Kiss To Forget (Blairwood University #2) - Anna B. Doe Page 0,82

putting another blanket over her mother’s feet and taking a seat on the floor by her side.

Helen smiles. “They loved to go when they were little, so Kevin and I took them any chance we got.”

Jade visibly flinches at the mention of what I believe must be her father but doesn’t say anything.

“I still remember that one year, just after Jade was born. We took them to the beach. Nixon was so excited that he ran away and straight for the ocean, diaper and all.”

I laugh, the image of baby Nixon causing trouble even when he could barely walk coming to my mind.

“We barely got him out.”

“Him and his soggy diaper,” Jade adds, laughing.

“What are you all laughing about?” Nixon asks, coming to the living room. He stops behind me, his hands gripping the back of the couch.

I tilt my head back to look at him. “They’re telling me some funny stories, that’s all.”

“You’re not embarrassing me, are you?” He narrows his eyes at his mom and sister.

“We have yet to pull out the baby pictures,” Jade laughs, winking at me.

“Oh, yes please! I want to see all the baby pics.”

Nixon’s hands slide to my shoulders, giving me a warning squeeze, which only makes me laugh harder. “No baby pictures.”

“Yeah?” I cover his hands with mine, clasping them tight. “We’ll see about that. Jade, pictures. Run!” I don’t expect her to listen, but she does, jumping to her feet and bolting, I don’t even know where.

“Now you’ve done it.” He tries to go after her, but I tighten my grip on his hands. “Let me go.”

“No way.”

Realistically, he is much stronger than me and could pull out of my grasp without much effort, but he’s a good sport so he plays along.

“Yasmin,” Nixon growls softly, but his eyes twinkle in amusement.

“Nixon,” I say in the same tone, grazing my teeth over my lower lip.

His eyes zero in on my mouth, his throat bobbing as he swallows. “Why are you such a pain in my ass?”

“Touché. Now be a good boy, and sit your ass down.”

“I hate you.”

“The feeling is mutual, buddy.” I let go of his hands and pat the seat next to me. “Sit.”

He glares at me, but does as I said. “I’m not a dog.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“I’ll give you…” Nixon laughs and wraps his arms around me, his fingers tangling in my hair, making a mess of it.

“Nixon,” I protest weakly, chuckling.

“Not so feisty now, are you?”

I try to wrestle out of his hold, but he’s too strong. “Nixon, I swear if you don’t let go, I’ll…”

Puffing out a strand of my hair out of my eyes, I find Helen watching us, a smile tilting her lips. The pain in her eyes is still there, but the tension that was filling the room when I got here has lessened. At least for now.

“You’ll what?” he whispers in my ear, his hot breath tickling my skin.

The goosebumps rise at the back of my neck. “I’ll kick you in the balls.”

From the corner of my eyes, I can see him grimace, but he doesn’t let go. “Ouch, you ruthless woman.”

“I come bearing baby photos!” Jade announces as she comes back to the room, interrupting our discussion.

Nixon groans loudly. His grip loosens just a little bit, and I use this moment to elbow him in the gut. “Don’t be a party pooper.”

He finally lets go, and I go to sit next to Helen, who is holding the albums.

“Let’s see what we have here.” Helen opens the first book, her frail fingers slowly working the pages. “Oh, look, here’s the photo from the hospital.”

For all his protests, Nixon joins us too. Sitting on the armrest next to me, he leans over my shoulder to take a peek at the photo. “I can definitely see the resemblance,” I tease, looking at him over my shoulder.

“I really don’t like you right now,” he mutters, but there is a slight twitch to his lip. At the same time, his hand slides over my waist, pulling me closer. My heart skips a beat as his hard chest presses against my back. His eyes land on my lips, staying there for a long moment before he lifts them back up.

“Thank you,” he mouths so only I can hear it, a smile spreading over his lips.

All the uncertainty somehow feels worth it, if only for this moment. Because if only for a second, the darkness that has been clinging to him seems to have pulled back. But