Page 60 of Outlaw Heartstrings
A lump forms in my throat when the two of them hug in the middle of Jagger’s bedroom.
When they part, I step in. “Time for bed, buddy.”
“Are you sure?” my nephew asks, batting those big blue eyes at me.
“Yes, I’m sure. You played hard today. Brush your teeth and then time for jammies.”
Jagger nods, “Okay. But I wish this day would never end.” With one more hug, Easton says goodnight to Jagger, who then runs off to brush his teeth.
“Thank you for the perfect evening,” Easton says, as I walk him out onto the porch.
I nod, unable to fight a smile. “It was perfect. You know, the only thing that would make it better would be some of those old-fashioned donuts from Sweetie’s,” I say, reminiscing about that pastry shop in town we both used to love.
“Oh, heck yeah. Those were so good,” Easton says with a laugh.
“Man—it’s been years since I had them,” I muse.
“Years?” He echoes. “You live five minutes from your favorite donut shop, but yet it’s been years since you’ve had it?”
“Haven’t had the opportunity.” I shrug. “Been kind of busy.”And broke.
His head tilts to the side. “Oh, Alba. You can never be too busy for Sweetie’s donuts.”
I laugh again. “Maybe sometime soon.” I turn back toward the house. “Well, I’d better go get Jagger to bed. He’s got to be exhausted from running around with his cousin all evening.”
“They’re going to be trouble as they grow up,” Easton says, even though he’s grinning.
“Aren’t all the Raines boys?” I smirk.
“Touché,” he says with a chuckle.A more serious look comes over Easton’s face. In fact, he looks kind of nervous when he says, “I was thinking, I’d like for Jagger to start spending the weekend at my place.” When my eyes widen, he backtracks. “Well, maybe just one night per week to start. I mean, that’s how the whole joint custody thing works, isn’t it?”
A knot forms in my stomach at the thought of being away from Jagger overnight. He’s never even gone to a sleepover before.
And joint custody? Oh my god. We’re talking about joint custody?
But then I pull in a breath and remind myself, this is Jagger’s father, and Easton has been nothing short of incredible since the day he found out that he’s a dad. I want to keep giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“Jagger would like that,” I say with a nod.
Easton’s shoulders relax and a smile unfolds across his face. “I’d like that, too. We’re gonna have so much fun.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I say with the tiniest laugh.
His gaze softens as he stares at me. “Thank you again for a perfect evening, Tiny Tiger.”
I release a happy sigh. “You’rethe one who made it perfect, Mr. Tower.”
The grin widens across his lips.
We say a quick goodnight, and then I stand behind the curtain watching Easton climb into his car and drive off.
I imagine an alternate ending for this evening. An ending that involves Easton and me, standing face to face on the front porch. I imagine him taking my cheeks in his big, rough hands and pressing his plush mouth to mine right here, under the porch light.
The fantasy makes butterflies dance in my tummy.
It’s silly and it’s stupid. I’m his son’s aunt. Nothing more.And after keeping Jagger a secret for so long, I should just be grateful that Easton and I get along so well now.He could hate me for the decisions I made, but instead, we’re hanging out and smiling and reminiscing like old friends.
That has to be enough.
