Chapter 26

Nick would rather have his appendix removed with no anesthetic and a rusty scalpel than to go to a party. But it was at Hallsy’s place and it was the end of the season and the last chance to hang out with his teammates before everyone started dispersing all over the world. Pilker had already gone back to Sweden, and Ronner had left for Newfoundland.

Stepping into their condo, he handed Kendra the bottle of expensive red wine he’d picked up, which he knew she liked. He’d considered buying a case of the stuff in the hopes that it would soften her up. She was probably still pissed at him and that was going to make the evening awkward.

She gave him a small smile as she took the wine and saw what it was. “Thank you, Nick.”

Huh. She didn’t seem that angry. He had no charming lines, so he said, “I’m an idiot.”

“Ha-ha. Yeah, you are. But you can’t help it. You’re a man.”

“Thanks for understanding.” One corner of his mouth kicked up.

She laughed again. “Come on in.”

He followed her into the spacious living room, the lights of the city sparkling outside the big floor-to-ceiling windows. Music played, and the room hummed with chatter and laughter. He greeted his teammates and their various wives, girlfriends, and dates as he made his way to the kitchen where he saw Hallsy and knew he’d find beer.

“Dude.” Hallsy wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in for a hug. “You made it.”

Nick grinned. Hallsy was loose already. In fact, everyone seemed pretty well lubricated. Except for the pregnant ones, and Duper, also known as Captain Codger, who rarely got drunk.

Hallsy handed him a shooter.

Nick eyed it doubtfully. “What is it?”

“Just drink it.”

He shrugged, tossed the drink back, then scrunched his face up. “What the hell?”

“It’s a Pickleback.” Hallsy chortled. “Jameson and pickle juice.”

“Ugh. That’s just wrong.”

“We’re trying all different kinds,” Chaser said. “We brought this recipe book.” He tapped the book with his casted arm.

It was then Nick realized Jordyn Banks was standing next to him. His eyes bugged out. He looked back and forth between them. Chaser seemed relaxed, smiling easily, his good arm around Jordyn, and she looked…the same. Nick shot a raised-eyebrows look at Hallsy, who nodded, still grinning.

Hey. A happy ending. He’d drink to that.

“This one’s a Redheaded Slut.” Chaser handed him another small glass. “Jägermeister, peach schnapps, cranberry juice.”

Nick grimaced but tossed it back. “Well, that’s better than a Pickleback.”

Then he froze. Because Jodie was there. Standing beside Brick.

She was here.

Shit! She couldn’t be there with Brick! What the fuck?

He met her eyes and glared.

She blinked and gave him a nervous smile.

He frowned. Oh hell. This party was about to get ugly.

“Here.” Jodie handed him another shooter.

He jerked his chin down and stared at the glass. Without thinking, he took it. “What’s this one?”

She held his gaze. “Honey Dew Me.”

His jaw dropped. Heat suffused his body, and for a few seconds it felt like they were alone in the room—their eyes lasered on each other, his heart galloping. Her smile turned sultry, and his dick stirred.

“Bärenjäger, lemon liqueur, and orange juice,” Brick said.

Nick shook his head. Right. He looked down at the drink, then lifted it to his lips.

He met Jodie’s eyes again as he downed it.

Okay, this was going to end up like the last time he’d been to a party here—him drunk and passed out in one of the beds.

That had been Jodie’s bed.

He swallowed.

Everyone else was pouring more shooters, talking, laughing uproariously, oblivious to the fact that Jodie was watching him and he was watching her and the room was really, really hot.

“Marc.”

Everyone turned to see Lovey standing in the doorway. Her hand was on her belly, and her face was tight. “We have to go.”

“Why?” Duper frowned.

“I’m in labor.”

“Jesus fuck.” Duper launched himself off the stool he was sitting on. “Osti de crisse de tabarnak de câlisse! Are you sure?”

“My water broke.” She bit her lip.

Nick now saw she had her sweater tied around her waist over her maternity jeans and loose top.

“Sacrament.” Duper grabbed her shoulders. “Okay, let’s go. Do you want me to carry you?”

“No.” She snorted. “I can walk.”

Nick’s eyebrows flew up at seeing their stoic captain, always calm and in control, completely freaking out. “You okay to drive, Duper?”

“Yeah. I just had one Slippery Nipple.”

“What?” Lovey’s mouth fell open.

“Never mind. We need to go. What do we need? We don’t have what we need. We should go home—”

“No, honey, we can’t go home.” Lovey hooked her arm through his and led him to the door. “We’ll just go to the hospital, okay?”

“Good luck!” people shouted.

Kendra trailed after them to the door. “You call as soon as you have news!”

“Holy shit.” Hallsy shook his head. “They’re having a baby.”

“Never seen Captain Codger flip his shit like that.”

Army, Duper’s best bud, said, “I have.”

Everyone laughed.

Nick met Jodie’s eyes again, unable to stop looking at her.

