Page 69 of Verdict

I quickly schooled my face, and instead of untangling myself from Kate, I settled my hands low on her hips. I glanced down at the eager blonde, "Glad you could come to the game tonight." My signature grin was firmly set back into place.

Hudson led Ava in our direction. I could see the hesitance on her face. Her gaze dropped to where my hands rested, her soft smile fell. Her mouth set into a thin line.

Hudson held out his fist for me to bump. "Great game tonight, Jordan." He moved on to congratulate the other guys on our win, but I held Ava's gaze.

“What are you doing here?” I said, already too sharp. “Where’s Ellie?” The question landed harder than I meant it to.

Ava reared back as if I had slapped her. Brows pulled together, her face hardened. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

I dropped my hands from Kate so I could fully face Ava. Kate shot Ava a sweet smile before leaving us to join Zara and Beckham over in the corner.

"It means, where is our daughter tonight?" I planted my hands on my hips impatiently. I knew I was being a dick. But I couldn't seem to stop myself.

Ava shook her head in disbelief. "Nice to see you too, asshole. Great game by the way." She spun around to take off toward where Aria was chatting with Drake and Hudson, but suddenly stopped short and whipped back around. "Walker and Farrah offered to keep her for the night at his place since they were in town for the game. Is that okay with you? Any other questions?”

I deserved that.

When I didn't answer, she stomped off.

So like the pathetic bastard I was, I stood rooted in place watching her move closer to Hudson. She trailed her hand up his arm, he looked down at her with a grin before wrapping his arm around her.

And I wanted to punch that smile off his fucking face.

I felt a hand softly touch my arm. I turned to see Kate. "Hey, everything okay?" Her blue eyes searched mine.

They're not as pretty as Ava's.

I glanced back at Ava one more time before nodding. "Yup. Fantastic." I wrapped my arm around her and led her back toward the group.

Drinks were flowing, everyone was having a good time, and I was trying to focus on whatever Beckham was saying, but our new pitcher couldn't seem to keep his goddamn hands to himself. I had an arm draped over the couch behind Kate, who was tucked into my side. Her hand was beginning to get a mind of its own as it settled on my inner thigh. Her hand slid higher, slow and deliberate.

I felt nothing.

But that didn't mean I was going to stop her. I leaned back further into the couch, letting her settle more comfortably against me. I played with the ends of her hair, letting the strands slide between my fingers.

My eyes tracked across the room and found Ava instantly.

She was mid-conversation with Aria, but her attention kept slipping. Her gaze flicking back toward me—quick, sharp glances she probably thought I didn’t notice.

I noticed. I noticed everything when it came to her.

My fingers drifted from Kate's hair to the nape of her neck, pushing her hair over her shoulder before trailing lightly along her collarbone.

Petty?

Yeah.

Did I care?

Not even a little.

If Ava was going to stand there and let some other guy put his hands on her, then she could watch this.

I kept catching her sneaking looks in my direction. And every time she did, I laid it on a little thicker. I leaned close to Kate’s ear. I tucked a piece of her hair behind it. I let my hands linger. Every move intentional. Every touch calculated.

And after a few more rounds of drinks, Kate was feeling bold. She came back from the bathroom and decided to lower herself down onto my lap, straddling me. My hands instinctively found her hips, and when I looked behind her, Ava's eyes were locked on me.

I held her gaze. Doesn’t feel so good, does it?