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She smiled. “I suppose we should all go out for drinks this evening with everyone, huh?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but not right now. I’m naked and your top’s on inside out.”
“Blimey,” she deadpanned, raising her arms. “Take it off me, then.”
“Fine, but we’re breaking in your couch next. My back hurts too much for the floor.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Jaxon dragged the tines of his fork against the edge of the plate again and Teagan’s hand shot out to grab his wrist and stop the noise. Normally, such things didn’t bother her, but right now, her nerves were on edge. Well, she supposed Jaxon’s were as well, hence his nervous ticks. Like the fork thing and how his leg was bouncing right beside hers and making her chair squeak.
She squeezed her fingers a bit more tightly around his wrist and turned slightly to catch his eye.
He gave her a weak smile and shook his hand free, dropping the fork. He’d been jumpy all day. Since that morning when she’d suggested heading over to his house to see if there was anything to be done there. Mostly to curb his nervous energy, but he’d ended up finishing the bed frame he’d begun building. It was now sanded and stained. Drying out in the shed in his backyard.
“I’ll clear your plate if you want?” he offered, pushing his chair back and standing. Without waiting for her to respond, he reached out and took both her plate and silverware, stacking it with his and taking it out to the dining room.
“You bussing the whole table, or…” Shea asked, watching as he left the room. She turned back to Teagan. “Your boyfriend’s rude.”
Teagan could have kicked the piss right out of her. Just kicked sharply and connected with her sister’s shin. And would have, if she could reach her. Pointing out Jaxon’s flaws in front of their mother was just asking for it.
Luckily, Cassandra didn’t take the bait Shea was clearly offering. She was too busy speaking with Brittany. OratBrittany, to be more accurate. As much as Teagan felt for Britt, she could tell by her dancing eyes that Cassandra’s intrusive questions did not put her off. If anyone was, it was Brad who kept intervening and answering for his girlfriend in such a way that he sounded defensive. Utterly and totally. Teagan felt a strange mix of warmth in her belly at how he defended Brittany, and mirth that Brad was getting a taste of the bitter medicine Mom fed all of them.
Even though Cassandra insisted she was only asking questions about Britt’s shop.
But Teagan knew her mother well enough to know that the questions weren’tjustabout the shop. As she previously stated, though, Britt looked fine, answering Cassandra’s questions with a deftness that spoke to her wit and abilities. As well as a crash course in how to speak to Cassandra Madden, run by Teagan herself and Andrea earlier in the week.
Teagan rose and held out her hand for Shea’s plate instead of kicking her soundly. She snatched it out of her hand quickly enough to knock the fork that was balancing on the edge to the table with a loud clatter.
That got Cassandra’s attention. Her blue eyes widened as she looked at the fork on the table and then at her two daughters. “What’s going on?”
“I was taking Shea’s dishes and dropped the fork,” Teagan replied, exhaling as she scooped up the rogue utensil and backed up toward the kitchen.
“Do you want help with the dishes, Teags?” Andrea asked, her eyes wide and hopeful. And as much as Teagan would love to give Andrea a chance to escape the gauntlet that was dinner with her parents, she needed to make sure Jaxon was okay.
“I’ve got it. Thanks for offering, Andrea.”
She scooped up her father’s empty plate as a gesture of goodwill and followed the direction Jaxon had taken.
She found him standing over the sink while water ran over the dishes in his hands. The porcelain surfaces were long clean, but still, he stared into the rushing water.
“I’m going to just go tell them,” Teagan said. “Get it over with. I know Britt and Andrea will be thankful.”
“I was thinking about it… we really don’t have to, do we?” His eyes were wide and pleading when he looked at her. And as much as she loved giving in to that face, she knew it would be better if they just got everything out in the open.
“Jaxon…” she said softly, reaching for the faucet and turning off the water. “It’s like ripping off a plaster, yeah?”
“More like ripping out stitches before they’re ready, but okay.”
She took a deep breath and placed the two plates she was carrying into the sink as well before pulling him into an embrace. “Look, we only have to do it once. And then… you’ll feel better about being here.”
“Will I?” he asked dryly.
“Let me rephrase. You’ll feel the same as the rest of us.”
He chuckled and tightened his hold on her. “Tell me again why this is a good idea…”
“This is really only going to cast me in a more negative light. Not you.”
