Page 105 of Deacon

I set down my glass, and both of them noticed. The grocery-store encounter had sat wrong with me, but saying it aloud meant admitting how much it bothered me.

Evan’s eyes narrowed immediately. “What is that face? That is not your overwhelmed by biker wedding chaos face. That is your I have gossip and I’m pretending I don’t face.”

I sighed. “I had something odd happen.”

He sat straighter, interest snapping into place. “Tell us everything. Does it involve a certain stubborn biker inserting himself into your life like a very handsome infection?”

I gave him a look that should have ended the question. It did not. “No. I ran into Jude.”

The humor disappeared from the room. Blue shifted beside me, one hand rubbing absently over Little Jax’s belly. “Jude? Here? In Bay of Saints?”

Evan leaned forward, all of his silliness sharpened into concern. “Why exactly would Jude be grocery shopping out here, at the store we shop at, in a town where he does not live? Because I hate that already.”

“I hated it too,” I muttered. “I literally ran into him with my cart. I just stood there staring at him like an idiot for a second because what was he even doing there? So I asked.”

Blue’s brows pulled together. “What did he say?”

“That he’s dating someone who lives out this way now. Said he was shopping to make dinner for her.” I rubbed my thumb along the side of my glass, remembering the little chill that had followed me home. “Then he smiled and told me what a surprise it was to run into me there. Said it looked like fate liked to keep bringing us together.”

Evan’s expression changed without theatrics. That bothered me more than one of his dramatic reactions would have.

“Lila,” he said, quiet for once, “that is too much of a coincidence. I do not like that. We move out here, and suddenly Jude has a woman in Bay of Saints? When that man has been orbiting you like a creepy little moon for years?”

Blue opened her mouth, concern already written across her face, but the front door opened before she could add anything.

Jade came in with her backpack on one shoulder and her attention fixed on her phone. The tight line of her mouth told me something on the screen had gotten under her skin. Then she noticed the baby in Blue’s arms, and the tension left her face. Her phone disappeared into her back pocket as she headed for us.

One glance at Evan and Blue was enough to end the Jude conversation. They both understood, and Jade gave us no reason to linger there anyway.

“I need some baby time,” Jade announced.

Blue handed Jax over. Jade took him with easy confidence, settling him against herself while her whole expression softened.

“Well, hello to you too,” I said.

“Sorry,” she murmured, already cooing at Jax and barely sparing us another glance. “He’s cuter than all of you.”

“That’s fair,” Evan said.

Blue watched Jade for a moment, affection warming her expression. “There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Jade looked up, still rocking Jax gently. “What?”

Blue’s smile turned soft with the pleasure of saying it again. “Priest and I are getting married.”

Jade lit up. “Wait, seriously? Auntie Blue, that’s amazing.” Her grin widened as she looked between Blue and the baby. “Honestly, Little Jax was already giving strong ring-bearer energy, so this feels right.”

Blue smiled. “And he is going to need a beautiful young woman to carry him down the aisle since he can’t walk yet, don’t you think?”

The surprise on Jade’s face landed exactly the way Blue intended. “Wait, really?” Her smile came quick and bright. “Yeah. I’d love that. Somebody’s gotta help him make his big dramatic entrance.”

Blue turned back toward Evan and me, her smile lingering. “The club is having a family day this Sunday. It’ll be the first one I’m bringing Little Jax to, and I’d really love for you all to come with me. I want my people there.”

Evan answered before I had fully decided how I felt about that invitation. “Absolutely. A gathering full of hunky bikers and food? I’m not even pretending to deliberate.”

I gave him a look that should have reminded him this invitation was not being extended for his personal entertainment. He ignored it. “What?” he said. “I’m being supportive.”

Supportive was one word for it. I turned back to Blue, already seeing complications where Evan saw bikers and free food. “I don’t know if that’s really a good idea.”