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smoothdogsgirl · 1 year

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Absolutely adorable 🥰

Boot Scootin’ Boogie Part 2

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Pairing: Jake Seresin x Female Teacher Reader

Summary: Based off the prompt: Hangman and line dancing. When your best friend asked you to be her maid of honor you accepted, knowing that you would be out of your comfort zone. After weeks of planning a Jack and Jill Bachelor/Bachelorette weekend with him, when you finally meet the best man, you realize you might be in for more than you bargained for.

Warnings: Alcohol, fluff, pining, spicy thoughts, mentions of cancer, swearing, and probable typos, 18+ MDNI

WC: 11484

Special shout out to @sylviebell as always and to @blue-aconite and @bobfloydsbabe!

In elementary school, Jake Seresin was the first to memorize his home number. He was the first to remember the alphabet. His math teachers were always impressed with how quickly he learned equations. He still gloated on Pi Day that he won a competition in high school for knowing the most decimal places of it. So, it was no surprise that he memorized your phone number.

In the two weeks he had between Tennessee and his deployment, he worked up the courage to ask if he could call you if he got the chance. He almost didn’t ask, fear gnawing at the pit of his stomach that you would say no. But the night before he shipped out, you were telling him about the play you and the other first grade teacher were organizing for your students and his heart all but exploded. He cut you off mid-sentence, asking if he could call you, email you too. It was like his lungs would explode if he didn’t ask you as quickly as possible. The hole on his chest was opening in the short few seconds it took for you to squeak out a “yes” on the other end.

Your number had been his own personal mantra as he shipped off for two months. He wanted to be ready if he was selected for a call. Didn’t want to waste a second of his time with you. He wanted to hear your voice. Wanted to hear your beautiful laugh. Wanted to hear about the latest drama with the hover mom of your class. The hole in his chest ate away at him the longer he went without talking to you.

His heart didn’t beat quite right the longer he was away. The ribbing from his wingman fell silent at the memories of being close to you. The promise of holding you closer at the wedding kept him going. Maybe then he’d actually kiss you.

It ate away at him that he chickened out that second night you went line dancing. He had the perfect opportunity too. You had tripped over your feet, and he caught you. Your lips were practically screaming for him to kiss them, but the slightest hesitation ruined his opportunity.

He didn’t think he was going to make it. As the days ticked by and you seemed further and further away, the hole in his chest seemed to consume him. He was snapping at his bunkmate more, his wingman even. But when they reached port, you surprised him. At mail call, he received a thick manilla envelope, your name in the return address.

He had never moved faster to his quarters than he did that day. You had mentioned a surprise in an email, but he never imagined it would get to him before they returned home. His heart was in his ears as he carefully opened the envelope. He didn’t want to rip it, you had touched it, so he was going to treat it delicately.

Sweat was thick on his brow as he tried to slow his breathing. Whatever you sent him was light. He pulled out a stack of construction paper, bundled in twine. A letter with his name sat on top, a photo underneath.

Jake,

I told you I had a surprise for you…My class wanted to send you a few cards to cheer you up! Mrs. Fredricks caught wind and it became a school-wide project (I hope your Squadron likes handmade cards).

I can’t wait until you’re home. I’m counting down the days until the rehearsal dinner. I’ll be in a pretty blue dress waiting for a line dance, Mr. Seresin.

I miss you. Stay safe, please.

Teach

He traced the words with his fingers, inhaling the faint smell of strawberries. That x had his heart fluttering, his head light.

His face lit up when he looked at the picture. It was your class photo. You were in the back row, your students surrounding you. He could tell from the dinosaur dress you wore that you were a good first grade teacher. The kind that students remembered for years after they moved on. His thumb brushed at your face as tears filled his eyes. He wasn’t going to be able to forget you anytime soon.

Time dissolved as he reread your letter. He memorized the loops of your writing as he pictured you in a blue cocktail dress. He was not letting you get away without a kiss when he saw you next.

“Luke, she’s going to kill me,” you sighed into your phone. You felt like you were going to puke as you pulled into the visitor parking area at the children’s hospital.

“Hey,” he soothed. “I think what you’re doing is far more important than the wedding planner telling you to pretend you’re walking with flowers.”

Your eyes fluttered shut as you leaned against your headrest. You should’ve been on the road already. You were supposed to leave after work to break up the sixteen-hour drive to Dallas. You would get to the venue just in time for the rehearsal at five the next day, get a manicure after dinner. Ask a certain aviator if he’d like to go line dancing.

“Promise you’ll be careful when you leave,” Luke said softly. Your eyes fluttered open; your original plan lost in the shadow of the brightly colored building. “Sharpie,” Luke sighed. “Promise me.”

“I’ll be careful,” you said sullenly. Your stomach was in knots. You hated disappointing people, especially your best friends. Daisy had been dreaming and planning this day since she was six. You were throwing a wrench into that plan.

“And don’t worry about Daisy,” he added, as if he could read your thoughts in the prolonged silence. “Now go make that little girl’s big day special.”

“I can tell her mo—”

“Sharpie,” he cut you off. “Don’t you dare.” You pictured him tugging on his hair in frustration, something he had been doing since the two of you were kids. “If you so much as leave the state of North Carolina before nine this evening, I won’t let you have any of the cake on Saturday.”

“You wouldn’t,” you gasped. Cake was your favorite, especially cakes from the bakery the pair had chosen. Daisy always managed to send you one of their almond tortes every year for your birthday.

“I would,” he asserted. “And I won’t let Daisy send your birthday cake.”

“Luke,” you cried.

“Now go,” he insisted. “I’m hanging up now.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” you surrendered.

“Be safe,” he whispered into the receiver before the line went blank.

You took a deep breath, trying to slow your racing heart. Today was a happy day, but all you could feel was the crippling anxiety of what would wait for you in Dallas. You turned the volume up, letting Josh’s mix consume you. You didn’t want poor Arabella Fallow to see you so worried.

It was as if your brother was sending you a message as the intro to “Take It Easy” by the Eagles filled the cab. A smile spread on your lips, thinking of all the times he used to sing it with you. He usually was driving you to get ice cream after a rough day.

“Okay, big brother,” you chuckled, talking to the ancient sound system. The knots in your stomach were replaced with anticipation. “I’m going,” you said before killing the ignition.

The walk to Arabella’s hospital room had seemed unreasonably long the first time you went to visit. You were overcome with anxiety, not sure what to expect. You had actually vomited in a trashcan on your way in. But when Principal Fredricks sat you and Molly down, asking if either of you would be willing to stop in with schoolwork and books to occupy her time during treatment, you didn’t hesitate.

That was about three months ago. The walks only got longer in the first month as you noticed the medications taking their toll on the poor girl. First it was the rings under her eyes, the sickly sheen her skin had taken making them more apparent. Then she started losing her hair. Your heart broke for her when they finally shaved her head. But Arabella’s soft smile was infectious and soon you were staying later without realizing it. The pain of the reality of the situation seemed to dissipate as she would ask you about school, about your life, if you could find bright matching wigs for the two of you to wear. The walks were shorter with time. You started bringing nail polish along with books and activities.

Arabella’s mom had called you the night before. She had her final chemo treatment the next afternoon and the family wanted you to join them for her bell ringing ceremony and a small dinner in her hospital room. You couldn’t say no.

The walk to her room didn’t seem long at all today. Arabella’s laughter filled the hallway the closer you got, making your smile grow. The anxiety that seized you was long forgotten. The thoughts of Daisy growing upset replaced with thoughts of Arabella rejoining her classmates. Would her infectious personality brighten up your classroom as much as it did her hospital room? You watched from the doorway as she whispered something to her nurse, causing him to laugh hard.

“What are you doing here?” she squeaked from her hospital bed. She finally spotted you. “Aren’t you supposed to see that cute pilot?”

A heat rushed to your cheeks. You stepped into the room, smiling at George as he fiddled with one of her monitors. “How do you know he’s cute when you haven’t even seen him, Ari?” You asked setting your bag down on the bedside table. Your brow was raised, ready to hear whatever spitfire response she had.

“Because he’s a pilot,” she huffed. Her arms crossed as an amused smirk fell onto her lips.

Your eyes widened as George chuckled beside you. She wasn’t wrong in the slightest, but she was only seven. Where did she get that notion already?

“Plus,” she continued, “your eyes light up when you talk about him.”

“Is that so?” You teased, reaching into your bag for nail polish.

“It’s how momma’s eyes get when she talks about daddy,” she asserted.

Your cheeks were blazing. Were you really that easily read by a seven-year-old? You bit your lip, keeping your eyes on the pale blue polish in your hand. Your heart skipped at beat at the prospect of seeing Jake again. Seeing your nickname roll of his lips. His hands on your waist, guiding you in a line dance. A chilling heat coursed through you.

“See,” Arabella said elbowing George.

“Okay, okay,” you sighed playfully, throwing your hands up in surrender. “He’s cute.” You paused. “Very cute.” You winked, sending her into a bout of giggles.

Your watched, smile growing, as she threw her head back and giggled. George smiled warmly at you, and you felt at ease. Like this was the right choice.

“Wait,” she said sternly. Her giggles stopped immediately. “Are you going to give Mr. Jake our cards tomorrow?”

You caught George snickering out of the corner of your eye, your own laugh barely contained in your chest. “Yes, I am,” you promised. “That’s why I’m here actually.” You paused, raising the nail polish. “I realized that I needed to make a stop at my favorite nail salon if I’m going to see such a cute pilot for the first time in two months.”

