It’s on the tip of my tongue to say the words out loud, but they never come. Because apparently, I don’t live in the moment. And I am a chicken shit.
“Hey, we’re four on four,” Haden says to Asher, breaking the moment between us as he pops his head in the patio door and taps the frame.
“Coming to watch, Liv?” Haden asks.
I nod with a nervous smile.
I’m pregnant!is still on the tip of my tongue as Asher tosses me a final glance before following Haden out.
Beelining to the bathroom, I splash a little cold water on my face. I stare at myself, knowing I have to tell him, I just have no idea how I’m ever going to muster the nerve.
I use a bouncing Billi on my lap to distract myself from all theincredibly gorgeous men in the middle of the Ashby yard ready to play an impromptu game of touch football.
Mabel has been picked up by her school friend to go swimming before coming back here to watch the fireworks Cole has planned. Ginger says he’s been talking about this for weeks. I sit with Cassie at the big table while CeCe, Dean, Granny Dan, and Jo fill out the outdoor sectional on the patio. The two teams line up for their game of shirts and skins or, as they’re calling it, Stars and Stripes. The large silver pines that frame the open space are the game’s backdrop as the orange sun sinks low behind Sugarland Mountain.
Asher, Haden, and Walker are on one team. Wade, Cole, Nash, and Hunter are on the other.
“Can’t wait to destroy you all,” Hunter chuckles as he turns his worn-in hat backward and starts to stretch. He’s a big guy just like his brother, fit from the rodeo circuit and training, I assume. His dark blond hair just touches his forehead, and I can see why he’s earned his playboy reputation. Every girl who loves the rodeo loves to watch Hunter Black, and rumor is he uses it to his advantage.
“There’s only three of us, but I promise you’ll be begging for mercy, boy.” Haden winks from the other side of the yard.
I turn and look at Cassie. “Men,” we both say at the same time.
“Seriously though”—she laughs—“they have no idea what they’re in for. I’ve seen Haden’s old game tapes. He’s gonna decimate the Ashby brothers.”
Cole pulls a quarter out of his pocket.
“See, baby! That cash came in handy after all!” Ginger hollers, cupping her mouth so her husband can hear her. Cole flips her the bird, then shakes his head as he tosses it in the air.
I hear Asher call heads when the coin hits the air.
“It’s heads,” Cole announces.
Asher looks at Haden and grins that smile I wish he woremore often. Haden nods for the three teammates to regroup for a chat.
“The art of intimidation, fellas,” Haden says as they pull off their hats, then their T-shirts, before tossing them to the side of the yard.
Cassie whistles as my mouth turns to sand at Asher, Haden, and Walker putting on a little show, flexing at the other team in just their shorts.
“Christ almighty.” Dean chuckles, flexing his frail biceps. “You three almost look as good as I do under a T-shirt.”
Asher replaces his hat on his head backward. His eyes find mine across the yard, and my heart drops to the pit of my stomach as the chatter around me fades to an echo. My gaze is focused solely on him, as if I am in some sort of trance. God, he’s even better under his clothes than I could have ever imagined. And I’ve imagined it. My eyes move to his wide, muscled shoulders and smooth chest covered in ink. Hawk wings and italic script illustrate his pecs, and his biceps and forearms are lined with thick veins that extend to big, tattooed hands. A light dusting of hair leads to a deep V that disappears into his shorts and holy shit …abs.
Haden throws him the ball and he licks his lips as he catches it.
CeCe leans into my side. “Blink, bestie.”
I elbow her and pull my eyes from him as Cole calls the first play.
The next hour passes in a blur of hot, sweaty men talking shit to one another. Ivy takes Billi from me to put her to bed as I watch the boys toss plays and celebrate like they just won the damn Super Bowl whenever one of them gets a touchdown. It doesn’t take long at all, just like Cassie said, for the Stars to beat the pants off the Stripes, finishing with a pass from Walker to Asher, then to Haden, on a double reverse as we cheer from the sidelines. After each time Haden scores, Asher and Hadendo some sort of bro-code handshake that ends with a fist bump.
Watching Asher approach me at the end of the game has everything hitting me all at once. This man is the father of my child. I’ve got to put my big girl pants on and tell him.
“Good game … looks like your strategy paid off,” I say, glancing once to his glistening chest, dripping with sweat, then forcing myself to move my eyes to his face as he chugs down some water.
“Glad I could keep you entertained, Livi girl.” He wipes his forehead with the back of his forearm as I push his beautiful body from my mind and take a deep breath.
“Um, Asher, I’m pretty tired. Do you think you could walk me home?”
