Page 47

JACKSON

Unlike the Tribeca apartment, this place is quiet, too high to hear the city or be blinded by the lights. I awake rested, with the most beautiful girl in my arms, who’s currently sitting against the headboard, staring down at me with a bright smile.

She brushes her fingers through my hair. “You slept in. I didn’t want to wake you.”

I snuggle closer to her side and place a hand over her rounded belly. “How’s my baby?”

“He hasn’t woken yet, probably because he was up all night.”

“He will once you eat.” I pull up her shirt and kiss her stomach. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Unfortunately, because of the nasty weather, and because I have a studio with a gorgeous view, we’re doing a shoot here,” she rushes out. “Before I’m the size of a blimp and creative angles and Photoshop no longer work, you know?”

I peer up at her and tug on a braid. “You will not be the size of a blimp. You’re perfect. What time is the shoot?”

“In an hour.” She grimaces.

I groan, not ready to get out of bed. “Okay, come snuggle with me then.”

She slides in next to me, enveloping me in her jasmine-and-vanilla scent. I wrap my arms around her, close my eyes, and breathe her in.

Nuzzling my neck, she releases a satisfied sigh. “I love this. Everything feels surreal, like we’re living in a dream.”

I can’t help but smile. “I love you. You’re my dream.”

We’re in our own little world with Ethan’s family. We spend more time together than ever, and I almost feel bad for returning to hockey. We won’t find peace in LA, and soon enough, shit will go down with Kyle, and there’ll be no peace for us.

Aurora dances around the kitchen in my T-shirt and leggings, brewing coffee.

I open the fridge and scan the food options. “You want me to make you scrambled eggs, babe?”

She scrunches her nose. “Too nauseated. I’ll eat later.”

“How about oatmeal?”

She pours coffee into a mug before she adds a diabetes amount of sweetener. “I’m craving those pastries Ricky gets, the ones with the strawberries and a flaky crust.” She tips her head back and lets out an exaggerated moan. “Those are so freaking good.”

I might crack a molar with how hard I clench my teeth. “In Tribeca?” I slam the fridge door shut, unable to hold in my annoyance.

She points a finger at my face. “Don’t start, O’Reilly. You make my favorite dinners.”

“I’m not going to Tribeca to get you damn pastries.”

She widens her eyes. “Then don’t!”

Desi pops his head in, interrupting our banter. “There’s a blonde here with more clothes.”

Aurora shoots me an uneasy glance. “That’s Emily.”

“You want me to leave?”

She wraps her arms around me and gives a quick hug. “Nope. We’ll be in the studio, and this is your place too.” She grabs her mug of coffee, standing on her tippy-toes to kiss me. “Love you.”

“Love you. Do not forget to eat, because I’m not going to Tribeca for fucking pastries.”

I refuse. That’s on him. He spoiled her.

She rushes out of the kitchen, her laughter trailing after her.

The twins, Ricky, and I sit in the living room in mismatched, worn-in chairs, eating donuts and drinking coffee—except me. That bitter shit is nasty.

I may hate New York, but nothing beats the donuts here—okay, the pastries aren’t bad either.

Wait, are donuts pastries?

No, pastries have fruit, right?

Anyhow, my favorite is the donuts with chocolate icing and custard filling. I must have eaten half a dozen already.

Speaking of which… “Is there a gym you two go to?”

“Yeah, actually, it’s a boxing gym,” Desi replies. “You’d like it.”

Dante cuffs his brother upside the head. “His hand is broken.”

Desi retaliates with a punch to the gut. “They have other equipment besides the ring.”

Ricky and I exchange an amused glance, and then his eyes dart to the side in a silent warning. The click-clacking of heels approaching is my only other indication before…

“Still suspended, Jackson?”

Life was going so well too.

“Still a bitch, Emily?” Ricky says, shocking the shit out of me.

She leans her hip against the arm of my chair, and my body radiates agitation. Why is she so close to me?

“Still spying for Jackson?” she spits back.

I scoff. Nope, just the government.

“He’s got these idiots for that.” Ricky gestures to the twins.

“We don’t spy, we protect,” Desi says.

“Others from Jax,” Dante jokes with a side-eye at Aurora’s supposed bodyguard.

“That’s why there are two of us,” Desi finishes.

I swear, they share one brain.

Emily gives the pair a once-over before she faces me. “My rent is due.”

The audacity of this girl.

