Frankie stood, holding out a hand to our ridiculous friend. “I’m driving you home. I’m worried scripting this Hallmark movie is going to send you into preterm labor.”
“Fine, fine,” she said with a wave of a hand. “But the evidence doesn’t lie. Buckle up, Evie.”
The girls left, and within minutes, Vincent was down for the night. I confirmed that the doors were locked, brushed my teeth, and climbed into bed.
As I lay staring at the ceiling, though, Ruby’s words replayed in my head. Like Frankie said, it had to be romantic hallucination.
But part of me wondered: Was she right? Was there a connection here? If so, was it as strong as it had been that night. And could I survive it?
Chapter 11
Jasper
This kid was a genius. Nothing would convince me otherwise. His tummy time game was elite. Already, he had the neck strength of a bear.
I was so damn proud of him.
We lay together on the play mat while I used his favorite giraffe, this weird-ass French rubber thing that he loved to eat, to keep him entertained.
I beatboxed, really going for it, making all kinds of weird sounds while the giraffe—Sophie, apparently—and the Very Hungry Caterpillar engaged in a dance battle.
It was our thing. Vincent and I hung out while Evie showered and drank the coffee I brought her or checked her work email, and I acted like a fool. Vincent seemed to enjoy it.
It was my contribution.
Evie did 100 percent of the feeding, but being a silly source of entertainment? I’d claimed that job. And I took it very seriously. Clowning with an infant was not easy.
“Look at the caterpillar.” I used my best sports announcer voice. “He’s doing the worm. Cross species dance moves.”
I moved the caterpillar across the playmat as I rapped about eating leaves. It was utter nonsense, but Vincent was enraptured.
And then it happened.
He giggled.
He’d been smiling for several weeks now, but I’d never heard him laugh.
My heart leaped, and my chest nearly exploded with joy.
I moved the caterpillar again and rapped a little more, and again, he laughed. A full belly laugh, kicking his legs like a little swimmer.
For a second, I only stared at him in shock. But when I got my wits about me, I jumped up.
“Evie.” I spun in a circle, looking for my phone. I had to get this on video. “Evie,” I called again as I opened the camera app.
The bathroom door flew open, and Evie darted toward us.
“What’s wrong? Is he okay?”
She was dripping wet, a yellow towel wrapped loosely around her, her chest heaving with panicked breaths.
My vision tunneled, and every muscle in my body locked up. Her long hair was plastered to her shoulders, water running in rivulets, only to be absorbed by the towel. Her lips were pink and plump. More so than usual.
And the towel hid almost nothing.
I was in the presence of a goddess. The lush, sexy body that had enraptured me one wild night and had haunted me since was nearly within reach. Memory after memory hit me. The feel of her under me. The soft gasps and the cry she let out when I pushed inside her.
“Jasper.” Her tone was sharp,pulling me out of my haze. “What’s wrong?”
