Page 57 of Second-Rate Superstar

Stepping out of Braxton’s arms, I took a calming breath, throwing on a smile to greet his brother. “Thank you so much for having me.”

Waving a dismissive hand, Jaxon’s crooked smile matched that of his brother’s. “The more, the merrier. As Braxton mentioned, we always have too much food.”

Stepping forward, Jaxon pulled Braxton into a hug. As they broke apart Braxton teased, “Nice of you to put a shirt on this time.”

Smirking, Jaxon shrugged. “I’m a dad first. You know that.”

Okay, Braxton’s older brother is kind of adorable.

The story Braxton shared with me that night in the hospital had stuck with me. The one about Jaxon taking in Natalie’s older kids and claimingthem as his own. There were no doubts I was looking at a good man—more than that, a good father—and from what I could tell, he was Braxton’s benchmark.

And, damn, if that’s how nicely Braxton’s gonna age? Yes, please.

“These things can be intimidating the first time,” Jaxon explained. “My first Christmas with this group wasn’t the smoothest, but it was worth it. They’re some of the best people I’ve ever known, and they love hard. You won’t find a more supportive family.”

Braxton looped an arm around my waist, asking, “Want a drink before we make the rounds?”

Leaning into his muscular body beside me, I shook my head. “No. I’ll psych myself out if we put it off too long.”

“Fair enough.” He led me further into the room, and we stopped before the people scattered across multiple couches and seated on the floor.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on us, and I wanted to hide behind Braxton but forced myself to be brave. I could do this.

Without hesitation and with a hint of pride in his voice, Braxton introduced me, “Guys, this is Dakota.” Everyone smiled back at me, offering waves, as Braxton moved around the room, offering so many names I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep them all straight.

He gestured to a broad black-haired man and a full-figured redheaded woman. “First, we have Liam, Natalie’s brother-in-law, and his wife, Amy, who is Natalie’s oldest friend. They used to live here with her after the divorce but now live next door.” Oh, I remembered a mention of that. They must have the baby Natalie had mentioned having the same birthday as Max.

Next came the bottom-heavy blonde nurse I’d met in the hospital and a shorter but muscular man with reddish-brown hair. “I’m sure you remember Liv.” She gave me a bright smile. “And this is her partner, Benji.He plays for the Comets on the same line with me and Jaxon. They have a little boy, Knox, running around here somewhere.”

A dark-haired couple was seated on the ground with a baby girl eating her toes between them. “Then, we have Lucy, Natalie’s sister-in-law, her husband, Preston, and their baby girl, Hazy.” I couldn’t help but smile at the chubby baby with pink cheeks.

“Nice to meet everyone,” I offered, overwhelmed but gaining confidence with every passing minute.

“How about that drink now?” Braxton said in my ear.

“God, yes,” I breathed out.

“That’s what I thought.” His tone held a trace of laughter. Squeezing my side, he added, “You did great by the way.”

“Thanks.” I let him lead me to a wet bar off the side of the kitchen.

He gestured to the various bottles and asked, “What’ll it be?”

“White wine is just fine.”

“You got it.”

Reaching down, he opened a wine chiller beneath the countertop, grabbed a bottle, and held it up for my inspection. With me nodding at his choice of a Pinot Grigio, he plucked a stemless wine glass from the cabinet and poured a healthy amount. When he offered me the glass, I took a sip, letting the flavors burst on my tongue and settle any nerves that remained. Braxton grabbed a beer for himself, and we returned to the living room.

As he pulled me to sit with him on a chaise lounge, I remained silent, watching the exchanges between friends and lovers.

Most of the couples were in each other's space as if they couldn’t bear the thought of not breathing the same air. There didn’t appear to be any hesitation regarding public displays of affection.

Hannah brazenly sat on Cal’s lap, running her hands over his muscular arms while she spoke to her friends.

Liam kept a firm hand on his wife’s leg at all times, his eyes never leaving her for more than a moment, almost as if he were a guard dog, always on watch.

Jaxon’s arms were looped around Natalie’s waist from behind, and he kept dipping his head into the crook of her neck.

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