The PinUp Coffee Shop

Chapter Eighteen: Making a Splash

It was a week before Jonny's birthday by now, and Jace had just finished putting his bag together with his towel. He was taking Clary and Jonny out swimming before Jonny's birthday because that was what Jonny seemed to want to do most. But by the forecast of his birthday, it was going to be a lot colder out due to season and not a good combination with water cold water. So, instead of going to the pool on his birthday, they were going on a nicer day and having a celebration for his big day in the park.

At first it was going to just be the three of them, but once Isabelle heard of the plans, she wanted to join them so that she could get to spend some more time with Jonny. It wasn't that he didn't like her, it was just the opposite, but Isabelle wanted to make sure that he was comfortable with her. Besides the fact that she wanted to convince Jonny into calling her Auntie, without pushing it. She was leading it up to that.

And her tagging along didn't bother Jace at all either. In fact, it made him kind of happy to know that she was trying and that she liked to be around Clary and Jonny. Especially since she wasn't trying to pry into Clary's past but to be a part of the present and the future. It made him a lot more confident in his relationship with Clary, since it meant that his family wanted them to be a part of his life. And they wanted them a part of theirs too.

This is what led Jace to picking up Clary and Jonny and Isabelle at Isabelle's house. She had insisted that Clary get ready with her. The time it took for that girl to get ready though; even if it was to go to a pool where there was no makeup needed, at all, never ceased to amaze Jace. That was one thing that he loved about Clary. She didn't wear a lot of makeup. Ever. She wore almost none; if she had any on, it was light and a natural look. Very rare when she wore more. And once he made it to Isabelle's house; the Institute, as they called it and went inside and laid eyes on her in her long dress, Jace melted. She had on no makeup; her green eyes brightened once she saw Jace.

Her face had a natural pink glow in it and her lips were soft with chap stick and saliva. She had an aura around her that screamed happiness at seeing Jonny getting excited to see Jace and reach for him. He was wearing a pair of sweats to cover his swim trunks, and his long sleeve. Clary had their bag slung over her shoulder, inside holding his floaties and swimmers' diapers and towels.

Jace smiled at her and walked over to her after picking up Jonny who was reaching out for him wanting him to hold him. He had only enough time to slip a quick kiss to her lips before Isabelle had shown up from her room and insisted that they head out. Clary and Jace laughed to each other before letting Isabelle pull them away and to the car for a day of fun as she called it.

Now, Clary was watching Jace and Jonny swim around in the water with a smile on her lips. Jonny of course, was wearing his ninja turtle swim trunks with a swimming diaper on, and he had floaties on his arms, and a floatie ring around his waist that he was sitting in.

Jace had his hands on either side of Jonny, even though he was sure that he wasn't going to tip or anything, but he was still concerned. Jace was wearing only his black swim trunks. His torso was bare, letting everyone see his chiseled chest and washboard abs. The site made Clary blush and avert her eyes. She had actually only seen him shirtless twice. Both were nights prior he stayed over, and he slept shirtless-with Clary's permission of course because her comfort meant the world to him. So, seeing him with very little coverage whatsoever made her blood sing and trying not to get jealous. She wasn't entirely comfortable with all of the girls who were making lustful glances or those being bold enough to blatantly stare. She bit her tongue though. She didn't like how everyone else felt comfortable enough to stare, and yet, she didn't, even though she was the one who got to feel those naked arms wrap around her at night, and cuddle into his naked chest. It made her feel inferior and broken, like she should be ashamed. But of what, not staring at the hunk of man in front of her? Or at wanting to stare at him? Maybe it was the thoughts she had when she was gawking at him. She couldn't figure out what she was supposed to do, so she kept to herself instead, her nose buried in a book as she sat on the bench, glancing up to watch her son and boyfriend play in the indoor pool.