You’d never heard Arabella squeal as loudly as she did. George winced while you just laughed. You hoped it was a sign that she was actually starting to feel better, that the meds were doing their job. You bit your cheek, trying to keep the other edge of those thoughts at bay.

“Did you bring payment?” She deadpanned. She wanted the key lime cookies your brother’s fiancé had taught you how to make ages ago.

You turned to reach into your bag, pausing when George caught your eye. The two of you had been in on this gimmick for two months, as had her parents, but it added an air of fun to it all that she deserved.

“Only if nurse George can keep a secret,” you whispered loudly.

The two of you watched as he extended his hand. The smile on his face not returning until he had a cookie in hand.

“Think you can give me this recipe?” He asked before taking a large chunk out of it.

“Of course,” you chuckled, reaching into your bag. The ever-prepared teacher that you were, you anticipated this question. You had a recipe card written for George and for Arabella’s parents.

“Will you paint my nails when they give me the medicine today?” Arabella asked as George pocketed the notecard.

“Absolutely, sweetheart,” you said softly. Your stomach sank. It was such a bittersweet day. You’d sat with her one other time during treatment, and you cried the entire drive home.

“Can I see the picture of your dress again?” She asked, gently tugging you to sit on the bed.

“Ye…yes,” you choked out, barely stifling your tears. You were grateful for the excuse to turn away, swiping a stray tear quickly as you grabbed your phone. You slipped it into airplane mode to avoid any unwanted distractions…mainly the angry messages you were anticipating from Daisy.

Your hand trembled as you passed off your phone. Arabella’s eyes grew comically large as a smile filled her face. You couldn’t help but feel warm.

“You look like a princess,” she whispered in awe. A heat crept up your neck. You didn’t think the blush dress was all that flattering, but you had always been harsh on yourself. “Will I be as pretty as you when I grow up?” She asked handing back your phone.

“You,” you said with the biggest smile you’d had all day, “are going to be much prettier than me.” You gently tapped her nose, causing her to erupt in giggles.

“Polish, please,” she said once she calmed down. She grabbed your hand gently, inspecting what she had to work with. You gulped playfully. Arabella was harsher than most nail techs.

“Did someone at school shape these?” She asked, pulling your hand closer to her eyes.

“Miss McKinley did,” you answered sheepishly. Poor Molly didn’t have much to work with. You all but gnawed your nails down to nothing. It took a lot of self-control not to touch them after she cleaned up what she could at recess.

“She should stick to teaching,” Arabella said seriously.

You threw your head back and laughed. You would have to tell Molly that her handiwork wasn’t up to par. Your laughter faded as she focused on painting your nails a pretty rose gold.

“Can I come to your wedding?” She asked as she dipped the brush for more polish. Her doe eyes were focused on yours.

“Of course,” you said sweetly. The butterflies in your stomach fluttered as you let your mind wander. You were around Arabella’s age when you first remembered telling Josh you were going to get married by the sea.

“Can I be the flower girl?” She squealed.

“Arabella,” you said deflating slightly. “I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

“Uh huh,” she said skeptically turning back to your nails. Your brow furrowed as she slowly brushed on the paint. “What about Mr. Jake?”

Your cheeks burned as she quickly looked at you. Yes, what about Mr. Jake? Maybe the coming weekend would help you find out. Did he miss you as much as you realized you missed him? Had he been counting down the days too?

“Can you take a picture and send it to mommy?” She continued. “I want to see the whole look.”

You nodded simply. She’d want a picture of you and Jake. You knew that’s what she was asking.

“All done,” she announced giddily.

You inspected her handiwork, amazed at how steady her hand was. George cleared his throat from behind you. Arabella’s face fell, making you feel sick. It was time.

“Will you hold my hand?” She whispered, her trembling voice barely audible.

“Of course,” you assured her, letting your hand find hers.

You had never been so happy to see a hotel in your life. Your poor truck had overheated no less than three times on the last eight hours of your drive. As much as it pained you, maybe getting a second car would pay off in the long run. Then you wouldn’t have been greeted by Luke who was frantically pacing in the hotel parking lot. He claimed he just wanted some air, but you knew better. He had texted you frantically after the first time you had to stop. You could tell by how tightly that he gripped you in his embrace that he was worried. And if that hadn’t clued you in, his insistence on his cousin Greg, the mechanic, looking over the truck before you took off definitely did. Your stomach flipped once you caught on to just how worried he had been. It was the night before his wedding, he was supposed to be nervous about committing himself to Daisy for the rest of their lives, not your arrival and least of all the state of your truck.

But the guilt that had bubbled up in you fizzled not long after. Luke made sure you were settled in your room, happily accepting some spare cookies you had before leaving you to your night.

“316,” he said wiggling his brows, backing away slowly.

“What?” you asked, trying to not let your giddiness show. The last thing you wanted was for Luke to tell Daisy, or worst of all, Jake, just how excited to see him you were.

“Do I really have to say it?” Luke teased with a knowing smile. He backed further into the hallway. “He kept asking if I’d heard from you all throughout dinner.”

Your mouth dried instantly at the thought. You’d been dreaming about this weekend for weeks. Fantasizing about going to a hole in the wall bar, dancing under the dim lighting, hearing Jake say your name. Seeing just how good he would look in a tux.

“Just use protection,” he purred before walking down the hall.

You rolled your eyes as you shut your door, but a sense of panic overtook you as stepped into the elevator a short while later. Would Jake expect something of you? Did he say something to Luke? Your rushed Wendy’s burger sloshed in your stomach, sweat starting to form on your brow. Your hands trembled as you pressed the three. You had been so excited to just see him that you hadn’t really thought about anything else. Not that you were opposed. Daisy was mostly right in the club; it had been a long time and you wouldn’t be upset to break that streak with Jake. You tapped the corner of Arabella’s cards as the elevator began to move.

The bell chimed as you reached the fourth floor, pulling you out of your thoughts. Your frown was instantly flipped as Luke stumbled in, hair a mess. Your laughter bounced off the walls of the elevator as you put the pieces together; Daisy’s room was on four.

“Howdy stranger,” he said lightly, leaning dramatically against the wall.

“Use protection?” you teased, biting your lip.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Sharpie,” he said at the ground. The doors shut, and he looked you over. “You look stunning, Sharps.”

Heat crept onto your cheeks. You had promised Jake you would be in a blue dress, waiting for a dance. What you didn’t tell him was that it took you hours to find the blue polka dot wrap dress. It was out of your comfort zone, stopping halfway down your thighs, your breasts spilling from the top. You’d even gone out to find a pair of cowgirl boots to match. You bit your lip as the doors opened to the third floor.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Luke teased as you stepped into the hall.

You rolled your eyes. Coming from your old friend, the list of things he wouldn’t do was short. “Your shirt is on inside out, champ,” you said with amusement as the doors began to shut. You’d just caught a glimpse of Luke burying his face in his palm.

You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath to calm your nerves. You’d been talking to Jake this whole time. Sure, you’d only heard his voice once since he shipped out, but you got emails about twice a week. You bit the inside of your cheek. Everything was going to be fine. Maybe he’d kiss you. Maybe you’d kiss him. Images of those perfect lips flooded your mind, causing your blood to warm. Butterflies filled your stomach as you rounded the corner. You were going to kiss him; you were just going to do it. Your heart was pumping, you heard his voice. Your smile was beginning to hurt from how wide it had gotten.

But then in a cruel twist of fate, all the air was knocked from your lungs. Jake was standing in the doorway of his room, zipping his jeans. A peek of his Calvin Klein underwear should’ve had your heart hammering, but it was breaking. He was leaning with one arm against the doorframe, beautiful smile plastered on his lips, eyes focused on the woman before him.

Your stomach sank. She was beautiful from what you could tell. Gorgeous brown hair falling past her shoulders in waves, perfect tan, beautiful smile. If Jake had seemed like a GQ model, she was easily the cover girl for Vogue. Your lip wobbled as she put a hand on his arm, his smile widening. Your frown deepened, rejection flooding through you as tears filled your eyes.

Your feet were moving before you even realized it. Back to the elevator from which you came. You urgently pressed the button, hoping that you wouldn’t have to try to keep it together if his guest joined you. Tears burned in your eyes as you hit the button. You bit your lip hard, trying to distract yourself from the pain that blossomed in your chest. “Don’t let them see you cry,” you repeated to yourself under your breath.

You shivered as the night air hit you. You knew you should’ve grabbed a jacket, but you had hoped to borrow Jake’s again. Your feet had a mind of their own, spilling you into the dimly lit parking lot, instead of taking you to your rather expensive hotel room. “Don’t let them see you cry,” your teeth chittered as your body tried to warm up.

It took you three tries to get the key into the door from how clouded your vision was with tears. You’d held them at bay, wanting the comfort of the worn seat of the Ford. Once you’d shut the door behind you, you curled into a ball, letting the tears fall as your body shook with sobs. The image in the hallway replayed in your mind as you shut your eyes. “Don’t let them see you cry,” you sobbed, wishing you could call your brother.

“What happened?” Josh asked as he helped you buckle into the passenger seat. You were being sent home early. Your teacher found you crying under the slide after recess ended and they thought it would be best if you were done for the day.

“Bryan Flint called me ugly at recess,” you whispered. “Said I was a mistake.”

Your big brother let out a soft sigh as he turned down the road towards the ice cream shop. You saw his knuckles turn white as he glanced at you quickly.

“You, ladybug, are not a mistake,” he asserted.

“Well, then he got the other boys to chant it with him,” you sighed. Your lip trembled as fresh tears started to fall down your cheeks. “And they called me a baby. Said only babies cry.”

