Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“As a teammate,” I finish his thought. “She’s doing this because of team loyalty and respect. Nothing more.”
Cage nods, not necessarily in agreement, but more so that the depth or origin of her care is probably irrelevant. She’s committed to carrying the baby, and that speaks volumes either way.
“Listen, buddy…” Cage picks his beer up and holds it up to me in a toast. “I know this isn’t how you envisioned becoming a father would happen. I know you thought your family would be built in a more traditional way. But congrats. You’re going to make a fucking awesome dad, and I’m thoroughly depressed you’re going to be leaving me.”
I laugh and pick up my beer. After I tap it against his, we drink deeply. I fucking don’t want to leave, but I see no other option at this point.
Cage sets his beer down, his eyes drifting to the TV mounted on the wall behind the bar. His attention isn’t fully focused on it, because he still has questions about Rachel. “I assume all this is on the down low?”
“Yeah,” I say, my eyes on the hockey game, too, my fingers playing mindlessly in the condensation on the pint glass. “Obviously the pregnancy is out in the open, but no one knows it’s mine.”
“Lips are sealed,” he says, but he doesn’t need to do that. I know they are.
“Appreciate it.”
“And if you need to talk, I’m here.”
“I know,” I say softly. I can envision plenty of beers with Cage before all this is said and done, because as we advance through the months, it’s only going to get tougher.
At some point, it will come out that I’m the daddy. At some point, I’ll need to tell my parents. And at some point, I’ll need to make plans to leave Jameson.
At some point.
But not tonight.
Tonight, I’m drinking beer with my buddy, and I’m thinking I ought to just get shit faced. It’s been a while since I’ve done it. What better reason to do so than the fact my life is getting ready to be turned upside down?
My phone gives off a short vibration, indicating an incoming text. I pull it out and see it’s from Rachel.
Meet me at The Wicked Horse at 11pm.
I stare at the message for what seems like forever. So long that Cage leans over to see what I’m looking at, but I turn the screen away from him.
Our one encounter in The Wicked Horse was impulsive and dangerous. If we want to keep our sexual relationship a secret, there can’t be any fucking around there.
Still, I type my response back without worrying about repercussions. Ok. CU then.
That’s still several hours away, and I’ve got some beers still to drink. But I won’t drink too many. I want to keep my wits about me when dealing with Rachel.
CHAPTER 10
Rachel
I sit back casually on the small velvet couch in The Apartment. I don’t see any other Jameson employees in here other than Kynan, who is playing poker right now. Not everyone at Jameson has a membership to The Wicked Horse. Not even most of them, actually. Just those who are into kinky fucking in a public manner.
The Apartment is fairly dead tonight. Maybe because it’s a Sunday night and the workweek is starting in a few hours. There’s a rambunctious game of poker going on, and I listen in because Kynan is in a taunting mood and that amuses me.
“Interested in a side bet?” he asks the only woman playing with the group of men. She reminds me of a slightly older version of Taylor Swift. Sweet face set off by a blunt cut of blonde bangs across her forehead.
“Like what?” she asks with her head tilted to the side.
“I win, you come over here and give me a blow job. You win, I’ll make you come with my mouth.”
I snicker but truly, I expected no different than Kynan betting body parts.
The woman doesn’t even get a chance to respond because a smokin’ hot guy sitting next to her says, “Not going to happen.”
“I can answer for myself,” the woman retorts, but she turns to smile at the guy who is now staring daggers at Kynan.
He finally turns his gaze to the blonde woman, but he sweeps his hand toward Kynan. “Go ahead. But he already got the message.”
“I like it when you go all Neanderthal on me,” the woman purrs, and I think… that’s actually kind of sweet.
The hot guy finds it hilarious, because he gives a hearty laugh. “In that case, I’ll make sure to pull your hair hard when I fuck you later.”
Okay, that’s just hot. I can imagine Bodie doing that to me, and it makes me squirm in my seat. I glance at my watch. He should be arriving soon. I’m not sure what I want to do with him or where, but I do know I want to do something.