Page 21 of A Little Crush
Resting her forearms on her round, pregnant belly, Dylan doesn’t even bother denying it. “Exactly.”
Raine steals another sip of her beverage and scoots closer to me on the couch, dropping her voice low. “But the real drama is whether or not Poppy is Jaxon’s because the math is shady at best.”
My lips part as I digest her words. Poppy must be Jaxon’s daughter. I’ve never met her, but I don’t need to, to know Jax treasures every tiny hair on her head. The idea of him dealing with that kind of betrayal and how much it must affect the other areas of his life has to be a hard pill to swallow. Hell, I can’t even imagine it. The idea of being happily married with a baby on the way, only to have the reality ripped away, replaced with a mess of timelines and technicalities.
“That has to kill him,” Tatum interjects.
“It does,” Ophelia returns. “But honestly, he’s been nothing but great about the whole thing. The way he looks at it is that if his mom, Ash, could step in and love him as much as she does despite them not being blood, then what’s the point in finding out whether or not Poppy’s actually his after already falling for her? He loves the crap out of that baby. He fell in love with her long before he found out he might not be the biological father, and it’s not like Iris is going to say anything. Why would she? She’d lose all the child support.”
My nose wrinkles in disgust despite knowing Ophelia makes a good point. What a greedy, selfish?—
“Griff was the same way when I found out I was pregnant with Drew’s baby,” Finley confides. She plays with the simple gold necklace around her throat. “And even though I miscarried, he still looks at my first asourfirst.”
I still remember hearing about it. Finley miscarrying at one of Griffin’s games. She was a shell of a human for months after, though I don’t blame her. My mom insists thatwithout Griff, she would’ve never survived, and even though it’s been years, I can see the way it still hurts her. The way she carries her baby’s absence. It’s similar to how I carry Archer’s.
My fingers itch, and I force them into a fist, murmuring, “I think that’s really sweet of Griff.”
“He’s kind of the best,” Finley says.
“Speaking of which, are you ready for the second half of this evening?” Tatum asks.
Shifting the tiara on her head, Ophelia gives her sister a suspicious look. “And what’s the second half of this evening?”
“Well,” Tatum licks her lips, not even bothering to hide her Cheshire grin. “A little bird told me it’s been a while since you’ve had a Game Night.”
The rest of the girls hoot their approval, clapping their hands and lifting their drinks into the air.
“Shut up! You have no idea how much I’ve missed Game Nights,” Ophelia gushes.
Raine shakes her head, peering around the shadowed forest beneath us. “And where are the boys?”
Pulling out her phone, Tatum checks the time, then grins. “They’ll be here in two.”
7
RORY
“Welcome, gentlemen,” Tatum says as each of the respective men find their other halves scattered on the balcony. Griffin and Everett sandwich Dylan and Finley on the couch opposite me and Tatum while Ophelia sits propped on a wide chair like she’s our very own queen of the evening.
When he sees me, Dodger moseys closer like this isn’t his first time visiting Uncle Macklin and Aunt Kate’s cabin even though it most definitely is. I smile up at him while pretending not to notice theotherelephant in the room, Jaxon Thorne. The very single Jaxon Thorne. My face grows hot as the thought flutters through my mind despite my best attempt to keep it in check.
He hovers at the edge of the area after closing the sliding glass door behind him, leaning against it, and folding his arms. And it’s strange. Feeling like my reality’s been shattered. Last time I saw him, I thought he was married. Last time I saw him, I left in a huff and didn’t look back. It’s like I’ve been given a fresh perspective, and the truth is, it makes me kind of sad. Being on this side of things. Not that Dodgerand I are a couple or anything, but at least we have each other to lean on during these social gatherings and in general. Jax? Apparently, Jax has no one. How can a guy like Jax have no one? I didn’t see it before. The way he keeps himself just enough removed to keep his distance but not so far that he seems like an outcast. It’s clear as day now. Until the girls informed me of his divorce, I would’ve never believed it. After all, he’s a catch. Tall. Handsome. Well off. Has his life together. Or at least, he seems to.
Doesn’t he?
I bite the inside of my cheek, my eyes trailing along his broad shoulders before taking in the scruff of his jaw, tousled hair, and olive-colored eyes that are so dark, they’re almost black from this angle. Yeah, handsome doesn’t even begin to describe the bastard, and it honestly isn’t fair. Yet here he is, off to the side. You’d think he’s a stranger when he grew up with almost everyone here.
As if he can feel my stare, Jaxon’s eyes meet mine from across the balcony. I fight the urge to squirm before failing entirely. Shifting in my seat, I peek at Dodger in all his rockstar glory. See? Jaxon’s not the only handsome guy in the vicinity.
Focus. On. Him.
“Hey, stranger,” I say.
“Hey, Rore.” Dodger glances down at Hades lying by my feet. “Hey, devil dog.”
Hades growls back but doesn’t bother lifting his head.
“Heeeey.” I give Dodger a mock glare as if I’m personally offended by the new nickname, too, even if it isn’t entirely inaccurate.
