Page 77 of Sticking Out

I lift my eyes from my book as one of the guys yells near the end line, and laughter follows when he faceplants, having missed the ball, giving the other team the point. My gaze strays to Conner and when I find him laughing with his friends, I smile, loving their camaraderie. I always felt like I stuck out amongst the players and the WAGs, but that was silly. We’re all a big family and my children are going to have so many people love them. I can’t even imagine what I was thinking when I thought I could raise a baby alone. I mean, I probably could, but it’s so much better not having to.

Speaking of family, we brought Summer and Tyler into ours. He’s a sweet little boy, and I’m so happy he’s getting the male influence he needs from Conner, Conner’s dad, and Knox. We’ve put past hurts and mistakes behind us, focusing on what Tyler needs from us, and while Summer and I will never be best friends, we’ve come to a place of mutual respect and understanding.

Conner wipes sand from his chest, and my gaze rakes over his hard body. I begin to warm. It’s not from the sun. It’s crazy that I love him more and more every day, and my heart beats a little harder as I think about the little miracles growing inside me.

From the lounge chair beside me, Emilia checks something on her phone, and I lean over to see that she’s scrolling through social media. I catch an image of Gabe as it goes by, and then she drops her phone. “I need alcohol.”

She looks completely annoyed by something and I gather the courage to ask, “What’s going on with you and Gabe? You guys really don’t seem to like each other.”

She snorts. “That’s putting it mildly.” Her gaze narrows in on Gabe as he serves the ball. Her face turns a different shade of red and I can’t tell if it’s anger or something else. “The man drives me crazy.” I go quiet as she continues to glare and as if sensing her gaze on him, he angles his head and gives her a big smile that seems to enrage her.

“Wow, what was that?”

“Sometimes I think he enjoys getting under my skin.” A fine shiver goes through her and it makes me wonder if she’d like to ‘get under’ him. “He always has. Ever since we were kids. I almost didn’t take the assistant skating coach job with the Bucks. Being so close to him every day, working with him, ugh. He never wants to listen to me. It’s too much sometimes.”

“You guys go way back, huh?”

“Yeah, he played hockey with my brother.” She goes quiet for a second, like she’s thinking about the past. “We shared ice time sometimes during practices, and he would always fly by me and throw me off. He’s such a jerk.”

“Yeah, what a jerk.”

Her gaze flies to mine, and for the briefest second, I think she’s going to defend him. Something on the beach catches her attention and her face softens. “Drink?”

I pick up my water bottle. “I’m just having water for now. Maybe later,” I say, not wanting her to guess that I’m pregnant. Conner and I want to make the announcement together. She pushes to her feet and saunters off and I turn my attention back to my book. I read for a few minutes, and when my phone pings, I pick it up.

A smile spreads across my face when I see it’s one of the schools wanting to book Conner. I am so proud of my fiancé, turning his learning disorder into something positive to help other kids who feel lost, just like he used to. It wasn’t easy for him to put himself out there after hiding his dyslexia for years, after all the bullying he received in school. I love how much he gives back to the community and I know he’s going to be an amazing dad. I happily took on the job of booking agent. Now that I’m pregnant, I hired more staff at the Airbnb so I can take it easy. If Conner had it his way, I’d be on bed rest for nine months.

Brighton comes over and sits on my other side. “I just booked us all on the catamaran for tomorrow. It’s a full day adventure and we even get to go swimming and paddle boarding.” She throws herself back on her chair, and I’m smiling, loving how happy she is, and that she’s getting a break from her kids back home. Everyone needs adult time once in a while. Gina was unable to come on this trip, so she’s watching the kids.

Ash bowed out of coming with us, and I’m not sure what is happening between Gina and him. If there is anything going on, and I believe there is, they’re keeping it under wraps. One thing I do know is there’s enough tension between the two to light up Boston in a blackout…for a week.

“That sounds like so much fun.”

She eyes Emilia as she comes back with a fruity drink. “She probably won’t want to come,” she whispers. “I don’t think she wants to be in close quarters with Gabe the Babe.”

I laugh at the nickname the bunnies gave him. Although he is pretty darn good looking. Not as good looking as Conner, though, but I’m pretty sure I’m biased.

“Sorry, Brighton.” Emilia comes back and sits on the other side of me. “I would have gotten you a drink if I’d known you’d be joining us.”

“Hey Millie, did you get me a drink?” Gabe yells.

She growls. “I hate when he calls me that.”

I chuckle. “I actually think it’s kind of cute.” Maybe a cute name for our baby if one is a girl.

“He gave me that nickname when I was a freckle-faced girl in pigtails. I’ve asked him to stop, but he won’t because he knows it annoys me.” She glances at him. “Get your own drink, Gigi.”

Gigi? Okay, that’s a new one and it clearly comes from the past, and judging from Gabe’s scowl he hates it as much as she hates Millie.

“So, your birthday tomorrow,” Brighton says, changing the subject, like she doesn’t want to touch on that. “Are you going to come on the catamaran?”

“Not if he’s going to be there.”

“Oh, come on. I’ll run interference,” Brighton assures her.

“I think I’m just going to veg on the beach. Is that okay? Quiet time on my birthday?”

I put my hand on her arm and give it a squeeze. “If that’s what you want for your birthday, that’s what you get for your birthday. Just promise me you’ll eat cake.”

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