Overtime(13)

He had to change.

“I got you, Kar,” he croaked out and Karson chuckled.

“I know, bro, that’s why this wasn’t hard choice. It’s you and that’s it. You’ll fix this, I know you will. You’re too damn stubborn to allow it to defeat you.”

Such blind faith Karson had in him. Jordie wished he could borrow some of it. Tears stung his eyes as he closed them tightly. He never cried. Never, and at this moment, he wanted to cry. “I haven’t been the greatest best friend to you.”

“No, you haven’t, not all the time. But when you are, you’re the best.”

Not all the time…

Jordie cleared his throat, sitting up slowly. “I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done you, man.”

“Forgiven,” Karson said without even thinking. “Just get healthy and that’ll be your apology to me, okay?”

“I will, I promise.”

“Good, I’m holding you to it. So is Little-Bit-who-still-has-not-been-named.”

As a tear rolled down his cheek into his beard, he smiled. “Jordie is a good middle name.”

Karson laughed before yelling out, “Jordie said his name is a good middle name for Baby Unnamed.”

“The hell,” he heard Lacey say. “No way, but it will be a J name for sure. And an M name for Kacey.”

“Kacey?” he croaked out.

“Yeah, she’s going to be the godmother.”

His heart sped up in his chest. “So if you two keel over, we play Mom and Dad to Little Bit?”

Karson laughed. “In retrospect, yes.”

“So I get to bang your sister?” he teased and Karson groaned.

“Such a great conversation until that moment. I’ll call you tomorrow, *,” Karson laughed.

“Bye, bro,” Jordie sang with his first true grin in months, before handing up and letting his phone drop between his legs. Looking up at the ceiling, he sucked in a deep breath as the nerves ate away at him.

This was not going to be easy, but he could do it. He was stronger than this; he was a beast of a man, nothing could get him down. How could he allow his need for a drink to ruin his life? The signs were everywhere, blinking in his face and blinding him. He had to stop. This place opened his eyes, and he just couldn’t do it anymore. He had a baby girl to be a godfather to, and he wouldn’t let Lacey and Karson down.

Definitely not the baby they were about to have.

It was time to be the man he wanted to be.

It was time to live the life he wanted.

And maybe, just maybe, he could get the love he wanted too.

Because her being the godmother to his godfather wasn’t enough.

He wanted Kacey to be his.





Liam Kelly really had dreamy eyes and a wonderful bod.

But holy crap, he was boring.

Leaning on her hand, Kacey tried to pay attention as he talked about his cat, but really? This was her life right now? Greek god of a man was a cat guy? What the ever-loving f*ck was going on here, and why didn’t she see this at the barbecue? He was funny there, full of wit, and good Lord, dreamy. So of course, she jumped at the chance of a date when he asked if she wanted to get together. What she didn’t expect was for him to text her the next morning and to set something up the following night. She was cool though, she was ready. But now that she was here, she wished she would have done another group setting with him.

She just didn’t get it. Why couldn’t she find a dude that was her match? He’d seemed so cool at the barbecue, but now, now he was awkward. Was it really that hard to find someone who wanted a dog, a white picket fence, and some kids, while keeping her completely and utterly satisfied in bed and also making her laugh? That was a requirement. Of course, thinking of laughing made her think of Jordie, and then she was instantly depressed. Jordie was a hoot. He could have her crying from laughter in two seconds flat, and for the stupidest reasons too. His crude humor got her every time, and sometimes she knew that a sweet, classy girl shouldn’t find that kind of thing funny, but she sure did.

But Liam was not being funny.

Blinking to keep from falling asleep, she focused on his mouth, which was downright sinful, as he went on.

“Her name is Buttons because, when I first got her, she ate all the buttons off my shirts,” he said with a laugh and she smiled.

“How adorable.”

He smiled. “Stupid, I know. I’m kind of a boring guy. It’s hockey and my cat, that’s it.”

Which wasn’t a bad thing, Kacey! Straighten up! He was boring, which was good—bad guys had drama that broke girl’s hearts! Liam Kelly was not a heartbreaker.

“No, it’s sweet. I’m more of a dog gal though.”

“Oh yeah, I love dogs. But when I’m gone, it’s hard on a dog. Cats are easy, they don’t need as much attention,” he agreed with a nod before taking a pull of his beer. “When I find someone who wants to marry me, then I’ll get a dog.”

Kacey sat up a bit straighter. “Why aren’t you married yet, Liam? You’re how old, thirty-three?”

He nodded which was good because, for a second there, she thought she was being a bit rude. “I got married young, twenty, but when I got drafted, she started cheating on me. I tried to make it work, but she didn’t want to be with me,” he said softly with a shrug. “Really sucked, but that was eons ago. Now, it’s hard to find a woman around my age who doesn’t have kids already. I don’t want to deal with baby daddy issues.”