“Jessie wouldn’t care in the least,” he said with a laugh as he carried the bag toward the door to the garage, Daisy following behind. He paused though, turning to regard her. “Well… I guess I should say that she wouldn’t be upset. She’d probably like it.”
Daisy giggled, nodding in agreement.
Dex turned and walked to the door, opened it and went inside. Dropping the trash off into the bin, he turned and went back the way he’d come, but saw that Daisy had come in and closed it behind her. She was looking at him directly, one hand sliding along the line of her shirt, caressing her cleavage.
“Daisy… I promised your sister…” he reminded her as she started to sink to her knees.
He reached out as he stepped up close, taking her hand and helping her back up as she frowned animatedly at him.
“I just wanted to see what she’s so protective of again,” she said, pouting at him.
“I’m just trying to keep the drama to a minimum,” he said. “I’d be a lucky guy if I got to do anything with you.”
“You’re sweet,” she said, and leaned in close, kissing him on the cheek.
The two went back inside and shut the door. Dex offered to get her a drink, but she declined and went to sit on the couch. He took a moment to start a fresh pot of coffee before going to join her.
“So, you and my brother seemed to hit it off,” he said.
She smiled and shrugged. “He’s nice; different than Tyson, for sure.”
Dex nodded. “Yeah, he’s a good guy, and not just because he’s my brother.”
“He seems like it,” she agreed, nodding. “We talked for a while last night before I fell asleep next to him.”
“Sounds like you had fun,” he ventured.
“Nothing happened,” she said, snickering. “I just broke up with Tyson, remember?”
“I didn’t figure that anything had,” he added.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to him,” she said. “I told him that I’m wanting to come back here for school next semester.”
“Like a month from now?” he asked.
She confirmed with a nod. “There’s just a lot to do before then. But… yeah, I could definitely see us dating.”
Dex smiled happily. “I’m glad. He’s a genuinely good guy, and a great brother.”
Jason and John both emerged from the den at that point, and Dex offered a wink to Daisy as the two came over and sat down. John seemed to be just fine, and Dex looked at him curiously.
“You’re not hungover?” he asked.
“Hell naw,” John said. “I’m a master at getting’ fucked up.” He looked around briefly. “Where’s everyone else?”
“I haven’t seen Debbie and Natalie, but everyone else went home last night,” Dex said. “Our girlfriends are showering though.”
“Shit, I’m dirty too,” John said, standing up.
Dex laughed and joined him, but John didn’t head upstairs as he’d expected him to do.
“We need to clean shit up outside?” he asked instead, surprising Dex.
“I haven’t looked, but I think Daisy took care of it,” he said.
He turned to regard her, but she was conversing intently with her brother.
“You did? Jason Erickson!” Daisy said, and lightly slapped him on the arm, her look of shock turning into a happy grin.
John was heading toward the patio door though, so Dex turned to follow and see if there was anything that needed cleaning. Once out there, he saw that there were a few pieces of loose clothing and a small amount of trash and leaves floating in the pool. He went and grabbed the net and began to fish things out while John picked up the little that Daisy hadn’t seen.
A short while later, the two went back inside. Daisy and Jason were laughing and talking quietly on the couch. He saw her sweetly reach out and hug her younger brother, though the young man was blushing.
“I’m so happy for you,” Daisy said. “You need to thank someone, though,” she said.
“I was gonna,” the young man protested and stood.
Dex still didn’t know what the two were talking about, though, and turned when he heard Jessie pounding down the stairs with Donna walking slowly behind.
“Breakfast time!” Jessie called out, and immediately went to the kitchen and started cooking.
***
After Jessie made everyone in the house come and eat at least something, the group cleaned the mess up, despite her angry protests that she would handle all of it.
Once everything was back in order, the group gathered their things together to get ready to leave. It was Jack that pointed out that Tyson might be at the apartment when Donna and her family got back there. So, the group decided that they’d all head over together.
