Chapter 20 - Jude
JUDE
UNKNOWN: Welcome to the group chat! This is Montana by the way
Iblink at the screen, my eyes narrowing as another message pops up.
UNKNOWN: This is Archer
UNKNOWN: Jensen
UNKNOWN: Mason
UNKNOWN: Bodhi
I assumed Arden would tell her friends but this seems like a bit much. Also, group chat? I honestly don’t like enough people to have one of those.
JUDE: How did you get my number?
MONTANA: I asked Ellison and she has her ways
JENSEN: Probably better you don’t worry about the details—just enjoy the chaos
MASON: It’s going to be awesome!
BODHI: You get used to him
MASON: Hey! You love me! You ALL love me!
ARCHER: That’s unfortunately true
ARCHER: You’ll get used to that too
MONTANA: You’re gonna scare him away
JENSEN: He’s basically your brother-in-law—I think you’re good
ARCHER: Also your wife would never let that happen
MONTANA: That’s true. She’s awesome
JUDE: Well, this has been fun…
MONTANA: We’re having a bonfire tomorrow on my land you should come
JUDE: I’ll see how Arden is feeling
MASON: She probably has book club
ARCHER: No sense trying to rearrange your sock drawer—that excuse didn’t work for me
MONTANA: Stop making it sound like this is going to be terrible
BODHI: You get used to all the feelings
JENSEN: We’re not that bad
ARCHER: We might be
MONTANA: Stop scaring him
MONTANA: Dude come to the house when Arden goes to book club
JUDE: Do they actually read the books?
MASON: That’s not really the point
JUDE: Noted
MONTANA: Great we’ll see you tomorrow
MONTANA: Oh and you can bring your brother—and the dog
ARCHER: He just means you don’t have any excuses not to come
MONTANA: I was trying to be subtle
JENSEN: Flashing billboards are more subtle than you
MONTANA: I’m offended
BODHI: Jude, just put this chat on silent—they’re gonna be a while. See you at the bonfire.
Well, shit.
ARDEN
“Did you give my number to your sister?” Jude asks as he drops a bag of groceries on my counter. Today he decided he’d meal prep here, and I’m too tired to argue. Plus he brought Dez and I can’t wait to put his new jammies on him.
They have little chocolate chip cookies on them and I’m obsessed.
We’ve created a very delicate balance the last few weeks where he cooks for me and I try not to overthink everything as my belly grows.
“What? Of course not,” I answer, surprised and honestly a little hurt that he thinks I would do something like that without asking him.
Turning, he drags his hand down his face. “I’ve been invited to go to a bonfire tomorrow while you’re at book club.”
He says book club as if that’s news to him and it probably is, but in my defense I have no idea what day it is let alone what plans exist for future ones. Still, he’s totally going to hate that.
“That sounds…nice.”
“And I’m in a group chat.”
My mouth forms a perfect O as my eyes widen. “You have to know I would never do that without your permission.”
“I do, but…do you have any idea how many messages there were?”
“Montana is chatty so probably a lot.”
“Like seventy-five before I took Bodhi’s advice and silenced it.”
“They want to get to know you. That’s sweet,” I try but he just stares at me. “It might be fun.”
“I’m old and grouchy; that doesn’t really scream fun.”
“You’ve made me scream plenty and I can assure you, it was definitely fun.”
“That is not the same thing. At all.”
I shrug. “I’m just saying you are fun.”
“What am I gonna talk to them about?” he asks and I can see that under the exasperation, he’s nervous.
“You can talk about how excited you are for the baby. We just went to the sixteen-week appointment so you can talk about that.” His eyes soften and my heart warms. Jude had practically melted when he heard the heartbeat for the first time.
“You can talk about Dez and the bar and how you make me dinner so you can make sure I eat.”
“Arden.”
“What?” I ask seriously as I round the island to stand in front of him.
“I didn’t know how you were going to react when I found out I was pregnant and these are the guys—if you weren’t involved—I knew would make sure the baby and I were taken care of.
” He growls and I place my palm over his heart.
“Show them you’ve got us taken care of.”
“I’ll never get over this town—everyone just all up in everyone else’s business,” he laments, and I chuckle as I wrap my arms around his neck and stand on my toes.
“How about this…” I purr as I wait for his hands to fall to my hips. “You can drop me off at book club and then use me as an excuse to leave when you’re ready.”
“Think that’ll work?”
“I can make a big deal about needing to go home and you can put me on speaker if it makes you feel better.”
He snorts. “We’ll see.”
“And for being such a good sport, if I’m awake enough when we get back here, I’ll give you a blow job.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as I continue, “And if I’m too tired I’ll let you see my boobs and then you can get your blow job in the morning.”
“Looks like everyone wins, Tennessee.”
“I knew you’d see it my way.”