by Steph Nuss
Most of our friends stopped listening when Justin went off on tangents like this, talking about topics none of us knew or really cared about, but I cared because it was obvious he did. “I’ve never been to a ballet, but I’d like to someday.”
“Really?” he asked incredulously. “You have to see a ballet. I’ll take you.”
I felt my skin flush. “I don’t think I own anything fancy enough to wear to a ballet.”
“Sure you do,” he replied earnestly. “You have that gray dress that matches your eyes.”
He knows the contents of my closet and which pieces go with my eyes?
“You know the color of my eyes?” I teased in a soft voice.
He stifled more laughter to keep from waking Seghen, and looked down at me with that gleam in his eyes that he had when he talked about the ballet. “So, will you go with me to the ballet? The Sleeping Beauty won’t be in production right now, but we could see The Nutcracker.”
A smile spread wide across my face as I nodded. “I’d love to.”
“And you’ll wear the gray dress?” he asked, crooking a brow playfully.
“A fan of that one, are you?” I teased, nudging his arm.
“Yeah, I am,” he answered honestly. His deep, seductive tone totally caught me off guard and electrified my body at the same time.
I nodded silently, too confused and aroused to reply. The more alone time I spent with him, the more I realized I would never get over him. No matter how many other guys I dated, none of them would compare to him. My mind and body were like magnets to Justin, fascinated by every piece he gave so freely each time he opened up. I’d been in love with his body for years, but falling in love with his mind seduced me now more than ever.
The heat from our close proximity fueled my desire to kiss him. Instead, I gave Seghen a chaste kiss on the top of her hand, and stood up and smiled at Justin. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure,” he whispered. “I’ll take a water.”
“Okay.” I headed into the kitchen, desperately in need of water myself, as I focused my attention on my surroundings. I was still amazed by Harper and Maverick’s penthouse, despite having been here numerous times. Originally, it’d been Harper’s, but Maverick moved in and now called this place home. It looked like the inside of a modern day castle with its limestone walls and marble flooring. Limestone pillars separated the kitchen from the open living and dining rooms, and the cream and brown colors made the space warm and inviting. I found the cabinet of glasses and filled two with water, and carried them back into the living room with me.
When I set Justin’s down on the coffee table in front of him, he nudged the back of my thigh. Turning to face him, I was met with a cringe masking his features, and he nodded toward Seghen. “Do you smell that? Please tell me it’s not her. Something so cute should not be able to smell that bad.”
I took in the rotten smell and leaned down to sniff Seghen’s diaper. “It’s not her.”
“Where is that smell coming from then?” Justin asked.
Pulling my sweatshirt up to cover my nose, I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
When a tail started pounding against the leather arm chair, Justin and I turned our heads to find Axel curled up in the chair, tongue out and panting.
“Seriously, Axel …” I whined, waving my hand in the air. “What did you eat? A carton of eggs?”
“I knew it had to come from one of Maverick’s children,” Justin muttered, shaking his head. “That’s about how bad Mav’s farts are.”
“Gross,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “I’m going to go find some spray to cover the smell.”
“You might want to get yourself another glass of water, too,” Justin laughed.
Twisting around, I found Axel drinking out of my glass, his big tongue sloshing water all over the coffee table. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Walking into the kitchen, Axel followed close behind me like a miniature horse, just waiting to see how else he could get my attention. I grabbed a rag and cleaned up the water in the living room, and then filled a new glass with water and curled up at the end of the couch.
Leaning my head back against the couch, I sighed and closed my eyes. A paw tapped my leg and before I knew it, Axel jumped onto the couch, turned in a circle twice and sprawled out over Justin and me. He rested his back legs on top of Justin’s, draping the rest of his body over my side.
“You probably thought we’d only be watching Seghen tonight,” Justin said, smiling.
Axel rested his head on my shoulder and stared at me. I laughed and began rubbing his ears. “Clearly, someone wasn’t getting enough attention.”
“They treat him like a child.”
“Most people do.” At the sound of my voice, Axel scooted closer and licked my face. “Did you ever have a pet growing up?”
“No,” Justin smirked. “Pets were considered a distraction. What about you?”
“We couldn’t afford them.” Petting his soft, gray fur, I showered Axel with my attention, remembering all the times I’d wished I had a dog as a kid. His big brown eyes shuttered closed as I continued rubbing his ear with one hand and his belly with the other. He made himself comfortable by stretching his front legs over my hips.
“He’s in heaven right now.”
“So is she,” I said, eyeing Seghen still sound asleep on his chest with her pacifier hanging out of her mouth.
“Yeah, she is,” Justin said, moving the blanket further up on her shoulders.
“You’re really good with her.” My gaze moved from Seghen up to Justin, and I found a weak smile pulling at his lips as he looked down at Seghen with admiration dancing in his eyes. “Do you want your own kids someday?”
He sighed. “Yeah, I do. I used to think I’d end up alone, and thought I’d be okay with that because I didn’t have that many friends back then and I certainly wasn’t having any luck with the ladies.”
“But now?”