“First grade sounds harsher than I remember,” he joked solemnly. His large hand patted your knee. “I cry, ladybug,” he said as he pulled into a parking space. “Dad cries sometimes too.”

“You’re in the Air Force,” you scoffed. “You don’t cry.”

“I do,” he said with a faint chuckle. “Everyone cries.” He killed the engine and looked at you, brushing a piece of hair behind your ear. “Can I tell you a secret?”

You nodded furiously. Whatever your big brother said was gospel. You sniffled as your tears slowed.

“Don’t let them see you cry,” he said slowly, a weak smile on his lips. He brushed away a stray tear from your cheek. “When someone upsets you, don’t give them the satisfaction of crying in front of them. Wait until you’re alone.”

“Don’t let them see you cry?” You repeated hesitantly.

“Don’t let them see you cry, ladybug,” he said with a nod. “Okay?”

“Okay,” you agreed.

Your eyes fluttered open; the dark sky lighter than you remembered it when you blindly stumbled to your truck. You looked at your phone. It was two in the morning. You sat up, stretching slightly, taking in the aches that came with falling asleep on the old leather seats. You let out a heavy sigh, letting your fingers trace over the faded Air Force sticker that adorned the glove box. You needed to go back to your room, maybe take a relaxing bath before climbing under the fluffy white comforter.

The air had cooled off more in the time you were asleep. You couldn’t move fast enough to get into the hotel. You knew you looked like a mess, but thankfully the clerk at the desk didn’t seem to notice your mascara stained cheeks or your disheveled hair. The cookies and cards seemed to weigh down your purse. Bile rose in your throat as you looked at the elevator buttons. You blindly reached out, your heart growing heavier with every passing second.

Jake groaned as his eyes fluttered open. Light streamed through the gap in the blackout curtains. His head was pounding despite not drinking a drop. He didn’t sleep well, but he expected as much for falling asleep in the chair in the corner of the room. He didn’t know what time he fell asleep, but it had to be pretty late. The belt buckle on his jeans was digging into his lower stomach, urging him to move. The incessant ringing from his phone helped too.

He raked a hand through his hair as he answered without looking at who it was. He yawned as he lifted the phone to his ear, his eyes barely staying open. He needed coffee.

“Hello?” He asked sleepily.

“Fucking finally,” Luke huffed on the other end.

“Good mornin’ sunshine,” he teased as he opened the blinds. The brightness that flooded the room caused him to squint. It was far too bright to be morning.

“It’s almost one in the afternoon, Seresin,” his friend hissed.

Jake’s brow furrowed as he looked at his watch. His heart was pounding when he realized he had overslept. Did he even set alarms last night?

“We’re catching the shuttle to the venue at two.” Luke paused. “Don’t miss it.”

Jake looked at his phone to see if he had missed any messages. Four calls from Luke, one from another groomsman, one from Daisy, a few texts from his sister, but nothing from you. A soft groan escaped his lips as he checked again. His stomach sank. Did something happen? He listened to the messages from Luke and Daisy. Maybe something did happen. They would call him, right? But all he learned was that he had missed breakfast and drinks in Luke’s room and that the seamstress had altered his tux. She gave it to Luke.

Did you even make it? He thought he made it clear that he didn’t care what time you got in, he wanted to see you.

Jake: Make it in okay, Teach?

He just wanted to stare at his phone until you responded. Wanted to call Luke back and ask for your room number, but he didn’t have time. He gnawed his lip as he walked toward the bathroom. Maybe you just got in late and wanted to sleep. He could understand that. He convinced himself that you didn’t want to wake him up, that you got in late. It made the pain in his chest bearable as he turned on the water in the shower.

He tried to imagine what you’d look like when he finally saw you. All you told him was that Daisy picked champagne-colored dresses. He closed his eyes as the hot water washed over him. He knew you’d look gorgeous no matter what Daisy had you in. He let his mind drift to you in your dinosaur dress, as he had for the last month. Your pale pink lips curved into a smile.

If you were his first grade teacher, he’d have a crush on you. Hell, he did now. He’d probably intentionally fail so he could stay with you for another year. Bring you an apple every day. His mom told him that he had a crush on his first grade teacher, but you were so much prettier than Mrs. Jackson was. You were so breathtakingly beautiful.

His breathing became labored as he imagined being called in for a parent teacher conference. It was his favorite fantasy on the carrier. You’d claim you wanted to talk about Jake Jr. but wouldn’t be able to resist his charm. He let out a soft groan as he grew hard. The smell of strawberries enveloping him. He picked up a bottle of strawberry shampoo at port, wanting to feel like you weren’t far. You’d lock your classroom door after he slipped in. You’d be perched atop your desk, lip between your teeth, beckoning him forward with a finger.

Jake’s eyes shot open at the faint buzz of his phone. His heart was in his throat as he shut off the water, frantically reaching for it. Was it you? Were you alright? Water dripped down his body as he looked at the notification. He sighed. It was a text from Luke, urging him to hurry up.

You never left his mind once as he scrambled to get ready. He wondered what you were doing. If you were getting your hair done. If you were already in your dress. Wondered if you were thinking of him. He checked his phone once more before grabbing his bag. Bile rose in his throat when there still was no response.

If his head wasn’t already hung low, Jake probably would’ve stepped on what was outside his door. Would’ve crushed the box of cookies, crumpled up the cards waiting for him. His smile returned as he dropped his bag, picking up the surprise like it would disintegrate if he wasn’t absolutely careful. The faintest hint of strawberries filled his nose as he opened the cards.

He started with the one that had a hand drawn heart and an airplane on the front. A polaroid was taped to the inside of it, the image not shown. The handwriting was sloppy, what he would expect from a first grader. The sight of the green crayon made him laugh.

Mr. Jake,

My teacher says you’re really brave. She tells me I’m brave too. I think we’d be great friends. She thinks you’re really cute and that your hair is pretty!

XO,

Arabella F.

P.S. I wasn’t in the class photo.

P.P.S This is my favorite picture I have with my teacher.

Jake’s smile grew, rereading the card. Did you really think he was cute? Did you tell your student that or was she reading between the lines? He knew from his nieces and nephews that kids caught onto things rather quickly, sometimes before you even did.

He delicately removed the polaroid. He wondered what photo would be greeting him. Arabella seemed rather smart for her age, but she still couldn’t be more than seven or eight. And her favorite picture could’ve been anything. But all the air left Jake’s lungs as he took in the image. You had on a bright green wig that stopped at your shoulders. Your nose was crinkled, head thrown back laughing. A small, sickly-looking girl in a bright pink wig was sitting on your lap, looking at you like you’d hung the moon. You looked so happy, carefree. His chest felt warm just looking at you, imagining your laugh filling the hospital room.

A door slammed in the distance, pulling him out of his trance. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to tear his gaze away from your smile. He pulled out his wallet, carefully tucking the photo away. If he ever got the chance to meet Arabella F., he was pretty sure they’d be great friends too.

He quickly opened the second card. What other secrets would he learn about you? Would there be another picture? Another reassurance that you might like him just as much as he liked you?

Jake,

Wishing you all the luck in the world for a safe journey home. The best teacher I’ve ever met will be very excited to see you. Hopefully she brings some of her famous key lime cookies!

-George RN

Jake’s eyes darted to the cookies he sat haphazardly on an end table. His smile grew. You had told him about the key lime cookies. About how your brother’s fiancé taught you how to make them the summer before he died. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he remembered he was supposed to be in a hurry. The handwriting in the third card reminded him of his mother’s.

Jake,

I would send you well wishes and luck, but I think we all know just how lucky we are…don’t worry, we kept an eye on her while you were away. Make it back safely.

Sincerely,

Audra Fallow

There was another polaroid taped to the construction paper. He couldn’t detach it fast enough, letting the card fall behind him. A soft gasp left his lips as he took in the photo. You were fast asleep, a copy of Matilda open on your chest. You were in an old Air Force shirt, hair haphazardly falling around your face. He was instantly back in Tennessee, debating on how to wake you up in your truck.

“Seresin?” A deep voice boomed down the hall.

Jake hesitantly tore his eyes away from the photo to see who it was. His stomach sank as he saw Luke’s high school friend—Austin?—stalking towards him.

“What the fuck, Seresin?” He hissed as he closed the gap between them. “We’ve been waiting on the shuttle for you for ten minutes.”

Jake gasped, looking at the watch on his wrist. It was a quarter past two. How long had he been standing in the hallway? How long had he been staring at the photos of you?

“Shit,” he hissed, quickly grabbing his bag and the box of cookies. He slid the polaroid in his pocket, not wanting to leave it behind.

“How mad is he?” Jake sighed as they caught the elevator.

“Brian opened an expensive bottle of whiskey in his room a while ago.” Austin chuckled as he hit the button for the lobby. “So not overly mad.”

Jake hummed, relief starting to wash over him. His stomach growled as the doors opened. He cursed himself for missing breakfast. A cookie shifted in the box, reminding him of what he was holding. He frantically pulled one out, taking a large bite.

“Oh my god,” he moaned. His eyes closed as he let the heavenly flavor consume him. It had to be the best cookie he’d ever had in his life. He understood the hype as he immediately shoved the rest of it in his mouth.

“Happy you could make it, Romeo,” Luke teased as he quickly found a seat.

“I’m sorry, man,” Jake said quickly. He reached into his bag for another cookie. He’d have to get it together or he’d eat them all in the five minute shuttle ride.

“Are those Sharpie’s key lime cookies?” Luke whispered dramatically leaning over his seat.

“Maybe,” Jake said before taking a bite.

