Page 3 of The Rebound
“They want me to live like a monk.” I clench my fists under the table. I haven’t been this pissed in ... I don’t even know how long. Adding insult to injury is that I’m missing out on the company oftwowomen tonight.
Alex shakes his head. “That’s rough, man.” He’s been on the other side of that desk more times than me. He gets it.
“Maybe it’ll be good for you,” Tate says. They are words Ireallydon’t want to hear.
The rookie is a good guy,toogood for my liking. Ever since he returned from a trip to Colorado with a brand-new wife in tow, he doesn’t even come out much with us anymore.
I scoff at him, dipping my fingers in my beer and flicking them in his direction. “Some of us have a pulse, rookie.”
“Dude.”
Alex rolls his eyes, tossing Tate a napkin. “Chill, Saint. He’s right. You could use a break. No girls. No parties. Just hockey. It can only do good things for your career. That’s what you want, right?”
Spoken like a true reformed playboy. Alex’s career definitely hit its stride when he realigned his priorities, I’ll give him that. Itshouldbe what I want too.
But me? A life without the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want, would be disastrous for my sanity. Every man has his outlet, and mine is being with people,newpeople, in exciting scenarios. Extrovert—that’s what my mom would call me. That reminds me, I need to call her. I missed our chat last Sunday.
Sometimes my personality gets me in some pretty crazy spots. But that’s part of the fun, right?
“Anyone in there?”
Alex lightly smacks the back of my head, and it’s like my thoughts tumble right out of my skull and onto the table so I can see them clearly. It’s a bad situation, and the guys are just trying to help me make the most of it. I can’t fault them for that.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re right,” I mutter, begrudgingly agreeing. What else is there to do? I’ve gotta play nice with the captain now.
“So, are you really going on the straight and narrow?” Tate shoots me a mocking look. “Should we be making bets for how fast you fail?”
Alex peers at me over the lip of his glass of beer, then shakes his head at Tate. “Nah, no bets. Just support.”
Gratitude swells in my chest. This asshole. He’s a better man than me, that’s for certain.
I treat him to a grin. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” He smiles back.
The guys finish their beers and do the whole act like they’re not excited to go home to their adoring women, saying some “ball and chain” nonsense. I see rightthrough that horseshit. Alex adores his fiancée, Aspen, and Tate and Summer are like a couple of heart-eyed emojis whenever they see each other.
I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever get suckered into a relationship someday. Will it be a gradual discovery, like with Alex and Aspen? Or a whirlwind of emotions, like Tate and Summer? Both scenarios sound pretty damn unlikely for me. Especially since that’s the last thing I’m looking for right now.
I step outside to find my car, pulling my phone out of my pocket to check the time. My phone buzzes with about a thousand missed messages and phone calls.
Fuck. Looks like I forgot to text my hot date and her open-minded best friend, Cece, about the change of plans.
The messages are a mix of confusion, anger, and eventually just a slew of drunk, blurry photos to prove what a good time they’re having without me. I don’t even want to know how much they put on my tab. I guess I’ll find out when the bar bills my ass.
After sending an apology text and calling the bar to put a cap on my tab, I pocket my phone and take a deep, sobering breath.
All things considered, taking a break from the fast lane to enjoy a gentle cruise might not be the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’ve been on the merry-go-round of life long enough to make anyone else dizzy. Time to stop and enjoy the view.
Let’s hope I don’t lose my mind in the meantime.
2
KINLEY
My feet hurt. My back hurts. And I have to peeall the time. Oh, and my freaking gums have started to bleed whenever I brush my teeth. Do I have some sort of degenerative disease? Am I dying a slow, excruciating death?
Nope. I’m just really,reallypregnant.
