Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Boone
“I want one of those,” Rosie says, reaching for my menu.
I hand her a plastic-coated listing of dinner options from Hillary's House. She squirms in the booth, clutching the menu in her hands for dear life. She gets settled practically on top of Jaxi.
Wade and Oliver had me in the office longer than normal tonight. The Greyshell report came in. We sat around and strategized on the best way to secure the property. When I looked up, it was past six, so I had Jaxi and Rosie take Libby’s car and meet me for dinner.
“What did you two girls do today?” I ask from across the table.
Jaxi puts down her menu. Her eyes sparkle. “Do you want to know what I did today? Really?”
“I asked so …”
She fake glares at me. “I looked into taking some courses for property management. I think I can get a grant to go back to school if I want to.”
“Property management, huh?”
She nods, picking up the water glass the waitress dropped off a few minutes ago. “I’ve always loved houses and buildings and things like that. But I was scrubbing the bathroom floor after someone decided to color on it with a marker.”
Rosie smiles.
“And I realized that there are a lot of Chucks out there. People shouldn’t have to feel the way I did when I was living in Columbus. So, I thought that since I’m basically starting over, I might as well pick something that I could enjoy, and I think I’d enjoy that.”
“I think you’d be great at it.”
“Thanks,” she says, grinning.
“Can we go to the zoo?” Rosie asks out of nowhere.
I furrow my brow. “The zoo? That’s random.”
Jaxi sighs. “Rosie figured out how to watch YouTube on the kitchen television today. I didn’t know you could even do that. I walk in, and she’s watching some cartoon documentary kind of thing on zoos. We watched it six times. At least.”
I fold my hands on the table. “I thought you wanted a puppy?”
“I do,” Rosie says. “But I want to go to the zoo. There are so many animals at the zoo, Boone. You should see. Can we go?”
“We can go,” I say slowly. “But you have to be a big girl and start sleeping in your big girl bed all night long.”
Jaxi fires me a shit-eating grin.
Everywhere I turn, Rosie is there. I can’t get a second alone with Jaxi to save my damn life.
How do people find time to do anything remotely sexual with a toddler on the prowl? I tried to get up early this morning, and guess who else got up?
Rosie.
She’s the cutest little mood-killer ever.
“I don’t really like sleeping alone,” Rosie says, her eyes glued to her menu. She’s too fucking cute.
“Well, I really think you should try sleeping alone. Don’t you want to be a big girl?” I ask.
“Nope.”
Jaxi giggles. “What do you want to eat, Rosie?”
“Um …” Rosie slides her finger down the menu as if she’s weighing the entrée options that she can’t even read. “I’ll have that,” she says, flicking the plastic with the tip of her finger.
I pull the menu down. She’s pointing at prime rib.
“Chicken tenders?” I ask. “Excellent choice.”
“That’s what I want. And a Prite.”
“And a Sprite,” I note. “Feeling a little cute today, are we?”
As if on cue, our waitress comes to our table and collects our orders. She takes the menus back to the kitchen with her.
Jaxi helps Rosie open the coloring crayons that were given to her by the waitress. I stretch my legs out under the table. I’m just about to ask Jaxi if she’s heard from Libby when my phone buzzes next to me.
I don’t recognize the number.
I pick up the phone and read the text.
Danny: This is Danny Coutcher, a friend of Anjelica Grace. She told me that you were interested in the apartment complexes that I have available. When would be a good time to reach you?
I look up at Jaxi and smile. A bubble of excitement ripples through my veins.
Me: It’s good to hear from you. Let’s meet up early next week. Does that work for you?
Danny: It does. I’m open every evening. I’ll reach back out over the weekend and we can confirm a date and time.
Me: Sounds like a plan.
“So, how was your day?” Jaxi asks after getting Rosie settled with the crayons.
“Busy. We’re trying to figure out how to purchase a couple of blocks of land and it all hinges on one property.” I stretch my legs out again. “Wade and I are going to meet with them on Monday, I think, to see if we can make a deal.”
“I’m pretty sure you could convince anyone to do anything.”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “Do you think so?”
She nods.
I lower my voice. “Then let’s hope someone sleeps in their own bed so we can find out.”
Jaxi throws her head back and laughs.
It kills me that I haven’t slept with her yet. It eats me alive. I lay awake every night and think about it, but Rosie is always lurking. I figure it’s more important right now to make sure Rosie is adjusted. So I keep adjusting myself.
I can’t do it much longer, though. I’m only human.
“So, that property management stuff …” I try to switch gears. “Did you find anything out that interests you for sure?”
“No,” she says. “But I did see something else that interested me today.”
“What’s that?”
Her eyes glimmer with mischief. “I saw a light on at Ted’s.
I don’t think it was him because I didn’t see his car.
It came on and then popped off a few minutes later.
So …” She grins. “I called the police and reported that my cousin is out of town and no one should be there. You know, just in case Kimmy was over there pawing through Lib’s stuff. ”
“Ooh, I like this side of you,” I tease.
She shrugs. “Libby doesn’t deserve what Ted did to her. I’m just glad that we were able to go over there and get most of her stuff.” She cringes. “I’m sorry that your garage is full of Libby’s things.”
That’s an understatement.
I have no idea what all is piled in the spot my car is supposed to go, but it’s a lot. Boxes and trunks and suitcases from Libby’s are lined up. All of the stuff from Rosie’s room is in there too. That’s not to mention the other shit I had in there. There’s not even room for my car anymore.
“I need a bigger garage,” I say. “And maybe a bigger house.”
“Your house is just fine.”
“It’s cramped. Don’t you think?”
She looks at me like she hopes I’m joking.
