I give him a dry look. “I don’t regret that at all. Celeste is everything.”
He holds up his hands quickly, guilt filling his features. Since Nico doesn’t have a filter, he apologizes a lot. “My bad, bro. I didn’t mean that Celeste—”
I wave him off. I love this dude, even if he doesn’t think before he speaks. “It’s no problem, man. I know what you meant. And don’t worry, there won’t be a next time unless I am happily married.”
Aviva smiles brightly. “Or in a committed relationship with your forever.”
I point to Aviva, grinning. “What she said.”
We all chuckle a bit as we head out into the living room, where Celeste is in her pack ’n play, playing with some blocks as she watches Baby Einstein. I don’t care what anyone says, that show is legit, and I don’t mind that I had to buy a DVD player to play it. Celeste needs this. Aviva leans into her pack ’n play, rubbing her back as she smiles down at my girl. Aviva is good people. Strong gal and one hell of a provider. She loves hard, and I can’t wait to see her as a mother. She’s already one hell of a sister, so I can only imagine.
“When’s Callie leave?”
She looks up sadly. “Next month.”
I nod as Nico makes a face. “I don’t want her to leave, especially since I think Chandler is going to send those Adler boys my way.”
I chuckle as Aviva makes a face back at him. “Aren’t they Amelia’s cousins?”
Aviva nods. “Yes, but with the twins and the new baby she is having, she and Chandler are running out of room. Rumor has it as soon as camp is over and the Adlers know for sure if they are staying, they’ll get an apartment.”
“Yeah, so they need to make it or get out of here.”
“Nico, they are sweet guys.”
“That have penises.”
“Jesus—” she moans, but he cuts her off.
“Callie is too pretty, and I know they’ll fight over her.”
“And? She’s a smart girl.”
Nico isn’t convinced. “If she’s anything like you—and she is—she can’t resist a hot hockey player.”
A wicked grin comes over her beautiful mouth. “So, you think the Adler boys are hot?”
“Man, you walked right into that,” I tease, and he makes a face.
“I really did,” he says, annoyed with himself. “But whatever. They need to stay with Chandler and Amelia, then hell, I’ll buy them an apartment.”
I grin. “I hope Callie wants to bang one of them, just to piss you off.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Nine times over. “Take it back, Litman.”
I grin as he comes toward me, ready to murder me. “Never.”
Aviva is dying with laughter at this point as she takes ahold of Nico’s wrist to stop him. “Nico, be real. She’s too focused on gymnastics and school to be worrying about boys.”
“You better hope,” he says, pointing to me, and then he looks down at Celeste. “You’re lucky you’re cute and need him, or he’d be dead.”
Celeste gives him a toothless grin as she shrieks happily. We all laugh as Aviva’s phone dings. She looks down at it and makes a face. Nico sees it since he’s obsessed with her. I can’t blame him. And he asks, “Everything okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “Jay is on a date, and it’s going awful. I wonder when her mom will figure out that she doesn’t want to be set up.”
Set up? As in, she’s looking for someone?
“She doesn’t need to be set up. She isn’t hard to look at,” Nico says with a grin that earns him a nice smack in the chest. “What? I mean that with love.”
“You won’t even look her in the eye, but you say that?”
He grins, and Aviva rolls her eyes. They’re adorable, but instead of saying that, I blurt out, “She’s dating?”
They both eye me. Slowly, Aviva answers. “Yeah, she’s ready to settle down.”
Her eyes scrutinize me, and I hope I don’t give anything away as I nod. “That’s cool. I saw her when I went to meet my lawyer.”
Still, her eyes burn my skin as she tries to read me. Sorry, sister. I’ve been hiding my true feelings from the world my whole life. “She told me.”
Be aloof. Don’t react. Don’t be suspicious. Just nod. Instead, and against my better judgment, I quickly ask, “Did she?”
That isn’t aloof, Litman!
The widest, brightest grin moves across those lips of hers as if she just scored and won the Cup I want so fucking bad. Almost as bad as I want Jaylin. “She did. She went on and on about how cute Celeste is and how great of a dad you are.”
“Well, she isn’t wrong.”
Nico slaps me on the back. “She isn’t. And we could be here all day, talking about Jaylin and what she thinks or even how you think. But here is an idea—maybe write her an email since you’re obsessed with the one she sent you and ask for a playdate.” He waggles his brows, and I promptly want to kick his ass.
Aviva’s eyes widen as she looks between us. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” Nico sings as he heads for the door.
She looks back at me. “What’s he talking about?”
“No clue,” I play off, and his laughter runs down my spine.
I really need to rethink this friendship we have.
But maybe I’ll take his advice…
Chapter Seven
Jaylin
* * *
I tap the toe of my high heel against the rail of the bar as I sip on my cider. I’m waiting for a date with Allen Lissome, a guy I’ve been seeing on and off for a while since he travels a whole lot. When he’s in town, we hook up, and it’s a good time. He’s in the big pharma game, and while his job gives me the creeps since I think there is a cure for cancer out there but pharmaceutical companies are keeping it to themselves, he eats me out like no other. And I need to get off. I have become completely obsessed with Kirby, and I need to kick that again. Allen and his magical mouth cured me of my Kirby issues before, so I’m sure it’ll work a second time.
I lean on my hand as I move my gaze from one TV to another, watching all the sports. Another thing about Allen, he’s a huge sports guy. He loves this sports pub because it has beer and a mean cheesesteak sandwich. Since I’m a fan of the mozzarella sticks and the cider, I don’t mind. Also, they’re quick, which means we get back to his place even quicker. The cider I’m sipping on is imported and my absolute favorite. It goes down real smooth, and I soon realize I’ve finished my glass.
Where the hell is Allen?
As I try to wave down the bartender, I check my phone for a message. I realize that my extreme promptness, which makes me crazy-early everywhere, means Allen isn’t late. Rather, I’m a horny bitch who needs to relax and get another drink. Before the bartender can reach me, though, a rather large man beside me waves him down.
“Three waters and whatever this gorgeous peach is drinking.”
He flashes me the brightest, whitest smile I’ve ever seen, and I can’t help but grin back. “Gorgeous peach? That’s a first.”