Page 31 of Sticking Out

Conner thinks about that for a moment. “Do you women classify all us men?”

“Mostly,” Gina tells him with a laugh.

“What am I…wait, nope.” He holds one hand up. “I don’t want to know.”

We all laugh, but it dies an abrupt death when Conner leans in and presses his lips to mine, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, like he’s not even pretending. He pulls back and when he first realizes what he’s done, there’s surprise in his eyes, but it morphs into mindfulness.

The ruse is on.

He leaves the room and I slowly turn to take in the three sets of eyes watching me. “I…um…”

“What the heck, Dani,” Brighton shrieks, a big smile on her face. I relax a bit. Okay, she’s not judging me, and she’s not upset.

“We…uh…we’re trying this thing.”

“I bet you’re trying a thing,” Gina laughs. “Heck, if I were you, I’d be trying that thing too.” She points in the direction of Conner and everyone cracks up.

I take a much-needed sip of wine. “You guys don’t think…”

I don’t finish the sentence. I don’t need to. Brighton takes my hand. “Dani, first of all, it doesn’t matter what we think, but if you do want to know…” She glances around, getting a consensus from our friends. “We’re all damn excited for you.” She actually starts squealing in joy a bit. “We have been waiting for you two to figure things out for a while, but we know there are past histories and complications…”

“What she’s trying to say,” Melanie, who has her master’s in psychology, interrupts. “Is that we’re all happy for you. That guy has had it bad for you for a long time.” She snaps her fingers. “Get it, girl.”

I laugh at that, and almost under my breath, I whisper, “Oh, I’m getting it.” Although I don’t think she’s right about Conner having it bad for me.

This time they all squeal and Melanie continues, “Good, now give us all the details and don’t leave anything out.”

Gina picks up her wine for us to salute. “Here’s to getting it and maybe I don’t want to hear the details. While I’m happy for you, Dani, deets on your sex life will just depress me. I’m not looking for any sort of relationship, but casual sex once in a while would be nice.” She moans in delight at that thought. “But I’ve given up on getting some and that’s probably for the best with Zoe to consider.”

“Getting some what?” Ash asks as he saunters into the kitchen. I take in his broad shoulders and the way his button-down shirt showcases his body. He’s definitely tall, dark and problematic. That’s when I notice I’m not the only one admiring this male specimen, not that I think he compares to Conner, but a girl can recognize beauty when she sees it. She can also recognize a guy she might be attracted to but should stay away from.

“Nothing,” Gina answers quickly, that pink flush back on her cheeks. She looks both aroused and mortified that he might have heard her.

He snatches two beers from the fridge. “Tanner and Maeve have an announcement to make. They’re waiting for everyone in the living room.”

We all follow Ash, but his big body blocks the entire view of the hall. In the living room, I spot Conner talking to Elias. I’m about to make my way over, only to stop when Tanner stands and holds up his glass. Everyone goes quiet and lifts theirs.

“To the team, and the trophy,” he salutes and points to the big cup in the room. “To the support of our wives, girlfriends, and friends,” he adds and lifts his glass a little higher. We’re all about to take a drink. “Wait.” Our hands still as he glances at Maeve and pulls her to her feet. “We have one more thing to drink to.” He winks at his wife, who is holding a glass of water. “At least, some of us get to drink.” Gasps sound in the room, because we all know where he’s going with this. “To my wife.” He touches her stomach, and the love shining in their eyes brings tears to mine. “And to our little one, who I can’t wait to meet. We’re pregnant!”

We all shout our congratulations and when they drink from their cups, we all drink from ours. Tanner glances around the room and makes eye contact with everyone, and that’s when I see the way Conner is watching me. “One by one, we’re all getting married and having kids,” Tanner adds, holding his glass up.

Maeve holds up her glass. “Must be something in the water.” She searches the room, looking at the players. “I wonder which one of you guys will be next.”

Ash, as well as a few of the other single guys, mumble protests under their breath, which makes us all laugh. I take in the young pretty girl who Ash has his arm around. He probably doesn’t even remember her name. Yeah, it’s best for Gina to stay away from him. Or is it… They would make an interesting couple.

My gaze strays to Conner again, and his eyes remain locked on me. I am in so much trouble here. Why did I ever think having a baby with my best friend, my brother-in-law, the guy I’ve been in love with for far too long now, was a good idea?

What we’re doing here is pretending. He’s helping a girl out. Nothing can come from that, and now we’re trying to bring a baby into the mix. My mind races back to what Melanie said in the kitchen. Could she be right? Does Conner have it bad for me? What if I ask, and I have it all wrong? That could so easily come between us, and I promised that would never happen.

Gina nudges me. “Hey, are you okay?”

Under my breath, I mumble, “I think I need a glass of water.”

12

Conner

I flick on my signal, take a right turn and glance at Dani in the passenger seat. She’s smiling as she checks on the dogs at the Airbnb. “It’s crazy that no one at the party last weekend thought it was odd that you and I were ‘dating’.” I do air quotes around the word dating.

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