“Give me a cookie and you’re forgiven,” Luke suggested with a wink.

Jake sighed, pulling out another. “Jus’ un,” he said with a full mouth.

“I haven’t had one of these in forever,” his friend added, quickly snatching the cookie from his hand.

Jake felt a surge of jealousy as Luke took a bite out of the smallest cookie he could find and moaned at the taste. He didn’t want to share his cookies; he didn’t want to share you. He bitterly took a bite of his cookie, his eyes rolling back.

“How are they this good?” He asked before popping the rest into his mouth.

He pulled out his phone, quickly opening pulling up your name. His heart sank when he saw that you hadn’t replied, but he tried to brush it off. You were probably getting ready. Hair and makeup took a while, didn’t it?

Jake: These cookies are amazing! I can’t wait to see you. X

He bit his lip. Should he ask again if you were alright? If your truck gave you any issues?

“Have a good night last night?” Luke asked with a wink, pulling him away from his phone.

“If you mean Marissa sticking me in the legs with pins for twenty minutes, then yes,” he teased with a shrug.

“Oh, shut up,” Luke said playfully, pushing his shoulder. “I meant with Sharpie. She looked absolutely beautiful in that dress and I’m sure you lost your mind over the cowboy boots.”

Jake’s eyes bulged. His heart was in his ears. This was a joke, right? “Come on, I know you’re mad that I was late, but don’t play with me,” he grumbled.

“I get it,” Luke snickered. “You don’t want to kiss and tell.”

He watched his friend take another bite of his cookie. The thought that you didn’t come to see him had his heart shattering. “You actually saw her?” He asked quietly, leaning closer.

“In the elevator,” Luke confirmed. His brow furrowed. “That’s why I thought you were late.”

He hummed, shrinking into his seat. He tried to look somewhere else to escape Luke’s concerned gaze. You did show up last night? What happened? Was everything alright with Arabella? Did something happen with your truck? Did he do something? The last time he talked to you, you seemed so excited to see him. That was maybe a week ago. Why didn’t you come to see him?

“Speak of the devil,” Luke said with a chuckle.

Jake looked out the window and froze. You were leaned up against a pillar at the entrance and his heart stopped. You were devastatingly beautiful. You were in a short, lacy robe that had his breathing erratic. Seeing so much of you exposed had him feeling faint. The closer they got the more it was apparent that you had to be a Disney princess. You were stunning. He didn’t know how he would be able to get even a few words out being near you. But he’d happily be a bumbling fool if it meant being near you.

The breeze was warm, the sun wrapping you in its rays as you waited on Luke to arrive. You took a deep breath, closing your eyes. It was the first quiet moment you had all day. All the chaos of the morning was a great distraction, but much like in that club in Nashville, you were feeling overwhelmed. You knew the birds chirping in the gentle breeze wouldn’t completely help, but it was a start.

“Trying to give my groomsmen a heart attack, Sharpie?” Luke laughed.

Your eyes shot open, a smile filling your face as you saw your old friend with a garment bag slung over his shoulder. You felt tears pricking in the corners of your eyes. Josh should be there too. He was the only reason you ever became friends with Luke. You were certain that if he was there, he would be proud of his favorite ‘weird little neighbor kid’ as he affectionately referred to him.

“What wedding is complete without cardiac arrest?” you teased, voice cracking. Fuck. You’d ruin your makeup if you cried.

“Do you even have anything on under that?” he asked loudly.

Your cheeks instantly heated as you saw Jake step off the shuttle. Of course, Luke would be a pot stirrer. Did he know about the mystery woman that you saw? Did he even know that you didn’t even bother stopping by?

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you teased, crossing your arms.

“I couldn’t give a shit, Sharps,” he tutted. “But a certain best man certainly would.”

You rolled your eyes, smacking the side of his head with the envelope in your hand. He winced playfully before laughing. “What can I do for you, ma’am?” he asked, drawl on full display.

“Daisy sent me,” you said sweetly.

His eyes grew, shoulders tensing. “She’s not running on me, is she?” He gasped. The groomsmen around him laughed, but you could tell by the set of his jaw it was a legitimate concern.

“Relax,” you cooed. “She decided last minute to write you this.” You handed him the envelope. “Wants you to open it when the photographer gets to you guys.”

His shoulders instantly relaxed, a weak smile on his lips. “Why does she always do this stuff last minute?” He shook his head. “I’d like to do something like this, you know.”

“I was shocked too,” you admitted. “But you left her all alone last night.” You winked playfully. “It was bound to happen.” You looked at your feet. “Well, this carrier pigeon needs to go put on a dress.”

“Thanks, Sharpie,” Luke whispered, pulling you into a bear hug.

You kept your eyes down as you turned to walk back to the bridal suite. You didn’t dare look into those green eyes that you knew were trained on you. Your smile fell just thinking about him. Thinking about how flawless he looked in joggers. How his arms would feel around you. You gulped down a breath as you heard heavy footfalls running after you.

“Teach?” Jake called breathlessly. “Teach, wait a second.”

You turned, still not looking up from your feet. What was he going to say? You’d ignored his texts all morning, a knife driving through your heart when you opened your phone debating on whether or not to respond.

“Darlin’, can we talk?” He asked.

“I…I um…actually need to go,” you said feebly. Your eyes finally met his. Being this close to him after two months had you struggling to breathe. Who gave him the right to be that attractive after breaking your heart?

“Please, Teach,” his voice cracked. “Darlin’, what happened?” He brushed your arm with a large thumb, sending a shiver through you. “Why didn’t you come find me? Or let me know you got in?”

“I’m sorry,” you sighed. “I really need to go, Jake.” You stepped out of his reach, ignoring the pain in your chest. Shit, why did it have to feel like he was the gravity tethering you to the ground.

“You don’t have to be at her beck and call all the time,” he groaned, taking a step forward. The hurt in his voice crushed you.

“Today, I actually do,” you chided.

You turned, feeling his hurt gaze on your back. The tears you fought off were threatening to reappear with every step. The hole in your chest grew the closer you got to the commotion from inside the bridal suite. You paused, biting your lip. You were supposed to be happy. Your best friends were getting married, but all you wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.

“Was he surprised?” Daisy asked as soon as you appeared in the door.

“Yep,” you said flatly, stalking towards your hanger. You were the only one not in a dress. The photographer would be there any minute.

“Are you okay?” Daisy asked quietly, helping you pull out your dress.

“Never better,” you said with a gentle smile.

“Uh, huh,” your friend said with a raised brow. “I don’t believe you.”

You shrugged, not wanting to bring the mood down. Everything had been light and bubbly before you walked back in. You also didn’t want to tell Daisy. She’d know exactly what to say, she always did, but she always blabbed to the wrong people. You didn’t want to talk to Jake more than you needed to for the remainder of the wedding and if she brought up Ms. Vogue, you’d certainly have to. You let your robe fall, your shorts and bra with it so you could slip into your dress.

“Well, I’m here if you need to talk about it,” she said gently, stepping behind you. “Let me help you zip up?”

You nodded, closing your eyes. You knew he was too good to be true. Too perfect. Your eyes shot open as Daisy yanked on the zipper hard.

“It sticks in the fab—” You started. The sound of tearing fabric cut you off. Your stomach rolled.

“Shit,” Daisy hissed.

You turned to see a hole in the side of your dress, near the seam of the zipper. Those tears your fought so hard to hold back were gleaming in your eyes. How were you going to fix this? The ceremony was quickly approaching, and you were no seamstress.

“Call Marissa,” Daisy barked. She put her hands on your shoulders, guiding you to the chair by the mirror. “It’ll be okay,” she promised. She handed you a champagne flute. “We can fix this.”

You nodded dumbly, bringing the glass to your lips. You felt like you were in a daze. Things we’re supposed to go your way. Arabella was okay. That was supposed to set the tone for the weekend. But now you felt like a fool. Your heart was shattered, your dress ripped. What else could go wrong?

“Knock knock,” a voice called out sweetly.

You all but spit out the champagne in your mouth when you saw who walked through the door. It was Ms. Vogue herself. She was in a simple blue dress that seemed to hug her every curve. You downed the glass in one shot, looking the reason for your pain right in the eye.

“You’re lucky I always have a sewing kit on hand,” she teased, hugging Daisy. “You are so beautiful,” she gushed, stepping back. “Luke is going to lose his damn mind.”

“That’s the goal,” Daisy all but shrieked.

You couldn’t help but scowl as you watched the two of them hug again. Your eyes were scanning the room for the champagne bottle. You’d need to just go from the source to stomach this.

“Where’s my problem?” The brunette said warmly.

You rolled your eyes, fighting back the bile creeping slowly up your neck. She was your problem. She seemingly ruined everything in one fowl swoop.

“Sharpie, this is Marissa,” Daisy said as she led her to you. “Marissa, this is my best friend Sharpie.” You gulped, taking in how beautiful she was. How perfect her smile was up close. All you were seeing was green. You could understand how Jake would find her attractive.

“I tugged on her zipper a bit too hard,” Daisy said sheepishly.

You felt a gentle tug on the fabric of the back of your dress. “This is an easy fix,” she muttered from behind you. You gritted your teeth as her perfume seemed to envelope your senses. “It’ll be okay sweetheart.”

Your forced smile fell, a bitter taste in your mouth. Was she just rubbing it in? Did she even know who you were?

“We can get this fixed in no time,” she said from a spot that was too close for comfort.

“Great,” you forced out. The sooner she fixed it, the better. You couldn’t believe Jake probably slept with the fucking seamstress. You closed your eyes as she began to work on your dress. God, you couldn’t wait for the day to end.

