Page 58 of End Game
“Too soon?”
“Much, much too soon.” I toss the napkins on the floorboard, my tears dried up with the anger that’s taking the lead. “Will you take me to the store for ice cream before we go home?”
She lifts my purse and grabs the keys and sticks one in the ignition. Moving the car into reverse, she stops and turns to me before letting off the brake.
“Regardless of what he chooses to do about this,” she says, “this is an amazing time of your life. I know you didn’t expect it now or even want it now, but you’re having a baby,” she whispers. A slow smile spreads across her thin cheeks. “We’re going to give you a few days to let this settle and then we’re celebrating you and my little niece or nephew. If Branch opts out of that, his loss.”
My head falls to the seatback as I watch her pilot my car through the parking garage. Her words soothe me, and by the time we get out onto the street, I’m drifting off to sleep.
Branch
“Sorry. Sorry.” My sight is blurry as I look at the face in front of me. “I didn’t get you wet, did I?”
My arm is extended in front of me, trying to balance the drink that just splashed into the air when I tripped. It continues to slosh, the cool, amber liquid running over my hand.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Finn comes out of nowhere, despite my best attempt to avoid him.
Truth be told, I should’ve fucking left. I should’ve gotten in my car and driven my ass home and gotten away from all this. Despite my inebriated state, this I know. This I regret. But I didn’t want to go home alone with too much quiet to think about what Layla said. And the look in her eye. And the words she said after I said my piece. And the way she stormed off.
Bringing the cup to my mouth, I start to suck the rest of it down before Finn snatches it up.
“Hey,” I protest, grabbing wildly at the glass. “I wasn’t done.”
“You were done three drinks ago, buddy.”
“Funny. I need three more.”
“Let’s go.”
His palm cupping my shoulder, he guides me towards the door. Women pull on my hand, lure me towards them as we pass, but Finn isn’t having it. He just thrusts me on.
“Maybe I want to stay,” I say.
“Maybe you need to go to bed before you start looking a lot less like the Branch Best you want the world to remember.”
The alcohol finally reaches critical mass and everything goes fuzzy. Warmth hits my toes, the top of my head feeling likeit’s missing in a great way, and before I know it, I’m in the passenger’s seat of Finn’s car. As we pull out of the garage, I see Poppy’s purse on the floorboard.
“Finn!” I shout.
“What?” He jumps, hitting the brake.
“You forgot Poppy.”
“Asshole,” he chuckles, accelerating again. “You scared the fuck out of me. I thought I was ready to hit a kid or something.”
“Is she in here?” I crane my neck to check the backseat.
“She took Layla home a few hours ago. Something is up with my sister.”
Slinking back into the seat, I close my eyes. “Is that right?”
“My guess is Callum, but I don’t know. She was ready to cry, all agitated and shit. If that fucker is bothering her, we’re taking a road trip and I’m going to dismantle that cocksucker.”
I sink further into the leather.
“Layla is too nice for her own good,” he continues. “I told her not to trust him, told her guys in this league aren’t really marriage material. You know what goes on during away games and hotel nights and at the parties. Shit, remember our first team party night?” he chuckles. “Those guys getting hotel rooms at our hotel for their side pieces and you and I were like, ‘What the fuck?’ having just met their actual wives the week before.”
“Yeah.”
