Page 39 of Johnathan

Shit. Why was he thinking about that? Maybe because Jackson and Grace were so vocal about trying for baby number two? Sure, Katy had been an unexpected surprise, but that didn’t mean John didn’t want to settle down and have a large family one day. He sighed, peeling the edge of the label on his beer.

“Hey? You in there?” Jackson tapped his drink on the table.

“Yeah. Sorry. Lots on my mind. You’re doing his party on his actual birthday, right?”

“Yup. Figured we’d host family dinner since it’s a Saturday. The only thing is, we’re doing it out at Daisy and Hank’s. They’ve got more room and since we’re inviting friends too, we need it.”

“You checked in with Grace that she’s okay being back out there?”

Last year, when Jack was just two weeks old, Grace’s abusive ex beat her close to death in the field behind Daisy and Hank’s house.

“We talked about it. I think there are some things she needs to work through, with the memories and everything as we get closer to the day, but she swears she’s okay.”

“Just keep an eye on her.”

“Okay, Mom.”

That made John laugh. He had been so happy for his brother when Grace came back into his life, and to watch him almost lose her right after she had their son… yeah. It’d been tough for everyone.

“Mom gave you the same speech?”

“Of course she did. Grace tripped over herself trying to change the subject. Went on and on about how much Jack is banging his head now that he’s up and walking, which is true. I swear he’s like one giant goose egg right now.”

John laughed, because Katy had been the same way when she was first learning to walk. His sweet and spicy daughter had nearly given him a heart attack three times a day during that phase.

“Kids are sturdy. With you as a dad, I’m sure he has a thick skull protecting his brain.”

“Funny.” Jackson rolled his eyes as he took a pull from his beer bottle. “Oh, Grace wanted me to ask about taking Katy to the pumpkin festival. Mom mentioned you have to work and with dad’s knee surgery coming up, she doesn’t want him hobbling around on it down by the lake. I think there’s a costume involved, and she’s going to come home pretty sugared up. Grace’s list of things she wanted to eat was a mile long. I only remember the urgency in her voice when she mentioned caramel apples, caramel corn, and apple pie though.”

“Sounds like she’s pregnant.”

Jackson’s face dropped. Fuck, he’d messed up.

“No.” Jackson lifted his drink and took a pull of beer from the bottle. “Don’t mention it to her, either. She’s driving herself nuts with tracking everything and blaming herself because it’s not happening. Just wild to think that Jack happened after one night when we definitely weren’t trying, and now, months and months of trying and still nothing. It was just supposed to be fun. I shouldn’t have pushed her.”

“Shit, yeah. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Look, I’d love for you guys to take Katy, but I don’t think I’m working it anymore. I switched with another deputy to free up some time to take her. But we could all go together. It’d be nice. Aside from family dinners, we haven’t really had time to hang out.”

“Family life is a lot to juggle. I probably owe you about a million apologies for all the times I gave you grief about being a homebody once Katy came along. Thinking about taking Jack out now that he’s so mobile and energetic…” Jackson shuddered dramatically. “Yeah, no. I’d rather just keep him at home.”

John laughed. “Yeah. It’ll be good to get the kids out into some fresh air. We’ll run ‘em ragged and then maybe they’ll conk out early.”

“Now that sounds like a plan. Hey,” Jackson said, pushing his arm into John’s side. “I didn’t think we’d see your girl out tonight. And definitely didn’t think she’d be out with another guy.”

John whirled around to see Abby at the bar, a man he didn’t recognize sitting next to her. For fuck’s sake, what the hell was she wearing?

She looked fucking amazing. A dark red dress molded to her body, but he didn’t miss how the collar-style of the dress still covered her neck. In fact, the fabric looked like it covered her completely in the front, but exposed her back from her shoulders down to her waist. For a second, her smile flashed brightlyacross her face, but she moved back as her date pushed closer to her. His fists clenched at his sides as he watched the man she was with touch her arm.

“She’s not my girl,” he growled.

“Chill out. You look like you’re ready to murder that guy.”

“He doesn’t look like he can take a hint. She’s clearly uncomfortable. See how she’s leaning back while he leans in closer?”

“Yeah, I see it. So what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing.” John wasn’t anything more to Abby than a friend. Yet. He wanted so much more. And clearly, he needed to make sure she understood that.

“Hmm.”

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