Page 7 of Sticking Out

Jesse says something funny and calls out to Conner. With his attention diverted, I turn to Josie and talk about the book we’re reading for next week’s book club. A few women come up to the table and put their hands all over the guys, even the married ones. The women at the table are confident in themselves and their men, so no scene is caused. The men are quick to shut down the unwanted advances, Conner included. It does, however, remind me he’s a young single guy who should be out having fun.

“If you’ll excuse me.” I stand a little too quickly. Conner grabs my chair before it tumbles backward. I laugh awkwardly. “I don’t know my own strength.”

“You’re strong from all those dogs you wrestle,” Jesse points out. “When I take Apollo for a walk, he walks me, yet you have no troubles at all.”

That’s me. Plain. Curvy. Strong. All the traits a guy goes for. I glance at Conner. “I’ll be right back.”

He nods, and I get the sense he can tell I’m off tonight. I make a trip down the hall to the washroom, and stand before the mirror, fixing my hair and then washing my hands. I lean in and pinch my cheeks to add a bit of color, and when a few girls come in, showcasing gorgeous bodies in very little clothes, they smile at me and I smile back as I leave. I head back down the hall, and when I reach the bar, I wave to the bartender, asking for a big glass of water.

As I stand there, waiting for his attention, a big body presses against me, pinning me between the oak countertop and a wall of muscles. I don’t need to turn to know it’s Conner. His warm soapy scent, the same scent he’s been using since we were kids, wraps around me.

He puts his mouth to my ear. “Hey, are you okay?”

I spin to face him and he inches back slightly. I gaze into his eyes, and everything about him messes with my body—which is wrong, dammit. Sure, I was going to ask him for a big favor but I was planning on keeping it all clinical.

My inner voice breaks out in hysterical laughter, and I shut it down. Yeah, I must be crazy to think I could have sex with this man and stay detached.

I smile and gesture with a nod. “Someone is trying to get your attention.”

He glances over his shoulder, and eyes the pretty blonde. “Yeah.” He turns back to me. “What’s going on with you tonight, Dani?”

Just then the bartender slides a glass of water my way. His eyes go wide. “Wait…”

“No,” I answer quickly, and glance at the blonde again. I’m about to tell him nothing is going on, and that he should go off and have some fun, but as I try to formulate the words, to arrange them into a coherent sentence, I find myself blurting out, “I want to have a baby.” His head rears back and his eyes narrow.

“I know.”

“In-vitro hasn’t worked,” I rush out quickly, even though there’s a part of my brain trying to stop me from making a huge mistake. “And, I was…uh, wondering if maybe you could help a girl out.”

3

Conner

I reach around Dani and grip the counter to keep myself upright. “You want…me…” My fingers bite into the wood as my words stall in my throat.

“Technically.” She gives a nervous little laugh as she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear and leans in to whisper, “It’s your sperm I want.”

My heart pounds in my ears, making it difficult to hear, because, obviously, what I’m hearing doesn’t make sense. She’s not asking me to be a sperm donor, right? I nearly laugh at that ridiculous thought.

She blinks rapidly, as I try not to stare at her like she just grew a second head. “In-vitro isn’t working.” Her words are rushed as she continues with, “And the doctor suggested I try it the good old-fashioned way.”

I take two deep breaths, and as my racing brain slows, it begins to fill in the blanks and make sense out of what is happening here. “Oh, so you want me to fill a cup or tube or something, so you can…insert it?” Jesus, did I really just say that out loud? I should just shut the hell up because I have no idea how this all works.

“No, it would have to be, you know.” She awkwardly bumps her fists together. “Me and you. Old fashioned. Like grandpa and grandma used to do it.” She rolls her eyes, and a tortured sound climbs out of her throat. “I don’t know why I just said it like that.”

She said it like that because she’s not in her right mind. She can’t be. I inch back, letting go of the counter. “Dani…I don’t think?—”

“You’re right,” she blurts out and gives a flirty laugh, but it can’t hide the pain in her eyes. “I was only kidding. Too many margaritas. Alcohol turns me into a joker.” I’m about to tell her it doesn’t, that I’ve never seen that happen, when she lifts up her glass. “Which is why I’m on to water.”

By my count, she’s had two drinks tonight, unless she was pounding them back before I got here and I don’t think that was the case at all, I also don’t think she was joking.

She wants a baby.

Holy shit, Dani just asked me to be her baby daddy.

“Dani,” I begin and rub my chin.

“I was kidding.” She gives me a little shove. “Go celebrate your win. This is huge, Conner.”

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