17. Kiley #4
I sigh at his reaction, knowing a fight is brewing. “Buddy, you’re tired, and we need to go home.”
“I’m not tired!”
“Yes, you are,” I argue. “Zander, we will be coming to a lot of games. I promise you will get another chance to go down the slide.”
“No!” He’s giving me his stink eye, and we’re probably five seconds away from a temper tantrum.
“Zander, listen to your mother,” Jax’s stern voice commands from the doorway. “Get off the slide like she asked.”
Zander’s demeanor changes, and he hurriedly gets off the slide and runs to Jax. He stops short of colliding into his legs and looks up at him.
“What do you say to your mom?” Jax advises.
Zander turns and looks at me. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
Before I can respond, Jax asks him. “Do you know what you’re sorry for?”
Zander slowly nods. “For not listening.”
“Always listen to your mom, kiddo.” Jax grabs Zander’s hand, and they both look at me. “You ready to go?”
The sight of the two of them together has me rooted into place.
Jax taking control of Zander and sticking up for me was so hot that my insides are mush.
Damn him for making me forget that I’m supposed to be cool as a cucumber around him.
I swallow down the lump that’s formed in my throat and nod.
“Thank you.” We tell Erin goodbye and walk out of the room.
My dad and Jax’s family are waiting outside the family lounge for us. They watch us walk toward them, and I see a small smile play on Jackie’s lips as she looks at Jax holding Zander’s hand.
“Dad!” Chloe runs to Jax, and he drops Zander’s hand in order to catch her when she flings herself into his arms. Zander watches the two of them closely, making me wonder what is going through his brain. I grab his hand and then give it a squeeze when he looks up at me.
“Great game, son,” Dan tells Jax when he goes in for a hug after Chloe. “That was a brilliant goal you scored.”
“Maybe Kiley and Zander are your good luck charms,” Marcie comments with a twinkle in her eye. I give her a questioning look and she smirks.
“Maybe they are,” Jax agrees, gazing at me in such a way that the butterflies in my stomach swirl. This feeling like a shy schoolgirl around him is something I’m not used to, and I know I’m blushing.
I feel my father’s gaze on me and decide it’s time to go home. “We better get going. It’s pretty late.”
“Let us walk you to the doors you need to exit out of to get to the parking lot. It isn’t far.” Jax leads us to the elevators, and we all pile in one.
We go up one level, and when we exit the elevator, he points to the right where a set of double doors are. “Just exit there and you will see the lot across the street.”
I turn to say goodbye to his family. “It was so nice meeting all of you.” My dad, Zander and I give hugs to his parents and sister.
“Hopefully we’ll see you in the post-season, but if not, please come visit us in Canada,” Jackie offers with a whisper in my ear after giving me a squeeze.
“Thank you,” I tell her before pulling back and turning my attention to Chloe. “I will see you in a couple of days. Zander made a list of all the things we’re going to show you.”
“Great,” she responds, but then frowns. “It’s not all boy things, is it?”
I chuckle. “No, I promise even you will like it.”
“Cool.”
Jax stands next to Chloe and puts his arm around her shoulders. “You’re going to enjoy everything they show you,” he warns her with a gentle smile.
I chuckle. “It’s okay if she doesn’t.” I get serious since I need to thank him for his generosity once again for inviting us to the game. “We had a great time tonight. Thanks again for the tickets and congrats on your goal.”
“You’re welcome. See you on Monday.” He gives me a polite smile, and I wonder if he can feel everyone watching us like I can.
With nothing left to say and feeling slightly awkward, we say our goodbyes and exit the double doors.
My dad gets Zander into the car while I turn it on to warm up. I use Zander’s coat as a blanket and cover him up once he’s buckled into his car seat. After we’re settled, I drive us out of the parking lot and on to the main road.
It’s quiet in the car for the first five minutes. I glance in my rearview mirror and see Zander’s already asleep. My dad’s quiet, and at first I think he might be snoozing until I give him a side glance and see he’s awake.
“You okay, Dad?”
“Yup, just reflecting on my observations.”
That means my dad is deep in thought. I smile, loving how philosophical he can be sometimes. “What observations did you make?”
I can sense him turning toward me. “Just observing you and Jax together.”
My smile falls off my face, and I frown. “There is nothing to observe.”
He’s quiet before answering, “If you say so, lassie.”
I turn on some soothing music, and a couple minutes later, my dad starts to nod off.
I take a deep sigh and continue the drive to his house.
If my father is sensing there is something more between Jax and I, then his family probably did as well.
I have to remember to have a better poker face and keep reminding myself that Jax Morrow is off-limits.
I’ve been a single mom for five years—I can handle not developing feelings for my handsome, kind, generous boss who also is great with my kid…right?