They could not have chosen more different careers, and yet they were still close and the first person each other went to when they needed advice.
Some of Lynx’s fans thought he spent time in front of the mirror, creating his look. He didn’t. He spent zero time and bought all his clothes matching—five pairs of the same jeans and T-shirts in the same style. He changed things up with shirts or shorts, but basically, he was hopeless when it came to fashion—and refused any help Blue had offered him?—
which would be a shock to his adoring fans.
“Lynx!”
Blue watched Meadow and Hamish hug their son, and then Birdie did the same. Lynx and Finch slapped palms and chest bounced.
“Hey, Bluebell, imagine me seeing you again here,” Lynx said, hugging her next. “I missed you when you left.”
“You don’t fool me. I saw all those adoring fans fawning over you,” she said.
“They’re not my family, though.” He smiled that smile that had women sighing.
“You might want to park that smile for a bit, bro,” Finch said, still looking pissed. “We have something to deal with.”
“We don’t have anything to deal with,” Blue said. “I have this covered.”
“What’s up? While you’re telling me, I’ll take a coffee, Sawyer,” Lynx said. He then shook his head. “Still can’t get used to seeing your ugly face in my parents’ house.”
“Still not used to being here either,” Sawyer muttered, turning back to the coffee maker. “And right now there are plenty of places I’d rather be.”
Chapter 16
It had been two days since Blue had told him not to come to her house when she was telling her family. Told him she could handle it, and she was right. Jay knew that. Knew she’d been looking after herself for years, but he’d wanted to be there to support her.
She hadn’t answered any of his texts or calls. He’d waited for a knock on the door from her brothers, as he knew both of them were back in town now, but that hadn’t come either.
He paced the room. Had her family given her a hard time? Had she told them he was the father?
Jay liked control, and he knew that was because he hadn’t had any as a child. He didn’t like change unless he implemented it, but this change was something he would have to deal with. Everything he’d built around himself and made of his life had changed the day Blue had told him she was carrying his child.
His child.
He was also a problem solver. That was his job on an extreme level, but he went through life that way too. Preventing problems where he could and offering solutions where he couldn’t, but right now, this was beyond him.
Nothing had prepared—could prepare—him for finding out he was going to be a father.
He pulled on his sneakers and stepped outside. The walls of his house felt as though they were closing in on him. So he’d walk and think.
He headed into town, reached the main street, and turned right, stopping after only a few steps when he saw Bart, his sister, and LouJean stringing up a banner. As yet he couldn’t make out what it said.
“What are they getting us to do next?” the woman walking toward him said.
Nina worked at the Gnat as a beautician. Beautiful, sassy, and fun, she, like Jay, was still single.
“Not sure, but I’m tapping out,” Jay said, moving to hold the ladder LouJean was climbing. “You want me to get up there?”
“Hold her steady, Jay. I got this.”
“What is this?” Nina asked, moving into the middle of the street to look up at the banner that was slowly being raised.
“Dress up as your favorite superhero at the Levelers Leaders game and win a prize!” Bart called from up his ladder on the opposite side of the street. “The winner gets a day out fishing with Larry Limpet, dinner for two at the Circle Left, and a chocolate basket from Libby.”
“Not really sure that the fishing part of that prize is a win, if I’m honest, Bart,” Jay added.
“He’s changing his ways is our Larry,” Bart said.