To put it bluntly, Jake was a mess. The fact that you didn’t even want to talk to him left him gutted. Watching you walk away was the nail in the coffin. He was not in the headspace for a wedding. He wanted to run after you, make you talk to him. What was wrong? Was it Arabella F? Was it your brother? Did he do something without realizing it?

If Luke was concerned, he kept it to himself. The rest of the groomsmen seemed to knowingly give him space. Did they all know something he didn’t? But then Luke asked him if he could smile instead of looking like someone just killed his dog and the photographer seemed relieved.

“Look,” Luke sighed, putting a hand on Jake’s shoulder. The music they were supposed to walk out to was beginning. “I don’t know what is going on, but please try to look like you’re happy to be standing beside me.” He paused. “For me, please.”

Jake nodded, guilt weighing heavy on his shoulders. He was being a completely dismal best man.

“I’m sorry, man,” he sighed.

“It’s alright,” Luke said with a warm smile. “Just figure your shit out after the pictures.”

Jake chuckled for the first time in what felt like years.

It didn’t hit him how beautiful the venue was until they filed in. He never had any doubts that Daisy would make sure her wedding was picture perfect. He had been to Crape Myrtle Allee once with his grandmother as a boy. But he didn’t remember the beauty of the crepe myrtle trees covering the walkway. He felt like he was in a fairytale or a Taylor Swift music video. He smiled to himself as the string quartet started playing the bridesmaid music.

He flexed his hands, resisting the urge to wipe the condensation onto his tux pants. His stomach was in knots knowing you would be walking towards him at any moment. He had never felt so anxiously excited for anything in his life. He had been dreaming of what your dress would look like for months. His heart seemed to beat faster as the bridesmaids entered. He knew the order well enough to know that you were after Heather. He was beginning to feel dizzy, his hands tingling as your cue came up. He barely heard the music over how loud his pulse was.

And then you walked into view, and he forgot how to breathe. You were absolutely stunning. His jaw dropped slightly before a large grin plastered his face. Your dress hugged every single curve better than in his wildest dreams. Your breasts teased him with every step you took, making his blood heat. He didn’t know what happened, but he would be a fool to let you walk away so easily.

Your own smile seemed practiced as you made your way down the aisle, but then you spotted someone in the crowd, waving at them with your flowers. Jealousy flared through him as he tried to find who had you lighting up. He didn’t want anyone else to see you looking so beautiful. But the man who was waving at you looked so familiar to him. It had to be your dad. From what Jake could tell, he had the same nose, his eyes seemed to scrunch up the way yours did when you smiled. He watched as your dad gave you a thumbs up, making heat rush up your neck. He watched as you looked at your feet before letting your eyes briefly glaze over him. All the air left his lungs as your eyes found his. You look beautiful, he mouthed before you took your place. He watched your lips quirk up before you looked away.

He couldn’t wipe the silly grin from his face as the ceremony went by. He knew the photographer had to be somewhat relieved at that. He could barely focus on anything other than you. His heart ached for you. Butterflies filled his stomach at the thought of your walking towards him in a white dress one day. Your dad shaking his hand, giving him a thumbs up before walking away. He watched as you bit your lip, holding two bouquets, tears seemed to be pooling in your eyes as you watched your best friends get married. He wanted to wipe away those tears. But then you were looking at him, brows furrowed as you mouthed his name. His heart fluttered as it seemingly moved to his throat.

“The rings,” Luke hissed, pulling his attention.

Oh shit. He gulped, fumbling quickly to reach the rings in his pocket. Had they already asked for them? He watched Daisy look between you and him, a knowing smile on her lips. The crowd laughed along with her as he handed off the small bag to his friend. You were laughing, shaking your head at him and everything felt right in his world again. Like whatever happened to make you walk away had vanished. You spent the night with him in his room.

“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant announced, and cheers erupted in the intimate space.

As if running on auto pilot, Jake clapped and cheered along, but he still couldn’t take his eyes off you. He memorized your every line as you handed flowers back to your best friend. He memorized the smile that plastered your face as you wiped away a stray tear quickly. He memorized how you stepped out to quickly adjust the back of Daisy’s dress before the newlyweds made their way down the aisle.

You wrapped a hand around his arm, smiling gently as you tried to unglue his feet from the floor. It was dizzying being so close to you again. He barely was able to register the strings covering “Maybe I’m Amazed” as your touch sent electricity through him, even through the fabric of his tux.

“You look breathtakingly beautiful, Teach,” he leaned down and whispered in your ear as his feet finally began to work.

He felt you shiver beside him, your gorgeous eyes looking up at him. Your practiced smile was still on your lips, making his stomach sink. “You look nice too,” you said flatly.

He swallowed thickly. What the fuck happened? He took a deep breath, looking at the photographer standing at the end of the aisle. Pictures. He promised Luke, he’d made it through pictures and then he could figure out what happened. He pulled out as good of a smile as he could muster as the two of you stopped for a quick shot.

He would ask if he could talk to you after the photographers were done. But a gentle breeze blew the faintest hint of your shampoo in his direction. He wasn’t sure how the hairspray they likely used didn’t cover it up. Hell, he remembered how much his sisters’ hair would smell like hairspray for events. The subtle notes of strawberry had him forgetting his name. All that mattered in that moment was that you had your hand draped across his arm and you were smiling.

By the time his brain restarted itself, you weren’t beside him anymore. He watched with a heavy heart as you ran towards Luke and Daisy with open arms. He bit his lip, watching you pull the two of them into a tight hug. His heart ached. He just had to make it through pictures. They couldn’t take that long could they?

Jake was pacing as the photographers finished up the last of the group shots. He was wrong. Photos took fucking forever. It didn’t help that Luke and Daisy wanted quite a few family shots and then wanted to have them done at another location on the grounds. He ran a hand down his face as he watched Daisy’s grandparents pose with them for one final shot. He should’ve asked you to talk before pictures. He wasn’t sure how much time would even be left before the reception started. His stomach churned at the thought of you avoiding him for the entirety of the night.

You laughed in the distance, pulling his attention away from the photographer. You were standing with your dad, talking animatedly with your hands. He smiled to himself at the sight. You seemed at ease, calming his nerves slightly. He had been reeling since he caught your dad motioning in his direction at the ceremony space. Were you talking about him? Would your dad know what was going on?

“We just want one more shot with the groomsmen and then we’re done,” the photographer called. “Everyone else is free to go enjoy cocktail hour.”

He sighed, stealing one final glance in your direction. Maybe you would stay. It looked like Luke’s parents had joined you and your dad and someone else seemed to be walking over. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He’d get to the bottom of it all.

“I am so ready for a drink,” Luke laughed as he walked up. “I never thought getting married meant having a whole damn photoshoot.”

“Me either,” Jake teased, patting his back. “I’ll make sure there’s a nice glass of bourbon waiting at your seat.”

“Alright,” the photographer called out. She expertly set up her shot, not wasting a second.

Jake wondered what took so long with the other pictures. She seemed so efficient for the last one. She had the group posed and smiling in record time, sending them on their way before he could let his panic creep in even more.

“Hey, man,” Luke said catching his shoulder. “Go figure your shit out.” He paused, looking over his shoulder at his bride. “Daisy said Sharpie seemed a little down…so, figure it out. Okay?”

Jake nodded. He didn’t need to be told twice. His breathing was erratic as he made his way over to where your dad was standing. Would you come up with an excuse to avoid talking to him? He gulped at the thought. How much of a bad impression would he make on your dad if he didn’t take no for an answer. But you weren’t beside him as he got closer. Did you already leave for the reception?

“Ah, you must be Jake,” your dad beamed with an extended hand.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, sir,” he said with a polite smile. He hoped his panic wasn’t evident as he shook your dad’s hand.

“Likewise.” His smile was warm, inviting. It was almost a carbon copy of yours. “She’s not here, son.” Jake hummed, shuffling on his feet. “Look, I don’t know what happened, but don’t give up.” Jake’s mouth opened in surprise. “She’s stubborn. It’s the only thing she seemed to inherit from her mother.” He laughed at his own joke, patting Jake’s arm. “Don’t give up on her. Never heard her as excited to see someone as she was to see you this weekend.”

“Sir, do you…do you know where she went?” he asked, fiddling with the watch on his wrist.

“She doesn’t do well with—”

“Crowds,” Jake filled in. He knew as much from the club.

“She always seemed to be drawn to water,” your dad said with a subtle nod of his head. He patted Jake’s shoulder before walking away.

His eyes travelled to the small overlook to their left. He saw you sitting on a bench, eyes trained on the water before you. His heart was pounding. He had to hold himself back from running to you. His mouth seemed to dry out the closer he got. His mind was racing. Would you break his heart? Had he broken yours somehow? Things didn’t seem to be adding up if your dad said you were excited to see him.

He stopped on the bottom step, looking up towards you. His palms were sweaty as the sun seemed to set on you perfectly. He gulped down a breath, trying to get his lungs to work properly. He closed his eyes. When he was a boy, his mom told him that if he knew in his bones that he wanted something, to fight for it. His eyes landed on you, a smile on his lips. He had never wanted anything as much as he wanted you. He took the steps two at a time to reach you faster.

“This seat taken?” He asked lightly, approaching your bench. You didn’t look at him, simply shrugging as you looked out over the water. He scrambled to think of something charming and witty to ask you, but his brain was malfunctioning. Something was very wrong. “Teach, talk to me.” He slid onto the bench beside you. “I can’t fix whatever is wrong if you don’t talk to me.”

