Page 73 of Jump

Kit and Jen and the rest walk away, leaving Viv and Hannah behind. But Axel stays too, seeming not all that concerned with his unexpected visitor and preferring to stick to Hannah’s side. Which means I don’t get to talk to Vivian in private. I don’t get to kiss her plump and abused lips, or comfort her the way I know she needs in a social setting.

She wants home. Comfortable clothes and fuzzy socks. Fuck, she wants me sitting beside her and playing with her hair.

But now we’re here, with people we hardly know—and some, I’ve literally never met.

“Let’s go.” Hannah circles away from Axel’s hands and grabs Vivian’s instead. Dragging her so wine sloshes in the glass she carries, Hannah tugs her friend from the kitchen and out of my sight.

Axel hangs back and digs a hand into his pocket. “You got any clue why Drake Banks is coming to dinner in my home, Ruiz?”

“I don’t even know who the fuck Banks is.” But I bring my beer up and take a contemplative sip as I turn on my heels and follow the scent of roasted turkey, baked vegetables, and green beans bathing in butter.

“It’s so good to see you.” Hannah wraps her guest in a hug that surprises even him, his brows shooting high, and his hands awkwardly settling on her back, then she takes a step back and thrusts Vivian forward. “I’m not sure you’ve met, but this is my best friend, Vivian Doyalson. Viv, this is Drake.”

“Mm.” Smoother than the butter on the table, Drake takes Vivian’s hand and brings it up to his lips.

The second he makes contact and her face blazes, my temper burns hot. My hand tenses around the bottle I hold and risks shattering the whole damn thing. But my mood remains under control until Hannah pulls out a chair beside Sophia’s and forces her newest guest to drop down. Then the one beside that—the only one, since Troy Rosa wanders in from another room and takes up the seat on the other side—she strategically leads Viv to.

Vivian’s eyes whip to mine, but she sits. Like a good little people pleaser, she lowers into her chair… and furiously blushes when her arm bumps Drake’s, and his entire body spins to pay attention to her.

“Here, Matt.” Hannah comes and wraps her arm in mine so I have no choice but to escort her. “I’d love it if you could sit with me.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Snarling under my breath, I squeeze my arm tighter to my side so she feels my grip and can’t mistake it for anything but a warning. “Hannah Sullivan, why the hell are you setting her up with Banks?”

“Oh gosh, I think dinner smells fantastic too. Thank you!” She yanks out a free chair and forces me down until I’m sitting directly across from my girlfriend while she’s on a date with someone else.

“I’ve missed having you around here these past few weeks, Matt,” Hannah chatters. “I mean, I know I was the one who told you to get out, but I had no clue I’d eventually miss your gloomy moods.”

“You might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”

My eyes snap up and burn when Drake tucks a lock of hair behind Vivian’s ear, smirking while she blushes.

He’s touching! Fucking touching!

“I’ve always been a man who appreciates beauty, Viv. And I gotta say…” His face is just six inches from hers, his smile bright enough to draw her focus down. “You’re the most beautiful of them all. And you’re Hannah’s friend?”

“Best friend.” Inserting herself into the conversation, Hannah stands and places an entire turkey leg on this asshole’s plate. “Very best friend in the whole wide world. And you’re one of the best men in Nic’s life.”

“Hey!” both Preston—Nic’s man—and Axel grumble.

“She doesn’t need more than us,” Axel growls. “Banks is simply a castoff from the ‘used to be married to a pinecone’ era of her life.”

“Uncle Axel!” Juniper pulls up a seat on Preston’s other side. “You’re being mean. Drake is nice.”

And of course, the dude in question bounces his brows for Viv. “See? I’m nice. A man can only hope for such a glowing review from a clever seven-year-old.” He slides his tongue along his bottom lip and leans closer to my girlfriend.

He’s yet to release her hand, and while I pick up my knife, his thumb strokes her wrist. “What do you do for a living, Vivian?”

“She rescues puppies!” Juniper volunteers, oh so fucking helpfully.

I lean forward in my seat and stare hard at the little girl who sits four seats down from me.

Unseeing, she adds, “She’s a real-life hero. Like police and fire people, but she saves cute dogs.”

“A real-life hero.” Parroting June, Drake turns back to his date and simpers, like he thinks they get to fuck at the table. “Well, I’m honored to know you, Ms. Vivian. Not only are you stunning, but you’re genuinely amazing.”

“Is this guy for real?” I scoff loudly to Hannah, drawing the eyes of everyone else at the table. “Is he fucking serious?”

“Hey.” Axel leans around on Hannah’s other side. “Don’t bring your bullshit to our dining table, Ruiz. It’s Thanksgiving.” He picks up the mashed potatoes and passes them into my hands with such force, I have to take them or risk having them thrown in my face. “Viv’s allowed to be flirted with on Thanksgiving. You’re just gonna have to sit there and deal with your roommate being romanced.”

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