Page 34 of Prove Me Wrong
“I know. They’re some of the best,” I grunt and rub at my stubbled chin. “Are you coming over to watch the race with me tomorrow?”
Nathan shrugs and downs the rest of his drink. “I’ll have to see what I get up to tonight, orwhois probably a better term.” He winks at me.
All I can do is shake my head at him, smothering my grin. “What time are Caleb and Jason getting here?”
He shrugs. “They should be here by now. I told them eight.”
“Right. I’ll take Jade home when you three leave for the next pub.”
His eyebrows flick up at me as he slings an arm casually over the top of the booth, showing off his sleeve of tattoos. “Good plan. Shame you can’t come with us, but then again, you have your hands full already with this gorgeous cutie.”
Jade stirs in my arms as if she knows she’s being talked about. She lets out a small noise before wriggling in my grip and blinking her apple eyes open. Digging her face into my chest, I cuddle her closer, my cheek resting on her head as she slowly wakes up.
“Jadey. Wake up,” Nathan murmurs and leans over the table, trying to get closer. His hand strokes her cheek, and Jade looks at him. Wriggling her little fingers, Nathan slips his hands under her arms and lifts her to snuggle on his lap.
Grinning at the two of them, I hear loud voices over my shoulder and turn my head to see Caleb and Jason strolling in, laughing over the music. We have been friends since high school, but I’d say thatI’m closest to Nathan. After Jade was announced, and I parted ways with my single life, and Nathan started going out with these two instead. They are rowdy, but also fun and witty, and they know never to hassle me into going out.
I wave a hand to grab their attention as Jade giggles, tearing away my gaze to see Nathan blowing raspberries on her little arm. She cackles, lighting up Nathan's deep eyes as his face scrunches at her cuteness.
“Hey, dudes,” Caleb says before falling into the seat beside me. Dark hair falls down his forehead and ears, and he rakes a hand through the strands before sky blue eyes settle on me. “You let him hold your kid?” A smirk graces his pale lips.
Nathan just scoffs loudly. “Like he’d let you touch her. You’d hold her like a football instead of a baby,scaredy cat.”
Caleb’s eyes tumble as Jason sits beside Nathan, tugging on Jade’s hand. Deep auburn hair trimmed neatly on the sides, Jason smiles so widely, his teeth on show as he competes for Jade’s attention.
“Do you find it amusing seeing people fighting for your daughter’s attention?” Caleb mutters while scratching his square, stubbled jaw.
I sniff out a laugh. “Nah. I understand the hype.” I smile sideways at him.
Caleb grunts before spinning in his seat. “I’m buying. Who wants one?”
The others order and Caleb gets up, leaving Jason and Nathan both poking faces at Jade who is giggling so much she’s going to get the hiccups soon. But baby hiccups are way cuter than adult ones—trust me on that.
“So, I heard about what Ivy did last weekend,” Jason announces.
Nathan's eyes snap to his, flared with shock. “What? How?”
“What happened?” I ask.
“My friend Danny works at the tattoo place she went to,” Jason continues, ignoring my question.
Gaze settling on Nathan, his hands run through his raven hair, tousling it as he groans. “I told her not to do it.”
“Do what?” I ask again, and Nathan looks at me from across the table.
His jaw ticks as he leans over, minding Jade’s head to whisper, “Ivy decided to get her nipple pierced.”
My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline before frowning. “I mean, it could have been something worse,” I offer. “A lot of girls have their nipples pierced. We even dared Tatum to do it, and she did.”
“Dudes have them as well,” Jason adds, like that’ll somehow help the situation.
I have known Nathan for many years, and the two people he’s protective over are Ivy and Jade. With anyone else, he’s not judgmental. He’s carefree and loose. But with those two, he won’t let anyone he doesn’t know near them, and I am very grateful for that. Ivy, not so much…
“She was completely drunk, and the lady didn’t pierce it right, so it bled through her white top. I had to drive to Rafters Falls at one in the morning to pick her up, and then she vomited in my car. I made her clean it Sunday morning with her hangover because it was disgusting. Then she told me on Tuesday that the piercing was infected, so I had to take her to the doctors!” Nate’s voice rises until it’s almost louder than the music.
Jason puts a hand on Nathan’s shoulder as I sip on my drink.
“She’s getting out of control now,” Nathan mumbles, running a hand down his troubled face before smiling down at Jade’s innocent features. “Unlike you. I might just steal you right from your dad.”
