Page 14 of Branded
Fuck.
“I’m a little out of shape”—lie, I’d been working my ass off—“so I want to get to bed early.” That didn’t erase the concern. “Plus, your wife gave me homework last night.”
That set a dumb look on Oliver’s face.
Which I took full advantage of.
“I don’t want to disappoint Hazel”—that part was true—“and I’m supposed to meet her tomorrow, so I want to get it done.”
Thankfully, that worked.
The dumb expression spread into dazed and determined and lovestruck.
A pang in my gut.
Yearning to look like that kind of idiot.
“So, I’m gonna go, yeah?”
Oliver nodded, still a little distracted by thoughts of his woman, so I took advantage of that distraction, clapped my buddy on the shoulder, said my goodbyes, then got the fuck out of there before someone else could stop me.
Out of the practice facility.
Into my car.
Down the highway.
To my house.
And then I did what I always did when I felt like this.
I dropped my shit on the counter, grabbed a flashlight and a granola bar, and I walked straight out my back door.
Six
Kailey
I smiled at Oliver, pressed my finger to my lips, and tilted my head toward the door.
Hazel, Dominic cradled on her chest, both of them sound asleep.
Oliver’s wife had dozed off sometime during me and Oliver droning on about memory and graphics cards, Dominic dozing off right alongside her, his little fist pressed to his mouth.
I knew from personal experience earlier in the evening that the fist in Dominic’s mouth paired with him falling asleep would mean that a puddle of drool would be left behind when he woke up.
Lucky for little Mr. Dominic, he was really freaking cute, so I hadn’t minded the stain left behind.
But now, two out of the three members of the house were sleeping, and I’d already eaten and admired Oliver’s computer. It was time for me to go.
Leave the happy family to it.
Oliver caught my arm. “You don’t have to.”
I patted his hand. “Get your wife and son to bed,” I murmured. “I’m going to go home and play Legends of the Dragons until I can’t keep my eyes open.”
A sigh. “Lucky.” He made a face. “I hardly have time to play anymore.”
“No,” I said lightly. “You’re the lucky one.”
