Chapter 20
Holly
It's Tuesday. School just finished for the day, and I'm grading papers when Summer rushes into my room with a frantic, flushed face and plasters herself to the wall beside my open door.
“Oh my gosh,” she puffs out heavily. “I was making some copies in the office and just about ran smack dab into the chest of the hottest, and I mean the most delicious guy to grace our hallways in years.
If he's a hot, single dad to a new student,” she tilts her head up to the ceiling, “please let that student be one of mine.”
The laughter that escapes me is of pure joy because it takes a lot to fluster Summer, and this is gold.
“Well, what'd he look like?”
“Tall. Dark hair. Blazing smile with dimples. Green eyes. And he had a motorcycle helmet. Holy moly, please let him be a single dad.”
I press my lips together, smothering a giggle when the gorgeous man in question darkens my doorway, just out of Summer's sights.
I attempt to get her attention, to no avail, when he clears his throat to announce his presence.
She freezes before doing a quick double-take and withers where she stands.
“I'm gonna go die now…” Summer mutters low, closing her eyes and pressing her head against the wall as if the wall could just absorb her.
“How is it that I always walk up on conversations about me?” Jaxon asks, voice full of hilarity.
“I'm Jaxon, and no, I'm not a proud daddy yet, but someday. And I'm very much taken with Miss Holly here. If you truly feel like you’re dying, you’re in luck. I know CPR and have years of ER experience.”
Summer squints her eyes open, knowing she can't hide anymore, then really looks at Jaxon before she turns shades of red I've never seen on her before.
“Hi. Umm, Summer. Nice to meet you. I'll, um, see myself out. Talk to you later, Holly.” As soon as she passes behind him, she turns and gives me a dramatic ‘I could faint, he’s-so-pretty’ hand to her forehead before hustling to her room to die of embarrassment.
Jaxon grins wildly and chuckles darkly as he saunters up to my desk and lays down a chocolate bar. Be still my beating heart.
“For me?”
“Nah, for Summer.”
I snicker.
“She’d prefer a crispito.”
“Please tell me I can kiss you.”
“Kiss me.”
Jaxon leans across my desk, meeting my lips with a soft smile.
“I’ve never seen her turn those shades of red,” I murmur.
“Was it the daddy comment, the declaration of devotion to you, or the promise of CPR that did it?” His breath feathers across my lips, so I smooch him again before leaning back in my seat, twiddling a purple pen between my fingers. He watches the movement, intrigued.
“Probably all of it. You’re sex on a stick as it is. Add in all the other perks and attributes and any XX chromosome in the vicinity, and likely a few XY’s, will take notice.”
Jaxon’s chin tips up toward the ceiling with silent glee, and I admire his Adam’s apple as it bobs with his laugh. His eyes sparkle when he looks back at me.
“Dang, what do I need to do to get a detention around here?” It's my turn to laugh.
“So, am I going to have to warn the staff of more impromptu drop bys?” I ask, eyeing how he leans on the first row desk across from mine, his crossed forearms unbelievably distracting.
“Definitely. I missed you.”
“Hmm, I like hearing that.”
“Come see me tonight.”
“It's Tuesday.”
Jaxon eyes me quizzically, so I explain.
“Tuesdays are girl's weekly dinner nights. We're meeting at Sydney’s tonight.”
“Ahh, that's right. Jane’s probably got a whole page of questions for you.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Well, my offer still stands. My house and my bed are always open to you.”
My heart melts.
“I'll consider it.”
He pushes back up off of the desk and walks around mine before bending and pressing his palms to my chair’s armrests, caging me in.
“Please do,” he mutters before claiming my lips with a kiss full of promise. I hum with delight, and he responds with a soft rumble that echoes down to my toes. “Message or call me later to let me know?”
“Deal. Thank you for the surprise drop-in and chocolate.”
“I aim to make you smile.”
“Mission accomplished.”
He pecks me one last time before grabbing his helmet off the corner of my desk and winking at me on his way out the door.
???
The smell of lasagna greets me the second I step in Sydney's door, along with a happy bark from a very excited Amy.
“Amy! Who’s such a good girl to come see me?
!” I coo, rubbing behind both ears as her tail wags and her tongue lolls out with excitement.
Bitsy lazily makes her way down the steps, and Amy turns on her, playfully splaying her paws and getting low like she’s ready to chase.
