That seems to soften Ezra, who puts his arm around her. “I told you I got this.”
Billy is silent through the whole exchange. All this talk about the combine is probably getting to him. I know how much he wants to go pro. There has to be something I can say to my father to open his eyes to Billy’s talent.
“Why don’t we get a table?” I grab my purse and take Billy’s hand when he holds it out. I really love this whole handholding thing. I’ve never dated anyone who always reached for me.
As we walk through the bar, people call out to us, and Ezra stops to talk to a rowdy table of fans who high-five him and start talking about the draft. He’s eating up the attention, and poor Abigail is standing there awkwardly behind him, waiting for him to finish. He doesn’t even bother to introduce her to anyone.
Billy and I greet a few people, but we don’t stop to talk. When we reach the hostess, she tells us it’ll be a little wait, so we lean against the wall. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple.
“You hanging in there?”
“Yeah. I’ve gotten over the urge to vomit.” I’m sure part of the anxiety stems from not having seen Ezra since I crashed his engagement party. Now that I’m not doing cheer, I don’t hang out at the field house anymore, and I never see him on campus.
Billy chuckles. “That’s good. So what’s the plan tonight? Do you want to tell him about the bean or should I keep my big mouth shut?”
“I still think it would be good to wait until the draft to minimize the drama, but I feel like Abigail should know who she’s dating sooner rather than later. And if I tell her, I have to assume it’ll get back to him. I’m still really conflicted.”
“Whatever you decide, I’ll follow your lead.”
Turning in his arms, I push up on my toes and kiss him. “Thanks for everything. Really,” I whisper. “I know this fake dating situation isn’t ideal for you, but I want you to know I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to help me get through this pregnancy.”
He frowns. “Rox,I—”
“Babcock!” We both turn to the hostess, who ushers us over to a table.
Abigail joins us and gives us a shaky smile. “E can’t stop talking to his friends.”
I glance over my shoulder and find the douche hugging two girls. As in, they’re both plastered to him, and he doesn’t seem to be in any rush to detach them.
Ezra has some nerve, letting women hang all over him when he’s engaged to Abigail. That’s my biggest pet peeve. A guy should respect his fiancée enough to set boundaries with other women. Back when my dad was a big-time baller in the NFL, I remember random women running up to him and trying to hug him. He’d high-five or fist-bump them, but if they grabbed him before he knew they were coming, he’d quickly peel them off.
There was never a doubt in my mind that he’s always been one hundred percent committed to my mother. That’s relationship goals right there. Being with a pro athlete comes with its challenges, one of the biggest being the temptation to cheat. And if your guy doesn’t have the sense to have some boundaries in front of you, what’s he doing behind your back?
I already know what Ezra’s doing behind Abigail’s back. Now I just have to figure out how to tell her.
The three of us peruse the menu as Ezra takes his sweet-ass time to come to the table. I scan the appetizers. “I hear this place has great fried calamari. Does anyone want to share some with me?”
Billy nods. “Get whatever you want. I’ll eat anything you don’t finish.”
“That’s so convenient.” I laugh, wishing I could spend the rest of the night talking to Billy instead of being on this awkward double date.
But then I remind myself that Abigail asked me to be her friend, so I try to focus on her. “Abigail, how are your classes going?”
“So great!” She flaps her hands excitedly. “I’m taking this classical myth course that’s so interesting.”
Ezra plops down into the chair between me and Abigail and across from Billy. “Let me guess. She’s regaling y’all with notes from her myth class about old dead guys.”
The light in Abigail’s eyes dims. I could reach over and slap him for being a dick to her. I clear my throat. “I’d actually love to hear more.”
She gives me a hesitant smile. “It’s probably not that exciting. I’d hate to bore you.”
I grab her hand. “I’m a huge geek. Trust me, I won’t be bored. Tell me everything.”
Abigail looks to Billy, who nods and points to me. “Roxy has historical romances on her bedside table. She loves stories of yore.”
Stories of yore? I chuckle. I love that Billy is being so nice to Abigail and helping her feel comfortable. I lean over and kiss him again, promising myself to fuck him straight through the headboard when we get home.
When I sit back, Ezra is staring at me with a strange expression.Whatever, asshole.
