Page 76 of Code Violation

I raise a brow at him. “Not just a pretty face, eh?”

He circles it. “You’re looking at the guy who somehow managed to get a degree at an Ivy League college.”

It strikes me that I don’t know all that much about Mason’s background, other than he’s separated and close to his mom.

“We had an appointment with the OB-GYN yesterday.”

“Holy shit, Vesper’s pregnant?!”

I close my eyes and drop my head when Will’s voice filters from behind me, followed by the squeeze of his palms on my shoulders.

He flops down on the couch next to me, and Tristan joins us on the armchair opposite us, not looking at all surprised.

“Congrats.” He pushes a hand through his hair. “It’s only a matter of time before the matrimonial handcuffs are shackled around your wrists, and life, as you once knew it, will never be the same again.”

Will rolls his eyes at me, his frustration directed at my teammate. “Fuck off, Tristan.”

Tristan snickers and resets his focus on the hockey game.

“Shall we head out and see the girls?” Will asks, fully aware of my desperation to see Vesper.

“No.”

Like a petulant teenager, he tosses his head back, blowing out a frustrated breath. “What if I promise not to mention the wedding again until the new year?”

“No.”

“February? I won’t mention it until the actual month we’re due to get married.” He tries again, hand sliding into his pocket before he starts scrolling through his phone.

I side-eye him, my mood getting worse every second. “Tempting, but no.”

“Hey, look at this.” Will nudges his elbow into my side.

He holds out his cell, and I take it from him.

“Do you know that guy talking to Vesper?”

June’s Instagram story was supposed to be a selfie of her and Drew wearing white bridal sashes, but all I can stare at is the random dark-haired dude whispering into Vesper’s ear as she stands behind them at the bar.

“No,” I bite beneath my breath, handing Will his phone back.

He pockets it, and suddenly, all three of my teammates are zeroed in on me.

Will quirks an inquisitive brow. “Would you like to get to know the random dude a little better?”

“I’m not following my girlfriend to a bar when she’s having a night out with her friends.”

Mason’s eyes bug out. “Girlfriend?”

I flop back into the couch and groan. “I just wanted to see how the title would feel on my tongue. We aren’t officially dating.”

Will checks his phone again. “Oh, right. Well, in that case, the path is clear for the random guy then.”

I’m on my feet in milliseconds. “Everyone, put your shoes on. We’re heading into town. I need a change of fucking scenery.”

Location update: We wound up in the bar opposite the cocktail lounge where the girls are, and all I’ve done for the past half hour is nurse a pint of beer between my palms and stare across the road.

“I have a pair of binoculars if you want them?”