Surprised, Bitsy puffs up, hackles raised and back arched.
She takes off running like a bat out of hell the second Amy barks with glee.
You have to just laugh at their crazy. Her bottle brush tail disappears behind the living room wall, followed by a blur of chocolate.
When I step into the kitchen, four pairs of eyes are glittering at me with anticipation for allll the dirt. Brynleigh pushes a glass of red wine across the table toward the empty chair they expect me to sit in. The inquisition has begun.
“Do we even have to demand it all at this point?” Jane asks with her shoulders shrugged up toward her ears. I sigh, sitting and shaking my head. I notice Ava is drinking water and quirk a brow her way.
“No. I don’t know. Can’t test yet anyway, but figured I’d start getting used to saying no to the wine. I’m going to miss it.”
“Yeah…” Jane and Sydney sigh in unison before giggling. Jane gladly takes a gulp. She did her time. Three of us left. Two with all the bright possibilities. Brynleigh looks contemplative but doesn’t elaborate. Just sips along with us.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if the two of you get pregnant together?” I ask, considering the havoc those little cousins would cause one day and smiling to myself.
“That’s the hope at least,” Brynleigh mutters, and everyone at the table makes little sounds of delight.
“Babe! We’re back from our run!” Garrett hollers from the foyer with Colin, and Jane jumps up from the table. She takes a whole five steps before freezing and turning to point at me.
“You’re not getting out of this, and don’t you dare start without me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving you out of this conversation,” I answer, dramatically rolling my eyes for emphasis.
“I’m dishing out lasagna. Who else is ready?” Ava asks. Sydney tries to stand and help, but Ava’s not having it. “You sit.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sydney draws out slowly.
“Do you have everything ready for the big day? What else do you need help with? Bags packed? Carseats?”
“All done,” Colin answers, walking into the kitchen and beelining for water bottles in the fridge as Syd nods.
“He’s been a helicopter,” Sydney whispers, doing a double take of Colin’s bent-over figure in the fridge.
The sound of the fridge door latching snaps her out of it.
Bryn and I are snickering as he cracks the top and chugs.
Sydney was not near as randy as Jane during her pregnancy, but it’s still there.
I mean, can you blame her? Colin is the epitome of a thirst trap.
He smirks knowingly at her flushed face.
“Little Miss!” Brynleigh exclaims when Jane makes her way back into the room with Garrett trailing behind her. Colin tosses the unopened bottle of water from the countertop to him. He nods in thanks and proceeds to chug his as well while Jane hands off the smiley baby to Bryn.
Ava serves out plates of lasagna around the table and sets two aside on the counter for the men while Jane warms a bottle for Charlotte.
She notices, and her little grabby fingers start excitedly flailing around.
She knows it’s dinner time. Brynleigh and I both giggle when she eyes the lasagna.
She’s not to the point she’s reaching for our food yet, but she’s definitely started to notice it.
Garrett comes over and holds out arms for Charlie, and she smiles happily, excited hands jerking around for daddy as Bryn offers her up to him.
“Baba and playtime? Mommy says there’s an important discussion not suitable for tiny ears.”
Colin grabs the two plates of lasagna and comes to the table, pressing a kiss to Sydney’s cheek and asking her how she’s feeling.
“I’m all good. Not too many Braxton Hicks. They’re both quiet for the moment.”
Colin smiles and rubs her burgeoning belly before strolling out of the room after Garrett.
“He’s going to be the best daddy,” Ava says in a swoony tone. We all nod in agreement.
“He’s scared. I see it. I’ve noticed he’s not sleeping well, but he hasn’t said a word about what’s going on in his brain.”
“He’s scared something’s going to happen to one of you three. It makes sense with his history,” Ava notes, and we all nod again, watching Sydney’s hands swirl over her belly, rubbing her babies protectively.
“I know, but I don’t know how to make it better.”
“You can’t. Nothing will help until they’re both here and he can see that you’re all okay. What week are we at now?” Jane asks.
“Thirty-four.”
“Almost there. What’s the doc thinking? I know thirty-six weeks is pretty common with twins.”
“There’s a higher risk of certain complications past thirty-six or thirty-seven weeks. We’re aiming for thirty-six and a half, as long as these next two weeks go okay. Colin’s already making random comments about taking off earlier so he can be with me.”
