19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Robert
Jackson had texted me when he had landed, asking if I would meet him and Aiden at the Main Street Diner around six. From L.A. they had hopped on a smaller plane and flown into the small airfield that Sweet Alps housed, so that they wouldn’t be home too late in the evening.
Pulling into the parking lot, I saw an empty spot next to Jackson’s car and took it. Locking my car, I smoothed my pale blue button down. Tugging it away from my belly, I frowned. All the indulging with Jackson at dinner, drinking grown-up shakes, and eating fries, was starting to show. Not to mention all the little treats he was always bringing me from The Sweet Spot when he stopped to get coffee .
My shirt, or maybe it was my pants, felt just a bit snug. I’d need to add an extra mile on my stationary bike and order a salad or two.
Nervously, I walked up to the diner, my eyes instantly finding Jackson sitting in a booth through the wide front window of the restaurant. My heart leaped at the sight of him. He looked so handsome, as he pointed out something to Aiden on the kid’s menu in front of him.
I adored Aiden, and he was always so well behaved, but how was he going to react to Jackson and me dating? I had no idea, and my stomach was flip flopping nervously thinking about it.
Aiden looked up, and seeing me standing on the sidewalk, his face broke into a huge smile. Waving furiously at me, Jackson turned his head, catching my eyes. The smile he gave me was soft, radiant, his eyes saying so many things. That look he was giving me made me forget about everything else. My nerves, the extra pounds I was fretting about. All of it flew right out the window, as I stood and basked in the heated look that he had just for me.
Smiling at them, I made my way past the crowd waiting for an open booth or table. The smells of the diner hit me, and I got a little queasy as the scent of grease and cooking meat assaulted me. Definitely having a salad.
“Hi,” I said softly, as Jackson stood and then slid into the booth next to Aiden, leaving the side across from them empty for me .
“Hi.” There was so much in that simple word, when he said it low and husky in his deep voice. It wrapped around me, settling straight in my cock. Good thing there was a thick table to hide my bulge.
“Hi, Mr. Robert!” Aiden boomed, and Jackson bent down to whisper in his ear, “Inside voice.”
“Sorry,” Aiden whispered, “my ears are still plugged.”
“From the plane?” I asked, thanking the server when he slid a menu in front of me, along with a glass of water. Aiden nodded, picking up a red crayon, then switching it for blue. “My ears pop when I fly too.”
Aiden stared at me for a few seconds, his head cocked to the side. Then he bluntly asked, “Are you my daddy’s boyfriend?”
Shooting Jackson an anxious look, he gave me a wink and a small nod.
“I am,” I confirmed, though the term boyfriend felt super strange, given my age. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yep,” he popped the p loudly. “I like you a lot, and daddy says you make him happy.”
“Oh,” I choked, not knowing what to say to that. Seemed like Aiden and Jackson had quite a talk on the plane ride home. “He, ah, makes me happy too.”
We were interrupted by our server taking our order, and I couldn’t miss Jackson’s fierce frown when I ordered a house salad .
“You need something besides rabbit food,” he told me softly.
Shaking my head, I put a hand on my churning stomach. “A salad is fine. Besides, my pants are getting a bit tight.”
“You look beautiful,” Jackson told me, giving me a heated look that had the server looking away with a smile.
“You always say that.”
The corner of his lip turned up in a smile that had me flushing more than I already was. “Because it’s true.”
“We’re having shakes, Mr. Robert,” Aiden announced, interrupting our moment, blissfully unaware of what was happening between Jackson and me. “You should have one with us. They make the bestest shakes here. This is where my birthday shake was from.”
What was it with these Sobek men and ice cream? If only I had their metabolism.
“I do like them,” I told him, handing the server my menu. “But I think I’ve had a few too many lately.” I patted my belly, and Jackson frowned again, while he ordered for himself and Aiden.
“If you want something else, make sure to order it,” he told me.
“I’m fine, J,” I assured him, my insides warming and turning to absolute goo when he reached across the table to take my hand in his. I didn’t miss a few appreciative glances thrown his way by some of the omegas in the restaurant, and I sat up a little straighter knowing he was mine.
“Daddy said maybe we can have a movie night this Friday.” Aiden colored the back of his menu, where there were games and a picture to keep the little ones occupied. “He said we can invite you, Mr. Robert, so you’re invited.”
“Maybe Mr. Robert can bring his pajamas and stay the night.” Jackson waggled his brows at me, and I felt myself blush.
“Maybe,” I said, non-committedly, laughing when he stuck his lower lip out in an adorable pout.
My nerves started to settle after that, glad that Aiden seemed to be just fine with his dad and me dating. I wasn’t sure what I had imagined his reaction might be, but clearly I had made a mountain out of a mole hill in my head. Aiden was a very gentle, kind, and understanding child, but I knew I was the first person Jackson had dated since Levi had passed. But Aiden had been just a baby, and only knew Levi through what Jackson and his family told him. Perhaps because of that, accepting me into his dad’s life–into their lives–was easier for him. I wasn’t trying to replace his omega father, and I wasn’t competing with his memory.
While we ate, Jackson and Aiden told me all about their trip. Aiden went through all the presents he had gotten, to which Jackson moaned about trying to get everything to fit into their luggage. Finally telling his parents he would pay to have some of the items shipped.
Dinner finished, we left the restaurant, Aiden’s hand in Jackson’s and his other arm wound tightly around my shoulders, holding me close to his side.
“I’m parked next to you,” I told him, as we made our way to the parking lot.
“Good,” he grinned at me, “because I got you something. Means I don’t have to trek it across the parking lot.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I looked around the fairly small parking lot. “Because this place is so big. And you didn’t need to bring me anything.” Though I was secretly thrilled. Jane had only believed in gift giving for birthdays and Christmas. And then it had pretty much been a gift card or something equally useful, that she hadn’t bothered to put much thought behind. She had never just bought me something just because.
“I’m jet lagged,” he faked a yawn. “And, really? We’ve been over this. Love language, remember?”
“I helped pick it out,” Aiden told me proudly.
“I’m sure I’ll love it,” I told them both, as Jackson dug into his carry on and pulled out a white plastic bag, with an airport logo on it.
“Don’t let the bag fool you,” he told me seriously, “this is absolutely a must have gift.”
I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me. “I can’t wait. ”
“Brace yourself,” he still clutched the bag to his chest, and Aiden shouted, “Give it to him, Daddy!”
“Yeah, Daddy, give it to me!” I made a grab for the bag, then realized how that had sounded.
Jackson grinned at me, “Oh, I kinda like that!”
“Stop!” I pointed at Aiden. “Little ears. Behave yourself. Now let me see this wondrous gift you have bestowed on me.”
Reaching into the bag, I pulled out the soft plushie, running my fingers over the fluffy green fur.
“It’s a crocodile!” Aiden shouted in glee. “Like daddy!”
Hugging it to my chest, I grinned at Jackson, who was now the one looking a little flushed. He shrugged, “It’s dumb, but I don’t know. I thought it was cute, and you could put it on your bed or something.”
“I love it,” I told him truthfully, clutching the stuffed crocodile to my chest.
He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You can tell me if you hate it,” he whispered, “we’re not teenagers, so if you don’t–”
Placing a finger over his lips to hush him, I repeated, “I love it.”