“You trying to upset her, St. James?” Jasper grumbles and picks Maggie up. “Want to confuse her?”
“What?” I stare at him in horror. “No. I wasn’t?—”
“You weren’t thinking,” he bitches, and Waverly stands, probably wanting to get the hell out of here like I wish I could. For as much TV as Logan likes to watch, the man doesn’t have one in his bedroom or I’d be watching the game there instead.
“You know, Jasper.” I stand and plant my hands on my hips, looking for any advantage I can get. “I’m not sure why you hate me so much, but if you could please not express it in front of Magnolia, I’d appreciate it.” I’m proud of myself. That was nicer than he deserves and definitely nicer than the ass has been to me.
“Does that haughty tone usually work for you, St. James?”
I swear to God I’ve never met anyone who wields my last name like an insult as often as he does.
“What the hell is your problem?” I groan, trying to keep my temper in check for Maggie’s sake. Jasper and I are long overdue for this argument. “What have I ever done to you?”
“Nothing.” He stands with Maggie on his hip, neither of us paying any attention to the TV. “I just don’t like you. Girls like you are predictable. You think because you’re a Kingston, you’re better than us. That Logan’s lucky to have you. That we’re beneath you.”
“What the actual hell, Jasper?” I keep my voice low as Maggie lays her head on her uncle’s shoulder.Shit. It’s probably time to put her to bed, but what am I doing instead? Arguing with this ass. “What have I ever done to make you think that? And before you answer, really think about it. Have I ever given you the impression I think I’m better than any of you? Because I don’t think that. I never have. Logan and I had our issues to deal with, but since I’m here, married to him, I’d say it’s safe to say we worked through them.”
It’s not a complete lie. We have worked through them, and what was left of them, we might have fucked through, given the way we’ve been unable to keep our hands off each other since the wedding. Safe to say, it’s been a fun week.
“I don’t trust you, St. James.” This man might be technically handsome, but I swear to God, he has an ugly fucking attitude. “You cost him?—”
“Stop.” Waverly walks back into the room with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a pink tumbler with a giant straw in the other. “She didn’t cost him anything. Logan fucked up. He trusted the wrong agent, and Olivia was better. He said it. Rafe said it. Even Pops said it. Why are you still holding a grudge, Jasper? She’s the reason Maggie’s still here.”
“I wouldn’t exactly—” Waverly levels a glare at me that even I’d call impressive, and I shut up.
“Get over whatever bug has crawled up your ass, Jasper. She’s not Neviah. She’s not playing with him the way that whore played with you. She’s here. And she loves him. Any fool can see it. She loves him and Maggie, and more importantly, your brother loves her. Now shut up, give her Maggie, and sit down. The game is about to start, and I’m tired of this shit.”
I stand, shocked, my eyes locked on Waverly.
Not because she stood up for me, although, that is a little shocking, but because of what she just said. I don’t love Logan... do I?
And he . . . he doesn’t love me.
My head spins.
I’ve never been in love.
Not even close enough to wonder if it was love. So how do you know? I mean, the incredible sex can’t hurt, but that’s not enough, right?
“Olivia,” Waverly says loudly enough to get my attention. “Do you want me to put Maggie to bed?”
I look from her to Jasper and shake my head as I hold my arms out. “Come here, Maggie May. Let’s go to bed.”
She lifts her head from Jasper’s shoulder and holds her arms out for me, and like the damn cartoon Grinch, I think my heart just expanded ten times. I grin and lift a brow Jasper’s way. Hell, I’m proud of myself for not telling him he’s such an ass, he can’t even charm the little girls, let alone the grown women, but it would be a lie. This little girl loves her uncle, which means he must have some redeeming quality.
No fucking clue what it is, so it must be buried pretty damn deep. But I’m going to trust that under his asshole exterior, it’s there somewhere, waiting for the right person to bring it out.
I take Maggie from his arms, and she immediately drops her head to my chest and tangles her fingers in my hair. “I’ve got you, ladybug.”
Jasper kisses her head and backs away, then drops down next to Waverly and grabs a fist full of popcorn.
“Hurry up, Liv. You don’t want to miss it.”
I nod and head out of the room, surprised when I press my lips to Maggie’s forehead and feel the warmth against my lips. “You feeling okay, sweetheart?”
She bats her eyes, and I take my time getting to her room, then take her temperature. 100.5. Not too high but still a fever.
Hmm... I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Brynn as I drop onto the glider and keep this little ladybug on my chest.
