Page 34 of Huge Pucking Play

I close my eyes, remembering the feel of his enormous hands all over my body. The heat of his kiss. The smell of his cologne. Stop it, Cyn.

The door opens and I jump, guiltily dropping my phone face down on my desk. But it's just Coach Martinez checking the day's schedule.

"You good, Lockhart? You look flushed."

I force a smile. "Just...working hard."

As soon as he's gone, I grab my phone again. One more text won't hurt, right?

My fingers hover over the screen, heart pounding. I shouldn't. I really shouldn't.

Garrett's message pops up before I can decide: "I want to see you. Dinner tomorrow?"

I suck in a breath. This is exactly what I've been both craving and dreading. I don’t know how to answer. I go back and forth in my head before answering.

Me: It's too risky.

Garrett: We'll be discreet. I know a place.

The temptation is overwhelming. I picture his chocolatey brown eyes, that crooked smile. But then I see myself packing up my office, dreams shattered.

Me: I can't lose my job. I've worked too hard.

Garrett: We'll figure it out. Trust me.

Trust. Such a loaded word. I'm saved from responding by the arrival of my next appointment. It’s Barnesy. I steel myself for another uncomfortable interaction.

Hours later, I'm sliding into a booth across from Sophie at our favorite restaurant. Her usually smiley face is stormy.

"I'm going to kill Melissa," she announces, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Whoa, what happened?" I ask, signaling the waiter for a much-needed glass of wine.

Sophie's eyes flash. "She's pregnant! And she waited until now to tell me. The wedding's next weekend!"

I wince. "Shit. The dress..."

"Exactly!" Sophie throws up her hands. "Did she think she'd magically shrink? Women don't generallyloseweight when they're pregnant!"

"Maybe she was hoping?" I offer weakly.

Sophie snorts. "Well, hope doesn't alter dresses. God, what am I going to do?"

I reach across the table, squeezing her hand. "We'll figure something out. Maybe we can find a rush seamstress?"

Sophie sighs, deflating slightly. "I guess. It's just...this was supposed to be perfect."

"Hey," I say firmly. "It will be. You're marrying Evan. That's what matters."

She manages a small smile thinking about her long time crush and now almost husband. "You're right. I just don’t need this complication right now. I mean, I’m very excited for her but why couldn’t she have told me earlier. We’d have much better options."

“True,” I say nodding my head. “It makes more sense now why she didn’t come to Vegas. She obviously knew we’d all be drinking and she’s have to explain why she wasn’t.”

“Yea. It just doesn’t make sense though why she didn’t just tell me earlier.”

“So who’s the baby’s father? She’s not seeing anyone, right?”

“I honestly don’t know. I was so caught off guard and just pissed that I didn’t even ask.”

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