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“Neither do you, Jaxon,” she jibed back, reaching out to poke his ribs. He caught her hand and clasped it.
“Fine, you helped. We both fixed it. Happy?”
“Exceedingly,” she replied, smiling from ear to ear as he brought his arm down around her shoulders, tugging her close.
He saw Britt and Brad exchange glances, but he deftly ignored it. Britt’s meant more, considering what she knew, but Jaxon didn’t care what either of them thought.
“What’ll you have?” the server asked, skidding to a halt at their table. “Is this yourentireparty? Or do you got a couple more grand marshaling a parade or something?” she asked Brad, annoyed with him for making her wait.
“Yes, this is all of us. Plus Shea, who’s up there flirting with Frank like it’s her job.”
Jaxon didn’t know Frank all that well other than he owned this bar and had bulging biceps that all the ladies seem to fawn over. But he only appeared to have eyes for Shea. Which he supposed was fine. Considering Shea wanted his eyes all for herself.
Speaking of eyes, the server rolled hers. “He’d hire her for that job if he could, I think. Drinks?”
Teagan ordered. Vodka and cranberry. Easy. Couldn’t mess it up. Jaxon just ordered a beer, and Brad did the same.
Brittany was the one who switched it up by ordering a Mudslide with extra whipped cream.
“You got it,” the server clicked her pen and turned on her heel to leave.
“You weren’t using up all the hot water at my sister’s place? Instead you got her down in the basement doing manual labor?” Brad snorted back a laugh. “It must be true love, then.”
“Shut your face, Brad Madden. You’re the one who was hanging pictures with a potato,” she countered.
“A potato?!” Jaxon turned towards Brad, happy for a distraction that didn’t involve his and Teagan’s supposed sex life. “How haven’t I heard of this before?”
“Because it was asecret,” Brad hissed in Teagan’s direction. “One I didn’t knowyouknew, Teags. So there’s that. And before you fucking ask, Jaxon, I didn’t have a hammer.”
“So apotatowas the logical replacement?” Jaxon muttered.
“Shut up,” Brad said.
“Dad told me when I had mono and had to miss the winter formal last year,” Teagan replied with a smirk. “To cheer me up.”
“Fuckinghell. You’re due for one yourself, you know.”
“One what?” she asked.
“One parental disappointment,” Brad countered. “Especially now that you’ve got a boyfriend,” He gestured to Jaxon. “Have you told Mom and Dad?”
Teagan’s smirk melted away for a moment. “No.”
“You didn’t tell your parents about me?” Jaxon asked, leaning down to nuzzle against her jaw, noting how her breath caught when he touched her. “You aren’t ashamed of me, are you?”
He knew damn well why she hadn’t, but he couldn’t help teasing her. She made it so easy sometimes.
“Not yet, no. And I’m not ashamed.”
“What? Mom and dad don’t know if you are living together?” Brad guffawed and smacked the table. “You’re in for it now.”
“You should tell your mom and dad, Teagan…” Brittany said with a concealed grin. “It makes itreal when your family knows.”
He felt an unexpected pang of guilt. It stabbed him low in the gut when he thought about Teagan telling her father. Sure, Cassandra would probably hate this, but it was Owen’s response that got Jaxon. Why hadn’t he thought about that part of this ruse?
He gulped and tried to center himself back in the moment, but when he did, he saw Teagan shoot Brittany one of her patented Madden-Icy Stares and he was glad he wasn’t on the receiving end of it. Brad had it too, and it was fucking scary.
Owen too, now that he thought about it.
