Page 30 of The Single Dads Club
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Not a party. I’ll grill burgers. We’ll have a couple of drinks. It’ll be casual.”
“Sounds great. What time are they coming?”
“Seven.”
I nod. It gives me plenty of time to get myself cleaned up to meet one of Alexei’s teammates and his girlfriend.
A little while later, he heads out for practice, leaving me to wonder what his friends will be like. Wonder if they’ll share amusing stories about the man I don’t really know but am temporarily living with. Or worst of all, if they’ll be hostile toward me and wonder if I’m trying to trap him into a relationship.
Either way, it should be interesting.
***
Alexei’s friends are great. They’re friendly and thoughtful, and aside from a brief widening of Weston’s eyes and a quick inhalation from Jane when they met Ella and me, they made us feel welcome.
That doesn’t mean I feel comfortable.
Part of me is still adjusting to being here with Alexei ... to his million-dollar lifestyle, beautiful apartment, and how very different it is from my life.
Having his friends here—who are obviously wealthy and in love—only makes me feel even more in the spotlight. I’m single and with a baby in tow, living paycheck to paycheck.
Jane laughs at something Weston says, snapping my attention back to the present. I take a quick sip of my wine and set the glass on the counter where we’re lingering. I laid Ella down for a nap a little while ago, and now I’m not sure what to do with myself. Part of me likes having her as a social buffer. Is that weird?
Alexei pulls open the sliding glass door and strolls back inside, carrying a plate to the sink. “The burgers are on.”
His eyes meet mine, and I wonder if he can tell how out of place I feel. Probably not. I’ve smiled at the right times and laughed at their jokes. I even made it a point to ask about Jane’s work with the team, and about Weston’s thoughts on their chances for the playoffs. I barely heard their answers, but hey, I asked.
“Ryleigh?” Alexei asks, still watching me. “Can you help me with something?”
“Sure.”
I follow him into the pantry, which is the size of a walk-in closet, complete with a wall of shelves built in for wine bottles. I have no idea what he needs help with, but if he wants me to take over cooking the entire meal, I won’t mind.
“What’s up?” I ask.
When he turns to face me, we’re standing just inches apart. It’s impossible not to notice the way he towers over me. With all his bulky muscle, he easily weighs over a hundred pounds more than me. Anytime we’re alone like this, it’s as though the air between us is charged.
He meets my eyes and places his hands on my shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “I just wanted to check on you. I know this is probably a lot. First, I dragged you here, and now I’m entertaining friends and you’re along for the ride. Are you okay?”
Is he serious? He’s worried about how I’m feeling?It’s so unexpected that a lump of emotion momentarily lodges in my throat.
“I just don’t want to be in the way,” I manage to say.
His hands on my shoulders give me a firm squeeze. “You’re not. Jane and Weston are cool, so please don’t worry.”
I nod. “And you did sort of drag me here, didn’t you?”
Alexei chuckles, and when he meets my eyes again, I don’t miss the way they smolder with unmistakable heat. “I didn’t hear you complaining last night.”
My mouth curls into a smirk. “We’d better get back out there before your friends wonder what’s happening in here.”
He shrugs. “Let them wonder.”
I love how he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, that he’s never been concerned with his image or what the media would say about someone like him hanging out with someone like me.
“Promise you’re okay?”
I nod. “Promise.”
