But there is no way I could ever forget that night. Not only was it hot almost seeing Baylor come unglued, ready to fight some girl because she was talking to me, but because it was the first and only time I told her I loved her. There have been so many other times I’ve wanted to say it, like after I make love to her, but I just hate not hearing it back. I feel like I’m failing when she doesn’t say it, so to keep from feeling like that, I just haven’t said it again. But really, I don’t have to say it, I know she knows I love her. I also know she loves me, but she’s so fucking stubborn and a pain in my ass, she won’t admit to it.

Brat.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about. She must have been drunk,” I say unrevealingly.

“No man,” Jace says then, popping up and looking back at us. “That’s the night Baylor almost threw down because you and Skylar were flirting.”

“You still messing with her?” Jude asks.

“You guys were flirting? I thought you guys broke it off?”

“Who’s Baylor?” Mom and Lucy ask at the same time.

Giving Jace the look of death because I’ve decided that I am, for sure, gonna kill him, I shake my head. “No, I’m not messing with Skylar anymore. That ship has sailed, and Baylor is, um, a friend.”

“No, they are dating but don’t want to tell anyone,” Jace says offhandedly as he falls back onto his stomach to go back to work. “It’s all a bunch of hoopla, if you ask me. They get in a room together, and you can tell they are like sticky icky in love.”

“What? Jayden Mitchell, is that true?” Mom asks me, stunned. “You haven’t spoken of her.”

“She’s still keeping it a secret?” Jude asks.

“And she wanted to fight Skylar? Really? Skylar is scary,” Claire adds, and I let out an annoyed breath.

“Guys, it’s not a big deal. Let it go,” I say, shaking my head. “Mom, really, I told you about her a long time ago.”

“But I haven’t met her!”

“You will,” I promise.

“Yeah, Mom, don’t worry,” Jace says. “But she’s great. A little rough around the edges, kinda moody, and acts more like a dude than a chick, but she’s cool, and man, can she play some hockey.”

“Oh! Number fifty? Baylor Moore?” Mom squeals. “Is that her?”

“I really don’t like you,” I say to Jace, and he grins back at me, unfazed by my declaration of hatred as I nod. “Yeah, Mom, that’s her.”

“Oh, she’s adorable.”

“Is she? I want to meet her,” Claire pouts and Jude hugs her tighter.

“She’s cool, and she punched the sh-crap out of Jayden in Florida,” Jude teases. “That’s when I knew she was awesome.”

“She hit you?” Lucy giggles. “She sounds amazing.”

“Oh yeah, she’s a beast,” Jace adds with a nod just as the doorbell rings. He pops up. “That’s Markus.”

“Oh! Let me get the ham out,” Mom says, rushing to the kitchen, and when Jace passes by me, I trip him.

“Jerk!” he yells back at me, and I glare.

“I’m gonna murder you,” I promise, and he shrugs.

“Get in line. I’m sure Lucy and Jude want to help.”

Looking at my older siblings, I shake my head. “We didn’t kick his ass enough.”

“Nope, we were more concerned with each other,” Lucy agrees.

“Yeah, we should hold him down and kick his ass,” Jude decides, and we all agree, just as Claire’s eyes widen and her head falls to the side.

“What’s wrong with y—” I start, but I don’t finish because a pair of hands come over my eyes. “What the hell?” Not because I don’t know who it is, but because I do. Her scent gave her away.

“Oooh, you said a cuss word,” Angie reminds me, and I reach in my pocket pulling out a bill, praying it isn’t my hundred-dollar bill. I feel her snatch it, and then I reach back and take ahold of Baylor’s ass as she squeals, moving out of my grip and unmasking my eyes. When I look back at her, a grin pulls at my lips as I stand to go to her. She, of course, looks hot as hell in a pair of jeans with boots that go up to her knees. Wearing a tight red sweater that clings to her breasts, her red lips shine as she grins back at me.

“What are you doing here?” I say, closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around her as her eyes go wide. But I don’t care. I need to feel her against me.

“Surprise?” she says softly before I lift her off the ground, pressing my lips to hers. It’s a quick kiss though, and she awkwardly taps my shoulders for me to put her down. Rolling my eyes, I put her on her feet, and before she can say anything, I kiss her again, this time drawing out the kiss as her hands rest against my chest. When I finally pull back, she looks up at me with shock in her eyes as she talks out of the side of her mouth. “Your family is watching us.”

“Oh yeah, we are,” Jace says. “And I would like to say—” he pauses for dramatic effect “—told you so!”

When I look back down at her, she’s glaring, and I laugh. “I don’t care,” I say with a shrug. “He won’t say anything, I promise. Come here, meet my family.” Lacing my fingers with hers, I bring her into the living room and introduce her to my sister and Angie. She’s awkward as all hell, but I expect it from her. When Jude pulls her in for a hug, she relaxes some as a grin pulls at her lips. When I introduce her to Claire, she grins.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she says as she and Claire shake hands.

“I’ve heard loads about you, too,” Claire replies back, a sweet grin on her face. “It’s great to finally meet you.”

“You too,” Baylor says before crossing her ankles and linking her pinkie with mine and looking back at me. “It’s great to meet everyone.”

“Well, you haven’t met me yet!” my mom hollers, coming into the living room, wiping her hands on her apron. Baylor tenses up as my mom looks her up and down before she glances over at me with a “Please help me” look on her sweet face.

Laughing, I wrap my arm around her waist and say, “Mom, this is Baylor, my…um…” Baylor looks up at me with inquisitive eyes and I just grin. “My girlfriend.”