Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,27
with them anyway.
Still, knowing that things could have been different makes me more grateful for the time we have now.
He’s been loosening up too. Less of the tense anger directed at me and more smiles, more casual touches even when the camera isn’t on us.
The problem is though, Circus only wants to meet up once or twice a week, take a range of photos, and then he posts those over the next few days.
I get it. This whole thing isn’t real, and the more pictures he takes, the more interactions, and the more followers … all that stuff.
He’s smart about the way he runs his brand or whatever, and by packing as much work into a day or two as possible, he frees up the rest of the week for whatever else he has planned.
Those plans just don’t happen to involve me.
I’m halfway to Leita’s place when my phone starts to ring, and Circus’s name shows up on the screen. I’m not proud of how quickly I hurry to answer it.
“Hey, what’s up?” I ask, definitely not hoping this call is for us to hang out or anything like that, because I know what’s up with us. I’m not deluded.
“The weirdest thing just happened …” His voice sounds distracted.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I was sent a box of clothes for us. The brand didn’t even give my manager a heads-up which is strange. I’ve never heard of the brand, but … their clothes are pretty sweet.”
“Awesome. I’m heading to my sister’s, but I can come over once I’m done. It’ll probably be a couple of hours though.”
He doesn’t answer right away. “What are you doing there?”
“Babysitting my nephews. My brother-in-law works long days, so I watch the kids once or twice a week so she can head to the gym in Port Welling.”
“Well … do you want company?”
My gut flips with the offer. This is the first time since I’ve been back that Circus has actively requested we hang out, and it has nothing to do with his work. At least, I’m assuming it doesn’t. He’d have to know I wouldn’t let him post pictures of my nephews online.
“I’d love that.” Maybe I should have asked Leita first, or told him just to wait until I came around, but considering I didn’t think I’d get to see him at all today, I got ahead of myself.
“Cool. I’ll ride over.”
“You need an address?”
He laughs. “You’re back in Sunbury, princess. I know the place.”
We hang up and I jog the rest of the street to get to Leita’s place, wanting to make sure she has the heads-up before he gets there.
“I thought you’d never show,” Leita says, grabbing her workout bag the second I’m through the door.
I smile. “I thought Piper was supposed to be the impatient one?”
“Only on my good days. Now, you’re okay? There’s lunch ready in the fridge for when they get hungry.”
I strap the baby carrier to my chest. “I got this. But, ah …”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Ah, what? Please don’t tell me you need me back early …”
“No, nothing like that. Just, you remember Circus?”
“Yeah. I know Circus.”
“He was going to come over too, if that’s okay?”
She laughs. “What, are you guys friends again?”
“Ah, yes?”
“Aww, that’s cute. I know Dad didn’t like him, but he made you less of a dumbass jock when he was around.”
“Well, eff you very much.”
“Uncle Rowan!” My nephew comes tearing out of the living area and slams into my legs.
“And that’s my cue.” Leita ducks out the front door before anyone has a chance to stop her.
“Okay, Jase, ready to go outside?”
By the time Circus arrives, I’ve got baby Blake in the carrier, and I’m kicking a ball to Jason and Levi. Circus slows his bike, then lifts the camera slung around his neck and takes a photo.
“No posting that,” I warn him when he’s close enough to hear me.
“Fucking duh.”
“And no swearing.”
“Oops. I forgot that’s a thing with kids, isn’t it?”
“Most of them.”
We kick the ball back and forth a few times, then head inside to feed the boys. Jason and Levi sit at the table stuffing their faces like the ravenous monsters they are, and Circus watches on while I give Blake his bottle.
“I want that,” he eventually says.
“Want what? To feed him?”
“No, kids. Lots of kids. I want a big family someday.”
I study him for a moment, but his gaze doesn’t shift from Blake. “Does that mean you’ll end up marrying a woman?”
Circus scowls. “What the—what? No. I