Page 108 of Beneath the Surface

Amusement bubbles from deep in my stomach, true laughter floating out of me for the first time in what feels like forever.

More voices filter in through the patio doors, and I look toward the noise. Jax saunters in, followed closely by a pretty brunette.

Becca glances toward them. “You saw Jax already when they went to find you, right? That’s Blakely, his girlfriend.”

“And she’s... a model?” I ask, remembering Annabelle talking about the cover of Vogue.

Becca smirks. “Kinda. She’s a social media influencer. Her dad is some bigwig in Cali, and she moved out here to be with Jax and just kinda... never left? Sometimes, paparazzi even comes around, but it’s died down a lot in the past six months or so.”

I suck in a breath. “Paparazzi?”

Becca nods. “Yeah. Can you believe it? InSugarlake.The old biddies down at the market have a day with it all.” She chuckles, springing a curl around her finger. “She’s good people, though, and she’s good as hell for Jax.”

“Mommy! Watch!” Baby Chase’s voice floats across the back patio, and I look over, his little hand holding a spatula, helping his uncle flip burgers. My heart flips. “Wow, baby, that’sincredible!Good job!”

He beams and squirms to get down from Chase’s arms to run over. He wraps himself around my legs, realizing there’s another person here and looks up at her with a shy smile.

Becca’s grin widens and she squats down. “Well, aren’t you the handsomest little man I’ve ever seen.”

A dimple pops in his cheek as he peeks at her from behind me.

“I’m Becca. What’s your name?” She tilts her head, holding out her hand.

He grips my legs tighter. “I’m Chase.”

Becca sucks in a sharp gasp, her eyes flickering up to me.Okay, guess they didn’t tell her that yet.

“Well, that’s just confusin’ havin’ two Chases. What’s your middle name?”

I swallow harshly.

“Dewek.”

“Hmm. Nope, that won’t do either. I’m gonna call you Baby C.”

Chase makes a face, his hands letting go of my pant leg. “But I’m not a baby.”

“No?” Becca’s eyebrow quirks. “You sure? You kinda look it.”

He comes out from behind my legs entirely, his little fists resting on his hips. “I donot! I’m a big boy, just ask my mommy.”

She makes an o shape with her mouth, looking toward me. “Is that true, Lily?”

I nod, holding back a giggle. “It is. He’s a very big boy.”

Becca sighs. “So, what about just C? I can’t be callin’ you both Chase, I’ll wind up confusin’ myself.”

Baby Chase contemplates it, his teeth working into his bottom lip before he nods. “Okay.”

“We’ve gotta spit shake,” she says. And then Becca straight up spits into the palm of her hand and holds it out to him.

He bursts into giggles, his nose scrunching. “Ewwwwww, I don’t wanna touch that!”

She grins wide, her green eyes sparkling. “You’re no fun. But I’m still holdin’ you to it.”

“I am too fun.” He smiles and steps closer to her. “Do you know how to pway Spiduh-Man?”

Her eyes flashing to me in victory. “Nope, can you teach me?”

---