Page 44 of Hitting the Gap

She scanned the bar. “Umm, your friends.”

“Okay, so like four people? Pretty small sample size for that kind of bold statement.”

“I watch TV as well.”

“Ah gotcha, the ol’ media barometer. Then it must be true. Not a single athlete is married to a curvy girl.”

She smacked him on the chest. “Shut up.”

“I’m just going to throw it out there, Bay, your assumption says more about you than it does about me and the women I sleep with.”

Bailey sucked in a breath like his words had hit the mark.

Good, let her stew on that for a bit. “I’m up.” He walked back to the dartboard and threw three bullseyes in a row.

“And that’s how it’s done,” Ryan cheered.

Gonzo glanced at the scoreboard. His last turn had secured the win for the boys.

“Damn it,” Kendall grumbled. “I want a rematch. You guys were already warmed up. We were cold.”

“What? How were we warmed up?” Ryan scoffed.

“You’d just played baseball. We’d been sitting in the stands. You had an unfair advantage.”

Gonzo flicked a glance at Bailey while the siblings bickered over Kendall having to cook. Bailey walked over to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his side. “It’s all good.”

“Ever since Brad, I’ve been a little—” She flicked her wrist.

Gonzo’s jaw clenched. He hated that she’d allowed some asshole to question how amazing she was. “Any guy would be lucky to have you, Bay.”

She glanced up at him through her lashes. A sudden urge to kiss her instantly hit him. He clenched his fingers together to stop himself from threading his hand through her thick red hair and pulling her toward him.

A throat cleared beside him, and he pulled his attention off Bailey. Ryan stood to his left with a big smirk on his face. “We’re gonna head back to the table. You guys sticking around or—?” Ryan asked.

What the hell was wrong with him? This was Bailey. He needed to knock it off. “Yeah, of course we’re staying.” He eyed Bailey’s empty beer glass. “Let’s get you another drink.”

Ryan glanced at him and raised his eyebrow in question. Gonzo shoved him to get his friend to move back toward their table. Whatever that moment was between him and Bailey, it was done now and not up for discussion.

As they approached the table, he eyed the newcomers sitting with Peyton and Pete. “Holy shit, Aiden.” Gonzo turned to his teammate’s wife and gave her a hug. “Good to see you, Sloane. You guys never come out after games.”

“We got a sitter so I could come to the game and I’m taking full advantage of it,” Sloane said.

“You have a sitter and you guys came here?” Gonzo asked.

“We aren’t staying long,” Aiden said as he eyed his wife.

“We’ll see,” Sloane replied. “Aiden still gets to do this when you’re on the road, but since we had Madison, I don’t anymore, and I miss it.”

“And we miss seeing you,” Kendall said.

Gonzo pulled Bailey closer to him. “Bailey, this is Aiden Patel and his wife Sloane. Guys, this is my oldest friend, Bailey.”

“Friend?” Sloane raised an eyebrow.

Why did everyone do that? “Yes, friend,” he grumbled. He gestured for Bailey to take the vacant seat next to Sloane at the end of the table. Kendall hopped into the vacant seat beside Pete. Since there were no more chairs at the table, Ryan picked up Peyton, slid himself onto her seat, and placed her on his lap. She giggled and wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck.

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