My gaze remains fixed straight ahead, on the sky out the window. “Aurora pays you, and I gave you enough.”

She moves to stand in front of me, obstructing my view. “That wasn’t our agreement. The agreement was that you’d cover my expenses in New York.”

“I said to New York, to get established. Ten grand is plenty.”

“I still have a condo in LA to pay for. You know, the one your girlfriend lived in after she caught you cheating.”

This bitch knows just how to trigger me. “She’s my fiancée, and she never caught me cheating because it didn’t happen. I’m not arguing with you, and I’m not paying your rent. Aurora won’t be working much longer. Stay in New York or don’t. I don’t care.”

“Why would you pay her rent?”

Fuck me sideways.

Emily turns to Aurora, who’s now standing in the living area, her hands on her hips.

“Because your fiancé promised to cover my expenses while I worked for you. He also promised he wouldn’t be here, but like every other promise he’s never kept, here he is.”

Aurora’s gaze locks with mine, and she cocks her head in an exasperated gesture. I give her a wink. She has to be used to my antics by now.

Desi leans over. “Did you and the blonde date?”

I scowl at him for even having the thought. “Fuck no.”

“No, we’ve just known each other for a long time,” Emily lies straight through her pearly white teeth.

“That’s not true. I met you the same night I met Aurora.”

“That you remember.”

She’s gaslighting me and trying to upset Aurora, and it’s pissing me off.

“We didn’t meet. Talk. Anything. You worked for my father. That means nothing to me.” As if I’d ever be interested in something Kyle had.

Ricky sits up straight, and I see the moment it clicks in his brain. His gaze flashes to Emily, as if seeing her for the first time, then shifts to Aurora with...hurt?

He looks at her as if he already misses her.

“It doesn’t matter.” Aurora’s brows knit together. “I want him here. He offered to leave, and I said no. He’s not bothering you...” With a wince, her strained voice trails off, and her hand comes to the side of her stomach.

I jump out of my seat, my heart in my throat. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

Her face remains contorted. “A cramp...I believe.”

My head and mouth spiral. “Should you have cramps? I don’t think you should have cramps. You’ve been doing a lot. Fuck. The doctor said to rest. We’re shit at this.” I wave my arms around the room. “Everybody, get out!”

“They’re probably...” Desi snaps his fingers at his brother. “What are those practice contractions called?”

“Braxton-Hicks,” he answers.

“Yes, Braxton-Hicks. Our sister had those with her first baby. Perfectly normal.”

“I don’t think pain is normal. She shouldn’t be working.” I point to Emily. “You need to fucking leave.” Then, to Ricky. “You fucking too.”

He glowers at me from the other side of my girl. “What the fuck did I do?”

“You’re...you.” And I see the way you look at her.

Aurora places a hand on my heaving chest. “I’m fine. It’s already fading.” Her slightly elevated tone doesn’t sound fine .

Desi shakes his head in amusement. “He’s totally going to pass out when you go into labor.”

“Or murder a doctor,” Dante adds.

I ignore them and grab my phone from the end table to text Ethan.

Aurora tries to snatch it from me. “Don’t you dare call him. He has a game tonight.”

I spin away from her. “I’m not calling, I’m texting.”

“Jax, no! You’ll only worry him.”

I do it anyway, knowing she’ll listen to him, and maybe because I miss the big fucker.

Your baby girl is having pains in her side. She thinks it’s normal, but she needs to rest. She’s working too much.

That’ll do it. I sit back in the chair with a shit-eating grin as I search Google.

Bleeding? No, she’d flip out, and I’d know. It mentions Braxton-Hicks contractions and suggests warm baths and herbal tea.

Really? Herbal fucking tea? That’s it?

Desi grabs another donut, this one fall-themed with unpleasant leaf-shaped sprinkles. “Our sister did yoga to help.”

Aurora’s face lights up. “Oh, I love yoga!”

“Shit,” Ricky curses. “I was going to find a prenatal yoga class for you.” He slips his phone from his pocket. “I’ll do it now.”

This motherfucker is always trying to one-up me, but I have more urgent concerns at the moment.

I reach out, guide Aurora onto my lap, and place my hand on her stomach. “Has the baby been moving?”

She settles into me and lays her head on my shoulder. “He will for you.”

As we wait, a quiet lull comes over the room.

“Okay, well, about my rent...”

I am so looking forward to Ethan getting here.