“Twenty-nine-years-old and Ma put you in a friggin’ time-out.” Jinx chuckles, as we sit on my back patio later that afternoon, watching Jett play in his sandbox. “That’s classic.”
“Yeah, well, at least I went to church, you prick.”
He smirks guiltily, no doubt recalling the girl whose bed he couldn’t drag himself from this morning. “Was a little tied up. I’ll do better next week.”
I snort, stretch my legs out in front of me, and grin as Jett buries his new Matchbox car in a mountain of dirt with a front end loader. “Just a few more minutes, buddy. Then we gotta get you cleaned up.”
“Okay!” he calls back, off in his own little world.
Unfortunately, I’m a similar kind of distracted, knowing that, in just a few short hours, we’ll be headed back to Green Bay. Somehow, these weekends keep getting shorter. I don’t know if it’s because he’s getting older and we can do more together now, or if we’re in such a routine that it seems like our time is over before it even gets started.
Every Sunday after church, we have a family lunch at my parents’ house. It’s something we’ve done for years, even before Jett came into the picture. But lately, on the Sundays he’s home, all I’ve wanted to do is come back here, to our home, and soak up as much time with him as I can.
I would have liked some of that alone time this afternoon, but Jinx got wind of the whole penance thing and decided he needed to drop by to be nosy.
“So, you and Mikayla, huh? When the hell did that happen?” he asks casually, as if finding out isn’t the sole purpose of his visit.
“Oh, about none of your fucking business ago,” I respond with a juvenile smirk and a middle finger. He might like sharing the details on his extracurricular activities with the ladies, but I do not.
He gives a hoot of laughter. “And here I was worried about your balls for nothing.”
“Dude, that’s fucked up, you thinking about my sac.”
His laugh becomes a full-on, head-tipped-back roar that’s loud enough to catch even Jett’s attention.
“Whatcha laughing at?” my little man calls over to us, and I just shake my head.
“Nothing you want to know about, buddy. Keep burying that car.”
It’s a solid two minutes before Jinx can speak again, and as soon as he does I wish he hadn’t.
“Look, I know Ma hates her because she beat her in that pie baking contest last year, but Mikayla really isn’t so bad. She’s involved in the town and obviously wants to stick around and plant roots. She’s also had it bad for you since she and I were freshmen and you were a senior, so at least she’s got commitment on her side.”
Which is exactly why I should have stayed away from her in the first place. She hasn’t gone Fatal Attraction crazy or anything since we hooked up, but she hasn’t let it go, either. She simply makes a point of reminding me she’s ready and willing for more every time we run into each other and she’s not subtle about it.
As much as I enjoyed her confidence the single night we spent together, I’m not interested in more. I never am. I like sex for sex and, between work and Jett, I don’t have time to give a woman more than a night here and there.
“I’m already committed,” I finally say, pointing to Jett. “But thanks for the pep talk.”
Jinx shakes his head and mutters, “In that case, you’re a motherfucker.”
“Excuse me?”
“Now there’s one less chick in town for me, you asshole.”
I snort, get to my feet, and start backing toward Jett and the sandbox. “What, not a fan of sloppy seconds?”
He doesn’t even bother responding, just stands and heads for the back gate. “I gotta go, Jettster. I’ll see you next time, okay?”
“Okay! Love you!”
“Love you, too, kid.” My brother pauses at the gate. “Oh, and tell your mom I said hi. Let her know I miss her, too. And that she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
Wait, what? I frown at my brother, who simply smirks from across the yard.
“I don’t do leftovers, but for her I’d make an exception.”
That son of a bitch.
“See you guys later.” He winks before he disappears, the gate slamming behind him.
I know he’s fucking with me, because I’d beat his ass if he so much as looked twice at Hayden.
And that’s exactly the point he was trying to make, isn’t it? Not only am I still hung up on her, but he’s figured it out, too. Fucking great.
I squat next to Jett with a sigh. “All right, little man, time to go inside and clean up.”
“Look what I did!” He points to the mountain of dirt with a toothy grin, and I notice that the red car that looks like Lane’s is nowhere to be seen.
“Ah, yes. I really like what you’ve done here.” If only getting rid of him in real life were as easy. “You ready for a bath before we head back to see your mom?”
“Yeah!” Jett jumps into my arms and wraps his snugly around my neck. “I miss her,” he says against my cheek, and my chest tightens.
Yeah, little man, so do I.
HAYDEN
“Hon, I have to run to the office for a minute. Big meeting with a new investor tomorrow and I forgot his portfolio on my desk.”
I glance up from the flower bed I’ve been demolishing for the past hour, as Lane jogs down the porch steps, keys jangling in his hand. “An actual paper portfolio? Who even has those anymore?”
He grins. “The old-school guys with lots of money to move around.”
“Ah, well, in that case, you should definitely get that file.” I blow him a kiss and he returns a wink.
“You need me to grab anything for dinner while I’m out?”
“No, I think we have everything for the fajitas, but thank you.”
“Okay. Let me know if something comes up. I’m happy to stop.” He tugs my ponytail as he heads to his car. Over his shoulder, he adds, “Why don’t you tell Jesse he’s welcome to bring a plus-one next weekend? A date or a girlfriend or whatever. God knows there will be plenty of cake.”
“Oh, good call.” I give him a thumbs up and watch as he leaves. It’s not until he’s out of sight that his suggestion fully hits me.
Jesse bring a woman to our son’s party? So the four of us can hang out like we’re pals? Lane and Jesse barely even tolerate each other and, despite Lane and I talking through things yesterday, I don’t expect they’re going to become besties anytime soon.
And seeing Jesse with another woman? Ugh.
Obviously, I know he dates. He’s gorgeous, has a great job, and a solid head on his shoulders. Add in the Dad factor and there is no doubt in my mind that he has a very fruitful love life up in Cole Creek.
I just don’t want to think about it.
I mean, it’d be weird if I did, right?
Then again, maybe I should, because if he’s moving women in and out of his bed like he moves all that dirt, it could impact Jett.
“What if there’s only one woman?” a little voice in the back of my mind asks, and my stomach rises so high in my throat, I have to press the back of my hand to my mouth to keep it at bay.