Jax turns his face away, burying it in my shoulder.
“He’s a bit shy.” I rub his back.
Asher walks behind me, and Jax giggles. Asher laughs.
Beautiful sounds. Audrey joins Asher, and they laugh together.
“Okay, what are you doing behind my back?” I try to see, but Jax is in the way.
“He’s licking your shoulder,” Audrey helpfully explains.
I sigh. Typical.
Zane walks behind me, too, his eyes narrow. “He sort of reminds me of someone,” he mutters.
“All kids look the same to me,” Rafe says and sinks into one of the orange armchairs. He’s smiling, though. “Little hurricanes.”
The door of the shop chimes as it opens, and Tessa walks in. “Erin? Audrey says you have…“ Her face lights up. “Oh my God, is that Jax?”
“You knew,” Zane says accusingly, and Tessa shrugs. She tickles Jax’s cheek.
Jax starts to wiggle, and I swear his tiny boots must have steel toes. Wincing, I lower him to the ground, and he runs to check out the booths.
“Are the booths safe?” I start after him, but Zane takes my hand.
“All tools are locked away. It’s safe.”
“You had us fooled for years.” Rafe chuckles to himself. “Always thought Jax was your boyfriend.”
Yeah. I’m tired from the drive and all the emotions rocketing inside my head. “He’s been my secret all this time. I had him very young, and I thought he’d be safer and happier living with my parents.”
Audrey comes to take my other hand. “He’s amazing. You must be so proud of him.”
“I am.”
A heavy hand lands on my back, and I jerk. Asher appears in my line of sight. “Sorry about before. Looks like it’s a misunderstanding.”
“Damn right it is.” Zane lets go of my hand and pulls out his cell phone again. “Didn’t I tell you fuckers you should talk to each other more? Secrets are bad for your health.” He calls a number which I assume is Tyler’s, and clenches his jaw.
After a while, he pushes the cell back into his pocket. Still not answering.
I pull away from Audrey and try to call him from mine. It goes to voicemail and I hesitate. “Call me back, Tyler,” I finally say. “It’s a misunderstanding.”
The beep ending the message comes before I can think of more to say. I put the phone away.
“Where’s Tyler?” Tessa is pulling off her scarf, eyes scanning the shop. “How did he react?”
“Why should he react—?” Audrey snaps her mouth shut, then glances at Asher, who blinks.
“What?” he mutters.
“As I said, he reminds me of someone,” Zane says. “He has something of you, too, Ash.”
Does he? Asher’s face is handsome, and in the strong lines of his brows and jaw I think I see what makes him Tyler’s brother.
Jax’s uncle.
“You guys.” Tessa giggles. “You should see your faces.”