Heidi sighs raggedly. “Perhaps you should see them, Jen. There’s a few dated pictures here.”
“Go on then, I’ll humour you,” Jen says dryly.
Heidi delves inside her bag and pulls out a few pictures, handing them to Jen. Jen snatches them and flicks through them. She reorganises them neatly, puts her hands at the top, and tears straight through the stack. Lexy and Heidi watch with their mouths open, and me and Alec both have to hold in our laughter. Lexy’s mouth closes and twitches into a grin.
“I guess that’s what Jen thinks of that,” Lexy states.
Jen rips through the pictures again. “Unless I’m mistaken, five seconds was up a while ago.” She slaps Heidi in the chest with the ripped images. “Nice try. Don’t try art on an art student, sweetheart, because any art student worth their shit can see those dates have been photoshopped on. Your bitch really does know no limits. Like I said, nice try. Your last ditch attempt at getting him back failed, just like every attempt before now.”
Heidi’s face contorts in anger, her mouth twisting to the side and her eyes narrowing.
“Let me give you some advice.” Jen steps in front of Lexy, her back to us, and I guess she’s looking Heidi right in the eye. “It’s only two words, and simple enough for an airhead like yourself to understand.”
“I bet I know what those words are,” Alec whispers, nudging my arm. I smirk, nodding.
“Ready for my expert advice?” Jen asks. “Fuck. Off.”
“Before she makes you,” Lexy mutters. “I’m not gonna stop her.”
“Neither am I,” I mumble to Alec. He shakes his head.
“Or me, mate.”
“Do I need to repeat that?” Jen’s voice rises a little.
Heidi steps to the side of her, her eyes meeting mine. “Bi – Sam?”
“You heard what my girl said, Heidi.” I hold her gaze. “It was a nice try, but you failed. I’m not going anywhere with you. Ever.”
She shoves her hand in her pocket and makes to move. Jen’s arm shoots out, her hand clamping around Heidi’s arm.
“Don’t even think about it,” she hisses. “Or I’ll key your damn face.”
“Be doing her a favour,” Alec says. Lexy shoots him a look over her shoulder, amusement in her eyes. “I’m just sayin’, Princess. That’s all.”
“You’d be right,” I whisper under my breath, my eyes focused on the door. Mum taps my shoulder.
“Do I need to get her removed?” she asks quietly.
I shake my head. “I think Jen will do that for us.”
Jen releases Heidi’s arm, and she turns, storming down the driveway to her car. She gets in, slamming the door behind her. I push off from the banister and stand behind Jen, slipping an arm around her front.
“Okay, babe?” I kiss the side of her head.
“No. I’m actually kinda pissed. I was hoping I could bitch slap her.” She turns in my arm, looking up at me innocently.
I let my lips move into a smile, pulling my other hand up to cup her cheek. I search her beautiful blue eyes. “We’ll have to work some frustration out later,” I whisper to her. “Because I’m kinda turned on right now.”
She smiles, her eyes twinkling. “My tiger turns you on, huh?”
“Mhmm,” I purr. She grabs the collar of my shirt and pulls my face to hers, kissing me hard. I slide my hand around the side of her head, sinking my fingers into her hair, and hold her face against me. She rests her head against my chest, and I rest my chin on the top of her head.
Mum’s soft brown eyes meet mine, and her face slowly breaks into a smile. She raises an eyebrow, and I know what she’s asking. I raise both my eyebrows in response, giving her a helpless look.
She nods once softly, winking, and she looks exactly like Gram as she does it. I swallow and smile at her before she disappears up the stairs.
I drop my head and hold Jen even tighter to me.
She said to stop proving to her that it’s her. Right here, right now, with her in my arms, I vow to never stop proving to her. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to her how beautiful she is, how much I want her, how much I love her.
I will never stop proving it to her.
Chapter Eighteen
JEN
I hum happily to myself as I climb the stairs to my flat, my folder tucked under my arm. Funny. Last week I was threatening to castrate the humming bird next to me, and now I’m the chirpy little f**ker. The difference ten days make!
I slip my key into the lock, twist it, and push open the door. Sam is stood in the middle of my living room holding a giant white box with a red ribbon. I can’t help the grin on my face
“What’s that?” I ask him, kicking my door shut. I put the folder on my kitchen table and shrug off my coat.
“It’s a gift that will last a lifetime.” He grins, holding it out.
“Have you bought a vibrator with rechargeable batteries?”
“Jennifer.” He frowns a little. “Do you always have to make a stupid comment? Can’t you see I’m trying to be romantic?”
I smile. “I know, but stupid comments are always necessary.” I bound up to him and take the box. I set it on the sofa gently and sit next to it, tugging at the bow. Sam shoves his hands in his pockets and watches me as I unwrap the box.
I rip off the paper, tear open the box, and pull out the box within it. It’s wrapped – I frown. “Another box?”
“Just unwrap it.” He grins.
“Um, okay.” I shrug a shoulder and unwrap it, shoving the first box to the side. I find the same thing inside this box – another wrapped box. And another. And another.
And another.
“Are you kidding me?” I raise an eyebrow at Sam. “How many goddamned boxes do I have to unwrap before I get to the actual gift?”
“Wait, how many have you done?” He nibbles the corner of his lip and counts silently. My other eyebrow shoots up, and I give him my best “I’m not bloody impressed” look. “Um, you have a few more to open yet.”
“Fucking hell, Sam. I know you said this gift would last a lifetime, but this is taking the piss a little bit, don’tcha think?” I grumble and rip open the next box. I feel like I’m never going to get to the gift.
If there is even a gift. I know what this shit is like - and I wouldn’t put it past him to have me unwrapping a box for the sake of his amusement.