by Xavier Neal
I’ve fucked this girl more times than I thought possible since I’ve been home. After we made up on the couch and then again on the stairs, against my bedroom door, and in the shower, we settled down to briefly talk about what’s next. And by briefly I mean maybe twenty minutes because she was ready to go again. And again. And again. Is this a pregnancy perk?
Maxx leans over and whispers in my ear, “Do you know how bad I used to wish you’d pin me down and fuck me under the bleachers when we were in school?”
My attempt to stifle my moan fails miserably, thanks to her fucking tongue grazing my ear.
Did I mention I took her right before we left for this thing? Not complaining, just saying.
“Really?” Luke sneers. “We’re at a high school basketball game!”
“I’ve had sex during a high school basketball game,” I counter and Maxx returns to relaxing in my arms.
“When you were in high school!” Luke snaps.
“Is there any sporting event you didn’t fuck at?” Erin glances over her shoulder at me.
Are you gonna give me that look if the answer is no?
“How would you feel if I countered that question?” My comment causes her to scoff and turn back around.
“You’re such an asshole, Kellar.” She folds her arms across her chest.
“I thought we’d established that already?” I say on a chuckle. Leaning over, I whisper in Maxx’s ear, “Do you know how bad I wished it was you I was pinning down and fucking against the bleachers?”
Her body melts, and Tony sighs. “Your voices aren’t nearly as fucking quiet as you two think they are. God. Didn’t anyone teach you how to stage whisper?”
“What the fuck is a stage whisper?” I question.
“Did you never take drama in high school?”
“Logan created drama in high school,” Erin informs Tony. I nod in agreement.
Before he can say anything, it’s time to stand for the National Anthem. Once the song is over and we’re sitting again, I finally notice the Kid getting ready to go out. And the name on the back of his jersey causes me to sit up and lean forward.
“Is that…” I try to point.
C.J. turns around and nods. “Yep.”
“But—”
“He’s your kid, Kellar. He should wear your name.” Luke smiles at me.
Maxx kisses me on the cheek. “You should’ve seen how proud he was to have that on the back of his jersey.” When my eyes meet hers, she finishes with, “He’s proud to have your name. And I know the one inside me will be, too.”
Proud. Not cursed. Never fucking thought I’d hear that.
The game starts and I’m slightly impressed at the actual level of entertainment they’re shelling out. Both teams have good defense and offense, all players seem to take this shit seriously, and the Kid definitely has some skills I didn’t know he had.
When he sinks another three pointer, the girls behind us scream, “We love you, Kellar!”
Erin immediately turns over her shoulder to give them a scowl before mumbling, “Can we say flashback? God, it’s like reliving my youth.”
“You’re not that old.” C.J. tries to comfort her.
“But you are.” Her stab is followed with a bitchy smile.
“Old enough to know a thing or two about a thing or two.” C.J.’s implication causes Luke to grunt in disgust.
“That’s my baby sister,” he tells C.J. who holds his hands up in surrender.
A time-out is called, and I watch as Dean travels off the court briefly looking into the stands. When he sees me, he tosses a nod and a huge grin.
That kid is fucking proud. Proud to have me here. Proud to wear my name. Proud to be in our family…
A realization gut punches me and I say, “Hey, Erin, come to the concession stand with me. I’m gonna grab Maxx some of those nachos she loves so much. With extra cheese.”
Maxx claps. “Extra cheese!”
“You know that shit is terrible for you,” Luke chimes in.
“She’s carrying my kid, Luke. She can eat anything she wants.” I reassure him and Maxx beams happily beside me.
You stop beaming too. I mean it. Wipe the shit eating grin off your face. I know you’re proud of me for manning up, but you don’t have to show it. Okay, maybe a little smirk is acceptable.
“That’s the problem, Kellar. She really can’t. A pregnant woman should—”
“Lord, I will go with you just to spare listening to my brother give another speech about healthy eating!” Erin shrieks standing up. “I swear normal people’s brothers join a book club or a country club and my brother joins the eat healthy only club. Your club sucks.” Erin says giving him a dirty look. “You need healthy eating anonymous.”
Luke shakes his head. “That’s…that’s not a real thing.”
Rolling her eyes Erin sighs, “Come on, Kellar. Maybe I’ll get one of those giant pixie straws.”
“That’s pure sugar!” Luke calls to her. I stand to walk away when Luke looks at me. “She does this shit on purpose doesn’t she?”
“You have been kind of a health Nazi more frequently since we adopted the Kid.”
“And since you found out I was pregnant,” Maxx adds.
“Oh that’s great! Everyone gang up on the nurse,” he mumbles.
I begin to walk away, but look back to ask Maxx, “Soda?”
“Water,” she pouts and tilts her head at Luke.
“Do you have any idea what’s in soda?” His question ups my need to walk away from the situation faster.
Meeting Erin in the hallway, we head down the hall towards a small line. On the way she says, “Ask.”
“What?”
“Ask what it is you wanna ask me.”
How the fuck did she do that?
“I know you, Kellar. Now ask.” she repeats approaching the line.
“I need a favor.”