“Now, I find myself wanting the same things our friends have: love, kids, maybe even a dog who acts like a kid.”
I laughed, nodding. “I know what you mean.”
“I don’t even have to ask if you want kids,” he said, teasingly. “I’m sure you have the genders and names all picked out already, right?”
Maybe, I thought, as I replied, “I just want happy, healthy babies. Their names can be figured out later.”
***
By the time Harper and Maverick got home a half hour later, Justin and I had fallen asleep with their children. Their whispering comments woke me up, and I found them both staring down at us.
“Look how cute they are, the four of them lying together on the couch,” Harper whispered.
“What is our daughter doing naked on Justin’s bare chest?” Maverick murmured.
I let out a laugh and nudged Justin awake. “Seghen’s fine, Maverick. She got a little fussy after you guys left, but Justin calmed her down by laying with her.”
“You could’ve let us know,” Maverick said. “I told you to text if anything happened.”
“Oh, Mav, enough,” Harper laughed, rolling her eyes. She carefully took Seghen from Justin’s chest and smiled at us. “I’m going to go put this little lady in her crib.”
“I’ll come with you,” I said, maneuvering my way out from underneath Axel’s weight.
When we entered Seghen’s room, Harper sat down in the glider in the corner and began rocking her. I folded the blanket I’d grabbed earlier and put it back in its place near her crib.
“I missed her tonight,” Harper admitted softly. “I took Maverick’s phone away from him so we could enjoy dinner, but then I felt guilty for leaving her.”
“She was fine, really,” I said, admiring all the pretty pink decor of her nursery. “Did I tell you, I’m planning a gender reveal party for Elly and Carter?”
“No!” She exclaimed in a quiet gasp. “When did this get planned?”
“The night Seghen was born
and Carter told all of us they were expecting,” I said, smiling. “We went to Judge’s afterward, and I asked if I could throw them a gender reveal party. She agreed since she wanted something different than a baby shower. So, I’m going with them to their next appointment, where I’ll find out the gender, and go from there.”
“So they won’t know until the party?”
“Nope. They’ll find out that night just like everyone else.”
She hugged Seghen to her chest and sighed. “I love that idea, Tessa. Let me know if you need help with anything.”
“Thanks,” I said, excitedly. “I was going to ask if I should invite anyone else besides your immediate family from the Jennings’ side?”
“No, parents and grandparents will be fine. Have you decided where you’re going to have it?”
“Judge’s. Fletcher is going to make sure we have the whole place to ourselves.”
“Perfect!”
“Oh, I almost forgot! I have something to show you.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hit play on the video of Justin singing. “The minute he started singing to her, she started to calm down.”
She took the device from my hands and stared at the screen in awe of what she was watching.
“Wow,” she murmured. “Will you send this to me? His voice is amazing.” She pressed replay and watched it again. When it was over again, she looked up at me with tears streaked across her cheeks. “I think I’m in love with him. Who knew he could sing! How did you not jump him after witnessing this?”
“I know,” I stated, blinking back tears of my own. Taking a seat on the ottoman, I took a deep breath and exhaled it. “I keep making all these stupid excuses, but I think I just don’t want to screw up what we have now. Ever since I moved in, I’ve learned more about him. What if I tell him how I feel and he closes back up again? I don’t want that to happen. I know he’s quiet when we’re all together, but when it’s just us, he talks about everything.”
She placed a kiss on Seghen’s head and smiled. “That’s understandable, but eventually, you’ll have to tell him.”
“I know.” But eventually could be a while, until I was absolutely sure he wouldn’t build his walls back up.
Chapter Eight
“How do I look?” she asked.
Tessa stopped in front of the couch where I sat and spun around slowly. She wore a maroon, long-sleeved dress that hit an inch above her knees with black tights and black high-heeled boots. I’d never seen the dress before, but it fit her perfectly, not too tight, not too loose, highlighting the slim curve of her waist.
“Beautiful,” I replied, unable to take my eyes off her. “Fancy for Judge’s?”
She grabbed her bag and smiled. “I’m not going to Judge’s tonight. I have a date. I’m meeting him at the restaurant.”
“Oh.” Another date with a different guy. It took everything in me to smile and wish her good luck. “I hope you have a great time.”
“Thanks. Me too.” She applied lipstick to her already perfect mouth, and then looked herself over in her compact mirror one more time. “You think this is okay for dinner? It’s not too dressy?”
How the hell am I supposed to know?
“I think it’s great,” I answered, trying my best to take away her insecurities. She looked exquisite. Her brown hair fell in big, soft curls over her shoulders, and her makeup emphasized the stormy gray color of her eyes. Her prominent peach scent couldn’t be missed as she pulled on her coat and tightened the belt around her waist.
“Okay, good. I bought this dress back in the summer when it was on sale, and I’ve been dying to wear it ever since!”
Catching another whiff of her scent¸ which I’d grown to love, I readjusted myself and tried to focus on the TV instead. “So, will we see you at Judge’s later then or …”
“I don’t know,” she stated hesitantly. “If Milo wants to, we will.”
