Page 80 of Shattered Rhythm

“Fucking stunning,” Ryder agrees, and I laugh.

“Oh, shut up, you two,” I scold.

Chase, who’s sitting on my other side, puts a hand on my shoulder. “The dickheads are right.” I look at Jaxon, and he is already looking at me.

“Like sunshine incarnate,” he whispers, and my heart nearly bursts.Ugh, these men.

Jaxon’s breakfast is so delicious that I can’t help but groan with pleasure after every bite.

“Oh my god, Jaxon,” I say, taking another spoonful of eggs and avocado. I drop my head back and hear Ryder and River chuckle. When I open my eyes, I see Jaxon looking at me with a mixture of pride and heat.

“You like it?” he asks.

“Like it? God, I want to bathe in it,” I reply, grabbing a small bowl of yogurt and fruit and closing my eyes again as I hum in delight. After a few more bites, I can’t help but praise Jaxon some more for his cooking skills. “Why don’t you have a café or a brunch place, Jaxon? You could make good money with this. This is the best breakfast I’ve ever had, and I’ve been to some fancy places,” I compliment him.

“We’ve been telling Jaxon to open a restaurant for a while now,” he explains. “He doesn’t like the long hours though.”

“That’s bullshit because he stays in the studio far longer than restaurant hours,” Ryder adds, and Jaxon flips him off.

“Yeah, a restaurant is a lot, but a cute little breakfast place with coffee and brunch that closes at two pm? That would fit you so well, and you would have much more time for yourself,” I point out, and Jaxon looks at me critically.

“You think I could do that?” he asks, and I laugh.

“Jaxon, I think you could do anything you want,” I say. “You’re the most determined person I’ve ever met, but I also think you would do amazing. I mean, look at this!” I point at the table loaded with food. “That’s not only a talent, it’s a passion. Think about it.”

I finish my plate and go back for seconds, and they all laugh.

* * *

Jaxon

We nearly finished all the food on the table, and Liv ate a lot. I love that she’s not one of those girls who try to eat as little as possible. I love to cook, and I love when people enjoy my food. The combination is heady.

“Damn, I ate way too much, but it was so worth it.” Liv says, patting her belly and looking at me sleepily, and I smile.

A brunch place?She planted a bug in my head. I’m proud of Tanner Fitness, but somehow, I’m not enjoying it as much as I used to. I need to think about this some more, but not today. Today, we’re going to do something fun as a family with our girl.

“Do you need some time to let your food digest a bit, or are you ready to head to the beach?” Chase asks, and she visibly lights up.

“I’ve never been snorkeling before. I am so ready to try it!” she says, and I’m glad we picked something she’s excited about.

They all help me get the dishes in the dishwasher and put away the food we didn’t eat. Liv goes into one of our bathrooms to change, while we all get into our swimming trunks. Soon after, we pile into my car and get on the road, Chase sitting shotgun and Liv squeezed between the twins in the back, giggling the whole way while River and Ryder make raspberries on her neck from both sides.

Ten minutes later, we exit the Jeep, gather our belongings, and head towards the shore. Liv and River chat excitedly about what to expect while snorkeling.

“You do know how to swim, right?” River asks, teasingly. Liv lets out a laugh.

“There is water where I come from, it’s just not as salty as here,” she retorts.

We get to a part of the beach where no one is lounging. The water is crystal clear, and I can already see the colorful fish swimming around just below the surface.

Liv eagerly pulls her gear out of her bag, and we all watch her bending down. First, I was disappointed not to see her in a bikini, but that rash guard hugs her tits in all the right ways, so I’m not complaining. Chase is helping her disentangle her goggles when Ryder whispers something into River’s ear.

“There is no way you’d dare to do that, not that he would even let you,” he says with a chuckle.

“Watch me,” Ryder replies, smirking.

I wonder what they’re talking about, but I’ve learned over the years that sometimes it’s just better not to know when it comes to Ryder. We all get our gear, and when Liv gets her goggles and snorkel on her head thanks to Chase, she walks into the water, followed by the rest of us. We start to swim around, marveling at the underwater world around us.

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