Page 61 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)

SEAMUS

Three Months Later

“Dane…” I glare at my so-called friend as he taunts me while walking toward the stage. “Don’t you dare,” I threaten.

“What? It’s just a little karaoke!” He shrugs with a shit-eating grin.

“Oh, Jesus, what is he going to do?” Hudson asks as he palms his face.

A normal gesture when we’re out with Dane, I suppose.

Afterburn introduced karaoke nights due to Elena’s love for karaoke, and while it’s normal to see her and Jake take on a song or two, Dane isn’t normally here to provoke us.

He’s visiting before his backpacking trip to Europe, and God only knows what is going to happen with Dane and a mic.

As he steps up on stage, he introduces himself to the crowd before he walks over to the machine and chooses his song.

“I just want to let everyone know right now that I will not stop singing until those two,” he points at me and Hudson, “join me. ”

Hudson’s face drops and he slouches in his chair, as if he’d be more comfortable if the seat swallowed him whole.

I, on the other hand, just raise my eyebrows with a death stare, because I might actually kill Dane tonight.

He can sing out of tune all fucking night, nothing will get me on the stage.

“Nothing you’re not familiar with, right, Hud?” I pat him on the shoulder, giving him shit because he did dance on a stripper stage in Vegas.

“Vegas was different,” he mutters under his breath.

“You’d rather do that , than this?” I point at Dane as he picks his song on the machine.

“Neither, actually, so no matter what, we’re going to hold out.” He holds his fist out. “We’re in this together…we are staying right here,” he says as a statement.

I knuckle his fist. “Agreed,” I respond just as My Girl starts playing through the speakers and Dane seductively walks over to Ember, who is getting a drink at the bar with Mimi.

Hudson stands immediately.

“Dane…” he threatens. Dane walks up behind Ember as he begins to serenade her. His hands softly press against the side of her arm and down to her hand as he raises it and kisses her knuckles.

He’s singing quite good, actually, and Ember is blushing, her cheeks almost matching the color of her vibrant red hair.

Hudson backhands me, pointing to Dane, and I can’t help but laugh as Hudson freaks out. But still stays put because we fist bumped on it.

Dane picks Ember up and spins her around, and she squeals with excitement.

“That’s it.” Hudson takes a step in their direction, but I grab his arm.

“It’s fine. He’s just?—”

I glance over as he places Ember down then takes Mimi’s hand and walks her to the stage, sitting her on the edge. He steps in front of her and begins to roll his hips over her leg, Magic Mike style.

What the fuck.

I stand abruptly, now side by side with Hudson. He crosses his arms with a tight-lipped smug ass smile. “ It’s fine, Shay ,” he says, mocking me.

Bastard.

My face must be beet red by now. I clench my fists as Mimi looks over at me, and she fucking smiles with a glint in her eye. She runs her hands over Dane’s shoulders and through his hair, egging me on because she’s a brat, then tosses her head back with a laugh when he nuzzles into her neck.

“That’s it.” I step around Hudson and now he’s the one to grab my arm, but we both pause when he grabs Ember, sitting her down next to Mimi. Now he’s tag teaming them as he dances and sings for both of them.

We would have won a gold medal in synchronized motion if this were a competition by the way we both rushed the stage.

We’re steps away from the girls when Dane spreads his arms out, separating us from them and announces, “Ah, my backup singers have finally arrived!” He tosses each of us a mic and begins to sing the chorus of My Girl .

I roll my eyes and peer over to Hudson as he shrugs, and thankfully, we have consumed some alcohol tonight.

Hudson raises the mic and sings along, providing a balanced background to Dane, then I join in, singing the words to the Temptations classic, my timbre just a little deeper than the two of them, as we all sing the chorus in harmonious tone.

Dane still doesn’t let us through to the girls as he wraps his arms around our shoulders. I belt out the song smiling, hating myself for actually enjoying this.

Thankfully, the song was almost over and we finished quickly, but admittedly—that was pretty fun .

Even though you’d have to torture me for an extended period of time before I’d confess that out loud.

I turn and pull Mimi into me as the song is over, and place one hand over her petite belly. She’s finally starting to show, and she’s never looked more gorgeous.

I don’t know what I did right in this world to have her come back to me and choose this life with me. I find myself anxious for the first time, wanting to meet our child and be the father I never had.

“So,” Dane comes up between us. “Have you found out if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” he asks.

“We’re going to have it be a surprise,” Mimi says excitedly.

Dane flinches, like her words physically hurt him. “And you’re good with that, mister must-be-prepared-for-everything?”

“Absolutely,” I lie.

I haven’t been able to prepare for anything specific, so instead, I’m just preparing fully for either.

“Well, I’m glad I’ll be living here to see Seamus freak out when it happens.”

I turn to face him, surprised.

He’s planning a backpacking trip over the summer through Europe, which I knew about. But, we never know what he’s doing or where he’s going to end up most of the time. Frankly, I don’t think he does, either.

Not that it matters for him. He’s got a genius level IQ and has been independently wealthy since he sold off the platforms he created in college. He has only consulted for companies when he feels like it because he’s never had to work.

Also, a permanent home somewhere where he’s grounded for an extended amount of time? I don’t think he’s had that since college.

“Yeah…” He nods, a bit shyly, which is very unlike him. “I accepted a job here in Seattle.”

“Really?” Mimi and I jinx each other in our response .

He laughs. “Yeah, Polytech University offered me a position teaching a course for their MBA program.”

I’m shocked, but ecstatic for him.

He’ll either be one of the best teachers those students will ever have or the next generation is completely screwed.

I half chuckle at my thoughts as I absorb his excited energy.

Patting him on the shoulder, “Well then, Professor Campbell. Welcome to Seattle.”