Now
I’m not sure why I’m so nervous right now. It’s not like it’s the first time I’m meeting Jax’s family. But it is the first time anyone aside from his mom has met me as his wife . . . hisestranged wife, who didn’t even know we were still married.
And we’re not the only ones going to Jackson’s brother’s house—the entire team will also be there for their captain’s annual preseason cookout.
Ugh. No wonder I’m so worked up.
God, I could use a drink right now but I’m not supposed to drink while preparing for my egg retrieval. These damned injections hurt like a bitch. I’m on day eleven of two shots per day to try to stimulate my ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible for my retrieval that’s scheduled in only a few days.
With shaking hands, I finish applying a second coat of mascara to my eyelashes before putting the tube away in the vanity drawer. When I close it, I hold onto the edge of the counter for a moment and consider all the details Jax thought of when he was building this home. It’s weird that for a guest bathroom he’d have such an extravagant set up with a customvanity and the dreamiest soaking tub that could comfortably fit two people.
Grabbing my phone and my crossbody bag off the bench at the foot of the bed, I take a deep breath and walk out of the room, shutting the lights off as I go.
I walk into the kitchen and Jax startles me by saying, “T, relax. You look like you’re about to throw up, and we both know that won’t feel good with your healing stomach incisions.” He looks so good standing there in the corner with a glass of water in his thick hands, legs crossed casually as the afternoon sun highlights him through the windows above the kitchen sink.
Jeesh, I really do have a shit poker face.
“I’m good,” I lie, unconvincingly I guess, because Jax guffaw’s at me.
“You look tense. Come here, baby.” Jackson sets down his glass and gestures for me to come into his arms. Setting my things on the kitchen island, I move to him and melt into his embrace as he pulls me into chest and rocks me lovingly back and forth.
Jax rubs his hands up and down my back, and the simple act wouldn’t be soothing if it were anyone else. But when it’s his hands on me, my body comes to life responding in ways it hasn’t in far too long. Placing a kiss on my temple, he murmurs, “What’s got you feeling anxious?”
I bury my head into his chest and mumble, “Oh, I don’t know. Only the fact that I’ll be meeting your entire team at the same time as I’m reacquainted with your brother, sister, and best friends.”
“Ah, that? That’s nothing. I thought you were anxious about the fact that I’m going to have to participate in the annual Labor Day food eating competition.”
I shoot my head up to look at him. “The what?”
“It’s so stupid but a few years ago, the guys started this ridiculous competition where we eat foods that aren’t overtly sexual in nature until we eat them. It’s gotten out of hand at this point.”
“Must’ve for you to say that. So, what are you eating this year?”
“Papayas.”
I let out an unattractive snort as I laugh at the image playing in my mind of a group of grown men eating papayas.
“Ha ha, laugh it up,” Jax says, feigning annoyance.
Once I’ve somewhat composed myself, I ask, “I’m sorry did you say papayas?”
“I did. And we’ve even got to eat them with our hands behind our backs.”
“Oh my god, this is going to be so good.”
“It should be, so long as you pay close attention.” Jax waggles his brows and I just roll my eyes.
“There she is. It pains me to admit this, but I much prefer your sassy eye rolls to the anxious look you were wearing when you came in here.”
I playfully swat at his chest and move to grab my things when he pulls me back in and wraps an arm around my waist, placing the other along my jaw. “Where you going?” he questions.
“Nowhere,” I reply breathlessly.
“Good, because I’m feeling needy for your lips.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhmm,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against mine in a whisper of a kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss we can both get lost in. Our lips collide in a clash of burning need that can only be satiated by one another.
