Page 42 of The Quit List
“Right. The thing is, I might’ve been so shocked about the news in the moment that I may not have acted all that happy about it…”
There’s a sheepish note in his voice that makes me narrow my eyes. “Jax… what did you do?”
“Um. Well, I might’ve asked her initially if it wasn’t just indigestion. And then, when she confirmed that she was, indeed, pregnant, I might’ve done a really bad Marlon Brando The Godfather impression.”
“You dumb-dumb. That’s the worst thing you could have done!”
“I know, I know. I panicked and totally screwed up.” I can hear the anguish in Jax’s deep, manly man voice. He’s got to be one of the most… unexpected humans I’ve ever come across. “So, I clearly need to get them the best baby gift there ever was to show them how happy I actually am for them. How much I plan to step up and be there for them.”
It’s sweet. Very sweet. But I can’t let him off the hook just yet. “You should know that I’m judging you.”
“Oh, I know. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Hollywood.”
I can’t stop the bubble of laughter that comes out of me. So loud that Dylan looks over again. I shrug apologetically and lower my voice. “What did you have in mind, then? It better be pretty darn special.”
“I googled it and apparently cakes made of diapers are a thing? Do you think they’d like that?”
My silence must say everything, because he adds, “Come on, help me out here, Holly!”
I chuckle. “You, my friend, are beyond help. But if you’re nearby, I could help you shop.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a lifesaver?” he says again and I laugh harder.
“You, not two minutes ago. And remember, I’m always happy to help… so long as no kinky underwear is involved.”
That gets Dylan’s attention. I just can’t tell if it’s negative or positive. Or if I should really care?
“You’re the best, Granny Panties. I’ll pick you up at the Pinnacle in five.”
The line goes dead and I’m still smiling like an idiot when I realize that Dylan’s head is swiveled all the way around and he’s staring at me.
“Who was that?” he asks.
“A friend.” My smile widens. Because it’s true—already, Jax feels like a real friend. We’ve grown close in a relatively short amount of time, and I’m genuinely enjoying his presence in my life.
“The friend with the website?”
“Mmhmm,” I reply, trying to decipher his clipped tone. He sounds almost bothered.
Could Dylan be… jealous right now?
Surely not. I chastise myself for even going there. He’s probably just ruffled that I’m having inappropriate conversations about underwear at work. Which, I suppose, is fair enough.
I’m packing up my laptop and putting on my sweater when Raquel, my fellow Guest Services worker, pops her head into the break room. “Holly? There’s someone at the front desk asking for you.”
“A guest is asking for me?”
“Hey, Hollywood.”
And suddenly, Jax himself is standing in the doorway behind Raquel. She peeks over her shoulder at him and her cheeks turn a shade of pink. “Thanks so much for bringing me here… Raquel, was it?”
My coworker—who I happen to know is happily married and therefore very much off the market—goes on to fully giggle before she heads back to the front desk.
“Wow,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “Your charm really does know no bounds.”
“What’d I tell you?” Jax says easily, eyes sparkling as he leans against the doorframe and looks down at me. “So, you ready to go?”
I hustle faster, collecting the rest of my things. “You said five. I assumed that was five minutes and not five seconds.”