Arms wrapped around my waist while my stomach dropped. “What do you agree with?”
“Jase!” I said, spinning around and throwing myself into his arms. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think you were coming until six.”
“My father called Gunner and asked if he and Jeff could spare a few minutes to talk about business.”
I shook my head. “Don’t they ever know how to not work?”
He looked deep into my eyes. “Let’s hope I’m not the same way once Walker and I take over full time.”
My eyes snapped over to Lauren’s as we both smiled. “Come on! I want to introduce you to everyone! My parents are not here yet, but that’s all the better.”
Jase chuckled as he turned to Lauren and tipped his cowboy hat. “Lauren, how are you?”
“I’m doing good, Jase. Thanks for asking.”
Taking his hand in mine, I led him over to Matthew first.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Matthew? Would you like to meet my boyfriend?”
“Not now.”
Jase looked surprised, but then smiled. I had already told him all about Matthew and Fragile X.
“Are you sure? He’s right here, maybe you could say hi?”
Matthew turned to Jase and sized him up.
“You look like an assmole.”
“Matthew!” I gasped and then giggled.
Jase widened his eyes in surprise. “A what?”
“Asshole. He is saying you look like an asshole, which you are not.” Turning to Matthew, I said, “He is very much not an assmole.”
Matthew nodded. “I’ll paint him a picture then.”
“Thank you!” Jase said with a smile. “I love paintings.”
Matthew smiled. “Okay. I have to paint now, so bye.”
I giggled and took Jase’s arm.
“Wow, he is an amazing painter!” Jase said glancing over his shoulder to Matthew.
“I know. He is a sweetheart. He’ll be easier to talk to when he isn’t painting. It’s kind of his escape. His happy place if you will.”
I pulled Jase through the back door and into the kitchen where pretty much everyone was standing. Gunner and Ellie’s kitchen opened up to a family room that held pretty much all of us at one given time.
“Um . . . everyone. This is Jase!”
Jase nodded his head as Gunner walked up. “Jase, long time no see.”
Both Gunner and Jase had met last week to go over ideas for the house Jase was wanting to build.
“Nice to see you again, sir.”
“Please, call me Gunner.” Turning to take Ellie’s hand, Gunner went on. “Jase, this is my wife, Ellie.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Jase. Gunner has spoken very highly of you. Thank you so much for coming.”
With a huge smile, Jase replied, “Thank you for inviting me.”
Introductions went around the room. I was worried Jase would be overwhelmed meeting everyone, but he took it like a trooper.
“This is Jeff and Ari,” I said as Jase shook Jeff’s hand.
“I believe we’ve met before. I was with my father once when he came to look at a horse he was having trained by Ari.”
Ari’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! Reed brought you along and you couldn’t have been but maybe seventeen or so.”
With a light-hearted laugh, Jase agreed. “Sounds about right.”
“What a small world,” Heather said.
Grinning, I pointed and said, “This is Heather and Josh.”
Jase shook Josh’s hand. “Josh Hayes?”
With a surprised look, Josh nodded his head. “Yes.”
“I’ve heard a lot about your wood working. I actually saw a desk and custom cabinets you made for one of my friend’s father. He’s a lawyer in Llano.”
With a stunned expression, Josh said, “Yes! Rob Price . . . I believe that was his name. Man, that was a long time ago.”
“I can’t believe how connected we have been all these years yet not connected,” I said.
Jase chuckled. “I know.”
Spinning around, I smiled. “You already know Scott and Jessie. Now it’s time for the real test. The best friends.”
Everyone laughed as Jase made a frightened face.
With our arms laced together, we made our way around as I introduced Jase to everyone he hadn’t met yet. We’d had dinner at Meagan and Grayson’s place twice already. My heart melted with how Jase took to Arabella and Charlotte the way he did. The entire time we were there I went back and forth in my mind about if I would be pleased or disappointed if I turned out being pregnant. In the end, I knew it would be best if I weren’t. Jase and I needed to spend time together. I still hadn’t had my period and made an appointment for Monday. Jase hadn’t asked and I wasn’t ready to talk about it so we both simply ignored it.
“Libby, Luke, I’d like you to meet Jase. Libby is Will’s sister and Heather and Josh are their parents. Luke’s sister is Grace, who is married to Noah. Jeff and Ari are their parents. And this is little Trey and the sweet little girl running around us is Mireya.”
Luke shook Jase’s hand as he held Trey while Mireya sang a song she clearly had just learned.