Page 31 of Second-Rate Superstar
Frowning, Jaxon said, “I have two boys at home.”
Waving a dismissive hand, Nat replied, “You know what I mean. Can’t deny those Slate genetics. Hockey is in the blood.”
If I hadn’t been watching closely, I wouldn’t have noticed how Braxton’s neck muscles tensed and his jaw clenched before drawing back from his brother.
What was that about?
“Why don’t you introduce us to your guest, Braxton,” Nat encouraged, and I startled, realizing I’d been caught staring.
Braxton’s tight-set jaw relaxed when he turned to look at me, a smile easing onto his lips. When he held his hand out, I ventured forth from my hiding spot behind the curtain, heat creeping onto my cheeks.
“Sorry. I was along for the ride when Braxton got the news. Didn’t want to intrude on your family moment.” I ducked my head.
“The more, the merrier,” Nat chirped. “And we’ll forgive Braxton’s bad manners for getting caught up in the excitement of the day.” She placed a hand on her hospital gown-clad chest. “I’m Natalie.” The same hand gestured to the man in the chair. “And that’s my husband, Jaxon. He’s Braxton’s brother.”
You’d have to be blind not to figure that out. They could be twins.
Braxton smiled down at me by his side before addressing his sister-in-law. “This is Dakota.”
Natalie’s eyes lit up. “Ooh. Dakota. That’s a prettyname; unique.”
“We can name the next one that,” Jaxon called over from his seat.
Eyes widening almost comically, her head whipped to stare at him, shrieking, “Next one?! What kind of drugs did they give you? Because whatever it was sounds a hell of a lot better than what I got, that’s hardly touching the feeling of being kicked in the crotch by a steel-toed boot.”
Jaxon bit his lower lip, his chest shaking with the effort it took not to laugh at his wife.
Natalie turned to us, musing, “Maybe it hurt more this time because I insisted on watching. And let me tell you, that was a big mistake.” She held up her hands, creating a large circle between them where her fingers didn’t quite touch. “Like . . . really big.” Her eyes went wide in emphasis.
Braxton leaned over to whisper, “She might complain about the painkillers, but they must be good enough. She’s not usually this unfiltered.”
“Uh-huh.” I stood there in shock at the picture she painted.
Not sensing the discomfort she created, Natalie continued, “Although, I’d take that any day over what they did to poor Amy. Sliced her wide open to get that kid out.” She wrinkled her nose. “But at least everything is still nice and tight down there for her.”
Note to self—never ever write a childbirth scene. Sounds fucking gruesome.
If I was this shell-shocked hearing about it, there was no way I was throwing myself on the front lines ofthatresearch. And I wasn’t about to offer up my body to experience it firsthand, either.
Jaxon chuckled, taking in my expression of horror. “Don’t worry. Everything goes back to normal. I’ve verified it myself.” He threw in a wink for good measure. “Many times.”
That snapped Natalie out of it, and she yelled, “Jaxon! Inappropriate!”
Braxton and I burst out laughing. She had no clue that, moments prior, she was giving a graphic description of the “miracle” of birth, then turning around and reprimanding her husband for following suit.
“Aren’t you glad you came with me? This is more entertaining than reality television,” Braxton said to me.
Smirking up at him, I teased, “Yeah, with a side of nightmare fuel.”
He winked. “This is true.”
A phone alarm went off somewhere nearby, and Jaxon stood to silence it. “Gotta keep on top of the meds,” he explained.
“Yeah, that’s just what she needs,” Braxton snickered under his breath.
Jaxon placed baby Maxim inside a glass-looking crib and went to work bundling him in a blanket. Wrapped up tight, he handed the baby to Braxton.
“Here you go, bud. Don’t drop him.”
