Page 28 of A Little Crush (The Little Things #6)

JAXON

I should go into my room. I should put some space between us. I should watch a movie or a game or shit, I don’t know. I should do anything but what I’m doing right now. My gaze drifts to Rory’s closed bedroom door as the faint sound of her footsteps slips through the small gap along the bottom.

Poppy’s favorite elephant blanket is spread out on the floor, and she gums a boardbook, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

Good. She should be oblivious. Daddy issues is not the thing I want to pass on to her, despite my many fuck ups.

In hopes of focusing on what really matters, I slide onto the ground and spread my legs wide, rolling a plastic ball toward my little Pops.

When it hits her chubby little thigh, she turns to me and smiles, giving me exactly what I need.

This. This is what matters. This is what I should be focused on. Spending some quality time with my baby girl instead of overanalyzing a hundred potential outcomes between my nanny and a rookie hockey player.

Seriously. What the hell does she see in him?

And since when does she hop from one guy to the next?

She just broke up with Dodger. Now, she’s already jumping into bed with a known player?

I dunno, I guess I thought I knew her better than this.

Clearly, I don’t know her at all. Not really.

Not anymore. Or maybe I never knew her. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s worse.

Not that it matters. It doesn’t. She can do what she wants, and my brother was right.

It’s not like I couldn’t give her the night off.

Ever since her shoulder, she’s been hiding in her room after dinner like some kind of a prisoner. A night off is the least she deserves.

Was it the forehead kisses? Did I piss her off? Did I cross a line?

Shit, I don’t know, and I have no idea how to ask her, either.

My body jerks upright as Rory opens her bedroom door, revealing a baby blue sundress that hits just above her knees.

Before I can stop myself, I scan her up and down, taking in every inch of silky smooth skin.

It isn’t sexy. Or at least, it isn’t meant to be.

But fuck, does the girl pull it off. My mouth waters at the sight, and I clench my fists in my lap.

“How do I…” Rory’s voice trails off as I finally meet her gaze. “I didn’t exactly pack for a date with a guy like Crowther, or any guy in general, actually,” she clarifies, smoothing down the front of the dress.

“Makes sense, considering the fact you had a boyfriend earlier this week,” I point out.

Her lips curve down. “My relationship with Dodger wasn’t exactly serious?—”

“I sure as hell hope not.”

Surprised by my animosity, she asks, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” I deflect. “It’s just…kind of a weird move, don’t you think? Saying yes to Crowther, who’s known for being a player right after you get out of a relationship with a ro ckstar? I dunno, I guess I just never pegged you for being interested in those kinds of guys.”

Dammit, I really shouldn’t have said that.

“And what kind of guy should I be interested in?” she challenges.

I lift a shoulder and reach for Poppy’s ball, rolling it toward her all over again in hopes of looking…I don’t know. Unaffected, I guess?

“Okay, well, um,”—she takes a step toward the door but stops and faces me again—“do you not want me to go?”

The question catches me off guard, and I cock my head. “What?”

“I said, do you not want me to go?” She hesitates. “You’re acting…weird.”

Guilt twists my insides, and I lean my back against the couch, trying to get my shit together.

What the hell am I doing? What am I saying?

She’s a big girl. She can do what she wants.

I know it. She knows it. And if some asshole said to my little sister, Dylan, what I just said to Rory, I’d be pissed.

Yeah. That’s the problem. I still see her as someone I need to protect.

To keep safe. Not that it justifies my asshole behavior, but…

“Jax?”

Her hushed voice shoots straight to my cock, so I bend at the knee and hike my legs up to hide the evidence. “Sorry,” I mutter. “And you’re right. I’m acting weird. I guess I still see you as a little kid, you know? And I want to make sure you’re being careful and don’t get hurt.”

Her lips pull into a thin line. “I’m an adult, Jax.”

“No, I know?—”

“I’m not a kid.”

“I know,” I repeat.

“Do you?” she whispers.

I hold her stare, unsure what to say as my Adam’s apple bobs in my throat.

Part of me wants to prove it. To push her up against the nearest door and show her exactly how little I’ve thought about her age since the moment I saw her in her parents’ pool.

The other part? The other part knows how wrong it would be to cross that line with her.

There are enough intersecting relationships within our found-family group already.

No use adding another one. Right? It would muddy the waters.

It would mess things up. It would throw off dynamics.

I tear my attention from her pretty eyes, taking in her dusty blue dress all over again.

What I wouldn’t give to hike it up around her waist and cup her ass.

“What do you think?” she whispers.

“Huh?”

“Of the dress,” she clarifies. “You never answered, and I’d love your honest opinion.” Swishing her hips back and forth, she lets the light fabric rustle around her thighs as she twists her fingers in front of her.

“Beautiful,” I rasp.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” I swallow thickly. “Yeah, he’ll love it.”

“And it’s not too childish?” she pushes.

The girl has no fucking clue. Childish? No. Innocent? A hundred percent yes, and I’ve never wanted to dirty anything more.

“What time will you be back?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I mean, it’s one drink, and I’m pretty sure we aren’t even leaving the lobby, so…”

“Do you want me to wait up?”

Her mouth twitches. “I think I’m okay. Thanks again for the night off.”

“Anytime.”