Jase chuckled as he turned to Lauren and tipped his cowboy hat. “Lauren, how are you?”
“I’m doing good, Jase. Thanks for asking.”
Taking his hand in mine, I led him over to Matthew first.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Matthew? Would you like to meet my boyfriend?”
“Not now.”
Jase looked surprised, but then smiled. I had already told him all about Matthew and Fragile X.
“Are you sure? He’s right here, maybe you could say hi?”
Matthew turned to Jase and sized him up.
“You look like an assmole.”
“Matthew!” I gasped and then giggled.
Jase w
idened his eyes in surprise. “A what?”
“Asshole. He is saying you look like an asshole, which you are not.” Turning to Matthew, I said, “He is very much not an assmole.”
Matthew nodded. “I’ll paint him a picture then.”
“Thank you!” Jase said with a smile. “I love paintings.”
Matthew smiled. “Okay. I have to paint now, so bye.”
I giggled and took Jase’s arm.
“Wow, he is an amazing painter!” Jase said glancing over his shoulder to Matthew.
“I know. He is a sweetheart. He’ll be easier to talk to when he isn’t painting. It’s kind of his escape. His happy place if you will.”
I pulled Jase through the back door and into the kitchen where pretty much everyone was standing. Gunner and Ellie’s kitchen opened up to a family room that held pretty much all of us at one given time.
“Um . . . everyone. This is Jase!”
Jase nodded his head as Gunner walked up. “Jase, long time no see.”
Both Gunner and Jase had met last week to go over ideas for the house Jase was wanting to build.
“Nice to see you again, sir.”
“Please, call me Gunner.” Turning to take Ellie’s hand, Gunner went on. “Jase, this is my wife, Ellie.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Jase. Gunner has spoken very highly of you. Thank you so much for coming.”
With a huge smile, Jase replied, “Thank you for inviting me.”
Introductions went around the room. I was worried Jase would be overwhelmed meeting everyone, but he took it like a trooper.
“This is Jeff and Ari,” I said as Jase shook Jeff’s hand.
“I believe we’ve met before. I was with my father once when he came to look at a horse he was having trained by Ari.”