Chapter Seventeen

She quickly gathered them all together around the mantle of the fireplace making sure they were positioned right and with the right person. "Okay, everybody, get the partners going boy, girl, boy, girl-oh you know what I mean." She waves in her hand dramatically getting herself where she needed to be.
"I want to be first in line!" Selena quickly interjected as she placed herself at the edge of the mantle, pulling Ian just behind her as they faced Julie with huge smiles on their faces. Kristan then pulled Jared after to her to follow suit, leaving Mila just behind him and Evan behind her.
Evan put his hand carefully on her hip and the feeling of awareness was all she could think about as the heat seemed to reverberate her entire body. She couldn't seem to relax as she stood there in front of him, his body close to hers in an almost intimate way. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she stared at her mother with a strained smile.
Jared's movement of his body caught her attention. Turning towards him she faltered a bit, not really noticing how tall he was being this close to him. She could smell the cologne he had chosen to wear. It wasn't heavy nor was it unpleasant. He smelled exactly as she imagined he would.
Woodsy and with a hint of musk.
She almost buried her nose in the back of his jacket and inhaled the scent but thankfully she stopped herself from that humiliation. She frowned when she also noticed how stiff he was standing there. She knew he wasn't pleased being here with her cousin. He was the one that had made that choice. He could have been here with her, and she wondered that if he had, if he would at least be enjoying himself just a little.
But then she noticed the cause for his stiffness, and she scowled.
Kristan was literally plastering her backside against his front, her ass fitting right where his crotch was and if she didn't know any better she would think she was starting to grind against him as well. That freaking brat.
Her anger started to rise within her and all she wanted to do was smack the girl right in her face for being so shameful with so many people around, especially family. It pissed her off even more to see that Jared wasn't doing anything about it. How could he just let her do that to him? It was damn near sexual assault!
He didn't have to deal with this kind of bullshit, doesn't matter how old she was or that it was going to hurt her feelings. But before Mila could step up and say anything that would embarrass her cousin in front of everyone, her mother yells out,
"Okay everyone! Smile!"
She quickly snaps back in her position and gives her mother a big smile even though it didn't reach her eyes at all. Julie doesn't take the shot as she stands there looking through the lens. She couldn't help noticing that Jared was stiff as her niece was provocatively pressed against him, Mila was forcing her smile, and Evan wouldn't stop staring at her daughter as if he still couldn't believe she was right there in front of him.
Selena and Ian seemed to be the only two who looked normal and happy.
After a few more tense seconds, she quickly takes the shot knowing she wasn't going to keep it. But as soon as the click sounded Jared instantly stepped away getting himself from the group at least five feet.
They were both driving him insane. Kristan pressing against him like that was causing him a panic attack, afraid that he was going to shove her to get her to back off. And then Mila made it even worse. He could smell her perfume, could feel the heat of her body practically against his back.
But nothing was worse than when she accidentally brushed her breasts against the back of his arm. He knew she wasn't aware of what she had done since her main focus had been on her cousin, with a deep scowl on her beautiful face. He can admit to himself he absolutely loved that look. It should just how much she respected him and maybe just a little possessive as well.
He couldn't help but hope it had been a little jealousy that shone in her eyes as she stared daggers at Kristan. He hoped, but more than likely it was just a look that they were friends, and her family member was making him feel highly uncomfortable.
"We're not done yet, Jared. I want individual couple ones as well. Your mother will kill me if I didn't get any for her." Julie stated as she instructed Selena and Ian to be the first ones to take shots of.
He looked so lost and desperate that everyone started to laugh at his expression, completely understanding his predicament. Kristan had frowned not understanding why his reaction was so funny, but no one enlightened her.
Mila walked off to the side with Evan as they watched Selena and Ian get close together to take their pictures. They looked so happy and relaxed around each other that she couldn't help but smile at them. She was beyond happy that her best friend was overjoyed that Ian had finally stepped up and asked her out. Not with just the dance but dating as well.
Seems he's been wanting to for a while now and with her saying yes to the dance and spending some time together beforehand encouraged him to go for it. It was with relief to know that she had felt the same way about him as he did her. Now she wouldn't stop talking about him every single day.
But she didn't mind. She was extremely happy for her and that was all that mattered.
"Alright, Mila and Evan next." Her mother said as she had gotten quite a few shots in different poses for the two of them.
Mila walked up to the fireplace and waited for Evan to get settled next to her. Placing her hand on his chest, he slid his arms around her waist, loosely holding her to him without seeming to be too handsy as well. They both smiled as her mother snapped away.
After a few more poses it was Jared's and Kristan's turn.
Her younger cousin was all into the photos, but Jared on the other hand...was stiff as a board. She once again plastered her body against him, leaving no room for personal space. He didn't smile and didn't even bother to place his arms or even hands around her. He just stood there staring straight ahead as Julie quickly took the photos.
Julie's face was grim at best, but she didn't voice her opinion of her niece being a little too forward. She already had it set in her mind to give her a nice little talk before the group left. She was making one of her favorite people unsettled and she didn't like it. She needed to understand her boundaries with others.
Kristan was the one to switch the poses with each shot while Jared stood exactly how he was, not even bothering to cooperate.
Julie gave a tense smile as she told them she was done. "Hold on a minute Mila." She called to her daughter as the others started heading towards the entryway. She quickly ran up and snatched Jared's arm causing him to stop in his tracks.
He frowned at her actions but didn't say anything as the two of them hung back. The others noticed and faltered wondering what was going on. Julie gave them all a bright smile.
"Go on outside you guys, the limo should already be here, and my husband will take more pictures of you out there." She said in a tone that questions were not to be asked.
They all filed out, but not without a few suspicions and confusion on their faces. Julie waited until they were all out the door before she faced her daughter and Jared. She gave them a tender smile and held up her camera.
"Your grandfather specifically asked for a picture of just the two of you. You know you two are his favorites, so he asked me to do this, if it's alright with you guys." Her eyes shone brightly at the two of them, looking a little giddy herself.
They were both a bit shocked at the request, but then again it was Gale, so even if he knew they weren't going to together he still wanted a picture of them on a big night like this one. Mila looked over to Jared to see how he felt about this and was pleasantly surprised that his features almost showed flushed cheeks with a little joy.
"Sure, anything for papa." She said as she looked away from him a little heat rising to her own cheeks as well.
Jared cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, okay. I have no problem with that."