You turned to him then and his heart shattered. Tears filled your eyes as your lip wobbled. He wanted nothing more than to pull you into his arms and promise you that everything would be alright.

“Did…did you.” You took a deep breath. “Did you sleep with the seamstress?”

“What?” he gasped. His brow furrowed as he tried to read your expression for any signs of it being a joke. His stomach sank. How could you even think that?

“I saw her leaving your room, Jake,” you whispered. Your eyes were trained on your hands. “Saw you buttoning your jeans.”

Fuck. He closed his eyes, cursing himself. He couldn’t blame you for the cold shoulder; if he saw that, he would jump to that conclusion. His stomach rolled. Would you even believe the truth?

“Teach,” he said softly. He longed to reach for your hand, to stop you from picking at your palms. “I never slept with Marissa.” He paused, looking for any changes in your expression. “I would never do that to you.”

“No?” Your voice was raw, he could tell your tears were threatening to spill.

“Daisy changed tuxes last minute and got my measurements wrong,” he explained. “She was altering my pants. I have the pin pricks to prove it.” He chuckled softly, hoping to lighten the mood, but your expression didn’t change. “Darlin’ I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since Nashville. I’ve been dreaming about you.” He ignored his better judgement and grabbed your hands. The feel of your soft skin had his every nerve ending on fire. His eyes fluttered shut. “I only want you, Teach. I practically kicked her out of my room when she had all her pins in place. I just wanted to see you.” He smiled weakly, looking into your eyes. “And I can…” his voice cracked as his own tears formed. He was staring at your joined hands. “I can understand if you don’t, but please trust me. For two months, the only thing keeping me going was you. The way you stepped on my feet when we went dancing. How cute you looked when I found you asleep in your truck. Would you believe that I bought strawberry shampoo at port just so I could feel closer to you.” He smiled to himself, not daring to look up. “My wingman gave me so much shi—“

Jake blinked a few times before his brain processed what was happening. Your lips were on his. His lungs were failing him, his heart was pounding like crazy, but everything felt right for the first time since he arrived in Dallas. He brought a hand up to cup your cheek as he relaxed into the kiss, his eyes fluttering shut like moth’s wings. He felt like he was up in the clouds as you nibbled on his bottom lip. The moan that tore from his chest should’ve been embarrassing, but he felt your lips curve into a smile over his and nothing else mattered. Time no longer existed. All that mattered was that you were kissing him, and he had never been happier in his life.

You pulled back, brushing your nose against his. “I’ve been thinking about doing that for two months,” you whispered breathlessly. Your words tickled his lips as his lungs tried to right themselves. “I’m sorry I made you wait.”

He hummed softly as he leaned in, slotting his lips against yours hungrily. He brushed your bottom lip with his tongue, eager to know how you tasted. The soft whimper you made sent a tingle down his spine. Your fingers wove into his hair as you let him deepen the kiss. Strawberries and champagne overwhelmed his senses. How was he ever supposed to leave the bench when you tasted so sweet? How was he ever supposed to leave you behind again to leave for Lemoore? You pulled him impossibly closer, and he decided that the two of you would never leave. The bench was your home now.

“Jake,” you gasped pulling away. He feathered your neck with open mouthed kisses, smiling as he felt you shiver. “Baby,” you tried again breathlessly. He paused with his lips on your pulse point. “We should probably go.”

He hummed against your skin before continuing his ministrations. You relaxed into his touch. He looked up to see your eyes closed, mouth open. He licked a stripe across your pulse point, earning him the breathiest moan he’d ever heard in his life. He was in heaven.

“Let’s go line dancing, darlin’,” he whispered.

“N…now?” you sputtered as he kissed the sensitive spot below your ear.

“They won’t miss us,” he purred, kissing your jaw.

“We can’t leave.” You were smiling as you backed out of his reach. “How are your slow dancing skills, Mr. Seresin?”

“I’m dismal,” he said biting his lip, leaning forward.

“Well.” You brought your hand to his cheek, gently tracing his bottom lip. “You’re in great hands.” You pressed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Now let’s go get you cleaned up, baby.” You laughed. “This smudge proof lip stain apparently wasn’t kiss tested.”

He opened his mouth to say something witty, but he faintly heard the wedding planner calling your names. Time truly disappeared when you were around. With a heavy sigh, he stole one last kiss. He hauled you to your feet, letting his hands ground you as you caught your balance. He felt like he was Prince Charming as he guided you down the steps.

“Jake?” you asked quietly as the two of you made your way across the manicured lawn.

“Darlin’.” He brought your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles.

“When do you have to go back?” Your tone was somber, making his smile falter.

“Not for a week,” he sighed. The two of you would have to figure out logistics, at least he hoped you would. But that wasn’t anything he wanted to discuss at that moment. He just wanted to enjoy a night, waltzing around the dancefloor with the most beautiful girl in the world.

You hummed softly, squeezing his hand. “I think I saw a couple good looking honkytonks on my way in if you’re up for a road trip,” you said softly.

“Teach, are you asking me to go home with you?” He gasped, pulling you both to a stop. He stepped in front of you, resting his hands on your hips. “We haven’t even been on a proper date yet,” he teased, letting his fingers press into the soft fabric of your dress.

“There are a lot of cool places I can show you,” you all but whispered.

His heart ached at how you wouldn’t look him in the eye. You were being vulnerable with him. His stomach sank as he wondered who could ever turn you down. Who couldn’t be drawn to you like their own personal gravity.

“Darlin’,” he said lifting your chin. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my week off.” He leaned in closing the gap between you. His knees wobbled at the sight of your smile. “But I’m driving.” He paused, stroking the apple of your cheek with his thumb. “I don’t want you getting flustered behind the wheel.”

“Who says I’ll be flustered?” You hummed, playing with the buttons on his shirt.

“If I have anything to do with it, you will be.” He winked before connecting his lips with yours.

The sound of the angry wedding planner faded behind him. The gentle breeze didn’t seem to brush his skin. All Jake Seresin felt was you and the warmth that you created in his chest. And that was all he was certain he would ever need.

@sylviebelll @xcastawayherosx @blue-aconite @bobfloydsbabe @roosterforme @townmoondaltwistle @ereardon @sebsxphia @roosters-girl @discount-shades @xomrsalliej4787xo @mayhemmanaged @yanna-banana @eugene-emt-roe @hecate-steps-on-me @djs8891 @smoothdogsgirl @emma8895eb @whoreforseresin @cherrycola27 @gg-trini @waklman @thedroneranger @starswholistenanddreamsanswered

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smoothdogsgirl · 1 year

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Hallelujah!!! FINALLY they’ve both pulled their collective heads out of their fourth point of contact (ie, arses).

new perspectives / jake ‘hangman’ seresin x reader / part six

hehehe…. it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for !!!!!!! (insert gif of michael scott screaming it’s happening) - as always lmk what you think and if you want to be added to the taglist!

new perspectives / jake ‘hangman’ seresin x reader / part six

prologue - one - two - three - four - five

word count: 4.2k

warnings: language, drinking, slight angst, smut !!!, oral (f-receiving), unprotected p-in-v penetration (wrap it before you tap it), all the feels bc we’ve all waited too long

The house was absolutely bustling, there were Daggers spread out from the couch to the kitchen to the backyard and while they were making an utter mess of your immaculately decorated home you thought to yourself that this was how it was supposed to be. You saw Amelia and Penny sitting by the pool with their feet hanging over the edge, Rooster and Jake arguing over how best to grill a burger, Fanboy and Payback engaged in a heated discussion about some superhero movie, and Maverick and Bob talking about plane specs while you and Coyote were mixing up the next round of drinks.

“Have you ever mixed a drink before? Give me that,” you said, grabbing the bottle of tequila from him while he held his hands up in surrender. “You’re on lime duty,” you said, reassigning his tasks and he just chuckled while he got to work.

Keep reading

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smoothdogsgirl · 1 year

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Great chap. 💜🩵💜🩵

new perspectives / jake ‘hangman’ seresin x reader / part five

I wanted to get this one out quickly for y’all!! here is the much needed relief we all needed after that last chapter. as always, lmk what you think and if you want to be added to the taglist!

new perspectives / jake ‘hangman’ seresin x reader / part five

prologue - one - two - three - four

word count: 4.3k

warnings: language, angst, basically another grey’s anatomy ep so… medical inaccuracies and drama !!!

Sitting in one of the imaging rooms in your own hospital, a room you’d previously spent countless hours in and would go on to spend countless more, brought you a small bit of peace. You were surrounded by familiar faces and doctors you trusted and respected, and that made a world of a difference in your confidence for Mary’s outcome. Despite how close you were to the case no one was excluding you from conversations or keeping you out of the loop on anything, you were given just as much of a voice as Dr. Lewis in dictating her care as you looked over several of her scans and brainstormed a game plan. If this was truly your case you would have kicked your own ass to the curb several hours ago but the patience and grace everyone was extending you didn’t go unnoticed.

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smoothdogsgirl · 1 year

Text

March - Road Trip

Pairing: Jason Hayes x Mandy Ellis

Warnings: Deployments, Careers, Pregnancy

Words: 3830

Summary: What happened in J-Bad doesn't stay in J-Bad. And a back-to-school road trip.

In a Discord group I belong to, there was a post for a "Year of the OTP" challenge for 2023.

Disclaimer: This is fanfic work; no money is being made from this story. All recognizable characters belong to their respective creative authors, studios or producers.

