Page 33 of The Rebound
“I could get used to this,” I murmur, sinking back into my chair.
“Mmm ...”
A comfortable silence stretches between us that gradually feels less and less natural as we listen to the soft chatter of the other customers around us. This would be a perfect opportunity to fall back into our natural rhythm of conversation, but now that flirting is off the table, I’m coming up as blank as newly resurfaced ice.
Fuck, what do friends talk about?
“What’s the rest of your week look like?” Kinley asks, expertly breaking the ice.
“Oh, you know. More of this. I’m gonna get a pedicure every day for the rest of my life.”
She laughs from somewhere deep in her belly. “I’ve created a monster.”
“You sure have. And I don’t really have any plans. This morning, I got an invitation to my teammate Alex’s bachelor party, but that isn’t for another three weeks.”
“Alex Braun?”
“The one and only.” I quirk an eyebrow at her. “You’ve been researching the team?”
A faint blush rises on her cheeks. “I’ve been perusing some headlines. Alex is on a lot of them.”
“I’m on more.” The words come out on a sigh, distinctlynota brag.
“Not recently,” she murmurs, her gaze flitting across my face.
Has she been researching me? I need a subject change before I start reading into shit that isn’t there.
“How about you?” I ask. “Any grand plans?”
“Like I said, I don’t really have any friends here. Besides you. And Walker.”
I frown deeply at his name. “Yeah, you need more friends.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t I introduce you to Aspen and Summer?”
“Who?”
“My teammates’ ladies. Alex’s fiancée and Tate’s wife, respectively.”
“You would do that?”
“Of course. You three would get along like a house on fire.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“Only for me. They love talking shit.”
Kinley gives me a smug smile. “Oh, then I’ll definitely get along with them.”
“Like I said.”
There’s a brief pause before Kinley releases a soft, happy sigh that makes goose bumps run up my arms. “Thank you, Saint.”
“You’re welcome.”
Suddenly, she gasps, a hand flying up to touch her belly. “Whoa, big kick. Wanna feel?”
