Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

Levi smirks at me. “Why don’t you just offer to give her a baby?”

My breath leaves me in a rush, and I blink at my brothe

r. I have no desire to embarrass myself by admitting to these two that Ava drunkenly asked for my sperm last night. First of all, it’s none of their business. Second of all, I’m clinging to the shreds of my pride already.

“Ew,” Ellie says, frowning at Levi. “Why would he do that? You’re not helping.”

Levi shrugs. “Seems like a simple solution to me.”

“Ew?” I ask. “Seriously, Ell?”

“You’re friends. Like Levi and me. It’d be weird.” Behind her, Levi blanches, but she misses it because she’s looking me over, a grin slowly tugging on one corner of her mouth. “But I’m sure there’s nothing gross about sleeping with you, Jake.”

“Moving on,” Levi says.

“Will you please talk to her?” Ellie asks me again.

“I’ll try.”

She exhales heavily. “I’ll take it. I need to get on the treadmill. I’m afraid I’m losing my appeal for Colton.”

Levi grunts. “Then Colton’s an idiot.”

Ellie shrugs. “He’d never say that. He doesn’t have a death wish. Anyway, I’ll see you all later.” She walks away, and Levi watches her go like the lovesick puppy he is.

“Don’t do that to yourself,” I say.

“Do what?” Levi asks, as if he has no idea what I mean. Look at us, both pros at pretending we aren’t in love with the women we’re not allowed to have.

I lie back on the bench and wrap my hands around the barbell. “Ellie thinks she and Colton are going to get engaged soon, so if you’re going to tell her how you feel, do it now.”

Don’t be like me and wait until it’s too late.

Levi tears his gaze off Ellie and looks at me. “Tell her what?”

I grunt and un-rack the barbell for my first set.

“What are you going to do about Ava?” he asks, coming to stand behind my head to give me a spot I don’t need. “Does that fuck with you a little? Knowing she’s going to start a family on her own?”

“Nope.”

“Do you know you’re a terrible liar?”

I focus on my breathing as I finish my set, exhaling as I push the bar up, inhaling as I bring it down. When I hit my tenth rep, I rack the bar, sit up, and look at my brother. “It fucks with me,” I admit. “But it doesn’t change a damn thing.”

Ava

My front door groans as it opens and closes, and I hear someone walking through the foyer.

There are only two people in my life who let themselves into my house without knocking—Ellie Courdrey and Jake Jackson. After this morning’s basketful of awkward with the baby thing, I’m grateful to hear the sharp tap of Ellie’s heels instead of the softer thump of Jake’s boots.

Ellie rounds into the kitchen, a wrapped gift in either hand. “Happy birthday to you,” she sings, a grin on her face as she slides the presents onto the kitchen counter.

I push my papers to the side—work will wait—and walk over to hug my friend. “You didn’t need to bring me anything.”

She shakes her head. “I feel like an ass for missing last night. I’m so sorry.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I was already at Jackson Brews with the girls when I got Ellie’s text saying she wouldn’t make it.