“The dude is cute af. I feel for you both,” Brynleigh reaches out to pat Sydney’s hand in support.
“Okay, I can’t stand it anymore… Holly! What happened over the weekend? Tell me our matchmaking wasn’t fruitless!” Jane blurts out, unable to hold her tongue a second longer.
They squeal in delight at the blush that floods my cheeks.
“It most definitely wasn’t fruitless.”
“So, this thing, this vibe we allll feel wafting off you two, is an actual thing? Has there been more than just those sweet kisses yet?”
I’m not used to being the center of the discussion.
It’s me, typically, rapid-firing questions right along with Jane.
Brynleigh, Jane, Ava, and Sydney stare at me with rapt attention, looking for any clues in my demeanor.
I know I can’t hide the blush from deepening.
My neck and face feel like they’re on fire.
“Oh yeah…”
I cover my ears when the squeal pitches higher.
“Sorry!” Jane whisper-shouts when Garrett peers around the corner of the living room wall with an almost sleeping infant on his chest with wide eyes that scream for us to keep it down.
“You know the drill.”
“When we got stuck because of the rain…” Their eyes widen, ready to devour my story. “The motel kind of only had one hotel room.”
“Shut. The. Front. Door,” Sydney says with such emphasis, I smile.
“With only one bed.” I dip my fork into the cheesy goodness as I drag out the details. Jane grabs Ava’s forearm with glee.
“And I didn’t have any pjs or extra things…”
“Go on.” Brynleigh waves her hand to emphasize the point as she sips her wine.
“So, I had to sleep in his shirt, and we watched a scary movie.”
“Uh-huh…” Ava chimes in, water bottle tipped mid-air toward her lips as she listens intently.
“We kind of lost power right after a really scary scene.”
“Nu-uh…” Jane says shaking her head, waiting for me to put them out of their misery. “Please tell me you somehow ended up in his lap, then on that dick.”
“Maybe…”
More squeals start, then they clap their hands to their mouths and silently finish their squeal as they tap their hands and feet excitedly against the table and floor.
Both men peek around the corner this time, and they don’t bother with the sorry this time.
“How was it?” Ava asks, wide-eyed.
“I saw him in that wet-suit. The man’s packing some serious heeeeat,” Brynleigh tips back the rest of her glass of wine.
Sydney, Jane, and Ava glance her way with gaping mouths, then back at me for confirmation. I shrug innocently.
“He know how to use it?” Jane asks her signature question with quirked brows.
“Magnificently.”
They all clap quietly with glee, eyeing the living room.
“So, why does he call you Cupcake?” Sydney asks.
“Because all he could think about in the motel room was how much I smelled like them. My lotion is to blame.”
“You mean applaud,” Ava blurts.
“Yeah, there’s that.”
“So, all the little touches and comments… He’s totally in this. He wants to lock you down. I see it. We all see it. Is this going to be more than just the motel incident? Just benefits? Or, like, more more? Are you going to finally let him in?” Jane rambles.
I’m quiet as I really think about it–mostly because I’ve been pretty nervous to dissect things. Sydney eyes me closely, then gasps, holding both hands to her mouth.
“You really, really like him. You want this, don’t you? Like, in the beginning, you liked him, but now you really, really, really like him.”
That’s a lot of likes. A soft smile graces my lips, and I nod. They all just grin back knowingly.
“You guys, look at her. I think he could be the one!” Ava says dreamily.
“Wouldn’t that be great?” Brynleigh eyes her sister-in-law.
“Are you all going to start planning my wedding or something?”
“Do you want one?” Jane asks with raised brows as she takes another sip.
“Have you even told your mom about him?” Sydney asks.
“After the last time, I don’t know. And no, it all just started. I haven’t told her yet.”
“Did it really just start though?” Jane asks.
“Fair point. We've been simmering slowly since we met.”
“You both were pining away those few months…” Brynleigh adds just as dreamily as Ava was a minute ago.
“You guys,” Jane deadpans, then her face lights up as we all look to her.
“We actually might have a shot at a whole new baby bestie squad!” Jane whisper-shouts. We all chuckle.
“Hold your horses. Don’t you think that’s jumping the gun a little?” I add.
“A homie can dream.”