“What?!” Jenner roared. Turning to his best friend, he asked, “Did that really happen?”
Maddox shot Braxton a death glare. “No idea what he’s talking about.”
Sitting back, Braxton clasped both hands behind his head. “You keep forgetting I’m married to your wife’s best friend. Trust me. I wish I didn’t know half the shit I overhear about your sex life.”
Jenner let out a low whistle. “Damn. I mean, I’ve seen the cannon you’re packing in the shower, but I didn’t realize your balls were that big.”
A warning growl rumbled from Maddox’s chest. “It’s not like I planned it.”
“You didn’t stop it either, from the sounds of it,” Jenner shot back.
“What did you want me to do? Say, ‘Sorry, Jared, I can’t focus on a damn word you’re saying right now. Why, you ask? Do you remember that new reporter, the hot, too-young-for-me redhead? Yeah, she’s under my desk right now, sucking me off while she hides from you.’ Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.”
I chuckled. “And you’re worried about Gemma being too much for me? Sounds like you’ve got more than you can handle yourself, Coach.”
Maddox groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Don’t remind me.”
Braxton, the bastard, brought the conversation back to my tryst at the rink. “All I’m saying is my shoulder is tight as hell from the check I took last week, but I’m not setting foot in that room for treatment until they disinfect it from top to bottom. After our little chat on the plane last week, I bet your DNA is all over the place.”
“Jesus,” I huffed. “You act like I’ve got toxic jizz or something.”
“It’s jizz that’s not mine. I don’t need to come in contact with it, okay?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Maddox cut in. I knew I was in trouble when his sharp green stare zeroed in on me. “Why would there be jizz? Are you not wrapping it up?”
“I didthattime,“ I said in my defense.
“That time?!“ A vein pulsed at his temple. “You just met this girl. It should beeverytime!”
“Ooh. Is our coach with the whoopsie baby on the way about to lecture us about safe sex?” Jenner tossed me a wink as he jumped in to save me from Maddox’s wrath.
Braxton leaned into it. “It’s actually impressive you were able to conceive. With how old you are, I’d expect you to be shooting loads of dust.”
Jenner smirked, all in on the tag team of our uptight friend/coach. “Tell me, Maddox: is the baby going to call you daddy or grandpa?”
“Fuck off,” Maddox snapped. “I’m four years older than you, and you have babies at home.”
Touching his temple, Jenner remarked, “Yeah, but you’re going gray. Those four years are hitting you hard trying to keep up with a hot young wife.”
Under his breath, I could have sworn I heard Maddox say, “Tell me about it.”
“I swear I heard his knee pop the other day,” Braxton declared.
The joking mood of the group died instantly, and Braxton cursed softly when he realized he’d gotten carried away.
We might have fun teasing Maddox about being the oldest guy of our group at almost thirty-nine, but the only reason he was our coach instead of our teammate was because he’d suffered a career-ending knee injury, forcing him into early retirement. Itwas a sore spot—one you didn’t poke at unless you had a death wish.
I leaned closer to Braxton beside me. “That one took it too far.”
His swallow was audible. “Yup.”
Shoving his chair back, Maddox stood, pointing in my direction. “We’re even.”
“What about your picture?” I called out to his back as he strode away.
Spinning around, he crossed both arms over his massive chest. “Have a feeling I won’t need one.” He tilted his head toward my companions. “Blabbermouth One and Blabbermouth Two will have word getting back to Bristol before I make it home. Isn’t that right, boys?”
Jenner and Braxton murmured words of agreement.
