Thanksgiving

As I worked through the preparations for our Thanksgiving meal, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that loomed over me. Cooking for a group of three was more than I used to, and the pressure to ensure everything turned out perfectly weighed heavily on my mind.

Twenty minutes later a knock sounds at the door and it makes me drop some stuff on my sweatpants. Putting my sweatpants over on the sofa, I went to open the door for Travis who was probably back from his parents home.

"How much do I owe you?" I ask in my sexy voice like he taught me.

"Sugar, I'm sure we can work something out," A lazy voice drawls. I look up into the amused face of Jasper.

Fuck my life!

Panic surged through me, mixing with embarrassment as I realized I had inadvertently used my "sexy voice" on him. Mortified, I quickly tried to recover, but Jasper's amused expression only added to my discomfort.

"F-Fuck, Jasper, I thought you were Travis," I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. The awkwardness of the situation hung heavy in the air as I struggled to regain my composure.

Jasper's expression softened into a bemused smile, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation at his amusement. "Sorry to disappoint, Alex," he teased, his drawl only adding to my discomfort.

Gathering my scattered wits, I cleared my throat and attempted to salvage the situation. "Come on in," I mumbled, stepping aside to let him enter. But as Jasper walked past me, I couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment that lingered like a heavy cloud over my head. Today just couldn't get any worse.

"Pants."

"Eeep!" I squeak quickly turning to face the well dressed man—with my very red face.

"I knew I've been making progress." Jasper grinned.

"Yes, umm... and not to be rude, but..." I wave in their direction, "what are you doing here so early?"

"I was bored waiting at home. So you don't always open the door in a sweatshirt and briefs, do you?" Jasper asks as he looked around for somewhere to sit.

"Umm... no?" Why that came out like a question, I have no clue—probably my overwhelming embarrassment.

As Jasper's grin widened, my embarrassment only deepened, and I couldn't help but feel like he was enjoying my discomfort a little too much. Hastily pulling on my sweatpants and trying to regain some semblance of composure, I faced him with a forced smile.

His teasing comment only served to exacerbate my embarrassment, and I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "Yeah, well, today's a special occasion," I mumbled, avoiding his eyes as I gestured vaguely around the room.

Jasper's easy demeanor only made me feel more self-conscious, and I struggled to find my footing in the awkward situation. "Right, well, make yourself at home," I muttered, gesturing towards the living room as I tried to mask my embarrassment with politeness. But inside, I was cringing at the thought of Jasper witnessing my moment of panic.

"Hey I really came to see if you needed help with anything," Jasper chuckled.

"Ok." Relieved by Jasper's offer of help, I quickly nodded, grateful for the distraction from my embarrassment. "Actually, there's plenty to do," I admitted, my embarrassment fading as I focused on the task at hand. "I could use some help with setting the table and getting everything ready for dinner."

Jasper's easy laughter put me at ease, and I found myself relaxing in his presence despite my initial discomfort.

As I washed my hands alongside Jasper, I couldn't shake the feeling that his handwashing routine was taking longer than usual. His meticulous scrubbing and thorough rinsing seemed a bit excessive, even by my own standards of cleanliness. I glanced over at him, noticing the focused expression on his face as he diligently cleaned his hands.

"Everything alright, Jasper?" I asked, breaking the silence as I dried my hands on a nearby towel.

He looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Just making sure we're extra clean for cooking," he replied, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a hint of something else.

As I placed the turkey on the counter, I couldn't help but marvel at its size and weight. It felt like I was handling a beast of a bird, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow larger than anticipated. With a grunt, I managed to maneuver it into position, peeling back the wrapping to reveal the plump, raw meat underneath.

Turning to Jasper, I expected to find him ready to assist with the preparations. However, he seemed preoccupied, his gaze fixed intently on the clock. I furrowed my brow, wondering what could be holding his attention for so long.

"Jasper, everything alright?" I asked, my voice laced with concern as I glanced at the clock myself.

He blinked, snapping out of his reverie, and offered me a sheepish smile. "Sorry, just lost track of time for a moment there. Let's get started on prepping this bird."

"Now you have to remove the neck and giblets," I instructed, trying to keep the tone light and helpful.

"I know what I have to do next, thank you very much!" Jasper snapped back, his irritation evident.

I held my hands up innocently, trying to diffuse the tension with a laugh. Despite my attempt at humor, Jasper seemed on edge, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.

As Jasper tentatively stuck his hand into the top cavity, I watched with anticipation, expecting him to retrieve the neck. However, his hand quickly recoiled, and he pulled it back with a grimace of disgust.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice as I moved closer to inspect the bird.

"Gross! It's all cold and wet!" Jasper whined, his voice laced with disgust.

