Chapter 3 #2
“You, on the other hand, look great.” Sydney reaches forward, tugging on my neckline like she’s fixing the girls for me while looking me over to make sure nothing else on my outfit needs fixed. Like she’s on a mission to make sure I look presentable. Like she’s got some sort of idea hatched.
“Sydney?” I ask cautiously, “why are you checking me over like I’m getting ready to walk into an interview or something that needs closer inspection?” I look over at the bar doors like it has an answer for me.
“Oh, just doing my bestie duties. There could be a serious hottie in here or something. Anything would probably be a step up from that last date you had. He was so full of himself. Ugh…”
I calm a little. She has a point.
“He was definitely not what I’m searching for.”
“What’s taking you two so long?” Brynleigh pushes her way out the front door to meet us on the front porch.
“We’re coming! This one was performing ‘bestie duties’ and fixing my outfit.” I slide my eyes over toward Sydney.
“You look hawt! Tight jeans, kitten heels, and some cleavage! Rawr! Some heads are going to be turning, girl.” Brynleigh smirks wildly at me before swinging that smile Syd’s way too. They’re definitely up to something.
We push through the door, and I notice a big table pushed up near our regular booth.
Ava’s grabbing a pitcher of margs from Mark and walking back toward Jane, who is grinning from ear to ear in the booth.
This is practically her first night at the bar since Charlotte was born.
That little booger is freaking adorable.
I wish I could squish and nosh on those cheeks right now, but I’d have to fight about six other friends because they’re all just as crazy about that little munchkin.
She’s started with this gummy smile that just melts you into a pile of goo when she recognizes you.
Brynleigh snags my hand to lead me toward the bar to put our food order in. Trystan and Colin are grabbing beers, chatting up someone I don’t recognize from the back sitting on a stool. I reach forward, bopping Trystan’s backwards hat from the back of his head.
“How’s it going, weirdo?” I ask playfully to the one dude here I now feel could’ve been my brother in another lifetime.
“Hey, Hollz! It was a long day, so this beer and you crazy people make it all better. Now we’re just missing a tiny little human that needs all the spoiling.”
“No, none of that. I need her to stay happy with Nana tonight. Daddy misses mommy. A lot.” Garrett swigs his beer standing at Trystan’s shoulder, clearly eyeing his wife, whom he’s probably not had alone for, what, eight-ish weeks now? Ohhhh, I need to get over to that table now.
“I’ll bet you do.” I snicker aloud before leaning toward the bar to put in my order.
I look over to my right and do a double take when a familiar set of green eyes catches mine, and my lungs malfunction.
I look back to my left and notice Brynleigh, Colin, and Trystan grinning like fools.
I slant my eyes, and they busy themselves taking swigs of beer or looking around the room.
They set me up. I look back to my right.
“Hi, Holly.”
Heat flushes my face. I need a drink. I don’t have a drink. Shit.
“Dr. Reyes,” I reply cooly. Eight weeks of nothing.
“Jaxon,” he adds, pursing his lips in thought.
Surely he doesn’t think he’s off the hook for sucking my face and just disappearing.
I hum noncommittally before turning toward the table and the other girls.
I’m not sure what to say right now. There’s a serious need for food and a drink to get my head straight.
I half-expect him to reach for my hand to stop me, but I don’t think he wants to start the night off with a heart to heart.
Looking back to gauge his reaction isn’t in the cards either.
I scoot into the booth after Brynleigh and silently toss up a prayer, hoping Jaxon doesn’t sit in the empty chair beside me.
“So, Jane, you excited for your first child-free night? Looks like Garrett’s already ready to leave,” I note with a hint of teasing to my voice. Jane laughs nervously.
“I think I underestimated how horny my husband could get during our postpartum dry-period.” Another edgy titter escapes her lips, and she takes another healthy gulp of her marg.
There’s that. Margs and bar food always make things better.
