Page 31 of A Little Crush
Shifting the fussy Poppy from one knee to the other, Aunt Ashlyn’s expression sours. “Oof. I’m pretty sure this girl needs a bum change. Rory, will you hold her while I track down where her dad hid her diaper bag?”
She doesn’t wait for my response. She simply hands me the fussy baby like Poppy isn’t a ticking time bomb who could explode at any second. I take her in my arms, rub my hand along her little spine, and rock back and forth in my seat in hopes of calming her down. The same wrinkled forehead and pouty lips greet me as she squirms in my arms, unamused by the change to her new caregiver. “Sh, sh, sh,” I coo. “It’s okay, Baby Girl. It’s okay.”
Another cry slips out of her, and her tiny hands find my hair, gripping the strands. Instead of tugging like I expect, she tries to bring the fistful of hair to her mouth. I let out a quiet laugh before grasping her wrist to prevent her from gumming my hair to death. “What are you doin’, silly girl? That’s mine.”
She coos back at me and curls closer, making me feel like I’m worth a million bucks. Seriously, she is the cutest thing ever.
“Well, would you look at that,” my mom murmurs. “Seems karma’s struck again.”
My attention strays from Poppy for the shortest of seconds to give my mom a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“We always joked how you and Pops are alike.” She smilessoftly and reaches closer, dragging her fingers along Poppy’s cheek. “Very particular with your people.”
I shy back slightly, unsure if the discomfort has anything to do with how closely she hit the nail on the head or how far off base she is. “I mean, I don’t know if I’m that particular.”
With a knowing look, my mom says, “Sure, you aren’t.” She glances back at Poppy. “This, however, I didn’t see coming.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never seen this little girl calm down with anyone else but her daddy.” Her gaze catches on someone behind me, and she beams. “Speaking of which. Hello, Jax.”
My heart stalls in my chest as I look up and over my shoulder, finding Jaxon Thorne’s sole focus pinned on me andonlyme. The look makes me squirm, and I can’t decide if the twisting in the pit of my stomach is because I feel like I was just caught doing something I shouldn’t, or if it’s because I was just caught doing something I should. I’m not sure which option I prefer, either. Not when it makes the man look at me like this.
Despite the cotton filling my mouth, I whisper, “Hi.”
Instead of replying, Jaxon’s focus falls to the little girl in my arms.
“I know, right?” my mom quips. “It’s a modern-day miracle.”
As if only now realizing we aren’t alone, Jaxon forces a smile, shifting the diaper bag he’s holding to his opposite shoulder. Whatever I’d glimpsed in his handsome gaze is swallowed by a light, carefree expression as he turns to my mom. “Has my mom seen this? ‘Cause she’s about to be jealous as hell.”
“It’ll be our little secret,” my mom returns, though I don’t believe her in the slightest. Not when she’s as close with her friends as I am with Tatum.
Normally, I wouldn’t mind. And to be honest, I still shouldn’t. But the more the spotlight hangs on me and Jax, the more I want to curl into a ball and disappear. Which is why I should leave. Right now.
Unsure what to do, I start shifting a curled-up Poppy away from my chest so I can get the hell out of here. “Here?—”
“Don’t.” Jaxon’s chest expands on a deep breath, and he takes the seat Aunt Ashlyn vacated. “She looks comfortable.”
Without a word, I settle back in the chair, keeping Poppy against me as she sticks her hands in my mouth.
“I’m going to find your father,” my mom announces. “Jax, keep my daughter company, okay?”
His stare holds mine as he dips his chin. “Sure thing, Aunt Mia.”
When she leaves, my pulse gallops like a jackhammer. I swear it’s so loud there’s no way Jaxon can’t hear it over the music playing.
“She’s adorable,” I murmur.
“Thanks.”
“Looks like you,” I add.
His mouth lifts. “You think?”
I nod. “I do.”
“Hey.” A buzzed Dodger plops down in the chair on my opposite side, interrupting us…or saving me from an awkward conversation. Honestly, I’m not sure which is more accurate.
