“No. I doubt he plans on it either.”
“He’s an asshole. The prick only worries about himself.” Jaxson dismisses and steals a breadstick from the basket in the middle of the table. He tears into it like a wild dog and it makes Matty laugh. “It’s good huh?”
“Uh-huh.” Matty rips off a small piece and shoves it into my mouth. “Here, Daddy. It’s good.”
“Thanks, bub.” I swallow the piece of soggy bread and then take a drink of my water to get rid of the taste.
“I can’t get over you’re a dad.” Jax leans back in the booth, watching both of us.
“I can’t get over how much he looks like you,” River says.
“I know, another Morgan running around. It’s freakin’ scary,” Sam laughs, planting her hand on my shoulder. “Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s fine we are waiting on Holly as well.”
“You mean, Red,” Sam mockingly says as she takes a seat next to River.
“Shut up.” I grit out as I put my hands over Matty’s ears.
“So, where is the lady who stole your heart?”
It reminds me I haven’t heard from her and I’m still hoping for a picture of her in her lacy garments. I yank out my phone to see if she has replied when her latest message sets me back.
Red: I just met your ex
My ex? What the hell is she talking about? Unless she means Sara, but there's no way. Last I checked up on her she was in Kansas with some guy and her child. The one she tried to pawn off as mine.
I don’t have an ex. What are you talking about? What’s wrong?
Red: Nothing. I’m on my way. Where are you guys at?
I text her the details while my mind buzzes.
"She's on her way," I say gloomily and shove my phone back in my pocket.
"What's wrong?" River taps the table, grabbing my attention.
"I don't know. She mentioned running into an ex,” I say and place Matty into his highchair, giving him another breadstick to devour.
“Well, I hate to tell you, you have tons of one-nighters who probably found out recently you are off the market.”
The word about Holly, Matty, and me has spread like wildfire around the elite groups. Everyone trying to put themselves into my business
“Speaking of your wild ways, have you told her about your past?” Jaxson asks.
I knew he would be the first one to bring it up.
“A little. She knows I don’t drink but not the reason why. I haven’t told her about the other problem and there’s a part of me that wishes I didn’t have to. She and Matty feel like a fresh start and I hate the thought of tainting them with my past.” I grip the side of my hair and pull. “I sound like an idiot.”
“No, you don’t,” River says and grabs my hand. “It makes sense. She’s not someone buried by a past. You can start over with her. I get it. No ghost, no problems.”
“I’m sensing a but.”
“Nothing stays hidden forever.” River taps the table and her eyes glint to Jaxson. “And I doubt she’s going to judge you based on your past when you’ve shown her all you have to offer now.”
“I’m glad you think so highly of me.”
“She thinks it too,” Sam pipes in as she reaches for a breadstick. “We talk, a lot…well, me more than her sometimes, but I’ve gotten to know her better these last couple of weeks.”
“What you’re actually saying is, you’re being nosy?”
“I’m not nosy.” Sam huffs rolling her eyes.
River curls into Jaxson’s side and stifles her laughter. River knows very well about Sam’s nosiness and interfering ways. Sam is one of the reasons Jaxson is back in River’s life; she hired him on at her father’s old company behind her back.
“As I was saying, the girl thinks you walk on water. Not many women, if any, would assent to the notion.”
“Mama,” Matty yells and squirms in his highchair. His hands reach out and we all look over to the woman approaching the table. I shift in my seat looking at the gorgeous figure coming towards me. I’m not even focused on the wrap dress she’s wearing, instead thinking about what is underneath of it.
“Hey everyone.” Holly waves. “Hey baby boy.” She picks up our son and lovingly kisses him on the cheek. “I heard you got to drive a car today.”
“Vroom Vroom.” He makes the noise and blows raspberries everywhere.
“You got a future race car driver on your hands, Holls,” Jaxson says.
“He colors on himself,” Matty says pointing at Jaxson, whose full arm sleeve tattoos are fully exposed, causing the whole table to erupt in laughter.
“You told him to say that, didn’t you?” Jax nestles his face in his wife’s neck and she laughs.
“No, all him.”
Holly places Matty back in his highchair and slips into the seat beside me. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and feel the tension roll off them as I go in to kiss her. This won’t do. “What is the text about the ex?” I whisper into her ear.
“You want to talk about it now?” She glances around the table.
“Yes because I can tell whatever happened is bothering you. Just tell me who it was.”
So I can squish them like a fucking bug for trying to fuck things up. I have enough of that going on in my life.
“It was Angela.”
“Angela? Angela Parsons?” Sam pipes up and then has the right to look shameful for listening to our conversation. “I knew she was going to be a handful, Liam.”
“You did,” I mutter. Angela's father has been doing everything he can to get his little lawsuit off the ground. Sexual harassment and wrongful firing. I have
