Chapter 21 - Taevin #2
“As much as I’d love to explore all of those changes, we should probably get going to your brother’s house. That is, unless you’d like to stay here instead?” I ask, hopeful to get out of the event entirely. “You said your parents won’t be there, right?”
His brow creases momentarily. “I think my mom might come, but she said my dad is out of town.” The tension that was growing in my shoulders eases slightly.
Jax peppers kisses across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose before promising, “We just need to make an appearance for a couple hours. Honestly, we can only stay for like three hours max so we can get you home in time to do your shots.”
The reminder of my shots doesn’t produce the same unease it typically does because he just said he needed to get me home—as in this beautiful house he built with only me in mind.
The words flood my system and sink into my bones, causing a new melody to spring to life in my head. Knowing I need to get it on paper as quickly as possible, I push Jax back just enough to scoot off the counter.
“I’m going to get cleaned up and I’ll be right back out,” I shout over my shoulder as I rush to my room. As I run the water over a washcloth in my bathroom, I hum out the melody as lyrics begin to come to me.
You’re my revival,
My place of survival,
Your arms are the home I never lost.
I might be fragile,
But you make me whole again,
Make me sing again, my muse.
I type the lyrics in my notes app, promising myself I’ll put them to paper later when we get home. After adding a reminder to have Kyle ship my favorite songwriting guitar to Jackson’s house, I walk out of my bedroom feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
My melodies are coming back to me, and instead of the heartbreak and grief they’ve been riddled with for so many years, I’m finally able to write about something lighthearted—like falling again for the boy who was once my whole world.
In all honesty, Jackson Wilson has always been my muse.
I’d say my heart’s revival album is long overdue.
We make our rounds as Jax introduces me to his teammates and their significant others if they have one. So far, I haven’t recognized any of them and I’m anxious for Carson and McKenna to arrive so I can see some familiar faces.
Just then, Bennett joins us on the back patio with a young boy on his shoulders and his new bride, who I recognize as Scarlett Carlisle, the newest and youngest owner of the Minnesota Wolverines, beside him.
Jax wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in as they approach us with big smiles on their faces.
“Taevin, hey! I’m so glad you could join us today. How are you feeling?” Scarlett asks, surprising me when she brings me in for a hug.
Somewhat stunned, I pat her back awkwardly when Bennett tells her, “Little Red, not everyone is a hugger like you.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. It’s just with all I’ve heard about you lately, I feel like we’re old friends,” she explains.
I side eye Jackson and the little shit winks back at me.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind the hug. I mean, I would’ve hugged you on your wedding day had I not made such a dramatic exit.”
“How are you feeling now?” Scarlett asks me.
“My incisions are nearly healed, it’s the exhaustion at this point. Add in the hormone injections Jax is poking me with each night and I am just a hormonal, tired mess at this point.”
“What are the injections for? And why in the hel—heck are you trusting J to give them to you?” Bennett asks, and I’m somewhat surprised he doesn’t already know considering how close he and Jax are.
“I’m getting injections to prep for my upcoming egg retrieval this week,” I explain.
Bennett’s eyebrows shoot up, and as he opens his mouth to respond, Scarlett cuts in. “Oh, I didn’t know that! My stepmom did IVF to have Gemma, of course that was sixteen years ago and I was pretty young, but I remember the injections being tough on her. When is your procedure?”
“Thursday,” I reply.
“Well now that we’re back from our honeymoon, let us know if there’s anything we can help with. I’d love to make you dinner sometime this week if that’s okay with you.”
“Really? That’d be amazing,” I tell her, then turning to look up at Jax. “Do you think maybe we could have them over for dinner?”
Jax squeezes my hip, and the small gesture warms my chest. “Of course, baby.”
I feel like I need to pinch myself right now.
As if standing here with Jax, meeting all of his teammates and being introduced to his new family members, wasn’t already making me feel overwhelmingly grateful, now he’s claiming me in front of everyone once more with his arms around me and calling me “baby.” I can’t begin to explain how amazing that feels after convincing myself for years that I’d never get to experience any of this with him.
“Shut up! Is that my favorite secret sister-in-law talking to my other favorite sister-in-law?” a shrill voice asks just before her bouncing blonde curls come into view.
“Walker!” I squeal just as Jackson intercepts his sister moments before she was about to crash into my open arms for a hug.
