Page 31 of Jay

“Little,myarse.”

“So, when are you seeing Cassie?” Addy asks, while bending and taking Phoebe from me and sitting on the floor opposite. I watch as she helps the baby open the rest of the presents that I got her. I bought her so many that we had to stop to eat the food they had made. The smile on her face makes up for all the shitty Christmases that me and Dex had growing up, once our parents died. I hate talking about what happened in the years that followed, but I know that I am going to have to talk to Kitten about it, especially if I want her to open up about her fuck-head of an ex-boyfriend.

“She’s coming over to my place around six. She’s staying the night...” I wiggle my eyebrows at Dex, and hechuckles.

“My baby brother is hoping to get luckytonight,huh.”

“Hell yes. But we will go slow, I don’t want to scare her off. She has had a shitty experience with menbefore.”

“You aren’t like them, Jay. You are an amazing bloke, a true gentleman. Not many of them around these days,”Addysays.

“Hey, I am a gentleman,” Dex whines fromhisseat.

“Ha! You are only a gentleman when you want something, Dexter Castle,” Addyfiresback.

“Yeah.And?”

“See what I have to put up with?” I raise my hands up, palms facingfront.

“Hey, you are the one who fell in love with hisnastyarse.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Her smile says it all. She is truly, madly, deeply in love with my brother. And there isn’t a woman on this planet that is more perfect for him. I know he loved Fiona, but I think, deep down, he always knew that Addison Cole was his soul mate. They connected from the secondtheymet.

“Love you too, baby,” Dex says, crawling over to where she is sitting with theirdaughter.

One day I will have what they have: A family ofmyown.

A wife that looks at me like Addy looksatDex.

My phone pings in my jeans pocket, and I lift my hips and pull the handset out. I smile when I see mybaby’sname.

Kitten:Merry Christmas, Jay. I missyouxx

Me:Merry Christmas, Kitten. I miss you too, baby. How are yourparents?

Kitten:Should I miss you this much, so soon? They aregreatbtw.

Me:What do you mean? Do you think we are movingtoofast?

Her words scare me.It feels like she’s wanting to slow things down with us, but we have been going at a snail's pace. I would never force her into anything she didn’t want, but... But I don't know if I could ever lethergo.

Kitten:It scares me how much I miss you, Jay. We haven’t been together that long, and I feel like I’m not myself when I’m not with you. But at the same time, I love being with you. Bugger, my head ismessedup.

Me:Can Icomeover?

Ilookup at the clock on the wall and see that it is already four-thirty. My mind races with thoughts of Cassie wanting to break up with me, because she is scared. I climb to my feet and look down at Dex and Addy, who are looking at me with concernedfaces.

“Hey, are you two okay if I take off early?” I ask, and check my phone again. I frown when I see nothing from Cassie. God, these seconds feel like hours - days even. When did I become the man who pines after a girl? Am I pining, though? Shit, I have no clue. Dex and Addystand.

“Yeah, man, it’s fine. Are you okay? IsCassokay?”

I shake my head at him. “She just text me. She sounds scared of going further with me. I need to see her. I need to find out what the hell is going through her head. She’s it for me, Dex. I can feel it.” He nods his head in understanding and wraps his arm around Addy’s waist, pulling herclose.

“Then what the fuck are you waiting for. Go and get your kitten.” He winks at me. Addy uses her free hand and slaps hisstomach.

“Language. I swear Phoebe’s first word is going to be a swear word. So, God help you both if that happens. Warn Luke, too.” I lean in and kiss her cheek and then Phoebe's head. I fist pump Dex and leave themtoit.

Castle family time is animportanttime.

---