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Story: Perfect Deke

Silence stretches for a few more beats before Collins breaks it.

“I didn’t know Sawyer Bryce had a kid.”

We all turn to look at her in unison.

“Told you, Kend. Baggage,” Collins adds.

“And you felt it necessary to look into his personal life because …” I trail off, waiting for an answer.

She lifts one shoulder very gently, pouring more jelly beans onto the table. “He did this interview in a magazine I was randomly reading on the subway the other day. It was about him raising a child as a single dad.” She blows out a breath. “Snaps to him. I couldn’t do it. I can barely take care of myself, let alone have a kid.”

“Liam had that talk with me the other day. He asked me if I wanted a family. I told him maybe when I’m forty,” Darcy adds.

“For real?” Exasperated, Felicity throws her head back. “I was banking on you two for my first grandchild.”

“Yeah, well, don’t look at me either,” I reply. “These ovaries are on lockdown for the next five years. Paris is the year I make it to the World Cup—I can feel it.”

Jenna leans across to offer me a high five. “Your ACL issues will be but a distant memory.”

My mind travels back to last night. Every time Jack joins me for a Pilates workout, it finishes with him ripping off my Lycra shorts and fucking me on the new mats he bought us.

“Sit on my face and fuck it, Kitten.”

I squeeze my thighs together as his commands literally come flooding back to me. I’ve got his mom sitting a couple of chairs down from me, watching as her son takes the ice for his first game as starting center, and I’m tingling from head to toe as I swoon over other talents he possesses.

Collins leans into me and whispers, “You’re thinking about fucking him, aren’t you?”

I snatch a red jelly bean and bite down. “Yep.”

She snorts softly. “Can’t say I blame you. I would take that butt to town.”

“The nausea is overwhelming tonight.” Darcy squeezes her eyes shut. “I’m going to pretend like I didn’t just hear what you said.”

I narrow my eyes playfully at her and mouth,Sex god.

She shudders and dips into her pocket, pulling out her phone. “That’s it. I’m canceling our dinner reservation. Appetite has officially left the building.”

“I can’t believeyou actually canceled dinner.” I pick up a fry and dip it in ketchup. “I’m starving and eating everything I shouldn’t in this bar.”

I grab another fry as Jack slides in the booth beside me.

“I can help you work it off later.”

Darcy scrunches up her nose but is soon distracted when Sawyer and Archer join.

Sawyer’s eyes find everywhere but Collins as she busies herself with a text conversation, and I’m willing to bet it’s of the booty-call variety.

“You, um … solved your phone situation then.” Sawyer clears his throat and takes a seat next to Darcy, earning a look from Archer.

Collins is the kind of girl who exudes confidence. Literally nothing or no one fazes her. So, when she looks up and tucks a lock of pink hair behind her ear, I conclude she might not be telling whole truths when she says the Blades captain isn’t exactly her type.

She resets herself in a flash. “Yeah, weeks ago.”

The stilted conversation between them reaches around thetable as Archer takes a seat on a stool at the end of the booth and his eyes fix on Jack’s sister. “How long are you in town for, Darce?”

Jack hasn’t taken his eyes from mine. Up until now.

“Darce?” Jack spins from me to his goalie.