Page 126 of Second-Rate Superstar

“Nat almost had a stroke.” Jaxon smiled. “But Jameson and I burst out laughing. Poor Beau kept asking us what was so funny. Having a teenage son is going to be so much fun.”

Benji was a shit-stirrer and turned his attention back to Liam. “So, what’s the plan? Shelter that little guy so much that someday you have to hire a hooker to take his virginity? He’s going to turn into one of those socially awkward kids who can’t talk to people. That’s gonna be a great look on a king.”

Liam rubbed at his eye sockets with his fingers. “He’s four months old. Can we cool it?”

“Put the phone down, and we’ll stop,” Preston said. “Amy has the patience of a saint, but it’s still a wonder she hasn’t killed you yet.”

Jaxon smirked. “You know, if she ever needs a place to hide, our house is always open.”

“Don’t remind me,” Liam muttered. Huffing, he set his phone down on the table. “I’m not going to apologize for taking care of my family.”

“There’s a difference between caring for your family and smothering them. Let them breathe, man.” Jaxon slid the phone further away for emphasis.

A growl rumbled in Liam’s chest, but he picked up the cards and played the hand he’d previously folded.

After another hour, Cal drained his drink, slamming the glass down on the table as he stood, declaring, “I’m done sitting around. Time to track down the girls.”

There wasn’t one word of argument from the men around the table.

As we all joined Cal on our feet, Benji said, “I’ve got one hundred bucks that says Liam has a tracker on Amy that will lead us straight to them.”

Liam glared at Benji. “It’s called security, jackass, and it’s for her safety.” He turned to his brother-in-law, shooting him a pointed look. “Isn’t that right, Preston?”

Preston mumbled something under his breath, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Cal threw his arm around Liam’s shoulders. “Soooo, you know where they are, then?”

Rolling his eyes, Liam sighed. “Yes.”

Letting out a cheer, we headed out to meet up with our girls, who were more than likely halfway to drunk.

It was gonna be a good night.

Chapter 29

Dakota

“So, as she’s lyingthere, the husband has the nerve to ask the doctor if he can put in a ‘husband stitch’.” Liv was regaling us with some of the more outrageous stories from working as a labor and delivery nurse.

Every mother seated around the high-top table at the bar we’d found ourselves in after dinner groaned. I wasn’t sure what a husband stitch was, but I was betting it wasn’t good.

Liv continued, “No joke. The doctor—amaledoctor, I might add—looks this joker dead in the eye and, with a straight face, gives him the recommendation for a surgeon who specializes in penile enlargements if he’s concerned about the fit postpartum.”

The laughs torn from our throats were so loud they rose over the music, and every person in the bar turned to stare at us. Tears sprang to my eyes, and I wiped them away furiously.

Wheezing, Liv slapped the table. “You have no idea how hard it was to keep a straight face when he said that, and the dad’s jaw dropped. He really thought the doc was gonna do him a solid.”

Natalie smirked, swaying to the music in her seat. “The first time I met this one”—she threw a thumb in my direction—“Jaxon made it crystal clear how unnecessary an extra stitch would be.”

“Oh my God,” I groaned, covering my flaming face. “I almost forgot about that.” Nudging Braxton’s sister-in-law with my shoulder, I teased her back. “As appalled as you were at Jaxon for sharing that info, you gave Braxton and meextremelygraphic details about how wide everything was stretched out when you had Max.” My nose wrinkled at the memory, and I wondered if maybe all doped up, she had exaggerated a touch.

Eyes flying wide, she gasped. “No, I didn’t!”

“Oh, you so did.” I nodded in confirmation.

Hugging me around the shoulders, she sighed. “Oh, poor Braxton.”

Sliding out of her embrace, I widened my eyes. “Poor Braxton? Poor me!”

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