Page 62 of A Major Puck Up

I wave him in, then offer the most awkward man hug, cringing when I realize it puts us too damn close since, two minutes ago, I was balls deep in his daughter. Fuck, I hope he can’t smell her on me.

“Anytime.” I head to the bar to put some space between us. “Can I grab you a drink?”

Ford follows me, almost in a daze. Unlike me, he’s dressed like he’s ready for dinner, in a pair of black slacks, a gray shirt, and a suit jacket. “Big event today?” I ask, picking up the whiskey bottle.

“Had a meeting with Crystal Stewart today. She’s thinking about leaving Kennedy Records.”

I pause, bottle in one hand and the cap in the other. “Shit, that’s huge.”

Ford picks up one whiskey, and when I do the same, we clink glasses. “Tell me about it. But it was all Lake. I’ll tell you, bringing her on as part owner was the best decision I ever made. Artists love the idea that they can work with her, and she’s so passionate about giving more power back to them. It’s really a win-win.”

That part of Ford’s decision made sense, sure, and I’m happy for him, but even so, it’s hard not to get angry. The situation was devastating for Millie, and this man is so goddamn clueless about it. It feels almost like a betrayal to congratulate him, so I take a long sip of my whiskey—a Hanson specialty bottle that Garreth had sent over—and nod noncommittally. “So you came over here to celebrate?”

Ford smiles but shakes his head.

Smiling is good, right? A father who’s just discovered that his best friend is fucking his daughter wouldn’t smile. So it stands to reason that he isn’t here to beat the shit out of me. Though that gives me little comfort when his naked daughter is upstairs.

“We should wait for Beckett to get here,” Ford says as he settles on the barstool beside me. “What’s new with you?”

“Oh, uh, just lots of travel. Hockey”—not fucking your daughter anytime I have a free moment—“the usual.”

Ford’s practically glowing as he takes another sip of whiskey, and the smile he was wearing when he walked in is still firmly in place.

When the Ring app alerts me to Beckett’s arrival, I sigh in relief.

“That was quick,” Ford says, mirroring my thoughts.

I can’t get away from Ford fast enough, so I hustle to the door and throw it open. When Beckett barrels in, he’s breathing heavy. Fuck, I’ve never loved him more.

“You run here?” Ford jokes.

My brother eyes me as he shakes his head, though his breathlessness gives him away. “I was across the street at the stadium.”

“Working late?” Ford, completely unaware of the silent conversation my brother and I are having, just sips his whiskey with a dreamy look on his face.

Beckett’s eyes ask Where is she?

With a tilt of my head toward my bedroom, I tell him Down the hall.

His wince is a sharp fuck.

“Yeah, Livy had dinner with her friends tonight, and Brooks and Aiden offered to babysit, so I figured I’d get caught up on some work before meeting you for drinks,” he says to Ford.

I grit my teeth and shoot another silent look at my brother. One that says Why the fuck didn’t you warn me that our best friend was coming into town tonight? If I’d known, I would have taken Millie to the Four Seasons to ensure we didn’t have any run-ins.

As it was, I planned to drive down to Bristol to see him tomorrow. I want everything out in the open before Christmas, and the clock is ticking down. There’s no way I’m spending the holidays without Millie by my side.

With any luck, the holidays will have my friend in a better mood and less likely to murder me.

“Why don’t you two head to the restaurant, and I’ll meet you there?” Whiskey in hand, I motion to my T-shirt and shorts. “I’m not really dressed to go out.”

Much to my dismay, Ford shakes his head. “I need to tell you something before we go.” He sets his whiskey glass down on the bar beside him and rubs his hands together. The smile he’s worn all night suddenly disappears as he rubs the back of his neck.

For a second, I worry he really does know the truth. My heart takes off again as I brace myself for the implosion of our friendship.

Instead, his smile returns, even bigger this time. “Lake is pregnant,” he says, his voice full of awe. “I’m going to be a dad again.”

“Holy shit, congrats.” My brother pulls Ford in for a hug.

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