The Reality of Everything - Rebecca Yarros Page 0,98
Kitty,” I said softly, cupping her cheeks. “I’m not deploying.”
She swallowed, but it didn’t take the terror out of her eyes.
“The guys are deploying for three months to a cushy little outfit in the Caribbean. They needed a few of us to stay behind, and because I have Finley, I’m staying.” I kept my voice calm and even despite the panic trying to claw its way out of my gut. It was as if my body was responding to hers, or maybe I was just that scared of losing her.
“Finley?” she questioned.
“Right. I have a family care plan, but they took mercy on me. I don’t have to go.” I stroked my thumbs over her cheeks.
“You’re not going.” Breath by breath, she relaxed.
“He’s ditching us,” Sawyer complained. “But don’t stress yourself, Morgan. We’ll be back by the end of September.”
“You okay?” Fuck, I should have talked to her about it way sooner than this, but I wasn’t going, so it hadn’t been at the top of my list.
She nodded.
“Paisley!” Ember laughed as Peyton grabbed fistfuls of her hair. Then her laugh turned to a grimace.
“I’ve got you.” Sam picked Peyton up, but he didn’t let go of Ember’s hair.
“Peyton Carter Bateman!” Paisley chided, hopping up from Jagger’s lap.
“I’ll get him.” Morgan chuckled and headed over to untangle Ember’s hair from Peyton’s enthusiastic grip.
“Peyton Carter, huh?” I asked. Damn, this guy was everywhere.
Paisley beamed. “Yeah. He’s named after my sister and—”
“Will,” I answered.
Her jaw dropped for a second before she composed herself. “She’s told you about him? Sam told me she was struggling with that—talking about him.”
“It’s hard to ignore that giant truck in her front yard, but yeah, she’s told me what she can.” I tried to offer her a reassuring smile. “And every day she’s capable of a little more.”
Her expression shifted from shock to envy and settled on pure gratitude. “I’m glad she has you, Jax.”
“I’m lucky to have her.”
“Paisley, your son is freakishly strong!” Morgan called out.
Jagger moved, but Paisley touched his forearm. “I’ve got him.” She rose from Jagger’s lap and headed for the baby.
“He likes the red hair.” Jagger laughed.
“Man after my own heart.” Josh grinned as Paisley untangled Peyton from his wife’s hair.
“So you guys done with the interrogation?” I asked as the girls walked toward the beach.
“I’m good,” Josh remarked. “Sam vouched for you.”
“You worried about passing muster, coastie?” Jagger challenged with a smirk.
“Nope. I honestly don’t give a fuck what you think about me. But it would sure make it easier on Morgan if you didn’t think I was complete dick.” I shrugged.
“You can stay.” Jagger laughed. “How did you get Morgan on an aircraft, anyway? Family day?”
“I disguised her in a flight suit and walked her straight onto the bird.” I watched as Morgan hefted Peyton to her hip in the dying light. She was going to make an incredible mother—if that’s what she wanted. Shit, did she want kids? Was Finley an issue for her? Not every woman wanted a ready-made family.
“No shit?” Josh questioned.
“No shit,” Sawyer answered. “She handled herself like a champ, too, especially when that rescue got called in.”
Hell yes, she had.
“God, I can hear Carter now.” Josh groaned. “Regulations state that you’re not allowed on this aircraft, Morgan.” His voice dropped into what was obviously an impression, but there was a soft smile on his face.
Jagger laughed. “He would have shit bricks. Can you imagine trying to get him to sneak someone on board? His little rule-loving heart would have imploded.”
“Burgers in five!” Javier yelled.
“Did you char this batch?” Sawyer called back.
Javier responded with a middle finger.
“So, Will was a by-the-book kind of guy?” I didn’t want to ask, but I wanted to know the answer. It was one thing to compete with a ghost, but a fucking saint? That was impossible.
“Will wrote the fucking book.” Jagger kept his eyes on his wife and son. “He saw everything in black and white. There was no middle ground. No room for compromise.”
“Even for Morgan,” Josh remarked with a little headshake. “Hell, especially in the case of Morgan.” His voice dropped again. “You can’t wear that out in public, Morgan. What will people think?”
“Watch your tongue, Morgan,” Jagger chimed in.
Her tongue? “So you’re saying he wasn’t perfect.”
“Carter? Fuck, no. He was a ring-knocker with a chip the size of Alabama on his shoulder.” Jagger scoffed. “Always had to come in first. Always had to be right.” He swallowed. “Always had to do the right thing, no matter what