I wouldn’t dare whisper that to Jenna. She’d been nothing but kind to me. Even since leaving my apartment that dismal night, over two months ago, I hadn’t heard from her…or Stenton, thankfully.
I attempted a warm smile when she turned to me. “Hi, Jenna. Thanks for having us.”
We stepped over the threshold and I was hit with the aroma of culinary right away. My mom smiled politely as always. I had to give it up to her for sticking by my side even through my baby’s daddy drama.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been begging Stenton to gather us for months now. He didn’t do it yesterday on the actual Thanksgiving holiday, saying he didn’t want to break Sarah’s tradition of hosting and didn’t want to impose by inviting Momma and me. So, the next best thing was to have you over right after while everyone is still in the holiday spirit.” Jenna scanned my mother’s hands. “Here.” She put Jordan on his feet and turned to relieve my mother of the baking dish she’d brought. “Let me get this and take it into the kitchen. Take off your coats, I’ll get Stent and my mother, who are upstairs, and be right back.”
Jenna took off into another room. The mention of Stenton being upstairs spoke intimacy that made my stomach toil. I didn’t dwell on it much. What did snatch my attention was my mother staring at me suspiciously.
“My tradition?” she whispered before calling Jordan. “Come here, JR. Let MaMa take off your coat.”
I knew that would catch her attention. It had been messages and gestures of that very nature that had bemused me over the years. I was only glad my mother was finally getting a dose of Stenton’s insensate ways. I was over it. Tired of trying to figure him out. I’d moved into a new lane. One of finding me and getting over Stenton Rogers. The only reason I was here was to appease my mother, who found it unreasonable to decline Jenna’s invitation when she called her out of the blue over a week ago, asking her to attend tonight and to bring Jordan and me. Why not call me? If you can stalk my mother, why not use those same techniques to phish for my number? She did, after all, find my home address.
“Daddy!” Jordan yelped, turning my attention to the lanky grimacing figure at the landing of the steps. Or at least he was scowling at me. He looked painfully delicious in a black crew neck sweater with the sleeves rolled, exposing his skin art and blue denims. When Stenton’s eyes went to my mother, they softened, and when they hit Jordan, they lit up.
Well, screw you, StentRo!
Jordan literally climbed his dad, barely giving him the room he needed when he reached out and offered my mother a one-armed hug.
“Sarah B, always a pleasure,” Stenton bestowed on my mother a kiss that widened her already welcoming smile. And then he smiled. Those two together. I fought not to roll my eyes.
Jenna appeared behind him, lacing her hands at her pelvis and gushing over the sickening scene.
Stenton then shifted to me, bringing his long arm around my shoulders, bringing with it his tantalizing signature Bergamot scent that never failed to do something to me. Stenton rested his soft full lips on my forehead. My blood boiled in fury at the way my body responded to his scent, touch—
“Elizabeth,” he greeted lowly. And vocal chords.
“Stent…” I cleared my throat. “Stenton. You look…season fit. Thanks for having us over with Jenna and family.”
When Stenton withdrew, his searing gaze hit me. He didn’t respond to my dig, but Jenna did.
“Oh, it’ll just be my mother, Maggie. You remember her. Right, Zoey? We don’t have a large family like I assume you do.”
Her statement was expectant. I could tell right away Jenna wanted answers more than she meant to give an explanation of there being a small party for dinner this evening.
Instead of giving her what she was asking for, I nodded softly. “Well, again, thanks for having us.”
I watched as Jenna’s arms encircled Stenton’s tapered waist. I didn’t react to the stinging it caused in the back of my throat. What was unexpected was the way Stenton maneuvered out of her hold, placing Jordan on his feet.