Exhaustion curses through Mandy’s veins as she enters the front door. Dropping her duffle bag at the base of the stairs, she tosses her keys into the bowl on the entryway table. Slowly, she makes her way to the kitchen, where she grabs a tall glass from a cabinet and fills it with water from the dispenser in the refrigerator door. Gingerly she sips the water.

The last five months have been a world win. First, she went to J-Bad with Bravo team. A week before Bravo’s deployment ended, she and Jason crossed a line. Afterward, they both agreed what happens in J-Bad stays in J-Bad. Then when the team returned home to Va Beach, the CIA redirected her to Turkey. It was supposed to have been a two-week stint; instead, it lasted eight long weeks. But, now, she was finally home.

She had been able to stay in touch with members of Bravo during her time in Turkey. She knew Jason had stepped down as Bravo 1 when the two-week post-deployment leave was over. She also knew Bravo was having a challenging adjustment period without Jason at the helm. During their last Skype call, they agreed to meet for lunch at the Taco Truck for burritos, a post-deployment tradition.

Mandy pulls into a parking spot at the food truck plaza. Scanning the picnic benches, she spots Jason sitting by the La Esquinita Taco Truck. As Mandy approaches Jason, seeing two paper plates with burritos and a couple of beers waiting on the table. Jason gets up from his seat when she is a few feet away; he pulls her into a tight embrace when she is close. Together they sit down, pick up their burritos and touch them. They each take a bite out of their burritos. After a few bites in, Mandy puts down the burrito; taking a few deep breaths, she hopes the sudden nausea will dissipate. But she rushes from the table to a nearby trash can when it doesn't. Mandy makes it just in time to hunch over, retching into the can. A few minutes later, she feels a large warm hand rubbing circles on her back. He hands her some napkins and a bottle of water when she straightens. When she is sure nothing else will come up, she walks back to the table, Jason following behind her. Noting that her skin is taking a green hue, Jason picks up the plates of food and tosses them in the trash. Sitting across from her, he watches her sip from the bottle.

“You feeling better?” Jason asks, concern in his voice.

Mandy smiles, “Yeah, I’m ok. Just tired. It’s been a long few months.”

“Will you get some downtime before coming back to Bravo?”

I won’t be coming back. I’ve tendered my resignation. The biggest reason is that my demons are catching up with me.”

“I thought we agreed, what happens in J-Bad, stays in J-Bad,” Jason states definitively.

“So, as always. Ignore and Override?” Mandy questions.

“Yes, Ignore and Override. That’s how we get through this.”

“I…Can’t do this anymore. It’s catching up with me.” Mandy bites out.

“What about the commitment to serve?”

“Until when Jason? All in, all the time. It doesn’t leave room for the people we care for or us.”

“Yeah, right. What are you gonna do? You gonna sit at home and play Mortal Kombat? Cause that’s not what we do.” He insists.

Mandy takes a sip from her water bottle, collecting her thoughts for a second. “We just cut the head off a snake. Tomorrow another snake is gonna slither out from some other fucking rock, and on and on. It’s never going to Fucking end….”

Jason chimes in, “You’re gonna find them. I’m gonna kill the. It’s that simple. If we don't do it, who’s gonna do it, Mandy?”

Mand growls, “Someone else. People were doing this job before us, and there will be people doing this long after we are gone. This fight is never ending, so there will always be someone there to do that. That doesn't mean it has to be us.”

Jason laughs, “Really? Someone else? You’ve been in this way too long to believe you’re comfortable with that answer.”

“You’re right, But going to have to learn to be comfortable with it.”

“Yeah?” Jason questions with a raised eyebrow.

“I was a teenager when I got in. We’d just been hit. The path ahead seemed so clear and so right, and twenty years later, all the loss, all the bloodshed. I…CAN’T…DO…THIS…ANYMORE!”

“Whoa,” Jason states, holding both hands up in surrender. When he sees Mandy has calmed again, he continues, “I get that you’ve hit some bumps over the last year or so. But this can’t have been the only time you’ve had some ops go bad. So, what else am I missing? Because this is who you are. It’s who we are.”

“It’s not who I want to be anymore,” Mandy replies, an errant tear escaping and streaking down her cheek as she sniffles.

“Ok, then, who do you want to be, Mandy? Tell me.”

“I don’t have all the answers, Jason. But I have to do this now.”

“What do you mean you have to do this now?”

“If I don’t do this now, if I don’t, walk away now. I’m gonna lose myself forever. And if I stay, you’re gonna talk me out of it. I have too much at stake. I’m not going to let that happen.”

“What the fuck could possibly be so important?” Jason asks, his voice laced with frustration.

Mandy lets out a tired sigh, “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you. But I’m pregnant.”

Jason sits there quietly, staring at her. Not sure he’d heard her correctly, “Are you sure?”

Mandy chuckles, “Yeah, I’m sure. However, the positive pregnancy test, all-day sickness, and food aversion solidified my suspicions. So, it seems what happened in J-Bad came home with us… Also, to be clear, I’m having this baby, Jason. I’m leaving how involved you want to be up to you.”

“That’s my kid. I’m not going anywhere. Have you been to a doctor?”

“I have, I’m about eleven weeks along, and everything looks good on the ultrasound.” Reaching into her purse, she pulls an image out and slides it across the picnic table to him. “Here is a copy of the ultrasound picture for you.”

Jason picks it up carefully, immediately recognizing that the blob in the center of the image is their child. With that realization, he lets out a pained groan.

“What?” Mandy asks, worried.

“I’m gonna have to tell Emma and Mickey…I’m gonna have to tell my teenage kids they are going to get a younger sibling. This is not gonna be a fun conversation. Especially as I gave Emma a refresher safe sex speech before the deployment.”

Mandy tries to stave off a chuckle that quickly develops into a full-body laugh, “You master chief gave Emnma a safe sex speech?”

“Yuck it up. Cause I’m not telling the kids by myself. You’re doing this with me.”

Mandy abruptly stops laughing. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“You and me,” he states, pointing at each of them for emphasis, “are a team. I have your back; you have mine. It’s why we work so well together. Why mess with what works?”

“Fine, but you’re telling Bravo Team on your own. Cause while you’re telling them, I’ll be telling Naima. I’m gonna need to talk to someone who’s not only done this before but has done this with a tier-one operator. Knowing how you guys operate, standard rules probably don't apply.”

Jason smirks at, “Sure. You got yourself a deal.” He then takes a swig of his beer, “I have the long weekend off. Do you want to join the kids and me on a road trip?”

“As long as the kids don’t mind, I’d love to join you. When are you leaving?”

“As soon as you’re packed. We planned to hit the road once we finished your re-entry lunch.” Jason admits.

After lunch, Jason followed Mandy home, where she packed a weekend bag before piling into Jason’s Truck and heading to his apartment. She noted a couple of potted plants by his front door when they pulled up. Getting out, they were greeted a the front door by Emma. Emma grins, stepping forward to hug Mandy, “Please tell me you’re joining us on the road trip?”

Mandy smiles, returning Emma’s hug. “Yeah, I’ll be joining you guys. So where is this trip to? Your dad didn’t tell me.”

Emma links her arm with Mandy and guides her into the kitchenette, where Mickey is packing a cooler.

Jason follows behind them, “so, are we ready to go?”

“Yeah, bags are by the front door. And the cooler is backed.” Mickey states.

“Alright, help me get everything in the back of the truck,” Jason asks his son. “Everyone, hit the head before we get on the road.” He adds as he leaves the room.

“Dad,” Emma and Mickey both groan.

Mandy just chuckles, watching the family go. Subconsciously she places a hand on her abdomen, this is her child’s family, and she can’t help but smile at that.

Emma caught Mandy’s movement, unsure if she should articulate the burning question; instead, she answered Mandy’s earlier one. “We are heading up to Windham, New York. We’re driving to drop Mickey off at Brighton Academy, his boarding school. Then you and Dad will drop me off at Tish.” Emma explained.

Mandy chuckles as she follows Emma out. Jason honks the horn of the truck as Emma locks the door. Father and son are waiting on them. Emma climbs in the back seat, joining Mickey while Mandy climbs into the passenger seat.

“So, are we driving straight through or stopping for the night when you get tired?” She asks Jason teasingly.

Mickey and Emma started chuckling before Jason could form a response.

“Picking on me already? Wow, why did I ask you to join us again?” He asks Mandy with a wink.

Mandy grins, folds her hands under her chin, and flutters her eyelashes, “Because you like me.”

“Cute,” Jason gripes. “We’re stopping for the night in Philly.”

“Grandma and gramps are expecting us for dinner,” Mickey chimes in.

“Oh,” Mandy murmurs, unsure if she’s ready to meet the parents, as it were. Granted, she’d met Linda Hayes once shortly after Alana’s death.

Meanwhile, Emma links the Spotify app on her phone with the truck’s sound system and Bon Jovi’s ‘Blaze of Glory.’ Within minutes all three members of the Hayes family are singing along enthusiastically. Mandy shakes her head in amusement.

“Come on, Mandy! You have to sing along too!” Emma exclaims from her seat.

After some encouragement from Mickey and Jason, Mandy joins in, and the quartet sings several songs together. Three hours in, they stop to refuel on gas and take a bathroom break.

Once he’s refueled the truck, Jason pulls into a space on the side of the gas station. Nearby is a small grass field that Mickey runs off with Emma’s Reese's peanut butter cups. She chases after him yelling, “Give them back, Mickey!”

Mandy laughs, shaking her head as Jason lowers the tailgate on the back of his truck. Together they take a seat watching the two teens chase each other.

“You ok?” Jason asks, noticing how quiet Mandy has become.

“Yeah, it just hit me earlier. It’s not just us. But those two,” Mandy nods to the teens, “will be this baby’s family.”

