Page 23 of Tell Me No
“Yeah, but did you know he was making googly eyes at Willow when she wasn’t looking? No, because you weren’t there,” he replies.
“So what if he was? They’re both consenting adults. Being a mom doesn’t make her retired,” I laugh.
“Oh, I know that. She’s a MILF, and I hope Helo falls in love and they make beautiful little babies together. Can you imagine Helo with a kid, though? A teenager at that,” he says.
“I mean, he’s like thirty-one. Old enough that he could be Jax’s dad. I think Willow said she was really young when she had him, like 16.” I reply.
“Do you know anything about her ex?” He asks, and I bristle. I remember when Willow first showed up at the shop. She had a black eye, two broken ribs, and a thirteen-year-old boy waiting in the car. When Willow asked me to make her disappear, I was more than happy to do it. What I really wanted was to give her ex a taste of his own medicine, but she didn’t want that. Willow has a big heart, and she didn’t want his death on her conscience.
“I know he’s a piece of shit. Beat the fuck out of her. She ran with Jax, and now she’s here.” I give him as little information as possible. Not because I don’t trust him, but it isn’t my story to tell.
“She deserves a guy like Helo. He’d take care of them,” Iris says and I raise an eyebrow at him, wondering where this nurturing, introspective side of him is coming from.
“You okay there, buddy? Got some feelings you wanna talk about?” I tease, and he shoots me a middle finger.
“Eat a dick, daddy. I’m just saying. What is it that Kelsea always says? I just want peace, love, and orgasms, bro,” he says and I shake my head.
“You guys have to stop calling me that. You got Aurora doing it now, and it’s fucking weird,” I tell him.
“You mean you don’t like it?Oh yeah, daddy! Fuck my thr-” he coughs, sputtering and wheezing when I plant my fist in his gut. But through it all, he’s laughing.
“First, stop doing that fucking girly voice. Second, don’t talk about her like that. I’d hate to have to kill you. You’re my favorite source of entertainment,” I smirk at him.
“Didn’t have to hit me so fucking hard, asshole,” he says, his voice strained. We get focused on the task at hand.
I want to get this shit done sooner rather than later, so I can help calm Aurora’s fears about tonight. I only get a minute or two of silence before Iris starts his bullshit again.
“Breaker and Rory, sitting in a tree, f-u-c-k-i-” he glances my way, and I shut him down with a glare.
Tonight should be a good time. What the fuck was I thinking?
It’s two hours later when I’m sliding the last button through the hole in my black dress shirt. The security lock on my front door beeps, followed by the sound of my friends trampling through the front door. Scarlett and Silas are babbling loudly back and forth as Ember and Kelsea argue.
“Jason Tyler Negan!” A voice yells down the hall, and I immediately know I’m in trouble.
“Coming!” I shout back, groaning at her use of a new middle name. I know I’m gonna catch a ration of shit from the guys about that one.
I turn the corner into the living room and see the guys already pulling beers from the fridge, laughing, while Ember and Kelsea coo over the babies in the living room.
“Hey! You! I’ve been sending you pictures all fucking day and you couldn’t reply to a single text?!” Aurora says, my eyes finally finding hers.
She looks absolutely decadent in a rose-colored short sundress. I’ve seen her dolled up before, but something about the fact that she did all of this because she knows my parents are coming makes my heart catch in my chest.
I take a step towards her, snagging the fabric of her dress and pulling her into my arms. We haven’t spent much time as a couple in front of our friends and family. I’ve been hoping across continents to track Figueroa, and she’s been busy with work. But it doesn’t feel as awkward as I expected it would. Honestly, it feels almost natural. I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her body flush against mine and breathing in the light, earthy scent of her perfume.
“I didn’t answer you because no matter what you wear, you look incredible.” I bring my lips to her ear, whispering where only she can hear me. “I could find you across any room, and I will always think you are the most beautiful person I've ever laid eyes on.” She shivers in my arms and I hold her tighter.
“You’re smooth, I’ll give you that. But don’t think I’m not still pissed that you didn’t answer me. Because I’m not, but I’m going to be very dramatic about pretending like I am,” she says with a sarcastic smirk.
“That’s exactly what I would expect from you, princess.” I kiss her, a deep, exploring kiss that doesn’t pay any mind to the prying eyes around us. I just need to taste her at this moment.
“Dude, your middle name is Tyler?” Iris asks, laughing around the mouth of his beer bottle.
I shoot him a glare over Aurora’s shoulder before burying my face in her neck. She smells so fucking good.
“I wish I hadn’t invited everyone I know over for dinner because I’d much rather start with desert,” I whisper, nipping at the tendon flexing in her neck. She lets out a tiny whimper, her fingers gripping the fabric of my shirt. “And no. It’s not Tyler,” I say, placing a wet kiss against her skin and stepping towards the kitchen.
A frustrated growl rips from her throat, and I laugh. Turning, I find every one of our friends staring at me like they have no idea who I am.
