Page 12 of Pucking Revenge

I hold my glass of wine out to her. She needs this more than me. Although she might need something stronger.

She bites her lip and spins back to her husband. “Beckett, there are too many of us already. We can’t add a dog to the mix. Five kids and a dog?” She closes her eyes again. This time she tips her head back and counts out loud. “Breathe, one, two, three.”

Dylan has now taken up residence next to her, rubbing her shoulders and murmuring soothing words.

Beckett shakes his head. “Livy, we’ve got plenty of room. And we only have three kids.”

Liv’s eyes snap open, and she zeros in on him. Instantly, the modicum of calm she found is gone. Her chest rises and falls, and her nostrils flare. “No, Beckett. Five.”

He holds up a hand and counts the kids off on his fingers. “Bear, Huckleberry Finn, and Little One. Three.” Those three fingers are still in the air, like he’s using the prop to emphasize his point.

Liv smiles. “Five.”

He spins and frowns at Cortney. “What did you do? If you upset Dylan again, I’ll kill you.”

Dylan steps in front of him and pats him on the arm, giving him the most serene smile I think I’ve ever seen. “She’s not talking about my kids.”

It hits me then, why Liv asked Dylan and Cortney to come over, and my heart flips in my chest.

Beckett still hasn’t put the pieces together. “Medusa and the shining twins are not moving in here! We just got our own space. I’ll talk to Enzo. They’ll work through it. Surely she’s figured out how to apologize by now.”

I’m lost now, but I think Medusa’s his nickname for another one of his wife’s friends.

Liv silences him by cupping a hand over his mouth. Then she grasps his wrist and presses his palm to her stomach. “Not our friends’ kids, Beckett.” She says each word slowly, her brows raised like she’s urging him to pick up on the meaning behind them. “Our kids.”

Beckett blinks half a dozen times, then drops his focus from Liv’s face to where she’s holding his hand against her stomach.

Brooks nudges me, distracting me from the scene. His green eyes swim with warmth and happiness as it hits him too. He’s going to be an uncle again.

“Our kids?” Beckett rasps.

Liv nods. “We’re having twins, Bossman.”

While Beckett stands there dumbstruck, the house erupts. Gavin lets out an ear-piercing whistle in celebration. Beside me, Brooks claps, and Addie joins in, grinning up at him. Aiden throws his arms around Liv and lifts her off the ground. Winnie and Finn are both hopping up and down, asking a million questions. There’s joy in every corner of the room.

After Beckett has finally come out of his shock, and he’s stolen a quiet moment with his wife to perhaps celebrate, I wander over to congratulate her, and she pulls me in for a hug.

“Why are you all here, anyway?” She glances at Brooks, then focuses on me again.

“Oh, Beckett wanted support when he brought the dog in, so he texted the guys.”

“And you just so happened to be with Brooks when that text came through?” The smile she’s wearing is full of teasing, like maybe she’s under the impression we’re more than just friends.

“Liv…”

She ducks in close and squeezes my arm. “Your secret is safe with me.”

I clasp her wrists, searching for the words to explain that there’s no secret, but then it dawns on me that there is, in fact, a secret. It’s just not what she thinks it is. If she’s under the impression that I’m dating Brooks, and she’s okay with it, then it shouldn’t bother her if it turns out that I’m actually dating another person within the organization. Say, the coach…

If I wasn’t so mad at Seb right now, I’d probably text him.

But since I am, I settle at the table and ask Liv a thousand questions. Then I listen to her chat with Dylan about the joys of pregnancy and children and families. Though they make it clear not every aspect is picture perfect, she wears a soft smile all night.

And don’t even get me started on Beckett. The man’s chest is puffed out, and he’s beaming.

When my phone lights up on the table in front of me, I immediately put my hand over it—a habit I’ve acquired since my secret relationship began.Subtly, I ease it into my lap and unlock the screen.

SL: Come over.

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