“Dubs, be careful!” Jackson scolds her. “Taevin just had surgery a few weeks ago, and she’s not even cleared to lift more than fifteen pounds.”
Walker’s eyes widen, and she brings her hand to her mouth to cover her gasp. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, Tae! I didn’t even think of that.”
I can’t stop the lighthearted laugh that escapes. “It’s honestly okay, Walker. No harm done. I missed you so much!” Pushing Jax to the side, I bring Walker in for as tight of a hug as I can muster.
“It’s been so long. Too long! And how in the hell didn’t I know that my brother was married to my favorite freaking artist?” Walker questions, pulling back to take me in as she shakes her head at me and then Jackson.
“Well considering I didn’t even know we were still married, you’ll have to take that one up with your big brother.”
“Wait, Uncle Jaxy is married to Taevy Gray?” the little boy on Bennett’s shoulders asks, and I’m obsessed with the way he just said my name. Is it possible to change my name to Taevy now?
“Her name is Taevin Gray, Bug,” Scarlett corrects the boy.
“And what’s your name, handsome?” I ask him.
“Gunner!” he tells me.
Jackson points to a teenage girl who joins us, standing beside Scarlett. “Tae, this is my niece Gemma—she’s like, your biggest fan—and that little man is my nephew, Gunner.”
“Pleasure to meet you—” I start but bite my lip to hold back a laugh because Gemma is looking at me wide-eyed like she might faint at any moment.
Gemma turns in slow motion to her sister. “Scar! Why didn’t you tell me my literal hero would be at our house?”
Scarlett and Bennett both chuckle and shake their heads at Gemma.
“Wait, you look so familiar. Did you by chance have backstage passes to see me this spring when I performed in Minnesota?” I ask her.
“I did! Ohmygodsheremembersme!” Gemma squeals, turning to Walker and hugging her around her waist. “Did you hear that? Taevin freaking Gray remembers me.”
Walker rolls her eyes as she pats Gemma’s head. “Sure did! You’re pretty freaking memorable, Gems. Who could forget a personality like you?”
Jackson nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck, and I giggle when his scruff tickles my sensitive skin. “I’d say you worried for nothing. Not sure the Taevin Gray could mess up meeting my family and friends. Everyone here has stars in their eyes for my girl, and rightfully so.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach hearing the possessive way he calls me his girl.
Unable to resist teasing him, I taunt, “So your plan is to just skip right over the hard conversations and go straight to claiming me in front of everyone you know?”
I immediately regret my word choice when he stiffens behind me.
His deep inhale brushes against my back before he leans in and whispers against the shell of my ear, “We can have all the hard conversations whenever you want, Tae. Regardless, I’m not going anywhere.”
I let his words sink in and ease any remaining anxiety I had about being here today. Knowing we can have the hard conversations later, I squeeze his hands that are wrapped around my waist. “I’m holding you to that, Bear.”
“You do that, baby,” Jax murmurs against my skin before kissing my temple.
Just then I spot McKenna and Griffin walking toward us with a little boy on Griff’s hip. A smile lifts my lips as I take in how happy they look. When they get closer, a girl I vaguely recognize comes running up and holds McKenna’s hand.
“Tae, I know you remember Griff and Kenna, but this is their daughter Cadence.” He points to the beautiful blonde girl who looks much older than nine due to her height.
“And this chubby little man is their son Rowen.” I watch with a sinking heart as Jackson grabs Rowen from Griff’s arms and lifts him in the air above his head before settling him on his hip as if he’s done the move hundreds of times.
“Cades is nine now and Rowen just turned one, didn’t you buddy?
” Jax tickles the little boy’s chunky belly, and it’s all so adorable but mostly overwhelming because how is Cadence already nine?
Nine years old. She’s so tall, her smile is so bright, and from how she’s greeting and interacting with both the adults and kids right now, I’d say she’s probably a great kid.
Nine years.
How has it already been nine years?
God, I don’t think I can do this right now.
God? What has he done for you in all these years except steal everything good and pure?
“It’s so nice to see you both again, and it’s a pleasure to meet you Rowen and Caden-ce—” my voice cracks as I say the girl’s name. Bringing my hand to cover my mouth, I choke back a sob that threatens to escape. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling well,” I say before taking off toward the house.
I make it to the entryway inside the house just as Jax calls out, “Baby, wait up.”
Freezing in place, I brace my lower stomach, willing this uneasiness I’m feeling to subside.