That’s when I lose the battle.
The first tear falls, breaking the damn seal, and I can’t even try to stop the rest.
“I love you guys too.”
“Why’s Ashton crying?” a young voice asks, and I feel Jamie’s presence before I ever see him.
“That’s a great question, kid. What did you girls do to my girl?” he demands of the table, his eyes horribly confused but not angry as he and Jonah stand beside Lexie.
Lexie reaches up and pinches Jamie’s arm.
“Ow! What the fuck, Lex? Dillan’s the violent one.”
“Hey,” Dillan snaps and wipes her tears. “We didn’t do anything. Leave us alone.”
Jamie doesn’t look convinced. “You’re all just crying for the fun of it?”
“My mom says it’s a girl’s prerogative to cry when she wants,” Jonah shrugs. “I don’t get it, but ice cream usually makes herhappy, and then she’s better. You want me to get you ice cream, Ashton?”
Oh, this kid.
“Not today, Jonah, but thank you. And your mom’s not wrong. I was crying because I was happy.” The butterflies that have been taking flight in my stomach all morning flutter again, even stronger this time, and I push up from the table as realization dawns.
“You okay, Ace?” One of Jamie’s big hands slides to my rounded stomach and the other to my face where his thumb sweeps away my tears. “I don’t like it when you cry.”
I ignore theawwsfrom the peanut gallery behind us and move his hand lower on my stomach and press down.Hoping...
It takes a little maneuvering, and Jamie’s eyes narrow as he watches my face.
Then the flutters happen again, and his entire face morphs from concern to elation. “Was that him?” he asks with so much beautiful awe in his voice I want to wrap myself up and dance in the sound. “Was that our baby?”
I bite my lip and nod. “I think so.”
Jamie drops down to his knees in front of everyone in Sweet Temptations and kisses my belly. “Hey, little guy. You be good to your mommy in there so you can grow big and strong and meet us all in a few months, okay?”
Oh man... and now I’m crying for a whole new reason.
“Well ladies, thanks for letting us crash your coffee date, but Kyrie and I have a meeting with my agent to get to. You want me to drive you home, kid?I can put your bike in the back of the SUV,” Jamie offers to Jonah as he takes the bag of cookies he bought for the house in one hand and pulls me against him with the other.
“Nah. I’m going to go shoot some hoops.” He and Jamie do some super-secret handshake that’s adorable, even if I’m sure me saying that would make it far less manly. “Think I could have a cookie for the ride?”
My charmer looks to me for permission.
What a joke. Like those cookies were for me in the first place.
“Of course you can have one. I think Jamie should give you the whole bag.” I smile and kiss Jamie’s cheek. “Love you. Have fun at your meeting.”
He begrudgingly gives Jonah the bag, then brushes my lips with his and takes Kyrie from my arms. “See you at home, Ace.”
Jonah and I watch them leave, and the handsome little devil turns to the girls and me. “Why does he call you Ace?”
“You know what, Jonah?” Lexie leans in conspiratorially. “That’s a great question. Why does he call you Ace?”
I gather the contents of the box and put them all back as my knees threaten to buckle from the force of the memory that hits me square in the chest.
The four of us, sitting around his parents’ kitchen table in Maryland, with Evan teaching us to play Texas Hold’em. We were so young and so naive, and he was already the most handsome boy I’d ever seen. “Let’s just say Jamie is a horrible poker player. His face gives everything away.”
“Yeah, he is,” Dillan giggles.
