Page 65 of Any Second Now
I think this adventure I’m going on is the right thing. I think letting myself discover all my hidden layers—the ones I’ve missed over the past thirty-four years while I’ve been following my spreadsheet—is right.
“Don’t be a dick, man.” Atticus shakes his head at Barrett.
Being around these pro hockey players is wild. Apparently, all they’ve been doing is sleeping with the women who throw themselves at them.
I’ve only had sex with two men in my entire life, and I married both of them.
My cheeks heat just thinking about how sheltered I am in that category.
“Are you telling me you don’t enjoy when girls line up for you? I’ve heard the rumors about you two.” Barrett looks pointedly at Lachlan and then Atticus.
“Yeah, we used to be like that.” Atticus’s face tightens. “But once I saw thirty bearing down on me, things changed.”
“And when Melissa found me a few months ago…” Lachlan says in a dreamy voice.
“Lordy.” Atticus groans and looks down into his half-full pint. “Please, spare us.”
Barrett chuckles and Atticus joins in a beat later. Aw, are they bonding?
“Hey.” Lachlan narrows his eyes at them.
“Seriously though,” Atticus says to Barrett when their laughter fades. “At some point you gotta realize there’s more to it then hooking up with a ton of women.”
My breath catches in my throat. Did Atticus Knox really just say that?
“Do I really gotta?” Barrett snorts.
I glance around the table. Lachlan’s wide-eyed staring at Atticus, who has a contemplative expression on his face. Barrett’s shaking his head and looking disgusted.
Then Lachlan side eyes me and smirks.
“What?” I blink as my cheeks heat. Lachlan holds up his hands likewhat?back at me.
Atticus jolts out of whatever thoughts had him trapped, then drains his pint.
“I think it’s time for another round.” Barrett looks around the table.
“No thanks.” I shake my head and look at my almost empty wine glass. Last time I drank more than two glasses of wine, I ended up on Atticus’s lap in the Pink Palace.
Barrett and Lachlan stand.
“I’m good,” Atticus says. “I’m gonna need to drive Raleigh home later.”
I press my lips together. He is, huh?
“Suit yourself, mate.” The boys disappear into the crowd.
And even though we’re surrounded by people, I suddenly feel like Atticus and I are all alone.
“I’m not ready to go home yet.” I turn to Atticus, suddenly aware of how close his chair is.
“I didn’t say you were.” He doesn’t look at me, but his thigh shifts so it’s gently leaning against mine.
“And you don’t have to drive me home.” I’m insisting on something and I don’t even know what it is.
Atticus looks at me and his lips fall slightly open. A tingle runs up my spine when I let my eyes rest on his mouth. The mouth that was on mine only a week ago. The mouth that kissed me like he both wanted to and needed to. The one that I fantasize about?—
“So you’re going to drive yourself?”
