“I’m not freaking out!” Carter screeches back. “You’re freaking out!”
She twists her cookie apart. “Six foot four, well over two hundred pounds, crushes people into the boards for a living, and the idea of a seven-pound baby girl terrifies the living hell out of him.”
“I so hope it’s a girl.”
“You and me both, Jennie. You and me both.”
“Carter, if you do the Darth Vader voice one more time, I’m leaving.”
Olivia says it, but I’m 100 percent on board with her decision. The three of us are out for dinner before we meet everyone else at the club, and Carter’s garnered so much attention talking to Olivia’s bump.
“Fine, but when that baby is outta there, I won’t be stopped.” He sips his beer, eyes flitting to the three men at the table next to us as they holler at the TV, empty beer pitchers and glasses strewn across the table. He looks back to us. “Anyway, it was fun today, with all the kids. They were so psyched we were there. Adam’s talking about hosting a couple extra fundraisers this year so they can upgrade the facilities, see if we can get these kids meeting some families, that kinda stuff. Cara’s going to help plan them.”
“That man is the sweetest human being on this planet,” Olivia says. “I hope he finds the special person he’s looking for.” She grins mischievously at me. “Hey, Jennie, maybe—”
“No.” Carter pats her head. “No, pumpkin.”
I snort a laugh as my phone vibrates. If the idea of me dating Adam Lockwood, golden boy, is any indication, telling him about Garrett and I is going to be a dumpster fire.
Bear: U gonna have an attitude later tonight?
Me: Already got one, big guy.
Bear: Perfect. Feel like pulling ur hair and fucking ur throat.
The spot between my legs tingles with anticipation at the promise, and I shift in my seat.
“Garrett’s friend was there too,” Carter says. “Emma? Your neighbor.”
“Emily,” I correct.
“Apparently she does pro bono work there every now and then, works with the kids. Some of them really struggle.” He snickers. “Garrett thought she was a cheerleader.”
Bear: PS. Did u know Emily is a child psychologist??? She was at the home today.
A vague memory runs through my mind of her telling me her job was boring and unimportant, waving me off when I asked the question a half hour after she punched Kevin in the face.
I pull up her contact and type out a message.
Me: Boring and unimportant job, huh?
Emily: Shut up.
Me: My little softie.
Emily: Don’t ruin my bad bitch image, J.
“I’m pretty sure her and Garrett are still fucking. ’Cause he says he’s not dating that photographer girl, but he had scratches all down his back in the change room last week, and him and Emily were talking in the corner today.”
Bear: She pulled me aside and asked if I thought Jaxon and Adam were up for a threesome.
Emily: Can you talk your boyfriend into hooking me up with his sexy friends? He didn’t think I was serious, but if I were to get pegged by two guys at a time, I’d at least want to be absolutely wrecked, you know? They looked capable.
Me: I don’t think Adam’s a threesome kinda guy, Em. Sorry.
Emily: sigh Yeah, I got that vibe as well. I’d probably ruin him. Hey, wanna have a girls’ night next weekend?
Me: A girls’ night?
Emily: Yeah, you know, takeout, movies, nonalcoholic wine…
Something blooms in my chest as Carter prattles on about having enough kids to build their own hockey team, and even though Olivia’s sitting right in front of me, she texts in our group chat with Cara asking if we want to have a sleepover when the boys go away next. Emily starts listing off other things we can do if I don’t want to stay in, like going for dinner or out dancing. Garrett sends me a picture of the small charm on the keychain I got him for Valentine’s Day, the bear and the sunshine looking up at me from his palm, with a message telling me he loves me and he’s already worked out a plan with Adam and Jaxon to get us sitting together at the club, and I feel so full it’s nearly painful.
Where did all this love come from? This incredible family, the friendships I’ve been blessed with? Have they always been here and I’ve just been too hard on myself to believe they were really here for me?
As Carter pays the bill, the men next to us request another round.
“I’m sorry,” the waitress says. “I can’t serve you anymore.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” one of them asks, climbing unsteadily to his feet. “We’re watchin’ the game, and we want another.”
She shakes her head. “You boys have had enough. I can call you a cab once you’ve paid your bill.”
“We don’t need a fuckin’ cab,” he spits, tearing the bill from her hand.
A ball of unease settles low in my stomach, and Carter takes Olivia’s hand in his, placing his other on my back as he guides us toward the door. I glance over my shoulder, watching as the men snatch their coats up, tossing bills down on the table. For some reason, my heart pounds a little harder, and my chest begins to tighten.
When we step into the cool night, I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The knot in my stomach slowly unfurls and I relax as we head for the car.
The restaurant door slams open, and the three men pour out.
“Fuckin’ bitch,” one says.
“Where we gonna go now?” the other slurs.
The third fishes a set of car keys from his pocket. “I know a place.”
No. No. I grip my brother’s arm.
“You better put those the fuck away,” Carter growls, pointing at the keys. “You even so much as step toward a car in your state, I’ll put you through the ground.”
The man holding the keys sways, eyes glassy as he watches Carter. Then he laughs and takes a step forward. “Get outta my way, superstar.”
Carter puts his hand on his chest, looming over him. “One more step. I’ll fucking end you.”
“In front of your pregnant wife? Nah, I don’t think so. There are three of us and one of you. Who do you think will wind up hurt?”
“Carter,” Olivia pleads quietly, reaching for him. “I’m scared.”
“Hear that? Your wife is scared. Get in your car and take her home.”
Carter squeezes her hand and guides her to me. “Jennie, get in the car and call the cops.”
My chest rises sharply, eyes darting around the men as they close in around Carter. Olivia clutches my arm, one hand on her stomach.
“Jennie,” she whimpers. “I don’t feel good.”
“Get in the car,” Carter repeats. “Now.”
I’m trying, but my feet aren’t moving. Why aren’t my feet moving? Why are those men walking toward him like that? Why isn’t he coming with us? I try to call for him, but something inside me is frozen in fear. When I close my eyes, all I see is my dad’s unrecognizable car. All I smell is stale beer. All I feel is…terror.
One of the men looks at Olivia, then me, and grins. “This isn’t gonna be fun for you two to watch.”
Olivia’s breath hitches as her eyes widen with panic, and I yank my phone out, dialing those three numbers.
“Nine-one-one, do you need fire, ambulance, or police?”
My response gets lost in my throat as all three men descend on Carter at once, a tangled mass of bodies rocking into a nearby car before falling to the ground.
Olivia’s bloodcurdling scream drowns everything else out except my own voice when I choke out, “I think I’m having a panic attack.”
CHAPTER 39
POPPING THE BUBBLE
JENNIE
“Mom, stop. I’m fine, I promise.”
She swipes at the tears beneath her bloodshot eyes, the ones she insists aren’t really there. She folds her trembling hands together in her lap, and I cover them with mine.
“I was so scared,” she whispers.
My heart plummets. I pull my mom into my arms, hugging her tight. Once is too many times to be on the receiving end of a phone call where a drunk driver has been involved.