Chapter 17 #2
He’s not wrong. Elijah has an uncanny habit of putting things down wherever he is. Hairbands in the key bowl, keys by the sink, cups… God, the cups on every surface. Really, he’s lucky I love him—and can’t live without him—because otherwise, I might have murdered him by now.
“Six…”
I throw off the duvet and check myself in the full-length mirror—decent enough to open the door and tell the guys Eli and Jayden will be right out.
The instant I crack it, Matheo sticks his head through. “They better be ready,” he says with a glare.
“They will be in a few minutes,” I tell him, holding the door so Dylan can follow Matheo into the sitting area.
While Matheo helps himself to a bottle of water from the kitchenette nook, Dylan stands awkwardly by the couch.
“Can I get you a drink?” I don’t know why I offer; he’s clearly eager to leave.
“I’m good. Thanks,” he says with a faint smile.
“Well, I better…” I point toward the bedroom, shuffling to the door I left ajar. “…you know, make sure they’re almost done for you.”
“No shenanigans,” Matheo grumbles, leveling me with a narrow-eyed stare as I pass.
“Behave, Hillier,” Dylan says, tone deep and surly.
“Thank fuck for double showers,” Jayden rushes into the bedroom as I close the door.
Water still sluices down his body; his hair drips across his face while he pulls clothes from the closet.
“Here.” Elijah walks in behind him, brushing his teeth with one hand and holding out Jayden’s toothbrush with the other.
They move around me with easy choreography—passing clothes, sneakers, hairbrushes, deodorant—so in sync it could be an art form.
“Laters, Lucky.” Jayden dips, grabs my jaw in one palm, and stamps a quick, hard peck on my lips on his way out. “Don’t forget, my momma booked the spa for the two of you and Christina.”
“I’m meeting her for brunch,” I tell him as Elijah comes up behind me and bites my shoulder with a low hum.
I instantly turn to goo, and when he kisses me, it’s light and playful. My boy is back, and my heart is so full that my joy threatens to burst from me.
***
Eucalyptus and mint warm my lungs as Andie pours another ladle of water over the hot rocks.
Christina looks ready to pass out on the step below mine.
Clearly, she and Matheo were up to all the shenanigans last night—not just from her very detailed debrief while I got ready for brunch, but from the way she’s waddling.
“My word, I needed this,” Andie sighs, scooting up a step, circling to my side. “Before the kids, Sara and I used to go to the spa every weekend. It was our time to relax and reconnect after our busy week.”
“How long have you been together?” I ask as Christina yawns, “Have you always been into women?”
Andie settles back into the stone wall. “Not always. At least, not solely. It wasn’t until I met Sara that everything clicked for me. I knew that she was my human, you know? The person I couldn’t be without ever again.”
“I guess we know who Jayden takes after,” Christina chuckles.
I know she doesn’t mean anything by it, but the remark sits wrong in my gut. “Jayden is Jayden. He’s his own, unique person, like you and me.”
“JJ is definitely unique,” Andie chuffs, tugging her towel higher. “He’s always been picky with people and very forthright in his sentiments. As parents, we want to take credit for that, because it’s a trait we’re very proud of. However, it’s something that is simply him, ingrained like DNA.”
“Yeah, he’s cool,” Christina says, giving me an apologetic frown. “I mean, he gets my humor and gives as good as he gets… and he cares for my girl, so…”
“Like I said, JJ has always been very candid with his feelings. Something that his mom, fathers, and I are very proud of,” Andie says, crossing one leg over the other and straightening to a ramrod sit.
Christina shoots me a look, eyes widening like a warning. I scan the steam room for danger. Nothing. I glance back; she’s reclined again, eyes closed.
So, I turn to Andie. She’s staring at her hands, laced in her lap.
“Jayden’s never been afraid to love with everything he has, which has always been a worry for me,” she says, looking directly at me.
“The worst feeling for a parent is when their child is hurt, and as wonderful as love is, it often leads to heartbreak.”
Oh. Christina’s warning sets in as Andie’s words land.
“He deserves to be more than someone’s path to self-discovery.”
“That’s not what he is to me or Elijah,” I assure her. Holding her gaze in the fluorescent blue glow, I say, “I love him… us. Elijah has always been my heart, and Jayden completes it. He completes me.”
Andie exhales, smiling as her lips quiver. She grasps my hands and half-pulls me into a side hug as she scoots closer. “Good. Good answer.”
She envelopes me in a tight embrace and kisses my cheek. So that’s where Jayden gets his hard hugs. Andie even rocks me side to side, rubbing my back.
“Kailey is going to have a big head when she finds out she was right about the three of you all along,” Andie chortles—then fumbles awkwardly to catch her towel as it unravels, pooling in her lap.
My breath catches at the sight of the twin, mirroring scars where her breasts once were. Jayden told me about the cancer, but seeing the scars myself… a deeper admiration flowers in my chest for her strength.
“When I had boobs, I used to curse them out because nothing fit; now I don’t have boobs and, well… I guess I’ve been the problem all along, not the boobs.” Her laugh tugs a smile from me as she wraps the towel back around.
“Yeah, I feel you. Thirty-six effing G here, and I’m still trying to figure out if I’m blessed or cursed,” Christina chuckles, grabbing her boobs like we needed proof they’re more than a handful.
“I bet Matheo has no complaints,” I giggle when she scowls down at her chest.
Her stare shoots to mine, bright cerulean in the fluorescent light.
“Oh, that man is juicy,” Andie sighs, fanning herself. “And I can’t say anything else because Jayden might disown me.”
“Don’t worry, Christina will say it all and more for you,” I say, sticking my tongue out when Christina flips me off.
The hue of her cheeks deepens as she slumps and closes her eyes.
“I know I spoke to Jayden about this, but he told me to cool it and not be pushy, so I might as well ask you directly.” Andie clasps my hand in both of hers and brings it to her lap. “I mean, we’ve already spent Thanksgiving together, so Christmas shouldn’t be terrible. Right?”
“Right,” I nod.
“It’s a family tradition to have Christmas in Aspen.
The markets are great, and all the snow is so perfectly picturesque…
” Andie leans in. “And you’re family now, so really, you don’t get a choice.
Jonathan would drag you there if I didn’t.
JJ thinks I’m pushy, but The Sire is hands-on and he will take prisoners. ”
“I’ve never been to Aspen,” I say as the steam-room door opens and an older woman walks in.
Andie squeezes my hand and rests her head on my shoulder. “Well, that’s settled then—Christmas in Aspen it is.”