Blood Mates

Invitation

Jasper and William walked out of church on Sunday and found Abigail Louis waiting for them. The scorned ex of his father’s past was a vengeful tart last year. She had loved to make it known how William had left her for his mother.

And only for her to split on him down the line. “It’s karma, the good book always said God makes people suffer ten folds for the wrongs they done.” She told all her girlfriends she talked s**t to and about behind their backs.

“He done me dirty and now look at him. Walking around town looking sick because he got his.” Which Jasper would readily call horse, c**k, and bull to her face and to anyone else who would say something so stupid.

Because while his dad was too nice to tell everyone about why he really left Abigail, Jasper was not. He’d love to tell the town how the high and mighty was spreading it like jam. For three guys, at the same time, to which his dad had to witness.

And while he hadn’t said anything, Jasper had made it known to his dad he was not that nice. He would tell the frumpy, cake face woman about herself if need be. In front of church if need be.

Which had William pushing Jasper to the truck, but Jasper stubbornly stayed by his dad’s side as Abigail honed in on them.

She came over fast in her high heels and tittered as she kissed both of William’s cheeks, “William!” Abigail’s high pitch voice greeted, “Long time no see handsome. Where you been hiding?”

William forced a smile, “Under a power saw for a while.” Abigail giggled at the joke girlishly and batted her eyelashes as her dirty blonde hair blew in the wind, “Oh yeah you did just renovate the Fallen House for the new family. What were they like?”

William shrugged knowing she was fishing for dirt, “Nice. Really good tippers.” Abigail looked William over with her s**t brown eyes as she cooed, “I remember when you use to tell me you’d renovate that house for me. Make it a home fit for a queen, but that all died when you met Yasmine.”

Abigail’s smile turned vicious as she asked, “How is Yasmine?” William flinched and his eyes dimmed, and Abigail felt a stab of satisfaction.  But it was erased when Jasper stepped close and hissed, “How about you go ask your husband how Cindy Tolbert is doing? Or maybe tell us how that bloke from two towns over is doing? Paul, right?”

Abigail’s smile was slapped from her face and as she flushed red in the face. The red tinge blended with her white cake face as William fought a laugh.  

Abigail turned on her heels and stalked off mumbling curses about them, but neither cared. Jasper watched her go all but growling at her back as William flushed red at the eyes on them. “Son-.” Jasper shook his head, “I’m fine. I just don’t like her.”

Suddenly a giggle was heard on the cold wind and Jasper turned to see Alaia wearing a black dress and wedges as she looked at him. “I don’t either.” She said as she approached them, “She almost tackled me in the store when we first got here to get the scoop on my family.”

Jasper snorted bitterly meeting her halfway, “Abigail is the town’s gossip channel, she’s a viper with no morals.” Alaia grinned as she peered up at him, “That’s good to know. I completely ghosted her.” Looking up at William, Alaia stuck out her hand, “Alaia Knight, you did amazing work with the renovations sir.”

William blushed even more as he said bashfully, “Nothing too major, but glad you like it. Nothing’s wrong is it?” Alaia shook her head happily, “Oh no sir, my father found out actually how nice your son’s been and invited you both to dinner tonight. A way to show their appreciation.”

 William jerked back as Jasper’s jaw dropped at the idea of it, “Oh wow that’s really nice, but they don’t have to do that. The work, their tip, it was more than enough.”

Alaia laughed lightly as she shyly admitted, “No it’s more like my parents are homebodies. They don’t get out much and are using me to make friends. I think they just want to show some people we’re not some child abducting cult.”

Laughing, as Jasper followed suit, William told her, “Sounds like they are getting used to the small-town treatment.” Alaia grinned and then looked at Jasper hopefully, “Will you come?” Nodding, Jasper immediately told her, “Y-yeah of course. We’d love to.” Alaia grinned widely at him making his face hot, “Great, well you two know where we live. Seven o'clock.”

Jasper nodded and as Alaia walked away a couple of the nosey church moms wanted to know what she wanted. But neither William or Jasper answered as they brushed off their questions and went home.

After getting out of their Sunday’s best, both fell on the couch. “So, you didn’t tell me you and the Knight’s girl was…ya know…” Wiggling his eyebrow, William stood to get a beer. His son’s protests following him, William came back and gave his son a beer as he told Jasper amused, “Come on son. I saw her looking up at you all sweet, and you were practically drooling.”

Wincing as he took a swig of beer, Jasper mumbled, “I wasn’t wasn’t drooling,” He tried to lie, but when William fixed him a look Jasper relented, “She’s gorgeous yeah anyone can see that. But she just seems sad sometimes. I wanted to make her move here a happy one.”

Grinning as he took a pull of his beer, William admitted, “Well you’re a good guy for that, but she seemed to be interested.” Jasper snorted as he tossed his head back in a mocking laugh, “Okay are you snorting bath salts dad? Even thinking Alaia Knight would somehow see me as a worthy candidate is highly unlikely. Not when she’s been all over the world and could have any guy she wants.” 

Jasper didn’t hear the bitterness in his own voice. But his dad did and sat beside his son, “Just because she can have any guy, doesn’t mean she won’t pick this great guy here.” Jasper grinned when William slapped his shoulder.

“Besides, I didn’t see her asking them to dinner. Never knew a woman to cook for a man she didn’t like.” Jasper c****d an eyebrow at his eyebrow, “Cook for me? Dad, Alaia Knight does not look like a girl to be in the kitchen, barefoot cooking for me. She’s got chief’s and stuff for that.”

William smirked, “Yeah, don’t judge a pretty book by the cover. Read a few pages son, you’d be amazed.”