“Man, you’re gonna be an uncle.” Brick punched Army’s shoulder. “Why aren’t you freaking out?”

“Hell. I better phone Mom and Dad. Talk about flipping his shit…” Army dashed out, cellphone in hand.

“Her timing was pretty perfect,” Chaser said. “What if she’d gone into labor last week when we were still in the playoffs?”

“That would’ve sucked.”

“Somehow I doubt she planned this,” Jodie said.

Wow. Jodie’d been through that. The whole labor-and-delivery thing. Another reason she was amazing.

Nick’s head was spinning, but it wasn’t because he was drunk. He was high on her being here.

He got into a conversation with Army and Hallsy about the White Sox, and when he looked up next, Jodie was gone.

He narrowed his eyes, but Brick was still there, talking to Chaser and Jordyn.

Like last time, Kendra and Hallsy had set out food in the dining room. Nick separated himself from the chatting group and meandered in there. Maybe he’d find some pretzels…or…

Jodie.

And Molly.

“You’re not feeding her people food, are you?”

Her head whipped up. Her slow smile was so beautiful. “She’s cute. It’s hard not to.”

“Do you want a dog?” He strolled closer.

Her eyes flickered in surprise. “I’d love a dog.” She gave a wistful smile. “Someday.”

“Me too.” He stopped in front of her. Almost close enough to touch. Close enough to smell that sexy scent. Close enough to feel her warmth. “You’re not here with Brick, are you?”

Her eyes popped wide. “What? No!”

“Okay.”

She gave him a slit-eyed, head-tilted look. “What the hell?”

“You were standing beside him.” He rubbed his face. “I just got…jealous, I guess.”

She closed her eyes. “Nick.”

“I know, I know. You need time.”

She opened her eyes. They glowed behind her glasses. She let out a short breath. “No. I don’t.”

His gut cramped. He swallowed. “Uh…”

“I thought about what you said last night.” She moved closer still, her body brushing against his. She gazed up at him. “I thought about what you did. I know what you’ve been through. First of all…I don’t blame you for what happened when you were looking after Zyana. I never told you she was prone to ear infections. What happened wasn’t your fault. It probably would have been the same if I’d been there.”

He set his hands on her hips. Molly whined at their feet, wanting more food. They both ignored her. “You would have taken her to the doctor sooner.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. If she didn’t seem that sick, I might have waited until morning too. She’s okay though, and that’s what matters.”

“I hate that something bad happened to her.”

“I know.” She smiled. “I hate it too. But bad things are going to happen in her life, and I can’t protect her from all of them.” She draped her arms over his shoulders. Their eyes met in a flash of heat and a sparkle of light. “I love you, Nick.”

“Really?” His heart kicked into high gear.

“Really.” She kissed his jaw. “Last night…you took me by surprise. I was scared.”

“So was I,” he said fervently. He closed his eyes briefly, relief streaming through him that this was happening, almost afraid to believe it.

“I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m not usually one who’s afraid of telling people how I feel, but…after you broke my heart—”

“Fuck.” He gathered her up in his arms and squeezed so tightly she squeaked. “I’m sorry. Please. Forgive me.”

“I do.” She hugged him tightly too. “I do. I get it. I know you’ve been hurt. You’ve lost people you love. I should’ve understood what was going on in your head.”

“Jesus. How could you? I didn’t even know.”

She choked on a laugh, muffled in his chest.

“Seriously, I was a dick.” He held her against him, soaking in the feel of her in his arms, letting the pure joy he felt at knowing she loved him, forgave him, still wanted him, fill him up until he was brimming with it.

“Do you really not want to have kids?” She pulled back to gaze at him. “I mean, I don’t know where this thing with us is going to end up…I’d love to have more kids, but I have one, and if you love her and you don’t want any more, I’d—”

His heart squeezed as he set his fingers over her mouth. “I’d have ten kids if they were all like Zyana. If they were with you.”

She let out her breath in a whoosh and buried her face against his chest again.

“I can’t believe I just said that,” he muttered, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head. “And I’m not even terrified.”

She gave a soft snort.

They stood like that for a moment. Then he said, “Where’s Zyana?”

“Asleep. In her bedroom. I mean, the room that was hers when we stayed here.”

“Are you staying here tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah.” He drew back, sliding his hand into her hair, fisting it, and tugging her head back. “The same room as last time?”

“Yeah.” Her lips curved into a sexy smirk.

“Maybe you want to reenact that striptease you did for me last time.”

She choked. “That wasn’t a striptease! I didn’t know you were there!” She lightly smacked his chest. “You drunken perv, you.”

“Yeah.” He smirked. “I admit to it. I fantasized about that for weeks.”

“Oh my God.”

“Is that a no?”

“Hmm. Remember that drink?”

“Vaguely. Which one?”

“The shot I gave you.”

“Oh yeah. Honey Dew Me.”

“Yeah.” Her fingers stroked over the nape of his neck, sending tingles down his spine right to his balls. “I really meant that.”

“Fuck yeah. Let’s go.”