Page 43 of Playboy

“Not as good as that guy over there is with his tongue.” I nod toward Daniel, who now has his back to us as he and Cam talk.

Ava digs her nails into my arm and forces me to look at her. “What are you doing?”

“Just telling my new friend here how great our hockey boys are.” I grin at the girl. “Rumor has it he’s even pierced.”

The woman bites down on her bottom lip, eyes flashing as she darts a look at Daniel.

Before I can continue, Ava drags me away from the bar. She doesn’t stop until we’re tucked into a corner alone. “What the heck is wrong with you?”

Shoulders pulled back, I lift my chin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Without speaking, she zeroes in on me, using some kind of weird mom power to get me to talk. I may need lessons.

“She was pretty and clearly interested.” I wave a dismissive hand. “Just doing the guys a favor by putting in a good word.”

“Good with his tongue?” She crosses her arms. “You only know that because you hooked up with him.” Her eyes widen, and she sucks in a breath. “It’s almost like you’re jealous.”

I cough out a laugh. “I’m never jealous.”

Ava lifts one brow, her lips quirking along with it. “Exactly. But that’s obviously changed recently.”

I open my mouth to deny it, but the words get stuck in my throat. So I let out a long huff of a breath instead. “I don’t want to talk about it yet.”

Her expression softens. “We don’t have to talk about anything. Just—” She grasps my hand and squeezes. “Don’t push the guy you’re interested in off on someone else because you’re scared.”

My stomach sinks. That’s so not what this is about. But I don’t argue. It’s easier to let her believe that than to explain that it’s easier to push Daniel away now and plan a future where we’re just co-parents than to get attached and lose him later. We aren’t destined for a happily ever after. Perfect endings are reserved for fictional characters in fairy tales, though my friends are clearly living theirs, that’s not in the cards for me. We’re going to raise our child together, and in order to do that, we need to be friends. Nothing more.

And friends look out for one another.

Friends play wingman.

I can be an excellent wingman.

But Ava’s right. I’m not feeling it tonight.

Chest aching, I drop my arms to my sides. “Can I go now?”

Ava nods. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Ty wants to hang out a while longer, but if you need a ride, we could run you home and then come back.”

I laugh. “I’m a big girl, Ave. I can get myself home.”

She pulls me in for a hug. “I know you can take care of yourself. It’s just that you don’t always have to. It’s okay to let your friends help out sometimes. Wewantto.”

Arm in arm, we walk back to the table. Though I prefer taking care of myself, I can’t deny it feels good to know there are people in this world who genuinely care about me.

As we approach our friends, she grabs War’s attention—as if she didn’t have it the entire time we were gone—and motions to me. “Can we take Hannah home? We can come back if you’re not ready to call it a night.”

With tattoos up and down his arms, the Bolts captain can be intimidating, but the moment he looks at his wife, he’s all mush. “Course, Vicious. I wouldn’t mind a few hours alone with my wife anyway.”

I open my mouth and stick a finger into it, making a gagging sound. “You guys are adorable, but seriously, go have sex or do whatever married people do. I can grab an Uber.”

“I got her.” My heart thumps in the most ridiculous way at the sound of the voice behind me.

I spin, and a heartbeat later, he grasps my hip, practically pissing on me in a ridiculous grown-up version of callingdibs.

“Aw, Baby Hall, I don’t want to take you from your playtime,” I say, my tone disgustingly sweet.

Despite my best efforts, I instantly lose myself in the deep brown eyes of my baby daddy. My heart rate picks up, and suddenly, it’s hard to breathe. And the place where he’s still touching me? It’s aflame.

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