Page 34 of Always Choosing You

She watched Tyler closely, watched his expression turn utterly horrified. His eyes were wide, his lips pressed into a firm line. He was not happy. At all.

It felt…good. She was giving him a piece of his own medicine, and she liked it.

“Your…your baby?” Tyler choked.

“Yeah, well, she was so upset yesterday, and I had no plans today. So, I thought I would come home and surprise her,” Jay explained. “Are you surprised, baby?”

Tyler did not look pleased with any of this information—that she was upset, that she called Jay to talk instead of him, that he called her baby. He looked down at her, his face etched with hurt.

“Yes,” Rory replied shyly. “Yes, very surprised.”

“I’m just—I don’t—” Tyler stammered.

Jay pressed his mouth into a forced smile as he looked up at Tyler, who had at least four inches on him. Being under six feet never stopped Jay from being the most confident person in the group. He knew he was handsome, and he always used it to his advantage. “Is there a problem?” he asked.

Tyler froze, just staring blankly. For a moment, she wondered if he was going to attack Jay. Her heart pounded in her chest, waiting with bated breath.

But he just shook his head. “No, no problem. Come on, Bea bear, let’s go home.”

Bea smiled at Rory. “I want a full report when you return, understand?”

She grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

Then Bea pointed to Jay. “And no later than eight thirty, do you hear me?”

Jay barked out a laugh. “Eight thirty? But that’s so early!”

“That’s thirty minutes before my bedtime, and I expect to hear that update tonight.”

“Bea, now,” Tyler huffed.

She watched her shuffle behind Tyler, his back hunched and tight as they walked home. He held the door open for his sister before briefly looking over at the two of them. Jay’s arm was still protectively around her, his thumb rubbing back and forth on the skin above her jeans. Tyler stared back at Rory, almost like he was pleading with her. Last chance.

But she didn’t budge, and instead leaned her head against Jay’s shoulder. He purred at the gesture.

Tyler shook his head and went inside.

“Well, that was satisfying,” Jay murmured into her hair.

She smiled but didn’t really have the energy to laugh. It was satisfying at a surface level, but it also left her feeling a little sour.

Jay curled his arm in, holding Rory to his chest so she was facing him. It was the closest they’d ever stood together. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“Now,” he said. She could smell his minty breath. His body was warm against her as cool air breezed by, the rustling of the leaves like a harmony around them. Around this very new, very unpredictable moment. “All the food sucks at school, and I have found myself dreaming about Pop’s for a solid month now.”

“Dreaming about fish and chips? Kinky.”

“Well, it’s when I’m not dreaming about other things,” Jay teased, winking at her.

She held her breath. Dear god, was this really happening? With the way that Jay held her waist tightly and smiled lazily down at her, it was clear. He wasn’t just messing around like he always did. There was something here for him, too.

“I already ate,” she confessed. “But I’m happy to steal some of your fries.”

“Only if I can call you a seagull,” Jay teased.

“I thought you called me baby.”

“I can’t help it,” Jay said, his voice so low it rumbled out of him. Like he was confessing his darkest secret. “You’ve always been my baby.”