“That was perfect,” I praise once I get up and grab her plate to take it into the kitchen.
“It really was,” Jaxon says. “Are you sure you have to move out?”
“I’ve never lived alone,” she admits. “It is time.”
“Ohhh,” Ariella says as she takes Jagger in her arms, “we should do a round of never have I ever.” Jaxon groans while I try not to laugh, as I place the plates in the dishwasher before going back and taking my spot. Ariella now has a cover hiding the fact that she’s nursing. “Lexi, you go first.”
She leans back in her chair. “I don’t know, never have I ever”—she looks up at the ceiling, then looks back at us—“gotten a speeding ticket.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop taking the easy way out,” I tell her. “You always do that.” I catch my words right as they leave my mouth, but no one calls me on it. But I do see Jaxon and Ariella share a look with each other.
“Fine,” she huffs, raising her eyebrows. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” She smirks at me.
“I have,” I answer her and she rolls her eyes to the side. “I was young.”
“Whatever,” she dismisses me, looking over at Ariella and see her mouth hangs open.
“You?” She points to her.
“Have you met Jagger?” She points to her son in her arms. “The definition of a one-night stand gone wrong.”
“Not wrong,” Jaxon retorts, “gone off the rails.”
“Whatever it’s called,” Ariella says, “I have.”
“Okay, Jaxon,” Lexi calls him.
“Never have I ever,” he starts, “wanted to play this game.” The bark of laughter fills the room. “Never have I ever gone on a blind date.”
“I have,” I say, “and then I never went on another again.”
“Oh, I want to hear more,” Ariella states and Lexi sits up and puts her elbow on the table, and then holds her neck with her hand as she listens to the story.
“I think I was twenty-two, I don’t remember how old I was,” I explain, trying to remember the little details, “went out. We were having a great time until her husband showed up at the table. She was not twenty-three like she said she was but instead thirty-five, and trying to convince her husband to have an open relationship.” I hold up my hands. “I vowed to never do that again.”
“So no to open relationships?” Lexi asks me and I think even she’s shocked that she asked me the question.
“It’s a fuck no to open relationships.” I stare into her eyes for longer than I should, my hands aching to cup her cheeks before kissing her.
“Okay, Ariella.” Jaxon breaks the moment between us.
“Never have I ever…” She thinks for a second. “…had sex in a movie theater.”
Lexi snorts out while Jaxon gasps and whips his head to look at her. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m just saying I have never, have you?”
“No,” he answers her like it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever answered.
“I have not,” Lexi adds and all eyes are on me.
“No, I have never.”
“Okay, your turn,” Lexi says to me.
“Never have I ever ridden a roller coaster,” I admit to them and her hand drops from her neck.
“What?” she asks me, shocked, and the smile fills her face. “What do you mean, you’ve never ridden a roller coaster?”
