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“I’m the team daddy.” He winks at Carter. “Maybe I’ll be your daddy, Beckett.” Carter gasps, shoving a finger in Axel’s shoulder. “Holly Beckett is so far out of your league, she’s in outer space.”
Get it Holly 😌
Adam. He might be a beast in the net, but everywhere else, he’s our gentle giant. He’s also the friendliest guy you’ll ever meet, kind to a fault, and always looking on the bright side.
Love you Pookie
“Jaxon just said he doesn’t get crushes.” Emmett barks a laugh. “Famous last words, bud.” He points at Carter, shaking his hips again, singing “My Girl” as he pulls on his clothes. “Carter said that. Six months later, he proposed.”
Frfr
“Yeah, well”—I jab a finger in Carter’s direction before stomping my way toward the showers—“I’m nothing like him.” “You’d be so lucky!” he shouts after me.
BYE IM DEAD
“Now, honey. Is that any way to greet your husband after you slipped out of bed in the middle of the night? I’ve been worried sick about you.”
Lmao
Devin i mean, get it i guess. don’t need to know how good it was though. oh but u know who u should tell, just for fun??? ryne. can i tell him???
Bye I love her brother 😭🙏
“You’re doin’ so good, honey,” I whisper to Lennon as I pull off the blue cap. “So fuckin’ good.”
thank you, Harry Styles—
Love my king
I’m dead 💀😭
“Goodbye, peanut butter,” he murmurs, dropping the jar in the trash. “Goodbye, honey-roasted nuts. Goodbye, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.” He pulls out a box of Reese’s Puff cereal, and this giant, grown-ass man before me actually fucking whimpers. “Goodbye, sweet, sweet heaven.”
Then, slowly, his arms slide around my waist, pulling me gently into his chest. “What are you doing?” “Hugging you. That’s what the girls said to do.” “What?” “I texted the girls. They said you probably needed a hug, so I’m hugging you.” God, I want so badly to laugh, but instead it comes out a horrible, choking sob. “You texted your girlfriends for advice because I’m crying?” “I don’t know how to do tears.”
He’s adorable I can’t 😭
Jaxon doesn’t need to know I was only crying because I had just realized—knee-deep in Red (Taylor’s Version)—that Taylor Swift will, one day, stop making music, and I’ll no longer have a soundtrack to my life. Yes, I was on my period, thank you for asking.
Real asf 😔
“I . . . Jesus Christ.” Squeezing my eyes shut, I wave a hand in front of my face. “I genuinely can’t believe that this moment right here is my life.” “Well, excuse the fuck out of me for taking an interest in your books and offering to make you two kinds of waffles.” “You’re naked!” I shout, arms wide. “You’re fucking naked, Jaxon! And while Magic Mike and his backup dancers are swinging about, you’re standing there, casually eating your cereal and talking about a fictional character getting DP’d in a parking lot!” He sets his bowl down and gestures aggressively at his junk. “This is who I
...more
I’ve never cackled this much 🤣
Except right there, to the left of the machine, is a small notebook that wasn’t there yesterday. I pick up the small green book, and something thick and foreign settles in my throat, something I can’t swallow down as I read the words scrawled over the cover. Lennon’s Guide to Making Coffee The tightness in my throat expands to my chest, pulling it taut as I flip through the pages, directions on how to use the machine, recipes for different drinks. He’s even added a section that tells me which cereal pairs best with each drink.
That’s it. I knew I loved him but man do I LOVE him.
“Jaxon Eugene Riley,” Gran gasps. “Is that a woman?” “Eugene?” Lennon squeals,
Omg like Flynn rider?! Slay.
“If you’re ready to apologize, sweetheart, I think we can move past this.
Excuse you?
“You’ve really lost it, haven’t y—wait a second.” I hold up a finger, replaying his words in my head. “If I’m ready to apologize? And just what the fuck do I have to apologize for?”
