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“No,” Jax counters. “We’reallhaving a baby, and Ethanmayhave provided the DNA.”
I jerk my head in his direction. “There’s no question about it. I provided the DNA. We’re not going over this again. You know what happened.”
His eyes light up, that shit-eating grin on his face. “I do. She and I got into a fight. She rebounded with you, and you tried to get her pregnant.”
Now I know he’s fucking around, doing it to take the heat off Aurora and me. This is what he does—acts absurd in awkward situations.
“Tried? No, Ididget her pregnant.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, lifting his brows. “So you admit it was on purpose?”
My face heats, and Aurora shakes with laughter at his ridiculousness. I open my mouth to argue, but he stops me with a raised hand.
“Doesn’t matter. The three of us are having kids. That’s all anyone needs to know.”
I cock my head. “Kids? Did I miss something at the last doctor’s appointment?”
“He wants a hockey team of kids,” Aurora clarifies.
My brain trips. It’s far too early for this conversation. “Let’s...take this one kid at a time.”
I wouldn’t deny him a child, but some shit has to change. When we’re separated, I’m constantly worried. I can’t imagine my anxiety after the baby arrives.
“If it’s too difficult for you, I’ll retire. I don’t mind being a stay-at-home dad. You have no control over me fucking a baby into her.”
“Jesus Christ.” I shift under Aurora, my dickfirmlyon Jackson’s side of the debate. “We’ll discuss this later.”
Emily gapes at us as if we’ve lost our damn minds—and we have, there’s no doubt about it.
But nothing compares to last night. I’m itching for a repeat, and thatbabycomment has not helped.
The sound of the elevator rumbles through the apartment—the photographer and whoever else must be here.
I kiss Aurora’s temple, my lips lingering. “I have to meet Rocco this morning. You better eat when food arrives and finish by the time I return.”
She doesn’t answer but moves my hand lower, and the baby brushes my palm. It’s a light flutter, but I melt. I read babies learn and respond to our voices and touch this trimester—more reason not to be separated.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Love you.” She places her soft lips on mine.
“This issofucked up.” Emily’s voice raises, revealing her jealousy. “Jackson, I saw you shatter a bottle?—”
Aurora breaks our kiss. “Em,” she barks in warning.
“—injuringAurora because a guy waschattingwith her. But you allow yourcoachto be all over her?”
“What the hell is she talking about?” I don’t recall anything about her being injured by Jax. Then, I remember her words:I’ve bled for that man.I thought it was a figure of speech.
“Nothing.” She slides off my lap. “Em, stop or leave.”
“Oh, you don’t know? Jackson got angry and threw a bottle against the wall, aiming for a guy’s head. It shattered, cutting the guy’s face and neck. Luckily, Aurora shielded herself in time, because a large piece of glass embedded in her arm.”
Our girl steps in front of Jax, always protecting him. “Leave.”
Emily stands on high heels, but unfortunately, she doesn’t exit. “Then he dragged her over the table and broke the guy’s nose with his elbow for trying to stop him. He couldn’t even see when Jackson punched him in the throat. The only reason he didn’t kill asenator’s fucking sonis because his father intervened.”
It all clicks in my head. Not that his response was appropriate, and I’m sure he was intoxicated, but it’s not a surprise Jax was triggered by a predator taking an interest in Aurora, like the memory is triggering him now, driving him to his feet.