Would this be how I died?
Talking about Jasper’s mom’s nipples?
I fucking hoped not.
My eyes started watering as I managed a breath, Wolfie handing me a glass of water with a smirk.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded, sucking in more air.
“Jeez, Patti,” I croaked. “You need to warn a guy before you start talking about nipples like that.”
Jasper stood up with Flossie. “Okay, I think that’s my cue to leave. I am not discussing nipples with my mom. We’re going to watch the game.”
I gently tipped Emerson off my lap, kissing her, as Cooper did the same with Freddie. “Wait for me.”
Freddie started chuckling. “Stupid boys.”
“Christ, Jas,” I muttered to him, “I hope that’s not scarred me from nipples for life.”
He shook his head. “Don’t.”
We all walked into the den, Cooper parking himself on a giant beanbag while everyone else made way for Jasper to sit down with Flossie, the chatter dropping to a whisper as soon as they saw her sleeping. Felix was chowing down on what was probably his hundredth slice of pizza. I took another beer from the ice bucket on the table and sat back in the corner of the couch, the cold liquid soothing my still rasping throat.
The pre-game had moved onto interviews with players from both teams, although Jupiter had yet to make an appearance.
“Hey, who’s that girl over there with Wolfie and Franks?” Murray asked as he walked in, thumbing back over to where the girls were all still sitting at the table, no doubt still talking about nipples. “She looks familiar.”
Brogan tipped off the edge of the couch and around the doorframe to check. “That’s Emerson, Drew’s girlfriend.”
“No shit, really?”
“Yeah.”
He spun round, his hand reaching to my shoulder, squeezing it. “Hey, buddy, that’s brilliant! You’ve finally moved on from that Lucky chick. Thought you were going to be a miserable bastard forever. Good for you. She looks great.”
Huck was trying to peer around him as he blocked the screen. “Muz, thatisLucky, and can you move out of the way?”
He stepped to one side, looking at us all, his mouth slightly open.
“Fuck off, seriously? You found her?”
“Yeah,” I grinned. “Wolf and Fred did at least.”
“How?”
“She was their spinning instructor a few months ago.”
“No way! Mate, that’s fucking awesome. I’m so happy for you!” He laughed loud, “Phew, no wonder she looked familiar. I was worried I’d slept with her for a second and my past was coming back to haunt me.”
Huck burst out laughing, giving him a high five. “Fuck, that would have been funny.”
My teeth crunched together. I’d learned I had zero sense of humor when it came to Emerson and a number of topics, starting with her and other guys.
“No, it fucking wouldn’t,” I growled. “You’re both dicks.”
He moved to sit next to me, nudging me. “Seriously, how it’s going?”
