Page 146 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

“Exactly.” I lean back, pulling the blanket tighter around me. “It’s kind of lonely, honestly.”

Nova turns her head to look at me, her expression softening.

“Well, he’s not alone right now,” she says simply, her voice warm.

I smile, grateful for her presence. “No, I guess he’s not.”

“You have each other.”

That warms me on the inside and I debate if I should tell her about…well. You know. Being pregnant. How she’ll react.

Too soon.

She just got here.

“I had an interesting conversation with your brother last night,” I say. “He was at my place and we started talking ‘bout you—as usual—and dating came up.”

Nova rolls her eyes. “I’m sure it did.”

“Interestingly enough, I got him to give me a name.”

This perks her up. “What do you mean, a name? A name for who?”

“Someone on the team he’d be cool with you dating.”

Nova narrows her eyes, shifting slightly so she’s facing me fully. “Wait—hold on. You’re telling me my brother,Mister Overprotective,actually gave you a name? Like—willingly?”

I grin, leaning back against the cushions and enjoying her skepticism. “I was just as surprised as you are. I figured he’d shut it down completely, but nope. He thought about it for a good, solid minute.”

I’m exaggerating of course, finding pleasure in her shocked expression.

“Who is it?” she presses, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

I raise an eyebrow, dragging out the moment.

“You really want to know?”

“Obviously!”

“Alright,” I say, drawing out the word. “He said, and I quote, ‘If Ihadto pick someone on the team, I guess I wouldn’t hate it if Nova went out with?—’”

“Stop stalling!” she screeches. “Spit it out!”

“—Luca.”

“As in, Babineaux?” Nova seems to rear back. “Seriously?”

I nod. “What’s wrong with him—he’s so cute.”

“Yeah he’s cute but he’s so…” Her hand waves aimlessly in the air as she searches for an adjective to describe the nice, low-key forward on the Baddies. “Boring?”

I smirk. “Ah, so what I’m hearing is you’d rather date someone your brotherwouldn’tapprove of?”

“No. I’m saying I need someone who’s more fun.”

“Poor bastard,” I laugh, shaking my head with mock sympathy. “The guy doesn’t know we’re over here dismantling hisentirepersonality.”

Nova grins, already reaching for her phone. “Let’s see how boring he really is.”

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