"He's a gorgeous child," I comment, watching him zoom past, going the opposite direction. Wyatt's chasing him, making monster sounds that Colt most definitely can't hear, but when he looks back he can see Wyatt's facial expressions and curling fingers lifted on either side of his face. Wyatt pauses on his way past me, kissing my cheek quickly, then continues on after Colt. "Good to see you, baby sister," Wyatt calls before he resumes his monster act.
"Colt's getting cochlear implants soon." Dakota smiles, and it's equal parts happy and sad.
"How do you feel about that?" I take her hand and pull her over a few feet so we can sit down on the outdoor couch.
"Relieved. Nervous. Sad that my baby hasn't been able to hear and has had to face adversity already in life. Annoyed with myself for feeling sorry for him."
I laugh softly. “Conflicted, then?"
Her eyes fill with tears and she palms her burgeoning belly. "Pregnancy hormones don't help." She rubs a circle and points her next words down at her stomach. "Do they, baby girl?"
"May I?" I ask, holding out a flattened hand.
Dakota leans back. "Have at it. Lord knows Wyatt does."
I shake my head, running my hand across the expanse. "For a man who loves children, you'd think they'd have one of their own. Not that Travis isn't Wyatt's," I hurry to add. He's in the process of adopting Jo's fifteen-year-old son. As soon as Wyatt and Jo hit their one-year wedding anniversary, he can make it legal.
Dakota grins. "I happen to know they've been trying."
I gasp excitedly, pulling my lower lip between my teeth and dancing my head around. "The three of you ladies are doing a good job making sure there's a next generation of Hayden's."
"How about you?" Dakota scrutinizes me. "Do you expect me to believe you're here because you missed everyone so much?"
"Am I that transparent?"
Dakota shakes her head. "No, I'm just that good at reading people."
I take my hand back and Dakota straightens up. "Is it a man?"
I could kiss her for not asking 'Is it aboy?’. At least someone around here realizes I'm not fourteen anymore.
"Partially," I answer. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Not if it's going to hurt anybody or require me to lie to Wes."
I grin at her honesty. "All good." I shift forward so we won't be overheard. "I got involved with my professor. And it turns out he was married, but I didn't know it. He didn’t wear a ring. There was never an indication."
Dakota blows out a noisy breath. "I'm so sorry. That's awful."
"It… gets… worse…"
Her eyes widen. "How much worse?"
"I ran an underground poker ring from my dorm room. Apparently it was very frowned upon. Someone reported it to the dean, and they kicked me out. Sort of. They suggested I withdraw."
"Jessie," Dakota hisses reproachfully.
"I know." The shock of it all is wearing off, and I'm starting to feel supremely foolish.
"Why did you do that?" She sounds less disappointed in me than my mom is going to, so at least I have that going for me.
"I don't know. It was fun. And I was bored."
"Those aren't good reasons to break the law."
I frown. "You break the law when you speed. What's the difference?"
Dakota groans. "You sound like Wyatt."
