Page 32 of Second-Rate Superstar
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, bro,” Braxton shot back.
“Be back in a few,” Jaxon said over his shoulder on his way out of the room.
“Jaxon!” Natalie called out. “You can’t go out in the hallway half naked!”
Flashing a cheeky grin at his wife, he retorted, “Funny thing about a hospital. Pretty much the only place without a ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service’ rule.” And with that, he was gone from the room.
Braxton bounced the infant in his arms, and I couldn’t help but stare. He looked so at ease, the smile on his face blinding.
Catching me staring, his whiskey eyes darkened. What was going on in that pretty head of his?
“Come, let’s sit for a minute,” he suggested, walking to the bench seated against the giant pane-glass window.
Settling beside him, I peeked at the baby. His little face was scrunched up in sleep, pink cheeks rounded. He was kinda cute.
“Want to hold him?” Braxton offered.
Sliding away from him down the bench, I protested, “Oh no. I’m good.”
“You sure?” He raised an eyebrow. I could see what he was thinking. Most women went gaga for babies, and he was wondering why I would decline.
Chewing on my lip, I confessed, “I’ve never held a baby before.”
“Never?” His voice rose in disbelief.
I shrugged. “Don’t really have any younger brothers or sisters.”At least that I knew about when they were babies.“Or little cousins. No friends with babies either.”
Natalie’s voice filtered over from the bed. “You’re not alone. First time I held a baby, it was my own. But I’m willing to bet I was a bit younger than you when I had her.”
My eyes snapped up to where she rested. Did she sayyoungerthan me? The idea was unfathomable that I would have a child at my age, let alone younger.
Guess you’re forgetting how young your parents were when they had you.
How old was Braxton’s brother? If I had to guess, maybe early thirties? That would be quite an age gap between them if Braxton were just starting his career.
Natalie referenced a girl, but Jaxon had mentioned two boys besides the one in the room with us now. So, they had at least four kids, the oldest being born when they were young. Maybe they’d had a whoopsie like me but stayed together. Was this what it might have been like if my dad had actually loved my mom?
Braxton spoke to Natalie, jarring me from my thoughts. “You know, Nat, if this whole hockey thing doesn’t work out, Jaxon could have a future on the line at a quick-service Mexican restaurant. This little guy is a tightly rolled burrito.”
“Maybe a good retirement plan,” she joked back, and they both laughed.
Turning to him, I studied his face, remarking, “I can’t believe how much you look like your brother.”
Braxton stiffened beside me, but Natalie drew my attention. “Tell me about it.” He shot her an unamused look, and she threw her arms up. “What? It’s true and freaky as hell for me.” She addressed me. “I met Jaxon when he was a touch younger than Braxton, so it’s like looking at the man I love from the past. Although, they have switched hairstyles. Jaxon had longer hair when he was younger, but it was short, like Braxton’s, when we got together. Now that he’s grown it out again, Braxton decided to cut his short.”
Surprised, I turned to Braxton. “You had long hair? As long as your brother’s?”
“Longer,” he gave me a one-word answer and nothing more as tension radiated off him in waves.
I couldn’t understand what had upset him. Did he not like his brother? They seemed friendly enough, but what did I know about sibling dynamics? My half-siblings and I had never met in person. I imagined my father’s mistress-turned-second-wife knew about me, but they were little kids when he left my mom, all three younger than me. Maybe they didn’t know I existed. Even though they were innocent in the destruction of our lives, I wasn’t sure I would be open to a relationship should they ever reach out. They represented my dad’s “real family,” even though we were the legal one. His heart lay with them, and we were the inconvenience—end of story.
A blonde nurse in pale pink scrubs walked into the room, grinning as she declared, “I’ve got a half-naked hockey star roaming my hallways, sending the nursing staff into cardiac arrest. Anyone in here know anything about that?”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “I tried to stop him.”
“Yeah, well. Joke’s on him now. He’s out there shirtless, signing autographs for all the dads on the floor.”
I cringed. There was nothing my father hated more than fans swarming him. Sure, he loved the celebrity status and recognition, but he felt it was beneath him to talk to the people who were the reason he had a job. No fans, no sports. Simple fact. I was sure Jaxon would be in a mood when he returned.