Milo? I wasn’t an expert on names, but that one left a bad taste in my mouth.
“I’m going to go.” She walked to the door, her heels clicking against the hardwood. “Have fun tonight!”
“Be safe,” I muttered as she shut the door behind her.
Relaxing back against the couch, I exhaled a frustrated sigh, hating the fact that she was going out to meet a guy named Milo. I didn’t even feel like hanging out with the rest of the gang at the bar now. My stomach hurt. My head ached. I wanted to sit on this couch and wait until Tessa came home, but I knew my friends wouldn’t allow me to do that. They’d call me; I’d send them to voicemail. They’d text me, and I’d ignore them. Then they’d bust in here like a SWAT team ready to defuse a bomb.
There was no avoiding them.
So, I grabbed my jacket and locked up the apartment. When I arrived at Judge’s, everyone else was already there, even Harper and Maverick sans Seghen. I took a seat at the end of the bar next to Elly, and Cash immediately brought me a beer.
I proceeded to sit and listen to the conversations around me without contributing. That was one nice thing about the gang: they didn’t push me to converse. I often preferred to observe rather than chat. For instance, I could tell Elly was particularly tired tonight by the way she kept rubbing her bump and leaning against Carter. Maverick checked his phone every five minutes since Seghen was at his mom’s. Paige seemed to be in a better mood tonight as she conversed with Harper about clothes. I had a gut feeling something was wrong by the way she’d distanced herself from the rest of us lately, so it was nice to see her here tonight. I turned my attention to the game playing on the flat screen, but when it ended an hour and three beers later, I tuned back in to my friends.
“Where’s Tessa tonight?” Fletcher asked.
I took a long swig from my bottle and set it down on top of the bar, spinning it in my hands. “She met Milo for dinner.”
“Milo?” Carter laughed. “What kind of name is Milo?”
I nodded with annoyance. “Right.”
He turned to Elly and shook his head. “If we have a boy, we are not naming him Milo.”
“Isn’t that some character from The Little Rascals?” Fletcher asked.
“No, that’s Alfalfa!” Bayler laughed, choking on her drink. “Not even close, babe.”
“Whatever,” Fletcher said, smiling at her. “Nobody should name their child after a crop.”
“I guess it’s better than Sorghum,” I quipped, gazing around at the others. Confused stares greeted me instead of laughter, since none of them understood my joke. “Milo is actually another name for sorghum. It’s grown in areas prone to drought.”
“Well,” Cash said, raising his bottle in the air. “Here’s to hoping Milo’s sex life is prone to a lot of drought, too!”
Everyone laughed and raised their drinks in a toast as I went back to watching TV. A few minutes later, Elly’s phone chimed on the bar next to my elbow. Peering down at it, Tessa’s name appeared with a new text notification.
“Elly,” I said, nudging her arm. “You have a text from Tessa.”
“Thanks,” she said, grabbing her phone. “I texted her to see how her date was going.”
As she unlocked her phone, I mentally told myself not to look at her screen. It wasn’t any of my business. If Tessa wanted me to know, she’d tell me herself. But when Elly opened the message and I watched her shoulders slump, I read Tessa’s response.
Tessa: He didn’t show up.
“What an asshole,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Agreed,” Elly said softly. She sent a reply and then locked her phone again. Running her fingertips around the top of her water glass, her mood turned pensive. “As much as I didn’t really like the idea of her trying online dating, I hate how badly her dates have gone.”
“Me too,” I admitted under my breath.
She shoved my shoulder and laughed. “Then what are you still doing here?”
I downed the rest of my beer and narrowed my eyes at her. She knew about our conversation from the gym. “Carter told yo
u, didn’t he?”
“We took vows,” she explained with a shrug.
“Which means?” I smirked, shaking my head.
“It means he tells me everything!” she exclaimed through laughter. “So, yes, I know what you guys talked about after basketball the other day, and I still don’t understand why the hell you’re sitting here talking to a pregnant, married woman when there is a woman at your place drowning her feelings in ice cream.”
I threw a handful of bills on the bar top and glared. “I hate you all.”
“You love us!” she exclaimed, patting me on the cheek. “Now, go cheer her up, and let us know how it goes!”
“I definitely won’t.”
***
When I arrived home, I found Tessa sitting on the couch, her feet perched on the coffee table, still in the outfit she wore for the date. Her coat was thrown over the ottoman. Her purse was tossed on the floor next to the couch. She held a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in one hand, a spoon in the other. The glass blender jar, nestled between her thighs, was filled with an unidentifiable orange slush.
“She told everyone?!” she shrieked, sounding completely mortified.
I shrugged out of my coat and shook my head. “No, I happened to be sitting by her and saw your text.”
“Oh.” She shoved a spoonful of Half Baked into her mouth as I walked over and sat next to her. “You didn’t have to come home. I’m fine.”
“The bar wasn’t that interesting.” Before I walked through the door, I expected her to be in sweats, crying to some chick flick, but she wasn’t. She still looked absolutely beautiful in her dress and tights, with her black boots kicked off and crumpled beneath the coffee table. She was watching The Expendables.