Page 31 of Wallflower No More

I smile because this guy... “Nothing much, but I’m starving. Oh, and Axel's a dick.”

Jaxon laughs and wraps my shoulders in a half hug. Looking behind me with a smirk. “Oh, he's the actual worst!”

Axel removes Jaxon's arm from around me. “I'm sorry, but all my ears heard was that both of you think I have a big dick.”

Smiling big because, yeah, he does. “Shut up.” This is my only response, and because he's cute when he's jealous, I don't try to pull away when his arm replaces Jaxon. Jaxon laughs but rolls his eyes. We follow him into the dining room, where my nose almost has an orgasm from the delicious smells. I'm hungry.

“Hey, guys. Sorry, we're late.” Axel pulls out my chair for me before sitting beside Jaxon.

Jake has his arms folded at the top of the table. A stern look locked on Axel before turning a charming smile on me. “Glad you're here, Scarlett. Welcome to the family dinner. And Axel, fried chicken waits for no one. Let's be early next week, huh?”

I can't help but chuckle. Dani puts her hand on Jakes's arm. “Babe, Axel was ten minutes late. The chicken is still hot and will be phenomenal. Let's eat.”

He sends her a wink. “You heard my Georgia. Let's eat!”

The Jake Ryan has made a feast. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, and green beans. Basically, it’s Heaven on Earth. I’m loading my plate and not caring who sees. Even Sasha, who's curvy but not like me, has hers stacked. Axel places his hand on my knee and squeezes, sending a shiver through my body. He smirks knowing good and well what he does to me.

“Mmm...Mmm...” I groan with delight. I've never been a quiet eater. If something's good, you will know how much my tummy approves. Axel's fingers dig into my knee as he makes a gurgling sound. The entire table is staring at me with amused expressions. Why am I like this? Shrugging because what else is there to do, really? Everybody's got weird quirks. “Jake, 10 or of 10, would recommend.”

He salutes me with his beer, and the entire table erupts in laughter, minus my boyfriend. Jaxon slaps Axel on the back. “You okay, Bro?”

He gives me a smoldering look. “Yes.” He answers his best friend.

Dallas can't help but put in his two cents. He's mischievous as they come. “Okay, you two, let's keep it PG at the table.”

Sasha giggles, and my face turns into a tomato. Of course, Toby, being Toby, feels like it's okay to add his commentary about our earlier foyer oral sexcapade. Because why not? “Well, ain't nothing about our foyer back at the apartment PG anymore.”

Axel lunges for Toby, which he's prepared for, and starts running away. Sasha laughs and then joins in on the fun. “Scarlett, do you have a bruise on your butt where Axel dropped you?”

Hiding my face in my hands. Dear Lord! I knew my first PDA encounter would come back to haunt me. Dani and Sasha share a knowing look with me, because the Fearless men are too addicting, and the temptation is just too strong. We can't stay away.

Even Jake is amused. “I've come to the conclusion that we will never have a family dinner that doesn't end up with a chase.” All the boys get up and gang up on Axel, and we girls cheer for our respective men, and believe it or not, mine isn't easily taken down. I guess that's why they call him rabies.

Dani whistles for Jake as he slams Axel down. “Scarlett, I'm so glad y'all have gotten together. All he needed was a good woman. He hasn't had it easy, his family sucks.”

My ears perk up. We haven't really talked a lot about that sort of stuff yet. What makes his people suck? “Thank you. We're still winging it, but he's so...infuriating, yet wonderful.” They sigh.

After the boys fight, dinner commences. Then I volunteer along with Toby to be on clean-up duty, and everyone else goes into the living room to play video games. Taking my phone out, I put on some tunes to help make cleaning fun. Toby turns it off. “No, ma'am. There is some gossip to be had here. Why do you think I said I would help clean, and it's not even my week.”

Rolling my eyes at my friend but understanding at the same time. “Well, didn't you get enough of that this afternoon?”

He laughs. “There is never enough gossip to be had, Lou. First things first. Y'all are both my friends equally, but I will body slam him if he steps out of line. Just let me know.”

Toby, sweet Toby. “Thanks. And oh, I will.”

He continues rinsing off the dishes. “You know, I've never seen him like this. He's always so controlled, even when he's doing his rabies shit. It's thought out, almost like planned chaos. But with you, he loses it.”

“Shut up.” But no, really, tell me more.

“Girl, you got that boy smitten.” Yes, please.

“I've been bit by that same smitten bug.” I change the subject quickly because admitting that last part out loud was hard. “So, Mr. Star Pitcher, how about an exclusive?”

He groans. “I would love to, Scarlett, but I'm too nervous. What if it's a fluke, and putting me on the team was their biggest mistake? Or what if I get injured again.”

“Toby, where is my overconfident friend, and what have you done with him? Toughen up, Buttercup, because you're going to dominate that field. Repeat after me, I will make that baseball field my Bitch.”

He nods, taking a deep breath. “I'm going to make that baseball field my Bitch! You know what, that baseball field is already my Bitch!”