Page 77 of Love Bank
Jayden rubbed the back of his neck, looking more unsure of himself than I’d seen since we were kids.
“I think I was conned.” When I scoffed, he held his hands out. “Hear me out, man. I’m serious. She hit on me first that night we were out celebrating your promotion, remember?”
I nodded, recalling the night we’d gone out to this new bar in San Jose, my brother having come up north to help me pack up my moving truck. My last night there, we went out to celebrate and, quite honestly, the events following the first few drinks were a little hazy.
Jayden continued. “You finally left and Addi turned her attention solely on me. We danced, had a few more drinks, and then I took her back to my hotel. Everything was good. Fucking great, in fact. That girl is a freak in the sack. But then she got weird. Asking questions about you and where you were moving to. I didn’t even ask for her number before she left for fear she only wanted it to get your number. I never saw her again, so I didn’t think anything of it.”
“She’s obsessed with my man?” Lucy stormed into the kitchen, my T-shirt barely covering her ass. Lord, she was beautiful when she was pissed. Her eyes sparkled above the pink cheeks, looking like they’d spit fire if need be.
Jayden, the bastard, ran his gaze up and down her fine form before settling on her face and I nearly killed him. I snagged Lucy with an arm around her waist and pulled her against me. I liked the way she called me her man, but if Jayden looked at her bare legs one more time, I might have to kick him out of our house and interrupt our morning visit.
“How about you put some clothes on, love, and I’ll make us all some breakfast?” I whispered in her ear.
She startled in my arms, like she’d forgotten she had nothing on under my shirt. In different circumstances, I would have taken advantage of all that bare skin available for my hands. Probably wouldn’t have even let her get out of the kitchen before I’d bent her over the counter, given her sausage for breakfast, and had her screaming my name.
Jayden looked away, like the smart man he was on occasion. “Hi, I’m Jayden. Bain’s younger brother,” he told the stove.
Lucy blushed bright red and shuffled toward the door to the kitchen. “Nice to meet you too, Jayden. I’ll be right back.” Then she whirled around and hightailed it out of there.
Jayden turned away from the stove and smirked. “She’s pretty.”
“She’s mine.” The bite in my tone was probably unnecessary, but I couldn’t help myself.
He held up his hands, choking back his laughter. “Yeah, I got that. Don’t worry. Even if I didn’t respect the hell out of you and would therefore never trespass, I’ve got a situation on my hands with Addi that requires my whole focus.”
“Yeah, you do.” I thought of my stolen sperm sample and wondered if I’d be dealing with lots of “situations” in the near or distant future.
Lucy came back in the kitchen and we got busy making breakfast together. I filled her in on the details she hadn’t shamelessly overheard and we both seemed to walk with a bounce in our step. Addi might not be carrying my baby after all. Despite my brother’s uncertain future, I loved sharing my new life with him and seeing him interact with the woman I planned to spend the rest of my days with.
* * *
The wind whistled through the palm fronds. I could practically feel the sea spray flying through the thick air to coat my skin and hair, the salty brine invading my senses and relaxing my shoulders. The fire crackled and popped, the flames keeping everyone warm despite the sun having faded into the ocean an hour ago. There was no rhyme or reason to the scheduling of the group beach bonfires. Maybe everyone felt a magnetic pull to get back to the ocean after a few days, needing the beach environment just as much as socializing with friends.
Jayden had gone back to LA this morning after meeting with Addi and demanding a paternity test. After a fairly tense confrontation, she’d cracked. She’d wanted me that night and was irate when I wouldn’t give her the attention she craved. I felt bad for Jayden. Pretty harsh to possibly be pregnant with his baby but also admitting to wanting someone else.
Most of the town accepted the story that I wasn’t the father, though I’m sure some wouldn’t believe it until the results were in. Quite frankly, it was none of their business. Whatwasmy business was Lucy. I had an appointment with a jewelry shop two towns over tomorrow after work. No more baby drama meant I could put my proposal plans in place.
“Ooh! Looks like Bain and Lucille are back, huh?” Hazel singsonged, despite the fact I knew Lucy and the girls had spent over an hour on the phone hashing everything out. I was learning there wasn’t much best girlfriends wouldn’t share with each other.
The small group of friends cheered and Lucy blushed. I pulled her into my chest tighter and laid a sloppy kiss on her while she giggled and slapped my arms.
“We need to give you a couple name,” Lenora added when Lucy succeeded in fending me off. “How about Bainille?”
“Nope. Rhymes with anal. Not gonna work,” Lucy immediately responded.
Amelia whooped and I tried not to laugh at how quickly she turned that down. Guess that was one position Lucy didn’t want to try.
“Okay, how about Lucin?” Lenora continued.
“How about just Bain and Lucy?” Lucy offered.
Amelia staggered back from the fire. “Wait! We can call you Lucy now? Since when?”
My girl giggled and I couldn’t think of a happier sound. “Since Bain forced it on me and I realized I quite liked it. Less stuffy, you know?”
The conversation continued around us. Tiny sparks flew in the air as someone tossed on a fresh log. I pulled Lucy in tighter, needing her closer still, needing to know this was real. That life really could be this good. My chest felt ready to burst from contentment. From belonging. I never wanted this night to end, yet I couldn’t wait to live the rest of my life with this woman by my side as my equal in every way.
“While you’re being less stuffy, wanna go in a sea cave with me?” I whispered in her ear.
