Page 65 of Falling for You

Chapter 27

Penelope

I bite my bottom lip as I try to hold in my laughter watching Crissy curse because Dylan managed to grab Hudson off his father. He originally had him when we snuck into the side door at his insistence, so he could have some time with his grandson which pissed Crissy off who hasn’t managed to hold him in the forty minutes we’ve been here. I wince and bring my hand up because I forgot about my split lip.

Ouch.

“Seriously, Firecracker,” Taylor scowls from beside me on the couch and I turn and smile at him innocently despite the throbbing in my lip.

He narrows his eyes, and I lean forward and gently kiss his lips, making him soften and I grin.

I love that I have this kind of reaction to him, and honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t give in sooner.

“Whipped,” Ezra coughs.

“And what, you’re not?” Taylor retorts, and I chuckle as I lean on Taylor's shoulder and wrap my hands around his bicep, needing him close. He kisses my head and pushes his hand in between my thighs, making me smile as my eyes go back to the show of Crissy trying to fight to hold my son, who, I must admit, loves the attention.

Dylan’s running around the coffee table as she chases him, all while my little boy giggles.

Taylor's hand tightens around my thigh, and I squeeze his arm in response.

Seeing Taylor trying to keep his emotions at bay in the hospital yesterday was hard. Seeing the hurt when my own sister accused him of being like her ex all because he denied me going home with her and then denied our son going home with her, well, that gutted me. I had never been so disappointed in Avery, especially when she knew if the situation was reversed, Tony would kill anyone who tried to stop him from taking her home.

She did apologize profusely to Taylor this morning when she showed up unannounced with a pissed-off Tony. I think she may have broken whatever friendship she was building with Taylor, which sucks, but I can’t blame him for keeping a distance.

She called him a woman beater, for Christ’s sake, all because he put me and our son before her feelings.

He did say it was alright, but by the fake smile she gave him as he said the words, she knew she royally screwed up. Especially when he didn’t want her to hold Hudson, and the next few months are going to be difficult to navigate. I mean, I know he’ll be cordial around her, but he won’t go out of his way to make her feel comfortable anymore.

Again, I can’t really blame him.

“Did Avery really accuse you of being like that nasty man Harry Calvins?” Hannah demands to know as she walks into the living area with a red face, and I wince.

Uh oh, she looks pissed.

“Not now, Hannah,” Taylor sighs, while Nico asks, “How in the hell did you find out?”

Hannah holds up her phone and states, “She’s just messaged me apologizing for her behavior and the accusations she made and hopes we could still be friends.”

I turn my head and lean my chin on Taylors' shoulder. He looks my way, and I can’t help but look at him in awe.

“You didn’t tell your family?” I confirm.

He smiles and admits, “Only my dad when we arrived, and Kaylah decided you were her favorite person now.”

I smirk and ask, “Jealous much?”

He grins and states, “Of course I am; you’re mine, not hers,” and I laugh at the silly man.

“I love you,” I whisper, and he softens and leans down, gently pressing his lips against mine. Then he mumbles, “I love you too, Firecracker.”

“Yuck, you two make me sick,” Dylan whines as he sits in the chair near us, and I chuckle as Taylor turns to him and raises a brow.

“Have you lost him already?” he asks. I turn and look to see Kaylah has Hudson and laugh loudly as Taylor sighs, “Seriously, you allowed a seven-year-old to take him from you?”

Dylan huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, sulking as Nico walks into the room with a beer. His eyes go near the window where I know a scornful Xanthe is sitting, and he narrows them, showing his disdain for the woman.

This is the third meal I’ve attended with the Evans’, and not once has she participated in the conversation, instead, she’ll sitin the corner and glare at my son and Kaylah before giving Taylor lustful eyes, making me want to smack her.

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