Chapter 15
Ethan
Who put speakers in the kitchen?
It’s the morning after Christmas, and I wake to the sound of Jax and Aurora singing “Sure Thing” by Miguel—a song old enough for me to know.
I was in my early twenties when it came out, in what I thought was the highlight of my life: a pro athlete with a million-dollar contract, finally out of poverty and free to do whatever I wanted.
The song played in clubs, bars, at the arena, pretty much everywhere, but I never felt the lyrics until now.
I slip quietly around the corner and lean against the wall, just like I did last night, simply to observe. Aurora sits in Reece’s lap at the table. His arm encircles her, his hand splayed over her rounded stomach.
His lips are on her neck, his gaze on his phone, but I know he hears me.
He probably clocked me the second I stepped out of bed, even with the music playing.
He did last night too, but he ignored me and let Jackson ramble—which I appreciate.
Every ridiculous thing Jax says or does seems to make me fucking happy.
Jackson stands at the stove in the middle of the island, shirtless.
He’s stirring batter, his shoulders bopping to the music, his muscles shifting beneath smooth skin as he moves.
His basketball shorts ride low on his hips, the waistband of his Calvin Klein boxers peeking out, and I find myself staring at his defined abs and that tempting V-line.
“Even when the sky comes falling,” he croons, then points the spatula at Aurora as if it were a microphone. Drops of batter fall to the floor, but he’s too caught up in her to care.
She giggles and replies, “Even when the sun don’t shine.”
They both lean in, brows pinched and eyes alight with laughter, and sing to each other, “I got faith in you and I.”
I won’t lie—my eyelids sting. If this is my life, I hope I live forever. Watching them is better than watching any game, any team, any championship. They’re my favorite.
That’s when it hits me: I don’t have a favorite team anymore—I have a favorite player. And that’s how I know my coaching career is definitely over. The only reason I own and manage a team is for him, to live in New York, to keep them safe.
I push off the wall and go to Aurora first, leaning down to kiss her lips. “Good morning, beautiful.”
She smiles up at me, those whiskey eyes glinting with happiness. “Morning.”
Reece nods at me, his hand never leaving her belly. That’s new. He’s never shown much interest in feeling the baby’s movements before. Unless…
“Is the baby moving okay?” I twine Aurora’s braid around my fist.
“He hasn’t yet this morning,” she answers. “But he was up boxing or doing gymnastics during the night.”
“She just needs to eat,” Jackson adds.
Reece shakes his head. “Not pancakes again.”
She glances up at him. “I said I’d skip the syrup, and I’m eating lots of fruit.” She gestures to a bowl of berries.
“Okay,” he relents, but he doesn’t seem convinced. He kisses her forehead. “Drink some more orange juice please.”
Mentally, I make a note to schedule a doctor’s appointment and turn to Jackson, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. God, I can’t believe my stubborn ass could’ve missed out on this.
I breathe him in—sleep and warmth and sunshine. “Good morning, baby boy,” I murmur, just for him.
He relaxes into me, still stirring the pancake batter. “Morning. Coffee’s ready.” He sways to the rhythm of the music. “It’s such a sure thing,” he mumbles, another lyric.
“It’s such a sure thing,” I sing along, but it’s one hundred percent the truth. There’s no me without them, and not a single thing I wouldn’t do for them.
I graze my lips along the shell of his ear, and he shivers. I trail my fingers down his stomach, and he pushes his ass into my groin.
“Stop it,” he chuckles. “You’re making me hard.”
“Doesn’t take much.” I reach around him, snag a blueberry from the container on the counter, and pop it into my mouth. “Will you make me some bacon?”
“Will you suck my cock?” he throws back, a smile in his tone.
Heat floods my face, sweat beads on my skin, but my dick thickens.
I can’t grasp the conflicting emotions twisting inside me.
I shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed—I go down on Aurora with no trace of humiliation.
This shouldn’t be any different. I don’t think any less of Jax for getting on his knees for me. I fucking love it.
Plus, this is Jackson. He says whatever pops into his mind without a filter, and he never misses an opportunity to talk about his dick.
At my lack of response, he turns his head to search my expression. “Hey, I’m only messing with you. I planned to make bacon and eggs for you.”
“It’s fine.” I rest my chin on his shoulder and tighten my grip around his waist, stroking his side with my thumb. “You just caught me off guard.”
“You sure?” He adds the blueberries to the batter and continues to stir.
I place a kiss under his ear. “Yeah, I’m sure. And I would, you know, if you wanted me to.”
He takes my hand from his hip and cups it over his semi-erect cock. “Anytime you’d like. Feel free to do anything you want to me.”
Aurora clears her throat from across the kitchen. “Okay, you two, enough. I’m already pregnant. You can stop.”
I laugh, relieved by the interruption, and reluctantly release Jax. Before heading to the coffeemaker, I slap his ass. “Eat quick and get dressed. We need to go cause a scene.”