Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
hawk
Sidling up to Kendra as she poured herself a drink at the bar, I took a minute to wrap her in a hug. I had a hard time being in the room with her without touching her—hugging, holding hands—anything to maintain a form of physical contact.
“Did my dad lecture you not to hurt me?”
“No—he basically told me you can fend for yourself. Something I already knew. He also reminded me you wouldn’t keep me around if I tried to force you to harness your abilities.”
She smiled and glanced at her father, who had been joined by her mother. “He’s worried I’m with you only because of my ambition.”
“Oh? Any truth to that?”
“Nah. I’m with you because you have the best dick I’ve ever ridden.”
Recognizing Kendra’s need to shift to humor, I let that slide. “Well, I’m with you because I see you as my partner, my equal.”
“Cheers to that.” Kendra passed me a glass of sparkling wine and clinked my glass. “Oh, fair warning, I have a tiny bit of a crush on the new rookie.”
“I swear we should have negotiated some foster parents for the kid when we called him up.”
“Well, he seems to follow Monroe around like a little lost puppy. How about him?”
“Um, I’d be afraid Ashley would try to fuck him.
” As if on cue, Ashley slunk right up next to Nate and began stroking his arm.
The poor kid’s eyes bugged out of his head, and he looked to Austin to save him.
All the WAGs smiled and laughed with him, but while their interaction was more motherly, Ashley’s was predatory.
“Speaking of problems, where is Milligan?”
“Oh, Sam kicked him out right before you got here.”
“For real? What happened?”
She evaded my eyes as she answered. “Not sure. He probably acted like a dick. Oh, it’s not for public consumption yet, but Kelsey’s pregnant.”
“Really? How are you feeling about that?” Recognizing Kendra’s complicated history with her sister, I hoped the reveal went better this time than last.
“Oh, God, I’m so happy for her. She wanted this so badly.” Kendra’s eyes welled up as she caught sight of her nephew. “Come—” she dragged me across the house. “—you need to meet Crew.”
An hour later, Crew and I demolished our fifth tower of blocks with our dinosaur figures as he squealed, “Adain! Hawk!”
Kendra had tried to help him pronounce Jonathan, and after several attempts, we realized Hawk was easier. But the menace could call me anything he wanted, and I’d answer to it.