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NOAH

I can’t shower fast enough. The team is set to fly back tomorrow morning, but with Coach Porter’s help—who must have been mighty persuasive—Knox and I were able to get a few days off.

I pull the suit jacket over my shoulders, my typical post-game attire. “You ready?” Knox asks, duffle situated on his shoulder. “Porter said they’re at the hotel.”

“Hell yeah,” I say, shaking off the nerves as we make our way out of the stadium. Knox booked a driver for us since it’s definitely not safe to walk through the fans to take the party bus with everyone else. Desmond is joining us too, so we’re meeting him at the pickup point.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Knox asks me.

“For Vegas?” I ask, brows pulled together.

“No,” he says with a laugh. “The marriage. The baby. All of it?”

I think about my answer as we walk through the hallways under the stadium. I think about Charlotte and her laugh and how I never want to share it with anyone. And the look on her face right before she kisses me. Like I’m her whole world. And I think about that beautiful little life growing inside of her. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Then let’s go celebrate your last night as a single man.”

* * *

I highly underestimated how quickly our friends would get wasted after having already been at a four-hour football game where I’m sure they drank their weight in beer. Elijah had my credit card with the instructions that drinks were on me, and judging by the absurd bill, they certainly took advantage of it.

My arm rests on the back of our booth in the VIP area of a club on the top floor of our hotel. Everyone’s on the dance floor, even Charlotte, but my muscles are screaming at me after today’s game. I’m trying to hang, I really am, but I’m utterly exhausted.

Charlotte’s spinning around in a white sparkly dress that accentuates her baby bump in a way that shouldn’t turn me on so damn much.

But honestly? Everything she does turns me on. And it’s not because we weren’t able to get out our pent-up energy in a few days between practices and me leaving early for the game.

Her eyes find mine, and she bites her lower lip. I laugh, shaking my head, and she arches a brow. Shimmying to the beat, she takes a finger and drags it down the side of her neck to her chest, pulling her top down slightly before it bounces back into place. I bolt to my feet, glancing around to make sure no one’s seeing this performance that’s just for me. That’s mine.

I rush to the dance floor, grab her hand, twirl her, and pull her back flush against my front. “Should we continue the ‘you’re going to be in trouble’ conversation?” I growl in her ear.

“I noticed a coat closet that was unattended when I came in,” she says, and I drop my face into the crook of her neck and groan.

“Baby, that sounds so good.” I release a heavy sigh. “But I’m an old-fashioned man, and we’re getting married tomorrow.”

She spins to face me, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Did you enjoy the photo earlier?”

More blood rushes south as I think about that sexy little picture. “Absolutely.”

“Good,” she says victoriously as we sway to the music. Her hips gyrate in a way that makes me unsure if I’ll be able to fulfill my celibacy vow tonight. My eyes dart around the room for options. No, forget that. My fiancée deserves more than a closet fuck.

“Hey!” Sophia says, Elijah trailing behind her like always. Our eyes connect, and he must sense something because he tries to tug Sophia back, but it’s no use.

“It’s time for us to steal the bride-to-be,” Sophia says, and before I even have the chance to protest, she’s secured Charlotte in her arms and is dragging her away. “See you tomorrow.” Sophia winks, and I can’t help but smile because Charlotte has absolutely no idea what I’ve planned for us.