"You are such a girl," I said under my breath, unable to contain a smirk.

"Hey! I heard that!" Jasper exclaimed, his irritation clear.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, finding amusement in his discomfort. It was a rare moment of levity amidst the chaos of Thanksgiving preparations.

Jasper reluctantly drew his hand nearer to the top cavity once again, steeling himself for another attempt. As he tentatively inserted his hand, I watched with a mixture of amusement and sympathy, knowing that handling raw poultry wasn't everyone's idea of a good time.

"What was that? It was all squishy!" Jasper remarked, his voice tinged with disgust, as he cowered behind the counter.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction. "It was just the pouch that contains the neck," I explained, trying to reassure him.

Jasper cautiously approached the bird again, his eyes wary as if expecting the turkey to come to life and attack him. With a deep breath, he tentatively inserted his hand back into the top cavity. In one swift motion, he removed the pouch, but his reaction was immediate.

"Ew! Ew! Ew!" Jasper exclaimed, his disgust palpable as he flung the pouch into the sink, eager to rid himself of it as quickly as possible.

"Now all you have to do is remove the giblets," I said, trying to suppress my laughter.

"Gee, thanks for the color commentary," Jasper replied sarcastically, his annoyance evident. "What are giblets anyways? Are giblets what I think they are?" Jasper asked, snickering.

"What? No! How would you remove them with your bare hands anyways?" I retorted, struggling to contain my amusement.

"Well, I just thought they'd be in a pouch too," Jasper said sheepishly.

His innocent misunderstanding sent me into fits of laughter. "I can't even..." I started to say before I turned to the side, hand clamped over my mouth, loud laughs reverberating off the walls.

With a heaved sigh of satisfied relief, I closed the oven door behind the well-seasoned turkey, its savory aroma permeating the kitchen. As the timer ticked away, I took a moment to survey the scene before me.

Pots and pans clattered on the stove as various dishes simmered and bubbled, filling the air with tantalizing scents. Bowls of ingredients stood ready on the counter, waiting to be transformed into culinary delights. The table was set with care, adorned with festive decorations and sparkling dinnerware, a testament to the upcoming feast.

Despite the hustle and bustle, there was a sense of tranquility in the air, a quiet anticipation of the gathering to come. Thanksgiving had always been a special time for my family, a time to come together and celebrate our blessings, to share laughter and stories, and to savor the simple joys of togetherness.

"Hey, we might wanna talk about this. Travis keeps asking me questions, and we don't really know what we're doing," Jasper said quietly.

My eyes shot up to his. This again? Would he bring it up every time we were alone? I didn't know!

"You mean you want to let him know there's something going on here?" I asked, my voice tinged with a hint of concern.

Jasper's eyes widened, and he shook his head 'no' nervously. "Hell, no! Not yet!"

I chuckled in relief, the surprise and fear dissipating from my body with a sigh. "Whew, okay. I'm enjoying this. Not ready for that pressure."

Jasper smiled at that, his expression softening. "Me, too. Just kinda wanna take this one day at a time for now, see where it's going, how we do with it...I really want to try to have a relationship."

"Sure looks that way," I replied, taking a swig from a glass of water. "Makes sense though."

Jasper's smile brightened. "Yeah, I think it does."

For a moment, the weight of our unspoken feelings seemed to hang heavily between us, threatening to tip the delicate balance we had carefully maintained.

I watched as an endearingly shy look came over Jasper again, his gaze momentarily dropping to his soda before flicking back up to meet mine. There was a subtle shift in the air, a tension that crackled between us.

Without a word, Jasper's hands found their way to my waist, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation of his fingers against my skin, the gentle pressure of his touch grounding me in the present moment. And then, with a sudden surge of courage, I felt Jasper's lips meet mine in a soft, tentative kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as our lips moved together, each brush of contact sending a jolt of electricity through me. I melted into his embrace, my hands finding their way to his chest, fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt as if to anchor myself to him. In that moment, there was no past, no future, only the sweet intensity of the present, the warmth of Jasper's touch enveloping me like a cocoon.

As Jasper's tongue swirled against mine, pulling me closer in a tender embrace, I felt a sense of surrender wash over me. There was something undeniable in the way his lips moved against mine, a raw passion that ignited a fire deep within me.

I knew I was playing with fire, dancing on the edge of something dangerous and exhilarating. But I didn't care. All I could think about was the way Jasper's touch sent shivers down my spine, the way his lips molded perfectly against mine as if they were made to fit together.

As we finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed with desire, I couldn't help but smile. There was a newfound closeness between us, a connection that transcended words. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced before, and it both terrified and excited me.

It was a great kiss.