Page 32 of Reckless Encore
Chase and his friends laughed. Some of them faked the interest. Others seemed genuine.
“On the topic of screwing up…” Mason fixed his gaze on Mitch. “Have you told them about the bet over Beth’s name?”
“There was a bet?” Chase’s sister sat up straight, her smile wide at the possibility of being the center of attention. Like always.
His mom scowled. “Mitch, please don’t tell this story.”
“Why not?” his dad slurred. “It’s fun to look back on.”
Chase leaned forward, breathing in the tension in the air. “Come on, Mom,” he pleaded. “I want to hear it.”
“Yeah,” Sophie and Maya agreed in unison. “Tell us about the bet.”
Alana shook her head. “I’m not telling a damn thing.”
Mitch let out a drunken snicker. “Then allow me to do the honors.”
* * *
Back Then
Richmond, Virginia.
Mitch sat next to his wife on their bed. “Are you sure you’re okay with me going to Blake’s house for a few drinks?”
Alana winced and massaged her lower back with the heel of her hand. “I’ve told you a hundred times—go, have fun, enjoy yourself.”
“But I feel like a dick leaving you when you’re so…”
“So?” She raised a brow. “Fat?”
He tensed his stomach to hold in a laugh. “You’re not fat, Allie. You’re beautiful. Even more than when you were pregnant with Chase.”
She rolled her eyes and then winced as she kept rubbing.
“Do you want me to give you a massage before I leave?”
“No. It’s only Braxton Hicks. I’ve been putting up with it for days.” She waved him away. “Go. Have fun. Drink for the both of us.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure that if you ask me the same question again I’m going to hurt you. Really badly.”
This time he had to press his lips tight to hold in the laughter. His sweet, innocent, and exceptionally talented photographer wife had become an aggressive vulture during the later stages of pregnancy.
Not that he complained. Aggressive Allie went wild between the sheets. To the point where he’d grown concerned for their kid’s mental stability, if the little critter had any understanding of what was going on right underneath its head.
“I’ll be home before midnight.” He planted a kiss on her temple.
“I don’t care when you get home as long as you don’t drink and drive.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you later.”
He pushed from the bed and strode for the door. He really shouldn’t be out drinking tonight, but his friends had insisted on having a guys’ night. And celebrating the upcoming birth of their baby before it arrived seemed like a better idea than leaving the festivities until they had a toddler and a newborn on their hands. He wanted to be there for Allie when the new bundle arrived, and he’d also have to be the full-time caregiver for Chase for a while.
“Go,” she growled.
He laughed. “Going.”
