Page 44 of Something Reckless
ALBA
More than once, I catch Easton checking me out in my T-shirt and cut-off jeans. I check him out too, as we stroll all around the crowded fairgrounds, with Jagger walking between us. I hold Jagger’s hand like always, and my heart melts when I see the little boy reach for his dad’s hand, too.
We look like a family. A real, normal family.
The thought of Raya crosses my mind and a part of me wants to pull back, to retreat from this happiness that isn’t really mine to enjoy. But I refuse. I absolutely fucking refuse to feel guilty about enjoying Easton and Jagger today. I’m determined to just go with the flow and bask in it.
I can’t remember a day where I’ve smiled so much. My cheeks are actually sore, a few hours into our outing. It’s the strangest feeling. Is it sad that I haven’t experienced this kind of happiness in so long? Yeah, probably. But right now, I’m too happy to care.
So when Easton sends me sexy smiles, I grin back.
And, it pleases me immensely that he doesn’t put up a fight when I pay for the wristbands for the carnival rides or when I treat us all to an unhealthy lunch of fried foods and freshly squeezed lemonade.
And I like it a little too much when he discreetly taps my butt, whispering that I’m his ‘sexy sugar mama’.
It’s truly the best day I’ve had in years.
Most importantly, Jagger’s having a ball.
Don’t get me wrong—I’ve taken him to the county fair before.
But when it came to going on rides in the past, the poor kid always had to ration the handful of tickets I could afford.
He’d always have to carefully choose two or three rides to enjoy, and we’d be lucky to share a snack at the end.
But today?Jagger rides them all, giggling the entire time. The tea cups. The mini alligator roller coaster. The big slide. The bumper cars. The ferris wheel. All of them on repeat.
And Easton does, too.
Oh boy, seeing that man squeeze his six-foot-plus frame into that tiny car has me crying. Especially when Jagger teases him about it.
Nothing can sour my mood today. Not even when we run into Christopher and his family.
As usual, Emmeline tries to come over and say ‘hi’, but Christopher grabs her shoulders, turning her in the opposite direction.
He hisses at his kids to keep up, making sure to shoot Jagger and me a particularly nasty look over his shoulder.
What a lame-o.
It’s like he thinks my nephew and I are some sort of threat to his happy little life.
Thankfully, Easton missed the entire interaction since he was too busy having a fake-tattoo applied to his muscly upper arm .
Since I’m having an absolute ball today, it’s easy to put Christopher out of my mind.
As the three of us are leaving the fairgrounds, on the way across the parking lot, my phone dings with a notification. I check my social media and my heart leaps into my throat.
It’s a photo of Jagger and me, laughing our heads off as we ride in the bumper cars. And it’s posted to Easton’s account. The caption reads POV: With these two, every day is better than the day before #funtimes #summerinfairybush #prouddad
My head snaps in Easton’s direction. “You posted Jagger and me?”
“Huh?” he asks, taking his eyes off of Jagger who’s walking ahead of us, munching on his cotton candy.
I flash my phone screen in Easton’s face. “Jagger and me. You posted us on social media?”
A skeptical look flashes across his eyes.
“Um, you don’t want me to?” He’s already reaching for his own phone in his back pocket.
“I can take it down. I didn’t think it was a big deal because your face is covered by your hair and Jagger’s cap is pulled down low, so I thought—” He shakes his head.
“Never mind. I should have asked first. I’m sorry. I’ll take it down.”
I reach for his hand, stopping him. “You don’t have to. I’m just surprised that you’d want to let the world know—” I purse my lips and shake my head. “Never mind.”
Easton momentarily stops walking and gives me an earnest look. “Surprised? Why would you be surprised? I want to show you both off for everyone to see.” He frowns, his eyes darting from Jagger to me. “You thought I’d want to hide this?”
“I sort of did,” I admit, hating myself for saying the words out loud. “I mean, being tied to a kid can really dampen the dating life. I know that from experience. I’m sort of surprised you’re willing to take that risk.”
Easton steps closer to me, lowering his voice so Jagger can’t hear.
“My dating life? My so-called dating life can go right ahead and toss itself in the trash. Jagger is the most important thing in my life, and I don’t give a fuck what anyone has to say about that.
I’m proud of my son and I want to show him off.
” He tenderly adjusts the frame of my glasses. “I’m proud of the both of you.”
“Oh, Easton…” I whimper and it takes every filament of strength in my body to keep from launching myself into his arms for a kiss.
We continue the walk to the car in silence. Ignoring the way my heart somersaults in my chest, I let Easton open my door for me and I sink into the front passenger seat.
Jagger falls asleep in the car on our drive home.I lean my head against the window and I find myself drifting off, too. But when the engine stops, my eyes blink open and I find myself staring at the lit up facade of Easton’s fancy house on the hill.
I shift in my seat, trying to figure out what’s going on here. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask from where my body is still slumped against the door. “I thought you were dropping me off at my place.”
At least that was the plan we came up with earlier. Easton was going to drop me off first, and then come back here with Jagger for the rest of the weekend.
Instead, we’re all here at the top of Marigold Peak and Easton is giving me a hesitant look from across the cabin of his car. “I was thinking you could stay the night…”
“Stay the night?” I bolt upright in my seat, my spine straightening immediately .
“The place is big. My mom and my brothers are out of town and there’s plenty of extra room.” He glances to where Jagger sleeps peacefully. “Stay the night, Alba. This doesn’t have to be weird.”
I don’t know if this is a good idea. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not. I chew on my lower lip, staring out the windshield ahead of me.
Easton’s house is crazy gorgeous, and I’m sure I would sleep like a rock in any of his fancy guest bedrooms.Besides, as long as Jagger doesn’t get the wrong idea about Easton and me, there’s really no harm in me crashing here tonight.
I pull in a breath. “O-okay. Fine,” I concede.
Easton sighs in relief and I realize that he was actually holding his breath, waiting for my answer. “Thank you,” he says, as if I’m somehow doing him a favor.
This means something to him. Me, accepting his offer to spend the night means something to him.
Easton carefully picks Jagger up out of the backseat, carries him inside, and puts him to bed.
Other than murmuring something about “one more ride,” the little boy barely stirs in his father’s strong arms.