Page 79 of Verdict

"I'm not going to pretend like I know the ins and outs of your situation, but… you should go to Primrose Hill, Jordan." He walked past me, giving my shoulder a quick squeeze before heading out of the locker room.

I stood in the empty locker room, the silence deafening, Hudson and Drake's words almost suffocating. I knew in that moment what I needed to do.

Not because Drake told me to.

Not because Hudson suggested it.

But because sitting here pretending I didn’t care felt worse than the risk of showing up.

I needed to go to Primrose Hill.

I spent the hour-long drive rehearsing what I was going to say to Ava when I suddenly ended up on her family's doorstep. Somehow, somewhere between Austin and those rolling hills, the decision had felt easy. But by the time I pulled onto her family’s gravel driveway, it felt like I was walking into a firing squad.

I wanted to tell her I couldn’t get her out of my fucking head. That I hadn’t taken Kate home. That I’d been a jealous asshole. That seeing another man’s hands on her had twisted something ugly and possessive inside me, something I didn’t even recognize. I wanted to tell her I didn’t care about the risks, or the timing, or whatever excuse I’d been hiding behind.

I wanted her.

Not casually. Not conveniently.

I wanted all of her.

I wanted to figure out how to make this work because she was who I wanted.

And deep down, if I were being honest with myself, it had always been her. She looked at me like I wasn’t just Walker’s playboy best friend, but something more. Someone worth knowing.

I pulled up to the stately farmhouse tucked neatly into the hills, vineyards stretching wide behind it. The porch lights glowed warm against the early evening sky. I forced out a breath and dragged a hand down my face.

This was it.

I could do this.

Shit, I’m nervous.

I killed the engine and stepped out of the truck, boots crunching against gravel as I climbed the porch steps. Laughter spilled through the door before I even knocked. The kind of loud, layered chaos that only happens when a whole family is under one roof. I raised my hand and knocked three times. Heavy footsteps approached, and the door swung open.

Weston.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Hey, man. What are you doing here? Didn’t know you were coming.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, forcing a grin as we slapped hands and he pulled me into a hug. “Didn’t know I was either.”

That earned me a curious look, but Weston didn’t press. He never did. He just studied and assessed. Thank God we got along. Because if we didn’t, I’d be scared shitless of the guy.

He stepped aside to let me in. “Ava and Ellie are in the living room.”

I nodded and started in that direction, nerves tightening low in my gut.

But then she appeared.

Ava rounded the corner with Ellie balanced on her hip. My heart lodged somewhere in my throat. Her dark waves fell down her back. A cream sweater slipped off one shoulder. Those damn jeans hugged every curve like they’d been made for her. She looked warm. Comfortable and completely at home.

She was stunning.

The second she saw me, she froze. Her navy eyes widened. Ellie smiled and reached for me instantly. Ava’s brows knit together in confusion as she transferred Ellie into my arms. I pressed a kiss to my daughter’s forehead, breathing her in, grounding myself.

“What are you doing here?” Ava asked carefully. “I thought you had plans with Callie or something.”

I shook my head. “Nah. She went to a friend’s place for Thanksgiving…” I trailed off.