LIKE THE FUCK 😂
How he grinned at the crowd, winked at me, called me sweetheart before he pulled me in for a kiss. The way I slapped him so hard not even the gasp of the crowd could drown out the sound. How he had the nerve to follow me home, try to bypass my dad and brother, who were blocking the front door. How he watched me throw my luggage into my dad’s car twenty minutes later and told me to be for fucking real. I slapped him again.
The fucking audacity.
“So I’d be the first. Hypothetically speaking.” I nod. “Hypothetically speaking.” “And hypothetically speaking, are you—” “On the shot.” “Oh. Cool.” He clears his throat. “Cool, cool, cool.” “Hypothetically speaking, are you—” “All clear.” “Oh. Nice. Yeah, me too.”
Jaxon wrapped my hair before bed.
Marry that man.
I definitely don’t wind up in front of a random flower shop, and I definitely don’t go inside and ask if they have pink tulips.
but Jesus, there’s something so heart-stopping and fanny-fluttering about this man in a bespoke three-piece suit, a gorgeous, deep shade of burgundy, making the gold and green flecks in his hazel eyes sparkle. He hides all those tattoos and tames those mussed waves
Damn I want one.
Garrett stops, pivoting back to me. “Cute? No, Len, cute doesn’t work. Goddammit.” He looks around, then heads to the wall, getting into a position oddly reminiscent of Carter’s just minutes ago. “What about now? Still cute?” “It sure is something.” “No, not cute. Not even remotely. The correct answer is powerful. Rugged. Dare I even say”—he squats low, pumping his brows—“sexy.”
“Aw, come on, dude. Quit stealing my girl.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I freeze.
Oh…. AHHHHHHH MY GIRL? RILEYYYYY HAS A GIRL
“I’m Mrs. Potato Head?” Garrett shrieks from beside me. “Wait.” I thumb at Garrett. “We’re married?” “Happily.”
I’m cackling 🤣
“This what?” Garrett demands, getting in my face. “If you want a divorce, Jaxon, just say so!” “I didn’t even wanna get married to you in the first place!” “Oh, well, sor-ry I wasn’t your first choice!”
Please 💀
I spin around, stopping dead when I find him. Dressed in a pink-and-white gown, a matching pink bonnet tied around his head, and the crook he holds is, I think, to herd sheep, since that’s what Dublin, Carter and Olivia’s dog, is dressed as by his feet. I step closer to Garrett, and him to me. “Hi, hubby,” he whispers. I swallow. “Hi, wife.”
This is so much better than Halloween 🤣
Carter in a black velvet tuxedo, leading his daughter into the room, fully decked out in a ball gown, tiara adorning her dark curls, and . . . Riding a fucking pony.
OF COURSE ITS A FUCKING PONY CARTER IM HOLLERING
My leave-in conditioner and my comb. My curl butter and my favorite mousse. My hair dryer and my diffuser. Jaxon sits on the edge of the couch, spreading his legs. He gestures to the space there and picks up my comb. “C’mon, tidbit.” “What . . . what are you . . .” I swallow, pleading away the sting of my nose, the burn of my eyes. “You’re going to do my hair for me?” “I’m gonna try my best. I think I’ve watched you enough.”
HOW CAN SOMEONE NOT FALL FOR HIM
uh oh, I think I might be falling for you, but, like, don’t freak out, because then I’ll freak out, and then we’ll both be freaking out.
LABYRINTH BY TAYLOR MF SWIFT.
“Just that Ryne is a piece of shit. An agreeable version of you who sits quietly by, blending in instead of standing out, isn’t my Lennon.” My heart pounds at that simple two-letter word. “I thought you liked quiet.” “Before you, maybe.” “And now?” “Now I like loud.”
Oh my fuck??? Is he doing ur hair??? OH MY FUCK??? THE WAY HE’S LOOKING AT YOU??? OH MY FUCKING FUCK, THAT KISS??????? MARRY HIM. MARRY HIM RIGHT NOW. MAN’S OBSESSED. ***OBSESSED***
Me too girl me too.
And then you wake up one sunny morning in April on your twenty-seventh birthday to a note on your pillow. Happy birthday, honey. Don’t make a big deal of it. And when you find the telescope you’ve been asking for waiting for you beneath your bedroom window, you don’t even try to stop the tears from coming.
