Page 26 of Tangled Desires

“Wow,” I breathe out a few days later. It’s Briar’s dance recital, and between their friend group and the grandparents, she has two full rows fifteen people deep to watch her. No wonder they’re hosting at their house after the performance.

“This isn’t even all of them. We’re missing my folks, Tysen’s, Johnny’s, Crew’s, Matthew’s, and Luke’s. They usually try to make an appearance, but this one was kind of last minute,” Jagger says, holding my hand as we take the aisle toward our seats.

“I bet. I love that everyone shows up for each other.” I don’t say that with a chip on my shoulder, either. I’m genuinely happy that this group is such a close-knit family.

“You’re part of it, too, gorgeous.” He squeezes my hand. “Now, I’m sorry to drop you in a pool where you don’t know everyone, but I’ve gotta give my friends shit, and in doing so, mess with their women.” Jagger shoots me a wink, and I rollmy eyes. He’s always been this way when it comes to his friends. The jokester comes out to play, and I’ve been more than aware of this side of his personality.

“Go do your thing. I’ll be fine.” He doesn’t let my hand go. Instead, he drags me through an aisle where Johnny is standing to allow us room to move in. His wife, Winnie, must be beside him and is holding a toddler in her arms.

“Johnny, I swear every time I see you and Winnie together, I assume she’s with you as a public service.” Jagger wraps his arms around Winnie, giving her a hug, tousling Sebastian’s hair, and pressing a kiss to the side of Winnie’s head.

“You’re an ass. I’m not sure what Lyric sees in you,” Johnny replies.

“Me either. Got any other eligible bachelors lurking around?” I tease while shrugging my shoulders.

“Good to see you back, Lyric, and glad you can put this guy in his place,” Johnny says.

“I’m Winnie. It’s nice to formally meet you. This is Sebastian.” The little boy holds his arms out for me. At first, I think it’s for him to shake my hand, which would be strange considering he’s a toddler.

“You too,” I respond as Sebastian launches himself into my arms. I hold on as he hugs my neck and starts whispering into my ear, “I sit with you.” I look at Winnie and Johnny. They both give non-committal answers.

“I’d apologize, but Sebastian is a great judge of character, plus he saw you coming in with Jagger. Who, by the way, has never brought anyone around our group.” Winnie is a girls’ girl, giving details even though I didn’t ask for them. “Pleasesit by us. Jagger is probably on his way to piss off Asher next, then there’s Trent.”

“Okay, thank you. Is he good to sit with me?” I ask, making sure that this is okay.

“Oh yes. He might move around from person to person after a little while.” I smooth out the back of my dress as I take my seat beside her. There’s an empty one to my left, which I’m sure is for Jagger, and from there is Luke.

“Hey, Lyric, thanks for helping me out the other day.”

“Hi, Luke, no problem. I guess my thanks are in order, too, because I’m pretty sure he’d have never told me.” Jagger still hasn’t gone into detail about all the things he’s done, dangerous or otherwise. There’s a part of me that wants to know every detail. Then there’s the other that would much rather be none the wiser. I’m pretty sure I’d develop an ulcer.

“Well, I don’t think he’ll be doing anything like that again. Not with you around, and if he does, you let us know. We’ll take care of him,” Luke promises.

“Alright, quit talking to my girl and get one of your own. She’s mine.” Jagger plops down in the seat beside me after squeezing himself between the row in front of us and Luke. He stuck his ass out, pushing it in Luke’s face.

“You’re a dick,” Luke mutters under his breath, using his hands to get him away. Sebastian giggles at their antics. I cover his ears since there are more words thrown around that I’m sure he doesn’t need to hear.

“He’s fine. Johnny is way worse than those two put together. Not to mention the rock songs he has Seb jamming out to on a daily basis,” Winnie whispers in my ear.

“They silly,” Sebastian says when I put my hands down.His little hand goes to the necklace I’m wearing. The shiny silver captures his attention a lot like it does Jagger’s.

“They are,” I reply.

“Hi, Lyric, I promise we’ll talk after, and I’ll introduce you to everyone, unlike this big oaf, who left you to your own devices.” Kennedy turns around, waving at me.

“Except me. I already reacquainted myself with her,” Luke pipes in.

“Okay, fine, not you or Winnie or Johnny, and clearly not Sebastian, but everyone else,” Kenny says.

“Thank you, and thank you for including me in Briar’s recital.” I came back into town and have since been swept up in a whirlwind romance. I should have gotten out more. Except I’ve been kind of in my own little world, journaling my grief, working on figuring out who I am while not being a caretaker, and then being wrapped up in Jagger.

“Anytime.” Kennedy turns around as the lights dim.

“I see you’ve met Sebastian.” Jagger holds his fist out to bump Sebastian’s, and he returns it with a big smile.

“I have indeed. He’s a cutie.” The music comes on, the emcee announces tonight’s lineup, and Sebastian turns around. He claps his hands, and I bounce my legs up and down. He gets into it, and I notice the group around us does as well, either singing or dancing, the guys bobbing their heads, but not Jagger. Nope, he’s singing like his life depends on it and is jamming out. I don’t know where to look, the stage, Sebastian, or Jagger.

“Here comes Briar,” Winnie tells me, or Sebastian, I’m not sure which. The little guy squeals, claps his hands in excitement, and once Briar is on stage, he points in her direction.We get lost in the performance, everyone does, and it isn’t till all of them are done, and we’re giving all of the classes a standing ovation, that I realize Sebastian didn’t move from my lap once. In fact, he’s now in my arms, situated on my hip. I’m really going to admit to Jagger that I’m having mixed feelings about my statement. Maybe kids could be in our future, like, in a few years or so.

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