Page 68 of The Way We Score

Ducking my head, I cover my mouth with my hand. “We hustled them all the time.”

“I know.” His eyes dance as they meet mine. “It was so easy!” We say it at the same time, and he leans closer. “Especially for you. No one ever believed someone like you could be so good atpool.”

“They had no idea we spent every rainy day perfecting our game.”

“Hey.” His expression turns suddenly serious. “I wanted to apologize for what I said at the stadium. In front of Maddy.”

“What?” My brow furrows, and I can’t think of a thing…

“About how holding a baby looked good on you. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad or pick at an old wound. I know infertility is a painful thing, and I’m really sorry.”

“Oh…” A weight drops in my stomach, and I reach out to take his hand. “No, Garrett, you don’t have to apologize.”

Looking around the room, I know this isn’t the right place to tell him. I consider suggesting we go back to his place when a petite waitress in denim shorts and a black tee skips up to the table, right into a hug with him.

“Garrett!” she cries, and I don’t like the way she’s holding his arms and smiling up at him one bit. “I haven’t seen you in ages. Where have you been?”

She gives him a little shove, and my throat gets hot when I watch her blinking up at him expectantly like they’re old friends. Or something more? Jealousy has never been my thing, but wow. Do pregnancy hormones also make you want to strangle flirty waitresses?

“Wendy, hey.” Garrett seems to sense the change in my mood and takes a step closer to me. “How’s that new husband treating you?”

Okay,new husbandmakes me feel slightly less stabby.

“He’s great.” She blinks down, blushing a little.

Now I’m feeling a lot less stabby.

Then she turns and smiles at me. “And who is this? Did you finally settle down?”

“I’m Olivia, but everybody calls me Liv.” I extend my hand.

“I’m Wendy!” She gives me an enthusiastic shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Liv. You must have a lot of patience to be with this guy. He’s a character.”

“Tell me about it.” I decide she’s okay. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

“Ladies, I have to stop you right there.” He holds up his hands. “My one goal is to keep you all happy, and what I know right now, is Liv needs a classic Angus burger. Stat.”

Wendy nods, putting her hands on her hips. “My kind of girl. And what will you have, big guy?”

“Bring me some wings.”

“Drinks?”

“Yuengling for me, and Liv?”

“I’ll just have a Liquid Death. Sparkling.”

“And put the game on,” Garrett calls as she walks away.

She waves over her head as she goes to the bar. We’ve just turned to face each other when the television nearest us changes to football.

“Talk about the star treatment.” I lean closer, and he reaches for my hand.

“Something else I wanted to say…” Warmth infuses his tone, and I look down to where his large hand engulfs mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t call after our weekend. You left in such a hurry, I thought maybe I’d made things weird.”

Emotion clogs my throat, and I turn my hand so I can thread our fingers.

Blinking fast, I lift my eyes to his, and when they meet earnest blue, it squeezes my stomach. “You didn’t…”

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