit. He could be an overbearing grump and a little thing like a
door
wouldn’t stop him if he wanted to get in.

I think it was a cop thing.

“Hi!” I squeaked after they pulled in and stepped out of the vehicle. I cleared my throat, reminding myself
once again
I was a full grown adult.

“The lawn looks nice,” my mom complimented as she shot a look at my dad as if warning me.
Great
.

“Yeah, Jasper takes good care of it.”

“Is that his name?” my dad huffed as I hugged my mom. “Where is he?”

“Inside tearing apart the bathroom. Glad you could come this time, Dad.”

“Hi, baby,” he murmured as he hugged me. “Do you want me to get rid of this guy? Is he just not leaving or something?”

“No, Dad,” I snickered, shaking my head as I pulled away. “He’s very, very welcome here.”

Just then the door from the house opened in the garage and I glanced over my shoulder to see Jasper jogging towards us—shirtless, covered in dust, and sweaty.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Slone. Sorry, Lily didn’t tell me you got here.” He stuck out his hand to my dad who crossed his arms over his chest.

“Dad, give him a chance,” I warned, not liking this already.

“Dave Slone,” he grumbled as he shook Jasper’s hand. “This is my wife, Josie.”

“A pleasure, Mrs. Slone,” Jasper greeted, shaking her hand as well. “Please, let me get your bags.”

“He’s good,” my mom chuckled quietly as Jasper walked to the back of the SUV with my dad.

“It’s not an act,” I admitted. “He’s just really sweet and considerate.”

“And
handsome
.” She shot me a look and I knew that was coming too. It basically was asking how the hell
I
landed someone like that. “You look great. You lost all that weight again.”

“A little more than it, but yeah. Jasper and I work out. He makes me do two shorter ones a day, but we have fun.”

“I’ll bet.” She rolled her eyes, and while I didn’t think she was making an innuendo of any sort, I couldn’t be too sure. Knowing her though, she didn’t buy I stuck with anything like a consistent workout routine.

She was
slightly
critical like that.

A nice ice breaker came when they let out their lab mix from the backseat. Bailey just about knocked me over, her typical way of greeting people.

“No, sit,” Jasper ordered when she tried it with him. She immediately plopped on her butt and the three of us gawked at him. She never listened like that when she was all wound up, taking the term
crazy dog
to a new level. “Dogs like me.”

“Bailey likes everyone but that doesn’t mean she listens always and never to strangers,” my mom chuckled, shaking her head. “Impressive. Maybe you can teach her not to run off if she gets free.”

“Sure,” Jasper agreed with a shrug. He picked up their two suitcases and tucked their toiletry kit under his arm. “Let’s get you settled in.” We followed him downstairs, my dad checking everything out like the inspecting parent as he went. Mom and I set up Bailey’s bowls and got her some water, leaving it all outside the bathroom. We’d learned not to let her roam a strange house if we left so it was easiest to close her in the bathroom when we did.

“Where do you want to go for dinner?” my mom asked. “We’re getting hungry.”

“Lily smoked ribs actually,” Jasper informed them as my dad headed back upstairs. We followed him up and showed him around, saving the porch for last.

“Big yard,” my dad commented as he looked around. “You still pay that lawn company?”

“No, Jasper takes care of everything. It’s his baby now. I just help with the garden.”

“Oh, you planted one?” My mom glanced over the porch, knowing the spot one would be. “You’re still getting vegetables in?”

“Your daughter has a green thumb,” Jasper complimented. “She’s taught me a lot.”