Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

Levi grimaces. “This is different. This changes everything for you. Have you thought about that?”

“I can either watch her have some other man’s baby, or I can watch her have mine.” I shrug. Honestly, once that became the crossroads in my mind, my decision was clear. Offering to give Ava a baby is the biggest gamble of my life. But is it really a gamble, given the alternative?

When I saw that stack of papers on Ava’s table with details of potential sperm donors, my mind was made up.

“Somebody’s gonna get hurt,” Levi says. “Seriously hurt. And I’m afraid it’s gonna be you.”

“At least I’ll know that I tried.”

Ava

“He said what?” Teagan says.

“He said he’d do it, but only if we did it the old-fashioned way, because that’s the only way I’m going to be able to relax enough to get pregnant.”

Teagan snorts. “Well, that’s a line I’ve never heard before.”

I slap her on the arm. “Come on. This is Jake we’re talking about. It’s not like this is all some elaborate scheme to get in my pants.”

“But isn’t it? I mean, he’s single, and not a manwhore hopping into every available chick’s bed—because trust me, I’ve tried—so you know he jacks off from time to time. What harm would it do to hand over the goods? But instead, he’s all”—she lowers her voice to a low rumble—“It’s better if we do it this way, sweet Ava. We’re more likely to succeed if I’m actually doing the dirty with you. I bet he’ll have an excuse for going down on you, too.”

My cheeks flame so hot at that image. I’ve been trying to ignore the bits and pieces of me that are interested in Jake’s proposal for non-maternal reasons. “Shut up,” I growl.

Teagan winks at me. It’s girls’ night, and we’re sitting in our booth at the back of Jackson Brews. I told Teagan I’d fill her in on my personal drama before the others arrived, but the truth is, I need someone to give me guidance. Since I already know how Ellie feels about my baby-making plans, I wanted to hear Teagan’s take. I’m so afraid I’m going to make a bad decision that I’m paralyzed. “You think it’s a bad idea,” I say.

Teagan’s eyes go wide, and her grin stretches across her face. “Are you kidding me? I think it’s a great idea. I have been in favor of you fucking Jake since . . . I don’t know, since I knew there was an Ava-and-Jake. You two are amazing together. There should be a name for you. Avake. Jayva.”

I grimace. Back in high school, Jake’s sister called us Jayva, and Jake hated it, which always made me think he hated the idea of anyone thinking we were a couple, so I hated it. “Please don’t use those words ever again.”

She chuckles. “Okay, okay, but you know what I mean.”

“I know we’re friends. I know this is complicated.”

“Right, right, and nobody wants to ruin a friendship for a couple of hot nights, but now you have an excuse, and if you get a baby out of it, bonus.”

“What if it makes things weird between us? Can we have a bunch of sex and then go back to being friends?” There’s the rub. It’s the question that’s been haunting me since Jake’s indecent proposal. I promised him I’d think about it, and in the five days since I’ve done nothing but think. And think. And overthink. On one hand, it’s exactly what I want, and the intimacy of lovemaking over turkey basting appeals to me on the most basic level. On the other hand, what if it screws up me and Jake? Am I selfish enough to risk our friendship?

“Let me get this straight,” Teagan says. “You don’t think it’s going to be weird to have his baby and be his friend, but if you have a few orgasms along the way, it might be too much to handle?”

“Can you orgasm with someone and just be friends?” I ask. I don’t notice Levi at the table until Teagan turns to face him.

“What do you think, Levi?” Teagan asks. “Is it possible?”

Levi grins at her. “Wanna go into the restroom and find out?”

“Boy, don’t tempt me. You have no idea how long it’s been.” She turns back to me. “I think the real question is whether you want to have orgasms with”—her gaze shifts to Levi and then back to me—“you know.”

Levi folds his arms and stares at me. “To orgasm or not to orgasm? That’s the question?”

I like how they say that as if I’m capable of orgasming with anyone.

“She doesn’t hate the idea,” Levi says to Teagan. “Look at those cheeks.”

“Why are you even here?” I ask him.

“Levi has a Spidey-sense for women talking about sex,” Teagan answers.

“It’s true.” Levi nods. “It’s a gift, really. That, and I’m filling in for Jake tonight. Something came up, and he needed someone to cover the bar.”