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She moves toward him, but he hesitates, anger still lurking in his eyes.
For a flickering moment, I worry he’ll refuse her. I consider the potential benefits for myself but dismiss the thought, guilt overwhelming all else.
He recovers and draws her into his arms, and relief floods through me. I may revel in annoying him, but I’m not here to crush him.
I work on my phone to respect their privacy, but I can’t help but overhear their conversation.
“What are you doing here?” she asks him with genuine happiness.
“You want me to leave?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good, because I’m taking you to see our new house.” The excitement in his voice is impossible to ignore.
“Our house? What do you mean?”
Jackson playfully shrugs, and she peers at me for the answer. I shrug and run my thumb over my bottom lip to hide my smirk.
Jesus, my cheeks are aching from all this smiling.
She gives him that pout of hers. “Tell me, Jax.”
I have no doubt he’ll spoil her relentlessly, either out of fear she’ll leave again or gratitude at having her back. He already does, whether she knows it or not. A luxury cliffside penthouse on one beach and a gated compound on another?
Excessive for someone who spends most of his life on the ice.
No wonder she doesn’t understand me. My emotional availability is less than ideal. Having her in my bed is my way of sayingI adore you.It’d never happen with any other woman.
Yet this kid buys her mansions—we’re not the same.
This time, however, he holds it in. “No more questions. You’ll have to wait. Now, how’s my baby?”
He caresses her stomach, and strangely, I don’t feel territorial or possessive.
“We’re fine.”
She kisses him, and once again, jealousy doesn’t overwhelm me.
Maybe it’s because Jackson and I have grown close these past few months—as close as one can be to Jackson, besides Aurora. Or maybe it’s because I’ve always been aware of his attachment to her.
Or perhaps it’sher—the girl with endless affection and the power to bring a man to his knees.
“Did he at least feed you?” he asks, loud enough for me to know it’s directed at me.
“Of course I did. By the way, she barely eats.”
Aurora scowls at me, but Jackson glances over, surprisingly amicable.
“She’s a picky eater. Only eats about ten things. I can give you a list.” He taps her nose. “You better be eating. You’re carrying a future hockey god in there, at least if you keep me around,” he says, throwing another jab my way.
“And I almost liked you for a second.”
Is this what living together will be like? He and I banter back and forth while we tease Aurora? Doesn’t seem so bad.
There’s a brief silence before Jackson resumes his lovesick behavior, and I reconsider my previous assessment.
He trails kisses along her neck. “I missed you.”