AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking sheepish.
“You’re pregnant?” one of the puck bunnies asked. “What are you doing in a bar? You shouldn’t drink if you’re pregnant.”
“I’m eating nachos and drinking water,” I said, giving her a look.
“It’s a pub,” Bennett said to the blonde who’d questioned me. “The place has a full menu and there’s no smoking.”
“Smoking?” The brunette who’d been cozied up to Bennett before slid onto his lap, laughing. “Remember when we watched that porn, Smoking Cracks? Oh my God, that was awesome.”
Bennett’s eyes closed for a second. At least he had the decency to look embarrassed. He slid the woman off of his lap and cleared his throat, meeting my eyes in a silent apology.
Two other well-dressed Flyers came up to the table and joined us. Soon everyone was engaged in their own small conversations at the table.
“How are you feeling, Charlie?” Liam asked from his seat next to me.
“Really good. The sickness has passed and the baby’s healthy.”
His gaze darkened. “What about the father? Is he around?”
“Yes. He’s been great about everything.”
“You guys seeing each other, then?”
I shook my head. “He’s been supportive, but we’re not together.”
Liam grunted in acknowledgment. “When do I get to meet this guy?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s a fan-fucking-tastic idea. Guy knocks up my sister, the least he can do is man up and meet me.”
I felt Bennett looking at us and resisted the powerful urge to look across the table at him. The brunette was still standing next to him, which nagged at me hard. Just knowing he’d been with her made me inexplicably edgy.
“So when will this someone you’re seeing be here?” I asked Liam. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Oh, yeah, not tonight. She’s working.”
“At this hour?”
“Yep.”
I gave him an admonishing look. “Are you seeing another stripper?”
“No.” He lowered his voice. “She works for my team, actually.”
“Oh. What’s her name?”
Liam glanced around at his teammates. “I’ll tell you about it another time.”
Beer and shots were ordered by everyone but me, and suit jackets started to come off and get hung on the back of chairs. Bennett had gone to the bathroom, and he brushed against my arm when he returned to the table. I forced myself to look impassive as I caught the tiniest bit of his leather and cologne scent. He settled back into his chair, just looking at me as everyone around us talked.
What was he thinking? How uncomfortable was he right now?
I wished I’d dressed up more. My Flyers T-shirt and yoga pants had felt sporty chic at home. Plus, my jeans didn’t fit anymore. But sharing a table with these women dressed in tall, leather boots and sequined tops made me feel frumpy in comparison.
And we still hadn’t ordered food. I was about to go to the bar and get a menu when a waitress brought a steaming pizza to our table and sat it in front of me.
I glanced up at Bennett, knowing somehow, and he winked at me. He’d ordered me a pizza when he went to the bathroom. Right now that made him my hero, whether he’d slept with the brunette in the past or not.
