Page 119 of Jay Bird

His chest tightened as he thought about Alex’s story.

Bravo team had been part of the operation that brought her home. Jay Bird remembered the condition she had been in and the injuries covering her body.

He would remember to thank her later for talking to Willow.

Alex stood and removed her cover-up. Then Willow looked toward him, and their eyes met across the yard. Jay Bird didn’t move.

This was hers to decide, so he just smiled.

Willow stood and slipped off her cover-up, and pride hit him square in the chest.

“Damn,” Bear murmured beside him.

Jay Bird glanced at him and realized Bear wasn’t looking at Willow’s body at all. He was looking straight at Jay Bird.

“Go be with your girls.”

Jay Bird didn’t need to be told twice, and he immediately pushed away from the table.

“Where you going?” Joker called.

“Pool.”

There was a pause. Then Joker looked around the table. “Does anybody else remember when this guy hated pool parties?”

Jay Bird flipped him off without turning around, and their laughter followed him.

By the time he reached the pool, Willow was holding Lily while Alex floated nearby.

Lily spotted him immediately. “Jay!” She nearly launched herself out of Willow’s arms.

Jay Bird laughed and eased his way into the pool.

“Easy, Peanut.”

“Swim Jay!”

Willow released her, and Lily began kicking furiously toward him.

Jay Bird held his arms out. “Come on.”

Lily kicked harder, but nothing happened, and Jay Bird had to fight back a laugh. “Arms too, Peanut.”

She started wildly moving her arms, but somehow only managed to propel herself backward.

Willow burst out laughing. “She’s trying.”

“She’s swimming in reverse.”

“Jay!”

He took pity on her and swam the rest of the way, scooping her into his arms. Lily immediately wrapped herself around his neck, clinging to him as if she’d been waiting for him to rescue her.

“Swim!”

“Yeah, we’re gonna work on that.”

Willow smiled at him.