also to give myself a moment to think. Things seemed to be moving along at lightning speed—for everyone, apparently—so Seth’s idea of playing it by ear made sense, but I didn’t want him to feel like he was giving me an out.
Before I could finish that thought, the doorbell rang. Tucker walked in with Lauren, and Mia wasn’t far behind with her cute baby girl, Poppy.
I placed my hand on Seth’s shoulder and squeezed. “You guys, uh, remember Seth?”
“Of course,” Tucker said, seeming momentarily nervous himself before he introduced Lauren, and Mia offered each of us a wave and a smile while her daughter cooed in her arms.
Seth was immediately drawn to Poppy. “I can hold her if you need to unpack your side dish and whatever else.”
“Oh, you’re a doll,” she replied, and somehow I knew they’d become fast friends.
Seth carefully took Poppy in his arms, like a natural, and she stared up at him with big green eyes. Seeing how gentle he was with her did something to my chest, made me wonder what I did to deserve someone so caring and kindhearted.
“You’re staring,” Seth whispered. “And I want to kiss you right now. But instead, you need to get your guests some drinks.”
Shit. I snapped out of it, offering Tucker a beer, Lauren a glass of wine, and Mia one of Seth’s apple ciders, which I had an inkling she might like.
I realized I felt more at ease now that people had shown up and nobody was acting strange. It was only me who was feeling out of sorts.
Seth led Mia and the baby outside and helped set a blanket on the grass with a bunch of toys from Mia’s bag that Poppy could easily grasp, while I stayed inside to continue prepping.
Then I heard a squeal outside and noticed that Dane and Jesse had entered through the side yard to greet Seth, followed by Brett and Tad, who looked curiously at Jesse as he spoke animatedly with Seth. My stomach constricted, wondering what they were thinking of the guy I was falling for—damn, had I just admitted that to myself?—while my protective instinct turned up a notch.
Seth can take care of himself, I reminded myself.
I was so lost in watching them that I was startled when Mark, Bree, and Hailey swept through the kitchen. I offered them drinks, and then Bree followed Hailey out the door as soon as she spotted Poppy on the grass outside.
“You doing all right?” Mark asked in a cautious voice as he cracked open his beer.
“Yeah.” I swallowed, wanting to say so many things but unable to read him right then. “How about you?”
“Good, we’re good.” He took a breath. “Listen, I’m sorry if I sort of freaked the other night. I just had no idea. But damn, I want you to be happy, Jake. With whoever you choose to be with.”
“Fuck, thanks.” I felt my shoulders unwind. “That means a lot.”
He stared out the window to the patio. “And Seth seems like a good guy.”
My stomach throbbed. “He is. The best.”
“Awesome.” He looked me in the eye, a genuine smile on his lips. “Now what can I help with?”
I opened the fridge and lifted the plates of burgers and chicken breasts. “Carry these out to the grill?”
Things looked brighter when I stepped outside behind him and not just because of the weather. I started the grill, giving it time to heat up while I greeted Brett and Tad as well as Jesse and Dane. Seth was chattering away with Mia on the lawn, and when our eyes met, it felt like a physical jolt. We could do this. We were doing this.
Jesse leaned closer to me. “Someone looks happy.”
I resisted the urge to look around to see if anyone was listening. “Yeah…yeah, I am.”
“Awesome.” He barked out a laugh and bumped my hip playfully. “But I was talking about Seth.”
I chuckled and shook my head, then headed back to the grill. As I lined up the chicken and burgers over the flames, I listened to the conversations happening around me. Brett was talking to Mark about the trucking business, and Tad had made his way toward Mia, because of course he’d take any opportunity he could to get to know her better. And maybe it was working because she laughed at something he said and was giving him her full attention while Hailey was busy cooing at Poppy and offering her various toys.
I noticed Seth coming toward me in my