Before I can say anything else, the waiter brings our food, and we start eating. My avocado toast tastes even better than I remembered. “Damn, this is beyond delicious. How’s your food?”
“It must be good because the baby just started kicking like they’re playing soccer. Want to feel it?” Marianne asks. Haisley quickly moves her hand to Marianne’s belly and I know the moment the baby kicks as Haisley’s eyes brighten, and it looks like she might cry.
“Mari, that’s so beautiful,” my best friend whispers, her voice breaking.
“Oh honey, don’t cry. If you do, I’ll cry, too.”
Haisley sniffles. “I’m just wondering if I’ll ever have that. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, but my dating prospects are non-existent. And if I wait much longer, it’ll be a geriatric pregnancy.”
“But you aren’t even close to being geriatric, H!” I almost shout, and the family next to us looks our way.
“In terms of pregnancy, it’s considered a geriatric pregnancy when the birthing person is older than 35. I just turned thirty-three, so my clock is ticking.”
“Your day will come. There are also other options if the traditional way of baby-making doesn’t work for you. Until then, you can be the best auntie to our little one,” Marianne reassures her.
“Hell yeah, I’ll be the best auntie they’ll ever have!”
“And what am I?” I ask teasingly, knowing full well what she meant.
“Oh hush, you already have your sisters’ babies to spoil. My brothers are nowhere near breeding age if you ask them.”
Marianne chuckles. “You talk about your little brothers like they’re dogs or something.”
“I sometimes think they are. All three of them. I can’t believe they are adults because they surely don’t act like it.”
Marianne turns the conversation back to me. “So, now that we know the breeding status of Haisley’s younger brothers, is itthatbad working for Jax?”
I groan, which makes Haisley snicker. “Better keep your head in the game, bestie, and stop thinking about how great he must look naked.”
“H, you can’t just say that,” I shriek and toss my napkin at my best friend.
“I was just voicing what you’re thinking.”
We all laugh and continue our lunch. It’s good to be with my girls, even if they keep asking about Jax, and I don’t know what to tell them.
Tonight was supposed to be the evening when we all did inventory before the big party next week. But both Spade and Dom are ill with the stomach bug that’s going around. Nelly and Rogue had long shifts to cover for them, and they are gone for the day. That leaves Jax and me. All alone. Just like in my dreams.
Get your head out of the gutter, Soph. He’s still your boss and doing anything would be stupid. Think with your brain, not your damn vagina.
The only problem is that my boss hasn’t said a word to me since we closed the shop two hours ago. He has been doing God knows what in his office. There was some talk about needing to clean his cabinets, as he hasn’t done that since the shop opened.
I’m busy counting the ink bottles and marking the number of different colors on the spreadsheet when Jax walks into the storage room. “I was wondering if you’re hungry. It’s getting late, and we haven’t had dinner yet.”
Wow, he knows how to speak.
“Actually, yeah, I am. Can we order something from the deli? Maybe those subs?”
“I’ll go pick them up; no need for the app. Italian Sub is your favorite, right?”
Wait a minute, how does he know that? I never told him that. “Um, it is. Thanks, Jackson.”
I’m taken aback by all that consideration. Jax smiles hesitantly and walks out of the room. And I’m left thinking about what just happened.Is my boss a nice guy?
Fifteen minutes later, I’m taking a drink out of the fridge when I hear Jax calling my name from the hallway. I drop the bottle as I wasn’t expecting him back yet—the just-opened water splatters on my jeans and shoes.
“Fuck a duck,” I mumble as I grab a hand towel and try to dry my clothes.
“Did you just sayfuck a duck,” I hear him asking me with laughter in his voice.
