Page 78 of Code Violation

Tristan picks up the soda he ordered and motions to the girls. “Shall we wrap up this conversation so you can chase after Vesper like a puppy?”

Taking out my wallet, I toss a fifty-dollar bill onto the bar as a tip for cleaning up the beer I didn’t drink.

“When did you get so fucking bitter? This isn’t the guy who walked onto the team several seasons ago. You’ve gone from a social butterfly, wearing a constant smile, to a fucking honey badger, who’s grumpy as hell and liable to snap at any second.”

He frowns, backing up my observations.

“And you know what?” I tag on, waving a hand at Will and Mason.

Will makes his way over to me; he’s likely noticed the girls leaving too.

“I’d rather be a lovesick puppy than a bitter badger, wasting my career away on some pointless feud that doesn’t even need to exist.”

26

. . .

Vesper

This is the third glass of champagne I’ve tossed when no one is watching.

The first was in the cocktail bar, and a rubber plant is now having the wildest night of its life. The second went down the sink in the restroom, and now this one will likely meet the same fate whenever June turns her back.

“Ugh!” June slides onto one of the barstools in Drew and Will’s kitchen. “I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun. Who knew that Seattle had such great nightlife? I should probably move here at some point.”

Because I look really fucking weird, holding a champagne flute and doing nothing with it, I set it down on the kitchen counter and hoist myself up.

June’s eyes ascend the length of my body, pausing when they reach my face. “When’s your due date?”

I’d topple over if I wasn’t propped on the counter.

“Excuse me?” I choke out.

She just winks. “Listen, my mom has one of the sharpest legal brains in North America, and my dad … well, my dad talks nonstop about my mom when she was pregnant with me and Will. And you …” She examines me again, and my cheeks flame hotter than the sun. “You have that glow. Not to mention, you have been secretly tossing drinks all night. I only handed you the one sitting next to you right now to be sure that it wasn’t my imagination.”

I stare at the glass next to me, bubbles popping as they rise to the surface. I freaking love champagne.

“I’m just under five weeks.”

June’s hands cover her face. “I’m right?! Shit, I was only fifty-fifty and figured I’d call your bluff.”

I hand her my champagne glass. She might as well drink it if I can’t. “If sports journalism doesn’t work out, then maybe you could consider a career following in your mom’s footsteps.”

June doesn’t look impressed. “Mom works every hour of the day. I want a career with a work-life balance. Which is why I think I’ll move to Seattle soon. I like the more relaxed atmosphere, compared to New York.”

“Would you move in with Will and Drew before you found your own place?”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Hell no! I had to endure way too many years of living with my brother. I’ll find my own place, thank you very much.”

I giggle and slide off the counter, grabbing a glass from the side and filling it with water.

June watches me the whole way, and I brace for further questioning.

“Anyway, enough about me, I want to take things back a couple of paces …” She falls quiet and then speaks again. “Is Silas the dad?” Straight in, just like I expected with this girl.

There was a time before Kane when I was like June—no punches held, zero shits given about what people thought of me. It’s the best way to live your life.

“If I told you the father was my ex, what would you say?”