“They’ll be your family too, not just the babys’,” Jason tells her, giving her shoulder a slight nudge with his own.

“I’ve told you about my family history; since my mom died, I’ve had no family, which is daunting. Not to mention, we didn't exactly have a great relationship before she died.”

“You’ve interrogated terrorists. Seen some of the worst of humanity. My kids are harmless by comparison.”

“What about your parents? I wasn't exactly prepared for this road trip to include that. Not to mention do they know I’m coming to dinner?”

Jason looks at her sheepishly, “My mom will be happy to get another grandkid to love and spoil. My dad…” Jason shrugs his shoulders. “After Mickey and I loaded the last things in the truck, I called my mom, so she knows you’re with us.”

“Speaking of Mickey and Emma, when do you plan on telling them about the baby?”

Jason chuckles, “How Emma’s been watching you, I think she suspects something.”

“What do you mean?” Many asks apprehensively.

Grinning, “You’ve been distracted in your own head. That’s understandable... But that's not normal. You’ve been placing your hand on your stomach a lot.”

“Oh,” Mandy replies, not realizing how out of character she’s acted. Mandy lays her head on his shoulder and yawns. The excitement of the day catching up with her.

“Look, why don’t I tell them before we hit the road? Your nerves look frayed, and you’re obviously tired. Get in the truck and take a nap. I’ll wake you when we hit the outskirts of Philly.” Jason suggested.

Mandy agrees with a slight nod of her head. He places his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She nestles her head into his shoulder, letting his inherent warmth seep in, the smell of his aftershave soothing her.

Leaning down, he places a soft kiss against her temple, “It’s gonna be alright.”

Caught in their own bubble, neither adult notices the teens watching them from the grassy field. Several minutes go by, then Mandy pulls away slowly. Jason helps her down from the tailgate.

Jason watches Mandy climb into the truck before jogging over to his kids. He snatches the last Reese’s peanut butter cup from Mickey’s hand and pops it into his mouth. Both kids simultaneously yelling, “Hey!”

“Are we getting back on the road, dad?” Mickey asks.

“In a bit, but I need to talk to you about something. Jason then points to some picnic tables. The trio saunter to the table, each taking a seat.

“What’s up, dad? Is this about Mandy?” Emma asks, getting straight to the point.

Jason claps his hands together and shakes his head, “I told Mandy that you were suspicious of something being up.”

“So something is going on?” Emma pushes, not allowing Jason any slack.

“Are you guys dating?” Mickey asks, finally joining Emma with the questions.

“Yes, something is going on. No, Mandy and I aren't dating. I’m not sure what we’re doing.” Jason finishes with a sigh taking a hand to rub the back of his neck.

“Well, you two are something, or you wouldn't have brought her on the road trip?” Emma nudges.

“Especially since we’re stopping at Grandma and Grandpa’s house for dinner.” Mickey tosses in.

“That’s all true….” Jason pauses, unsure how to continue.

Seeing her father struggle for words, Emma takes pity on him and asks, “Is Mandy pregnant? Are we getting a sibling?” She smirks at him.

“Emma!” Mickey exclaims at her questions.

“Yeah, Mandy’s pregnant. The baby’s mine. So, in roughly six and a half months, you’ll get a baby brother or sister.” Jason admits.

“Umm, weren’t you the one giving Emma the safe sex speech before your last deployment?” Mickey can't help but ask.

Jason glares at his son. But before he can respond, Emma chimes in.

“Wait! That means she’s like three months pregnant. Three months ago, you were still in J-Bad. You two hooked up on deployment?” She pauses for a moment. “Isn’t that against the rules, Master Chief Hayes?” She asks teasingly, wanting to get a little revenge.

Jason groans, “Enough. I’m not gonna get into the details of what happened between Mandy and me in J-Bad.”

“UGH!” Mickey exclaims a look of disgust on his face.

“Dad, trust me, we don't want the details of how our sibling was conceived,” she shudders. She briefly looks at her brother before continuing. “We love you, dad, and as long as you’re happy, that's all we want. It seems like Mandy and this baby could be a chance for you to be happy. We want that for you.”

“Dad, mom’s been gone, and she would want you to be happy. That’s all she ever wanted for us. Plus, with you stepping down from actively deploying with Bravo Team, you’ll be able to be around more and help Mandy. I know you have regretted being deployed so much when we were little. You have another chance to do things differently.” Mickey adds.

In the truck, Mandy grabbed Jason’s discarded Flyers hoodie and folded it into a pillow. She didn't wake up when the others came back. The kids put on their headphones and returned to their electronic devices while Jason pulled back onto the road.

Many startles awake to a hand gently nudging her shoulder. Stretching languidly in her seat, she then curls back in on herself. Pulling the hoodie from where it's wedged, she pulls it tightly around herself like a shield as a source of warmth and comfort.

“We’re about twenty minutes from my folk's places,” Jason advises as he changes lanes to get off at the next exit.

“Ok,” Mandy mumbles as she tries to stifle a yawn.

Sitting up, she lowers the visor, wincing when she sees her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had come out of its loose ponytail and now stood in a static halo. She notes that the bags under her eyes are less pronounced but remain present. The exhaustion from deployment, the last few weeks on extra assignment, and the changes going through her body due to the pregnancy still taking their toll on her body.

In the mirror, Mandy sees Emman hand her a brush, “thanks,” she tells her, a wane smile on her face.

Running the brush through her hair Mandy combs out the tangles and pulls it back into a ponytail. Turning in her seat, she hands the brush back to Emma, “thanks,” she states again, this time the smile on her face reaching her eyes.

“No problem, we girls got to stick together,” Emma replies, stowing the brush in her bag. “Speaking of, when do we find out if we’re getting a little brother or sister? Personally, I’m hoping it's a girl. One stinky little brother is more than enough.”

“Hey!” Mickey yells with indignation, “I don't stink!”

“Your hockey duffle bag tells a different tale,” Emma insists, reaching and ruffling his hair while he tries to swat away her hand.

“Knock it off, you two.” Jason grumps from the driver's seat, used to their antics.

Uncontrollable laughter bubbles up from Mandy’s core; she tries to suppress it. Her body shakes for a moment and then bursts out. Causing the others to laugh with her.

“The doctor plan on doing an anatomy scan around the time I reach eighteen to twenty weeks, so as long as the baby cooperates, we should find out its gender then. I’m roughly eleven weeks now, so it's still a little ways off.”

“That’s so cool. Will you send us pics and keep us updated?” Mickey asked, full of excitement and curiosity.

“Sure. I can do that.”

Dinner had been a tense and painful affair. It only worsened after she declined the glass of wine with dinner. She had picked at her meal, the tension making her nausea worse. Eventually, she had to excuse herself as the little she ate didn't sit well.

Jason had been in a heated argument with his father. When she returned to the table, which only worsened when Jason revealed her pregnancy, his mother sat in stunned silence as his father abruptly stood and stormed off.

The kids cleared the table and said their goodbyes; now, the quartet was back in the truck heading toward Windham. Mandy reached over the center council, lacing her fingers with Jason’s give them a squeeze in support.

The rest of the drive to Windham was quiet; everyone was lost in their thoughts. When they arrive at Mickey’s school, they get out of the truck; Jason unloads his bags from the truck bed as Emma hugs Mickey tightly.

Mickey then comes over to Mandy, giving her a shy smile. He also offers Mandy a tight hug. “I want to be in the loop. Will you please keep me updated on what's happening?”

As she steps back, Mandy grins, “Of course.” She then unlocks her cell and hands it to him, “Add your contact info.” Mickey grabs and quickly enters his info, But instead of giving it back to Mandy, he hands it to Emma, who also adds her information.

Last, Mickey heads over to Jason. Neither says anything as Jason pulls Mickey into a tight, crushing embrace. Mickey hugs him back just as fiercely. They stay in that position for a moment before pulling apart. Grabbing his duffles, Mickey says “Bye” to everyone before heading for his dorm room.

Climbing in the truck, Emma rests in the back seat and falls asleep within minutes. Getting back on the road, Mandy leans back in her seat and watches Jason. After a few minutes, he glances in her direction, “Why are you staring.?”

“Just thinking about today. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. How are you holding up?” Mandy asks again as she laces her hand with his on the center console.

“Surprisingly, I’m ok. Yes, you shocked me with your lunchtime revelations. But, us having a kid is not a bad thing, though I can't say I’m looking forward to the ribbing from the guys.” He chuckles, and Mandy sputters to suppress her laugh. “I got to spend time with the kids, and they took the news of getting another sibling well, so that's a win. My mom is excited about getting another grandbaby to spoil. As for my old man, we’ve been butting heads since I was in high school and decided to enlist. I’m sorry for what he said to you and that you had to witness the drama.”

“I’m sorry for causing the drama.”

“That wasn't on you, and had you not been there, we would have gotten into it over something else. He and I don't do well together in the same house, let alone the same room.”

They continue to talk over things for the next two and a half hours, making their way into New York City. Jason mutters a few choice curses under his breath. Emma wakes as Jason puts the truck into Park. It’s almost midnight when he pulls her bags from the truck bed.

Mandy and Emma hug as they say goodbye, the young woman also asking to be updated on all things pregnancy. Mandy steps back, giving father and daughter a moment. She, in turn, pulls out her cell phone and starts looking for a decent hotel where they can sleep for the night.

#evening reblog #Seal Team #Bravo Team #Jason Hayes x Mandy Ellis #Jason Hayes #Mandy Ellis #Emma Hayes #Mickey Hayes

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