Page 91 of Bleeding Hearts

Several faces I recognize and a few I don’t fill the large rink. My guys and their significant others are here. Some of Bethany’s colleagues have come as well. I don’t know all of them yet, but it won’t be long before I do. And, of course, Jodi, Cora, and Alicia are here.

Cora walks up to me with Stormy strapped to her chest, smiling. God, she is such a good mother. “I know that look.”

“I don’t have a look.” I lean down and place a kiss on Stormy’s curly head. “Tell your momma she’s crazy. Where’s Mr. Moneybags?”

My sister gives her head a shake and points behind her. “He and Dillon are playing DJ tonight. They are gonna take turns being on baby duty while we skate around and act like teenagers again. Plus, Geoff told me he doesn’t know how to skate and said he’s too old to learn now.”

An idea pops into my head as Bethany takes the bags from me. “I don’t know how to skate either. I’ll hang out with them.”

Geoff’s grown on me. I’m still a little skeptical of him, but so far, he’s proven to be a great dad and companion. When he man’s up and asks my sister to marry him, then maybe I’ll admit I like him.But probably not. To change his reputation from just being the one who got my sister pregnant, he needs to walk down the aisle with her, unlike the previous prick who broke her heart.

“Liar.” Cora rats me out. “You’re the one who taught me how to skate.”

I grunt and cross my arms.

“Nice try, birthday boy.” Bethany all but skips away laughing. “Your skates are over there. Put them on or later tonight, I’m not giving you your special present. You know, the one you’ve been begging for, but I told you I only did that on special occasions.”

Fuck.

My dick goes hard instantly. There’s no way I’m not skating now. And she better be talking about what I think she’s talking about or later there will be hell to pay. You don’t tease a man with that.

“Dammit, wife.”

Placing her hands over her ears to block us out, Cora turns and walks away. “I did not hear that.”

I hate to admit this, but after about fifteen minutes—how long it took me to remember how to skate—the night turns into one of the best of my life. It was nice doing something with the guys from the firehouse outside of work. We don’t do that enough, and when we do, it’s usually with our kids. Don’t get me wrong, family time with them is great. But hanging out with my men like this allows them to let loose. And since this is an adults-only party, there is beer. Jodi was smart and is limiting it to three beers—one an hour—since we all have to drive home later. Don’t need anyone getting a DUI or causing an accident.

After an hour, I need to take a break. My feet hurt, and I won’t be surprised if I develop a blister. I grab a beer while I take a breather. My sister zooms past me with Rylee—who also now lives across from us, our tenant. Those two are showing off, skating circles around most of us. I can’t help but notice how a few of the single guys are watching Rylee, and she’s eating it up. Flirting with as many of them as she can.

Bethany flies up next to where I’m sitting and falls onto the spot next to me. She’s winded but has the most stunning smile on her face. “I forgot how much work skating is. You having fun?”

Slipping my arm behind her, I pull her closer. “I am. We should do this more often.”

“Go skating?” She tilts her head up so she can look at me. “Is that a smile on your face?”

“Shut up.” I purposely frown but can’t hold it. “Sure, but that’s not what I meant.” With a smile, I wave at everyone who seems to be having a good time. “This. A night out with our friends. And not just because it’s someone’s birthday.”

“I like that idea. Jodi and I will have to see what we can come up with, since we can’t throw those swinger parties anymore.” She laughs at her own joke then lets out a solid huff. “Speakingof Jodi, have you seen her? The last time I saw her was when she took a spill and Wade helped her up.”

I shake my head and then do a quick look around the rink. Come to think of it I haven’t seen either of them since then.

We spot them at the same time.

Jodi’s face is scrunched up in a ferocious grimace, her eyes blazing with a fury that would make most men cower. Words tumble from her lips in a torrent, her finger a rigid pointer directed at him, yet his face is a blank canvas as he stares at her unbothered.

“What do you think he did?” I almost feel sorry for him, but I know Wade. He often rubs women the wrong way with his bold behavior and snide remarks, creating tension.

Bethany tsks. “Not sure. But whatever it is, Jodi’s not having it.”

Just then, Wade roughly grabs her face and slams his lips to hers, the action jarring and unexpected. She puts up a fight, but soon her resistance fades and she yields. After she’s been kissed into submission, he stops.

“What the fuck?” Bethany whispers, sounding just as shocked as me.

A few seconds stretch into an eternity as they stare, the air thick with unspoken words. He says something and waits a few beats before he stands and walks out.

“My thoughts exactly,” I finally say, now that my jaw is no longer on the ground. “You don’t think?”

Jodi stares at the dark door for a beat before grabbing her phone and then starts typing. Rising, she gathers her belongings and leaves without looking back to see if anyone is watching.

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