Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
A aron
“Tell us what happened out there tonight with Daniko,” the lady interviewing me after the game asks.
“It was nothing. He was running his mouth. A lot of players use that tactic to get a negative response.” I grin.
Over the years I’ve learned how to answer media questions. They love juicy gossip. I don’t plan on feeding them any about myself. Fucking Daniko said he heard I got a hot gymnast pregnant. He asked me how flexible she was. I lost my shit, which is what he wanted.
When I finish interviews, I head into the locker room.
“Murray, get your ass in my office,” Coach Heaton barks.
The guys break out into oohs and ahs. Coach is going to wring me out for falling for Daniko’s tactics.
I head into the office and he tells me to close the door.
“You almost cost us that game, Murray. I expect you to keep your cool out there, not fall for some stupid shit another player is saying.” Coach is fuming and I don’t blame him.
“He was talking about Briar. The mother of my baby. I was not going to allow him to run his mouth about her,” I say, and Coach deflates.
“Word is out. They’re going to use that against you. We’re headed to the Frozen Four in a week. I won’t allow this team to lose a championship because you’re letting emotions get in the way. I don’t care what any of those fuckers say out there. You keep your head in the game.”
“Sorry, Coach. It won’t happen again.”
“Good.” He nods. “Off the record, Murray. You socked him good. He deserved it. Hope you got it out of your system now.”
“I did, sir.”
Coach nods again. “You’re dismissed.”
I head back to the locker room to shower and change. The guys are talking about going to Black Jack’s. They say they’ll wait for me outside because the girls are out there. When I leave the locker room, I see Briar. Her hair is down in waves. She’s wearing my jersey and seeing my name and number on her makes me want to claim her right here and now.
I walk up to her. “Hey.”
“Good game.”
“Thanks.”
“Bro, are you going out with us?” Cade asks.
I look at Briar. “Do you want to go to Black Jack’s on your night off?”
“I can go.”
“Cool. We’ll meet you guys there,” I say to the guys since I have my SUV parked in the lot.
I throw an arm over her shoulder. “Did you enjoy the game?”
“I got into it.” I nod. “I still have some rules to learn, but it’s an exciting game.”
We head into the car and she shivers. I turn up the heat and back out of my spot.
“What was that fight about?” she asks.
I feel my body tense. “Just an asshole player running his mouth.”
“Yeah, we had some girls sitting behind us who were running their mouths too,” she shares, throwing me off.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“There was some girl named Scarlett sitting behind us. Annie said she is Cade’s ex. She was making all kinds of weird comments and then one of her friends mentioned I’m the girl who got knocked up by you.”
I hiss, “People should mind their own business. I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault. These girls need to get a life,” I retort. “What did the player say to you?”
“Huh?”
“The one you fought with?” she clarifies.
“Daniko said something about you. It was a shitty move on his part.”
We reach a red light. I turn to look at her. She looks so pretty with her hair falling over her shoulders in soft waves. She’s glowing and seeing her in my jersey does something to my insides. “You look hot in my jersey.”
She squirms. “Thanks, but don’t change the subject. We are both being bullied because of my pregnancy. It’s insane.”
“We are not being bullied. I put Daniko in his place. I don’t give a shit what he says or what anyone else says. I’m happy about this baby and I want his or her mama real bad. People will be haters, but whatever. We shouldn’t care what they think.”
“You’re right. I hate having the attention on me but at the end of the day, they are jealous assholes.”
I pull into a spot at Black Jack’s and put the car in park. “Did you give any thought to our conversation from earlier?”
She leans over and kisses me. It throws me off but then I get into it and hold the back of her head, drawing her into me. “I missed kissing you,” I say when she breaks the kiss.
“Me too. I’m willing to try, Aaron.”
A wide smile spreads my lips. “That’s all we can do, but now you got me all worked up; I want to go home.”
She laughs. “I need some food and then we can go home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I place my palm on her belly. “Hi there, Nugget. Did you hear that? Your mama has agreed to try. I’m going to give her so many orgasms that she’ll want me all the time.”
“You can’t talk to Nugget about sex.”
I laugh. “Solid point. Now let’s get you some food.”
We head inside. I hold her hand as we walk through the doors. The guys and girls are already here sitting at a long table. Briar sits next to Ruby, and I sit next to her.
I take hold of Briar’s hand and hold it in my lap. Taylor comes up to the table to take our order. “Oh, look at you two,” she beams. “Are you making another statement?”
“Yes,” I say.
Briar looks at me like I’ve lost it, but then she laughs.
“I’ll have the cheeseburger and fries,” I order.
“I’ll have a Caesar salad,” Briar says.
“You need more than salad. Nugget needs to be well-fed for what I have planned,” I state and Briar blushes.
“Aaron, hush,” she chides.
“You guys are so cute,” Taylor gushes.
“Okay. I’ll have the grilled chicken on my salad,” Briar says.
Taylor moves on to taking the rest of the orders.
Ruby turns to us. “It took you guys long enough.”
Briar laughs and we look at each other and smile.
We are all laughing and chilling when the guys from Michigan West walk into Black Jack’s. I spot fucking Daniko right away.
Mack looks my way. “Ignore him.”
“Seriously, Aaron. He wants you riled up,” Finn adds.
“No shit. I’m not falling for his antics.”
The guys walk over to our table. Their captain, Joel Robbins, shakes Finn’s hand. “Good game.” He’s a decent guy.
“Thanks, you too,” Finn says.
Daniko walks up to the table behind him. “Murray, is this the pretty gymnast?”
Joel puts his palm on Daniko’s chest. “Not the time.”
Daniko has a nice bruise forming under his eye, thanks to yours truly.
“I am the pretty gymnast he knocked up,” Briar says suddenly, causing my head to spin. “Do you have something you want to say to me?”
Daniko’s brown eyes widen. “C-congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Briar grins wide.
Joel and Daniko walk away. I lean down and kiss the hell out of Briar. Cheers break out from around our table. When we break apart, Briar is smiling and I am too.
“That felt good,” she says.
“That’s my girl,” Ruby woots.
We all go back to eating and chilling with our friends, but I am on edge wanting to get into Briar’s pants.
I lean into her ear. “How about we head out?”
She nods.
“I’ll go settle our bill,” I whisper.
She reaches into her purse to take out money.
“I got it,” I assure.
“No, I’m paying for my meal,” she insists.
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” I ask.
“Because,” she replies.
I let her give me money for her salad because I don’t want to argue in front of our friends. This will have to be a conversation for another time.
I get up to pay at the bar as Daniko is leaving the restroom.
“You got yourself a spitfire,” he says. “She must be good in bed.”
I’m about to sock him but I take a deep breath. “Are you not getting any? Is that the problem here?”
He looks dumbfounded.
I leave Taylor a tip and walk away. I have more important things to attend to.