Jaxon groans, stalking to his closet. He shrugs into a navy suit jacket, notching his fuck me factor sky high. Twenty out of ten, keep the suit on and put a baby in me. I’m ready.
So real for that
“Happy birthday, honey.” Uncertainty clenches my fists, and I pull in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. And then I open my eyes. I gasp, hands flying to my mouth, and tears build in my eyes without warning. Towering pines and endless mountains paint the skyline, touching the inky water, the slightest breeze sending a gentle ripple through the otherwise still bay. And there, above it all, dazzling ribbons of green, orange, pink, and purple dance through the deep blue sky, thousands upon thousands of stars singing as the Northern Lights illuminate my world.
Jaxon Riley the man that you are.
“You have to say that it’s a date out loud, or it doesn’t count.” He leans forward on his elbows. “Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Apparently, you have to ‘ask’ them to be your girlfriend now too. You can’t just assume it.” He rolls his eyes. “So even though you guys are basically boyfriend and girlfriend, you have to actually ask her to be your girlfriend.”
😭😭😭
“You get a girlfriend, and then before you know it, you’re staying in on Saturday nights, waking up early on Sunday mornings, having coffee and waffles together while you read your books or watch the sports updates. And then you’re going grocery shopping together, getting her flowers to make her smile, and you get dragged to the craft store to decorate for every holiday or season change, or just because the vibes are feeling off in the apartment.”
Dude you do that already…
I pause there, staring down at them, squeezing my fists as I listen to Lennon sing along to her music. Soft whispers about coffee at midnight, burnt toast on Sundays, letting go of your fears, and falling in love.
“Hey, can you do that somewhere else? Your own bathroom, maybe.”
Not nice Jax take it back.
But I fall into bed anyway, because the last thing I want to do is fall into love.
No no no go apologize Jax.
“I believe sisterfucker is the word you’re looking for,” I murmur.
DUDE JAXON SAID THAT WGAT
My feet move before my brain can catch up, marching me straight across the bar. Nobody takes my crush home but me.
Uh huh get it
“My telescope is at home. Do you mind taking me there to get it?” As fucking if.
He’s so sassy bye
Bart? I send Lennon another message with my eyes. It rhymes with fart, honey. Are you sure about this?
IM DEAD
“Showtime, Bitches.” Hey, remember a minute ago when I said there was no way in hell I’d regret this decision? Yeah, that was before the screen before us lights up, and the lyrics to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield start rolling up it. * * * I got a standing ovation.
IM HOWLING 🤣🤣🤣🤣
But I don’t want to fall alone. I want her to fall with me.
“I don’t know if I liked being alone before you, but it was comfortable. I got used to the quiet. Felt like I belonged in it. But now, without you . . . I fucking hate the silence, Lennon.”
“What better way to say … ‘Bye Bye Bye’ . . . to the Oilers tonight than with a little . . . NSYNC?”
AHHHHH IM SO EXCITED SPECIALLY AFTER WATCHING THE NEW DEADPOOL. CHEFS KISS.
“Yes!” Jumping to my feet, I jerk my fist into my side. “Fuck yeah!” “But you’ll have to ask her yourself.” “What? Nooo. Sarah!” “And see, that’s why I wouldn’t let you hold my purse. You’re afraid to ask a girl to be your girlfriend, so if someone tried to steal my bag, you’d be too afraid to fight them off.” “Sarah, please. Have you seen me play hockey? I’d knock ’em out.”
Fuck. I crouch at her feet, gripping her hands, bringing her eyes to mine. “Hey. Look at me. You don’t change a thing about yourself, okay? Don’t change a damn thing. You are perfect exactly the way you are, and you know something? The people who think you aren’t, are the people who don’t matter. We don’t give a fuck about those people, Sarah. We’re better off without them. The only people we have room for in our lives are the kind who don’t ask us to be anything or anyone we’re not. Wait for those people, Sarah. That’s the family you deserve.”