“I’m nervous. Like…what if it hurts? What if things have um, changed down there, and he doesn’t enjoy it anymore? ”
“Oh, that’s crazy talk,” Ava murmurs. “It’s going to be great. That man right there wants to swallow you whole.”
I nod in agreement while eyeing that empty chair with a smidge of anxiety.
“Hey, ummm, Bryn, can we switch seats real quick?”
“Too late,” she answers smugly, handing me the margarita she just poured. I sigh in defeat and sip a rather healthy gulp as I notice the guys loading their asses into the other seats out of the corner of my eye. When I ready my nerve and look to my right, he’s there, just as suspected.
“Gare Bear said I needed to sit here.”
I glance across the table to see ‘Gare Bear’ smirking behind his longneck bottle.
He leans over and presses a kiss to Jane’s cheek as an amused, boyish snicker leaves his lips.
I eye him with the ‘War is the only solution to this,’ and he eyes me back warily, knowing he’s up against a worthy opponent.
“Oh, did he now? Gare Bear, tonight is supposed to be an adults-only night, right?”
Garrett’s smile falters, and he sits up straighter, suddenly realizing his night of romancing and getting his wife naked are very, very much on the line.
“Ugh! I can’t wait to sleep without the monitor turned on next to the bed.” Jane sighs wistfully, and Garrett suddenly looks fearful that his night is already almost over.
“I promise I’ll take night feeds for the whole week if you don’t go straight to sleep,” Garrett practically pleads to Jane, and the guys erupt into peals of laughter.
We women at least have the good sense to titter behind drinks and hands.
Garrett looks over at Colin hard. “You’re not far behind me at this stage.
It’s coming. Mark my words. Plus, you’ve got two. ”
“I’ll change things up on that note. Sydney, how have you been feeling?” Jaxon asks.
“Rather plump I fear,” Sydney breathes out half-heartedly, and Jaxon looks like he exited one minefield just to step into another.
“I love you, hun. You’re gorgeous, all round with my babies,” Colin declares proudly. She is beautiful.
“Thank you,” Sydney whispers, her cheeks pinking up a little.
“How are the upstairs rooms coming along in the house, Bryn?” I ask, trying to move this conversation somewhere less emotionally dangerous.
“Mmm.” Brynleigh finishes her sip. “It looks good! I think we’ve officially gotten all the rooms painted, and the guest room is mostly furnished. Trystan’s been working on getting the outside cleaned up. Then, hopefully, we can concentrate on getting the outside painted before summer gets here.”
The waitress dishes out all the food orders, taking time to refill waters and ask if any other beverages are wanted.
“So, Jaxon, did I hear you telling Colin you finished your residency?” Mark asks.
“Yes. It’s been a crazy last couple of months. I’ve been offered the choice of placement either where I’m currently at or here in Kittery.”
I almost choke on my fries.
“In fact, I was here scoping out some small places available to rent. I have a couple of options.”
“You can come look at my place, if you’d like. I’ve been debating on renting it out or just selling it,” Trystan adds, and I look over at Brynleigh, who’s pressing her lips together in a tight line. She eyes me and picks up her burger.
“Oh, really? Thanks, man.”
“You bet. We could even go look after this so you don’t have to make an extra trip back.”
“I appreciate that,” Jaxon adds before looking at me.
“But I don’t mind an extra trip if you change your mind and aren’t up to it in a bit.
” His eyes sparkle mischievously, skating along my features.
He bites his lip lightly before lifting his water for another sip.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Trystan nodding in answer while he chews.
“Do you think Charlotte’s doing okay with my parents?” Jane worries aloud to Garrett, checking her phone.
“Yes, Jane, she’s only been there an hour. She’s having the time of her life. Remember they’ve done this before. You deserve the break. We deserve the break.”
“I know, I know. I just miss her. We haven’t been apart yet…” Jane’s voice trails off as Garrett rubs her back in soothing circles.
After dinner and more small talk, which I noticed Jaxon peering over at me frequently throughout, I ask the girls if they’d like to step out onto the porch for a breather.