“What?” I ask. “The living room is full of Rosie’s toys.”
“Your mom’s fault.”
“My closet is full of my clothes, let alone yours.”
“I have like six things. That’s all you.”
I raise my brows. “But you’re going to have to fill your wardrobe again. You need more clothes.”
“I do not.”
I sigh. “Anyway, I think a bigger house might be nice.”
“No. You are not buying a bigger house.”
Rosie scribbles away. “Can we get a puppy at the bigger house?”
Jaxi kisses her on the side of the head. “We are not getting a bigger house, Rosie.”
I start to piece together my pitch to win her over on the idea when a voice calls out to me.
“Well, hey there, Boone.”
I look over my shoulder and see Marcus Van coming toward me.
“Hey, Marcus,” I say, clasping my hand with his. “What are you doing around here?”
“I was golfing over here with some guys from the team and had to come here. I love their spaghetti.”
“I agree. Their sauce is just … it stands out from the crowd,” I say with an eye on Jaxi.
Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t make eye contact with me.
“Jax, this is Marcus Van. He plays baseball for the minor league team here in Savannah,” I say. “Marcus, this is my girlfriend, Jaxi Thorpe.”
The word just rolls off my tongue. My girlfriend. On the one hand, it sounds so juvenile. On the other, it sounds perfect. And being that Marcus is one good-looking dude, I’m not mad that he now knows that Jaxi isn’t available.
Fucker.
Marcus’s eyes go wide for a second before he turns to Jaxi. “Nice to meet you, Jaxi.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she says.
He turns back to me. “How the hell did I miss you getting a girlfriend?”
“She fell into my lap.” I look at Jaxi and laugh. “Didn’t you?”
“Very funny,” she says, firing me a warning glare.
Marcus slaps me on the shoulder. “So, are we still going to Vegas next week, or is that off the table now that you have a girlfriend?”
Jaxi’s gaze immediately hits the table. She becomes focused on Rosie’s coloring page.
Vegas. Shit. I’d forgotten all about the trip. We go often—too often, probably. It’s a fun way to burn off energy and enjoy life before we get saddled with wives.
Or girlfriends.
Marcus grins.
I can’t go now. What am I supposed to do—leave Wade to figure out Greyshell by himself? He’ll be forced to take Oliver, and then Oliver will steal the glory that rightfully belongs to me. Plus, Jaxi and Rosie are too raw to fend for themselves. They need me.
Besides, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there, and I don’t have any interest in that right now.
“I’m going to have to opt out,” I tell him. “I was going to call you tomorrow.”
“Sure you were.” His chest rumbles with his laugh. “I get it. It looks like you have something worth staying home for.”
Jaxi lifts her eyes to meet mine. Our gazes dance together over the table.
“I most certainly do,” I tell Marcus.
“Alright. Well, I’m going to get out of here,” he says. “It was nice meeting you, Jaxi.”
“You too.”
“If he gives you any problems, you give me a call.” Marcus winks at her. “Later, Mason.”
“See ya around,” I say as he walks away. Once he’s out of earshot, I lean toward her. “Don’t give him a call. He’s a lot of trouble.”
“Then why were you going to Vegas with him?” She lifts her brow, teasing me.
“Who am I supposed to take to Vegas? Oliver? Wade?” I cringe. “Vegas is for fun, not calculating the odds and stressing yourself out because of how much money you’re losing.”
She laughs.
Lola, the waitress, arrives with our food. She sets a plate in front of each of us and warns Rosie not to touch hers because it’s too warm.
“Can I get you anything else?” Lola asks.
“A zoo,” Rosie says between blows on her chicken strip.
“I think we’re out of those,” Lola says. “Any water? Ketchup?”
“I think we’re fine,” Jaxi says. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem. Enjoy.”
We sit quietly for a few minutes. My burger was sent out with vegetables on it, so I pick them off. I get the pickle off the bun when Jaxi’s stare catches my attention.
I raise a brow.
“You know,” she says, “you should go to Vegas if you want to. I don’t want you canceling stuff because of us.”
I bite off the end of a fry. “If I wanted to go, I would. Unfortunately for Vegas, it’s being outshined at the moment.”
She grins. “Is that so?”
“Yup. Unless you want to go. We can have a lot of fun there.” I wiggle my brows.
“I want to go,” Rosie says, a glob of barbecue sauce pooled at the edge of her mouth. “Take me with you.”
“I thought you wanted the zoo? Will you make up your mind?” I ask her.
“Zoo! Zoo!”
Jaxi laughs as she wipes Rosie’s face. She’s an unwilling participant in getting a clean face.
“Did you give your mother my phone number?” Jaxi asks.
“Maybe.” I eat another fry. “Why?”
“She called me today and asked if I thought Rosie would like to play with a little girl named Bree.”
“Bree is the little girl who Bellamy babysits. She’s a little wild but fun. I think Rosie might like her even though she’s quite a bit older. Might be good for her.”
“Well, apparently your mom is going to Coy’s tomorrow with Wade.”
Rosie perks up. “I like Wade.”
“We know,” I deadpan.
Jaxi chuckles.
“I want to play with Wade,” Rosie says, dancing in her seat. “Can I?”
Jaxi looks at me as if she’s waiting on an answer.
“I think she might have fun,” I offer. “Might be good for her to start making some friends.”
“Do you wanna go?” Jaxi asks. “Do you want to go with Siggy and meet a little girl tomorrow?”
“And Wade?” she asks through a mouthful of chicken.
“And Wade,” Jaxi agrees.
“Then yup!”
I sit back in my seat and laugh.
I never knew I would be so grateful for Wade.
Life just gets weirder by the second.