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Dawson looked mortified, but I reached under the table and gave his knee a reassuring pat.
Once I was able to swallow, I let out a loud laugh.
“You’re so right, Jaxon. I could use the company. I’ll have to check out some local animal shelters. Maybe you guys could come with me and help me out?”
“Are you serious? Could we, Dad?” Jaxon asked.
“We’ll see,” Dawson replied, and then smiled at me. “You sure?”
I nodded in return.
Thankfully, our food arrived—one platter of birria tacos and another with loaded nachos—and we got busy stuffing our faces. I hadn’t eaten anything all morning, given my nerves, so I was famished.
Dawson, Jaxon, and Len all had good appetites too.
Between mouthfuls of crunchy, salty chips and saucy tacos, we talked about Jaxon’s school and his plans for his upcoming birthday.
“Can you come too?” Jaxon asked me, his blue eyes earnest.
“To your birthday party?”
“Yeah, that would be awesome! I’m going to have a paintball party.”
“It sounds fun, but it will depend on your dad. He’s the one in charge.”
I looked at Dawson.
Dawson swiped a tortilla chip with a scoop of guacamole off my plate, and before I could protest, he made a big show of shoving it in his mouth.
“That’s right,” Dawson murmured between bites as he stared at me. “I call the shots.”
Were we still talking about the party? Because suddenly, the room felt like it was over a hundred degrees.
“Please, Dad.”
Jaxon’s plea brought me back to the present.
Dawson nodded. “If Iain has time in his schedule, then yes, we would be honored for him to join us. Then I can whoop his butt at paintball.”
I wanted to reach across the table and kiss Dawson, but I gave him a salty smirk.
“Whoop my butt, huh? Tell me when and where. And what you want for your birthday, okay, Jax? Can I call you Jax?”
Jaxon nodded.
“Not a cat,” Dawson warned, giving his son a gentle side hug. “Or a guitar.”
I chuckled. “Noted. What are you guys up to this afternoon?”
“Since it’s a professional development day at Jax’s school, he doesn’t have class. I’m dropping him off at his friend Casey’s for a play date.”
“And a sleepover,” Jaxon added.
“That’s right. And a sleepover.”
Dawson gazed into my eyes.
Did that mean he was free to come over after this? Stay over? Fuck, please, please say yes.
