Page 59 of Lowering His Guard

Hey, giant! Hope you’re keeping the alien at bay. Tell Jace class is cancelled today. The wind is being stronger than Smuggler’s Hideaway Moonshine.

Got it.

Slow down, giant man. Don’t use all your words at once.

“Aha!” Jace shouts. “May’s texting.” He points to my face. “And you’re smiling.”

I scowl. “I’m not smiling.”

“Not now. But you were,” he sings.

“Whatever,” I mutter. “Class is cancelled today.”

“Damn! What am I supposed to do all day?” He whines.

“You could come to practice with me.”

His eyes widen. “Really? I can come with you?”

I shrug. “Sure. Why not?”

“Cool. I bet Tanner has some new jokes for me.”

I groan. “No listening to Tanner.”

“Tanner’s fun. As are Gage and Nolan. And Corbin.”

I frown. I’ve never heard anyone describe Corbin as fun before. He’s quiet and reserved. Not fun. But if my kid’s happy, I don’t care how he describes anyone. As long as he doesn’t become an annoying goofball the way Tanner is.

We finish breakfast before making our way out of the suite to the parking lot. Jace doesn’t complain or whine the entire time. He seems genuinely excited.

Huh. I didn’t expect him to enjoy attending practice with me. I thought he’d think it’s boring. Maybe I should take him more often.

When we enter the locker room, I whistle to get everyone’s attention. “Watch your language. Jace is sticking around today.”

“Dad,” Jace groans. “I’m not a little kid. It’s not as if I’ve never heard bad language before.”

“Don’t care,” I grumble as I make my way to my locker. Corbin, Nolan, and Gage are nearby getting changed into their gear for practice.

“Jace, my man.” Gage holds out his fist to my kid. “No surfing today?”

“Too windy. May cancelled class.”

“Your dad must be bummed. He didn’t get a chance to see his crush.”

I growl. I do not have a crush on May. I’m not a fucking teenager. Except the way I’m fascinated with May reminds me of how confusing being a sixteen-year-old was.

“They spent yesterday together.”

“Jace,” I warn.

He widens his eyes at me. “What? I’m not lying. Or was it a secret?”

Nolan scowls. “Keeping a woman a secret is not okay.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. Someone’s being a hypocrite. He’s the one trying to keep information about Terri a secret. As if we don’t already know she’s pregnant and he’s the father.

He blushes before glancing away.