Page 48 of The Rebound
“That was a long time ago,” I grumble.
Alex chuckles. “That was literally last summer, dude.”
I roll my eyes. “Then please, by all means, impart some of your wisdom, my wise friend.”
Alex exhales slowly, considering his words. “You know I say this with all love and respect, but what are you even doing? Not only is she Reeves’s sister, but she’s about to have a damn kid.”
These are two facts I’m well aware of. “I know, man. I know, okay.”
“Well, knowing it and living it are two very different things. Are you ready for that? A kid is a huge responsibility. And babies? A newborn?” He shakes his head and his eyes widen. “It’s like no sleep and constant supervision. My nephew had colic when he was born, and it was awful for my sister. For months and months.”
I can’t imagine losing sleep for months, and then having to train and perform at the level I do during the day. That would suck ... Alex is right about that. A sinking feeling twists in my gut.
“Hey, forget it, all right? Let’s just enjoy our beers.”
He nods and tips his chin at me. “You got it, buddy.”
15
SAINT
Alex’s bachelor party is at a bar in downtown Boston famous for its brisket sandwiches.
Being the little food nerd he is, and being too Type A to appoint a best man to handle the planning, Alex set it all up himself. We’re a few appetizers deep now, clearing room for our entrees by stacking emptied pint glasses tall enough to make the waitress nervous.
When I return to the table after helping her carry the evidence of our team’s insane tolerance back to the bar, Alex fixes me with a skeptical look.
“You flirt with her?”
“No,” I say with a shrug. I guess she’s cute, but the thought didn’t even cross my mind. Honestly.
“Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” Alex growls, and the other guys join in on the ribbing just because they can.
“Our playboy is reformed. Now he’s only got eyes for Reeves’s sister,” Logan says with a smirk, and I sock him in the shoulder.
“Shut the fuck up, Tate.”
Reeves stands up from the table, muttering something about needing to use the bathroom. The man won’t even look at me.
Five minutes ago, I tried to ask him what he was drinking, and he guzzled the whole thing down rather than respond to me. Message received, loud and clear. I thought we’d had a breakthrough at the baby shower, but apparently I’m still a jackass in his eyes.
It doesn’t help now that the guys are giving me shit about having a crush on Kinley. The worst part is that they’re totally right.
I sneak a glance at my phone, hoping to see a text from her. No luck. Aspen and the other women are a few blocks away at a wine bar, much classier than this joint. Kinley is there with them, probably serving as the chaperone since she obviously can’t drink. I hope she’s having fun at least. I sure as hell am not.
“Come on, man,” Alex drawls, obviously on the slippery side of tipsy. “Give us the deets.”
“I’ll admit I’m curious too,” Lucien mumbles through a mouthful of fried pickles.
“There aren’t any ‘deets’ to share.”
Tate rolls his eyes at me. “C’mon, man. Reeves is taking a shit. You can tell us.”
Gross.
“What is this,” I deadpan, “a scene fromGrease?”
The musical reference goes catapulting over their heads.Uncultured swine.