As the other finished getting dressed and getting their stuff together, Dex grabbed his wallet, keys, and phone, then went to check on his dad.
He’d joined them at breakfast, but had been most quiet, save for answering a few questions about his date the night before.
Dex found him in his room at his desk, working on something.
“Hey dad,” he said, knocking on the door frame.
“Son,” he called. “Did uh… Jessie…”
“She mentioned that she tried to get you to play last night, so I’m sorry if…”
“No!” his father said immediately. “I mean… she did, but we just slept next to each other.”
Dex waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really.”
“I just wanted to make sure that you knew that nothing happened, and that I still want her to cool it with the flirting with me,” he said, smiling at his son.
“She knows,” Dex said. “But… she’s Jessie,” he said. That really did explain things to those people that knew her.
His dad chuckled and shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m glad your date went well last night,” he said.
“Yeah… she’s somethin’ else,” his dad said, a smile coming to his face.
“We’re all heading back over to the apartment,” Dex said. “If you find anything that needs cleaning, just leave me a note and I’ll get to it. I think we got everything, though.”
“Will do,” his dad said, smiling as Dex turned and began to head back downstairs.
***
Surprisingly, to Dex at least, Tyson was nowhere to be seen when the group got back to the apartment. They confirmed that all his stuff was gone after checking the apartment, but to Dex’s surprise, the group seemed to be a little irritated by that fact. He was glad the dipshit was gone.
“Well… shit,” Jason said.
The rest of the family seemed to be of the same opinion about the situation, and the general mood darkened.
“What’s the matter?” Jessie asked as she, Jack, and Dex joined the group in the crowded living room.
“We all rode up here with Tyson,” Daisy said. “He probably drove back home last night.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want to ride back with him, regardless,” Debbie pointed out.
“True,” Daisy agreed.
Dex was temporarily at a loss as well. John’s truck wouldn’t fit 5 people in it, and neither Donna’s, nor Jessie’s cars would fit that many and all the luggage they’d brought. The family started to discuss getting a cab or renting a car of some kind.
Dex had a sudden thought and looked down at Jessie. She turned and smiled up at him while the conversation continued around them.
“Do you think I should offer to drive them?” he asked.
“Ooo!” she said excitedly. “That’s so sweet of you! You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not,” he said, “I just don’t want it to be weird or anything.”
“I don’t think it would be,” she told him.
“You can probably tag along too, if you want,” he suggested.
“Aww, I’d love to, but I promised John that I’d take him up to Double D’s for a possible job interview,” she told him, frowning. “Would you like me to go? I can always take him another day.”
Dex chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. “I was just offering, babe. You don’t have to change your plans.”
“‘Kay,” she said happily. “I really want him to find a job and be happy!” Turning, she cleared her throat and called out, “Guys! What if Dex drove you?”
Immediately the group started to decline the offer, saying that they’d figure something out.
“I really don’t mind,” he said. “No one else has a vehicle that will hold all of you and your bags. I’m not busy today and it isn’t that far.”
“It’s nearly 5 hours,” Donna said, frowning at him.
“It’s fine,” he said dismissively. “Really.”
The group began to murmur, talking about the idea, but eventually couldn’t come up with a good enough reason not to take him up on the kind offer.
“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Debbie asked finally.
Dex chuckled and shook his head. The group immediately began to start packing up all their things and getting ready to leave. After a minute or so, Dex glanced over and saw Jack standing around and watching the scene. A thought occurred to him, and he walked over.
“You uh… wanna tag along?” Dex asked. “I’ll have room for you.”
At first Jack seemed to hesitate.
Dex knew what would likely convince him. “You can get to know Daisy, and the alternative is staying here with my girlfriend and keeping her company.”
Jack smirked. “You know… that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Oh?” Dex asked, surprised. “Are you coming around to Jessie’s way of thinking?”
“Let’s just say that… she can be persuasive,” Jack clarified. “Yeah, I can stand to take a ride with you. Maybe I’ll drive back.”
“Sure,” Dex said.