She looks at the table, but I can tell she’s upset. “I kinda always felt it.”
“What!” I gasp, “Hanna, stop.”
“Karly, I did, and I know it’s not just some jealousy thing like in college. I think he was into you way more than he realized.”
I sigh, “Don’t be ridiculous. He wanted you. Hell, he’d probably be married to you right now if it wasn’t for Mr. Quarterback sneak in there.”
Jameson whisper-shouts, “I hear you!” from the other room.
“This man would’ve moved mountains for you! He would’ve been anything you wanted!” I argue.
Hanna grabs my arms shaking me, “Yeah, well, he couldn’t be Jameson, Kar.”
I laugh, “I guess not, but my point is that he’s so good. Too good! It makes me sick!”
She smiles, “He’s not all that.”
I cross my arms, raise my brow, and wait for an explanation.
“He sleeps barefoot,” she gags. Stating something I already knew. Who the fuck sleeps with socks on? Fucking psychopaths and Hanna, that’s who!
“He’s OCD as hell,” she continues, “organizes his underwear drawer by color! He watches animated movies… by himself! He has the pallet of a 6-year-old, would be totally fine with macaroni and cheese for dinner every night, and don’t even get me started on how he swears Dolly Parton is his grandmother.”
I grin, looking like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, a sudden sense of reality flooding her thoughts, “he’s… you. You’re… him.”
“We’re friends,” I agree, “We all are.”
“Were,” She corrects, “we were friends, but you lied to me. You both did. Friends don’t lie to each other.”
Ellie starts to rouse up, drawing both of our attention.
“Hey, sweetie,” Hanna coos. “You need something?”
“Daddy,” She deadpans, causing Hanna to roll her eyes. “I want daddy.”
Jameson emerges from the other room in an Air Force t-shirt and sweats. “I’m here.”
“Can we watch Cops?” She asks, trying to whisper, so Hanna doesn’t hear.
“Cops?” I ask, raising my brow. Hanna waves her arms in defeat, “I swear it’s like they’re trying to give me gray hair.”
I smile, a little bit of jealousy flooding my veins. It’s almost like they’re the perfect little family. I can’t even believe how fatherly Jameson is around Ellie. The Jameson I knew only knew how to take care of a beer bottle.
“Oh, hey, aunt Karly!” Ellie smiles, “Is that for me?”
Her grin is so cute as she eyes the bag on the table.
“It sure is. I hope you feel better soon, okay? I gotta go see my mom and dad for Thanksgiving.”
“You want to go Christmas tree shopping with us when you get back?” She asks.
“Sure,” I smile at her sweetly, walking over to kiss the top of her head, “You just focus on getting better first.”
“Okay, okay,” She huffs.
Hanna walks me to the door, and I give her a hug, “You know that I love you, right? I’m sorry that I lied to you.”