Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(39)

“Yeah. Thanks for all of this, Jordie. I owe you one, big time.” Grant claps Jordie on the back, who looks up at him and grins.

“Nah, man. We’re good. You would have done the same thing for me. No questions asked.”

I hate to interrupt this moment between friends, but the men haven’t noticed me yet. I clear my throat and wave at Jordie, whose eyes practically bug out of his head.

“A-Ana?”

“Hi, Jordie.”

“Oh,” Jordie chokes out. “I didn’t know . . . this stuff is for you?”

Interesting. So Grant had him run an errand, but didn’t mention who the woman in question was who needed these things.

Grant approaches me with a concerned expression. “Are you okay?”

I return his look with a reassuring smile. “I feel so much better now. Thank you.”

“Did you sleep?” he asks in a soft voice.

I nod.

“Okay,” Grant says, but his eyes tell me he isn’t entirely convinced.

I don’t blame him. I’m known for making a molehill out of a mountain. I’d downplay getting shot if I had to.

“So,” Jordie says, pointing at the supplies emptied out onto the counter, to me, to Grant, and back at me. “Are you two . . .”

Oh Jesus.

Grant steps between us, entirely blocking my view of Jordie with his massive body. “Friends. Besides that, you don’t know a goddamn thing.”

“Understood.”

“I’m dead serious, Jordie. If you breathe a word of this to anyone . . .”

“I wouldn’t.”

Placing one hand on Grant’s back to calm him, I peek around his torso to catch Jordie’s eye. “Thanks, Jordie.”

“Just following orders, ma’am.” He grins with a boyish twinkle in his eye.

“I’ll walk you out,” Grant mutters, nudging his teammate on the shoulder and turning him toward the door.

Jordie calls over Grant’s wall-like shoulder with some effort. “Maybe it’s just the flu! Feel better, Ana.”

“Hope so! Thanks.”

Grant and Jordie stand in the doorway for a moment, their voices low and almost indiscernible. I hear the name Kress and suddenly realize I don’t need to hear this conversation.

I step over to the counter, covered in an assortment of items you might receive in a care package. I smile, unscrewing the top of a blue sports drink, and take a tentative sip. When my stomach doesn’t flip-flop all over the place, I take a full swig, appreciating the feel of sugar hitting my bloodstream again.

Then, before I can think too hard about it, I pick up both of the pregnancy tests and head to the bathroom. After selecting one, I tear the box open and read the directions, pull my yoga pants down, and sit on the toilet. Now would be the moment to utter a prayer, but I’m not sure what I would ask for. I’m not ready to have a . . . baby. I can barely think the word, let alone speak it.

When I’m done, I set the stick on the edge of the sink and wait. No use panicking. It’ll be whatever it’s going to be. Until then . . .

Deep breaths.





16




* * *





Consequences





Grant



Deep breaths.

Ana closed herself inside my bathroom with the pregnancy tests five minutes ago, and I’m practically vibrating with anxiety while I wait for her to come out. With absolutely zero chill, I pace the hallway, running through various scenarios in my mind while nervous energy swims inside me.

Hobbes, sensing something is up, scratches at the floor near my feet and looks up at me.

“What?” I say, agitated.

He yips out a reply and dances around.

With a sigh, I bend down and lift him with one hand under his belly. Stalking over to the bathroom door, I give it a gentle knock. “Hey, Ana?”

“Be out in a minute.” Her voice is muffled through the door, and I can’t tell if she’s upset, or relieved, or something in between.

“I’m just going to take Hobbes out. Take your time.”

I secure his leash to his collar and head out. “You’ve got shit timing, you know that?”

He looks up at me with brown eyes and licks his nose. Then again, maybe taking Hobbes outside is better than standing around waiting for news I’m not even sure I’m ready to hear.

As Hobbes squats and pees on the grass, I can’t help the thoughts swirling inside my head. Thoughts about the night of the storm when I came home and found Ana in my bed . . . and more specifically, what happened after.

I was bare that night. We were so caught up in the moment, we didn’t even stop to think.

Well, that’s not true. A split second before I came, it did cross my mind, but I was already there, erupting inside her like half a second later. I figured she was on the pill. Stupid of me, I know.

Still, I don’t regret what we did. That night was one of the best I’ve had in a very long time. A sweet woman in my bed, begging me to hold her and make her feel good? I felt useful. Needed. I was on top of the world that night.

But actions have consequences, and those consequences might be that we’re going to have a baby. Maybe that should scare me, but if anything, it only makes me feel more for Ana. It makes me want to protect her and take care of her.