Liv is quick to reply. “Of course. Of course.”
I smile, satisfied that she will keep our secret. “It’s also really nice to meet you, Liv. I feel like I know you, too. I used to watch over Emma and always wanted to hang out with you guys and your other friends at the beach and club, but you know… being dead and all,” I trail off, and I swear I see her hide a smile.
”Yes, I see how that could be a problem, Evie.” She looks over at Emma, who is analyzing our interaction.
“Now you see why she hid from me and I had to keep her a secret? Troublemaker, this one.” Emma laughs, pointing a thumb in my direction. The tension in the room seems to lighten after our banter.
“So…” Liv starts. “You and Jameson, huh?” She waggles her eyebrows up and down.
Baby Kaden starts to fuss after being placed back in Liv’s arms. I snort. “Yeah, I know.”
Liv and Emma start laughing as baby Kaden begins to cry. Jameson walks in with Dax and looks over at me. “Ya know what, Evie?” he repeats my words, asking a question, although with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
JAMESON
“Bad Company” by Five Finger Death Punch
“So, you and Evie, huh?” After spending some time catching up with our mutual friends and hearing about Dax’s new position as a full-fledged partner in his father’s practice, I’m surprised it took him this long to discuss the elephant in the room.
I take the soda he offered me, electing for a more alcohol-free drink this morning full of sugar and caffeine. I swear I still smell that jackass’s stench on me. Dax must see the downturn of my mouth and interprets this as something wrong with Evie and me.
“Am I wrong?” he asks, concerned.
“Huh? No, sorry, but we had a little problem last night, and I was just trying to think of the best solution to fix it.” Dax rubs his hand over his chin, trying to ascertain if I need help or not. I hold my hand up to him.
“It’s better if you don’t know.” He looks at me and then nods in understanding.
“Of course, but if you…” he trails off, letting me know that he is here for me should I need him, and those unspoken words mean the world to me.
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, bro. I appreciate that.”
He smiles, and I hear a wail coming from the other room. Dax stands immediately to tend to his son, and I follow.
“Man, that kid has some lungs.” The crying, along with Evie’s dipshit brother coming in at the asscrack of dawn, has my head pounding.
Dax chuckles. “You have no idea, Jameson. Just wait. It will happen to you, too.”
We enter the room just in time to hear the end of their conversation. I wonder what was said before I entered the room. Whatever it was will have to wait, and baby Kaden is having a complete meltdown, and Liv needs to feed him. We take this as our cue to leave.
We make rushed goodbyes with a promise to meet up very soon. We walk down the stairs, and I look back, extending my hand to Evie’s as we walk to my truck.
I shake her hand, nudging her to look at me. “You okay?
She shakes her head. “Yeah, but dang, there was a lot of screaming in there.”
I bring her hand up to my lips. “You mean you aren’t ready to have little Evie or Jameson running around yet?”
She stops mid-stride, and realizing she is no longer walking with me, I turn back to look at her. The sheer terror on her face makes me go back to her.
I approach her carefully, like a skittish cat that will run off if you advance too soon. “Baby, I was just kidding. I’m not ready to have kids right now. It was a joke, and by the looks of it, maybe a very bad one.”
She relaxes into my embrace. “I’d make a terrible mother,” she almost whispers.
I take her face in both hands and bring her close. “You are brave, protective, and love so fiercely, Evie. I think those are thebest traits for a mother, and I think you would be the best mom someday.”
She searches my eyes for the truth. And I know when she finds it there as she melts into my embrace. Sometimes, I forget that even though she puts on a brave act, she is still vulnerable and needs reassurance, just like we all do.
