I licked my lips. “I’d written him off as a player.”
“He is a player,” Frankie replied
“But I was celebrating, and I wanted to be a little wild for once. I never let loose. I’m always following a plan, but that night, I wanted to explore something different. When I moved here, I cut ties with a lot of toxic people, and since then, I’ve been trying to figure out who I am.” My cheeks heated. “And having a hot guy all over me while this kind of desire that I’d only ever read about in books had taken over? I got swept up.”
“And you didn’t use protection?” Frankie tried to conceal the judgment in her tone, but it bled through anyway.
Ruby elbowed her.
“We did,” I said. “The first time.”
“There was more than one time?” Ruby’s smile grew.
I shrugged, my face flaming now, my whole body a little too warm, actually. There had definitely been more than one time. We laughed and fooled around and didn’t sleep. It was sexy and fun, and while the memories were hazy, my body remembered enough to torture me about it regularly.
“I’m going to need a number, please,” Ruby insisted, rubbing her hands together. “And I don’t mean a ballpark figure.”
I cringed, sinking a little deeper into the cushions. “Three? I think.”
“You fucked him three times in one night?” Frankie knocked her water bottle over, sending it rolling across the living room floor.
“Frankie,” Ruby admonished. “Please don’t break anything,”
“That’s not a one-night stand. That’s a fling,” my rough around the edges friend nearly shouted. “That’s a fucking sex marathon.”
It had been, and it was incredible.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it a few times in the months since.
“Look at her face. She’s still dickmatized.”
I nearly choked on my tongue. “I am not.” Careful not to jostle Vincent, I shifted in my seat.
The night was amazing, yes. It was wild, and I’d walked away with fun memories, but that was it. It wasn’t meant to be more than that. If anything, I was a little embarrassed by my actions afterward. I was normally controlled and strategic, but those senses were nowhere to be found.
“So you didn’t want a repeat? After three times, I can’t believe you didn’t go back for more. And he is right back there.” Ruby waved a hand, wildly gesturing to the backyard.
I shook my head violently. Nope that was not happening. “God no. We both went back to our lives.”
“But this is a small town.”
My chest ached the smallest bit, but I ignored the sensation. “Not that small. It wasn’t that hard to avoid each other. We weren’t friends. Didn’t run with the same groups. We barely knew one another, and while I do see him around from time to time, my life is busy. I just kind of blocked it all out. We’re cordial and pleasant, and that’s that.”
Ruby stared at me, open mouthed, rubbing her belly.
“Basil’s right,” she said after a lengthy pause. “You guys are gonna get married. This is fate.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “Let’s get you home, preggo. Your hormones are making you hallucinate.”
“No,” she argued.
The single sharp word startled Vincent, and he popped off my boob. Taking advantage of the moment, I brought him up to my shoulder and patted his back.
“Think about it,” Ruby went on. “Evie has PCOS. Was always told she couldn’t get pregnant.” She holds up one finger. “She had this insane, sexy connection with Jasper, a guy she’s seen around town, and they have a magical night together.” She holds up another finger. “Then they accidentally conceive the most perfect baby ever. And her one-night stand turns into a devoted dad who’s now sleeping on the ground to protect his child and his child’s mother.”
She fanned herself.
“They’re gonna get close, bond over the baby, and boom. Married. He’ll probably knock her up again because, apparently, he’s got a magic peen that can go all night long.” She threw her hands up. “These are facts.”