“We’ve established that.”
“Can you…can you spend the day tomorrow keeping Maxx busy?”
Suspiciously she asks, “Why?”
“I’ll explain later.” She pops a hand on her hip and gives me a sarcastic look. “Trust me on this one.”
“Trust? Really?”
“Come on, Erin. I swear. I will. Can you just take her shopping or to the spa or something? Or both! Take her to do both.”
“You paying?”
See how easy she is sometimes?
“Yeah.”
“Done,” she hums. “And I really do want one of those sugar sticks. You’re buying.”
“That’s nice of me,” I say pulling out my wallet and my phone.
While my fingers key in a text, Erin speaks again, “Really glad y’all made up. A pregnant miserable Maxx not allowed to eat most of her favorite foods was too tragic for even Shakespeare.” Confused by her reference, I raise my eyebrows. “What? I like books!”
“Those are plays.”
“Whatever. Those too.” I give her my sarcastic look. “Ugh fine. C.J. and I were watching Romeo and Juliet on T.V.!”
I chortle and put my phone away. “Yeah. How’s that going?”
“What going? We’re friends. Sometimes. Usually not.”
“Of course.” My smirk causes her to slug me hard in the shoulder.
It’s never hurt before. Why she thinks it would hurt now is beyond me.
After grabbing Maxx her nachos, Erin her sugar high, and me a couple hot dogs, we return to the seats just before halftime hits. Once we’re all seated and settled, I give Erin the nod to go ahead.
“Hey, Maxx, tomorrow I see us getting manis and pedis and massages! I know this place that gives great pregnancy massages!” Erin says pulling the top off her sugar disaster.
“How would you know?” Luke looks nervous.
“Oh put it away, overprotective. Maxx isn’t the only person in the world I’ve ever known to be pregnant.” Immediately, he looks relieved.
You didn’t think she meant herself did you?
Come on…you’ve met Erin. Her and a kid of her own? Ha.
“What do you say?” She raises her eyebrows at Maxx.
“Well, I was gonna spend the day with Logan.” She shoots me a soft look before licking cheese off her thumb.
I’ve never wanted fake nacho cheese on my cock before this moment.
“I uh…” My thought gets lost as her tongue wraps around it once again.
Would it be wrong to fuck her in one of the school bathrooms? Hey. Don’t yell. It was a question.
“I uh…have this thing I have to take care of while I’m here.”
“How long are you here?” Tony asks, pulling out his cell phone.
“I leave Monday morning.” My answer forces Maxx’s body to lean back against the bleacher seat. Hating the heartbroken look, I say, “I promise tomorrow night we’ll do something special. We’ll make sure the Kid has something to do and I’ll take you somewhere nice. I promise.”
Tony opens his mouth to say something to me after looking at his phone. Quickly I shake my head no, hopeful that Maxx didn’t see.
You’re wondering what I’m up to, aren’t you? Good. I like when your mind starts to wander and I can show you I’ve got a trick or two up my sleeve outside the bedroom. Hey, I’ve got plenty of tricks in there. Have you seen the one where I do that spinning thing? Gets the ladies every time…
Chapter 13
Maxx
“Pick a color!” Erin yells viciously, and I shove another piece of soft pretzel into my mouth.
Luke told me I could have pretzels. It’s not my fault he didn’t specify. Please don’t rat on me. I miss salt! I miss the salt!
“I like pink…”
“You’re not attending your 5th birthday party; you’re going to a nice dinner.”
Did I mention just how much I hate fancy dinners? And white tablecloths? And the fact that I can’t go to those places because I’m pretty sure I never use the right fork. Who feels the needs to put that many forks on the table? I mean, really.
Erin suggests, “How about a deep purple?”
“So I can look like a grape?” I point to my growing stomach. “Veto.”
“Red?”
“That’s your color. Besides, when you wear it, people scream ‘Look how hot she is walking down the runway’ when I wear it, people scream ‘Hey Kool-Aid!’.”
Erin rolls her eyes and tries not smirk. “Fine. Navy blue? It’s the new black.”
“Do I look like a sailor to you?” I shove the rest of the pretzel in my mouth. Shaking her head she huffs, “Green?” Before I can answer, she shakes her head again. “God, you look terrible in green.”
I would be offended if she wasn’t right.
“Black it is.” She pulls an off the shoulder dress from the rack and hands it to me. “Aside from it being the only way to stop you from being so damn difficult, it’s also slimming and I know with the baby bump you’re beginning to feel—”
“Like a moo cow. And I’m not even that pregnant yet.” I snatch the dress from her.
Marching into the dressing room, I begin to change when she asks, “So, everything’s okay with you and Kellar?”
I wiggle out of my yoga pants. “Yeah…” The word drifts from me while I briefly return to our conversations from the night before. “I mean we talked a bit about things, but I know we’ll have to talk more again later. Just trying to enjoy him while he’s here for the weekend, ya know?” Once I’m in the dress, that looks surprisingly flattering, I open the door. “Sucks he’s only here for the weekend.”
Erin smiles proudly. “Damn. I’m good.”
My eyes look at my reflection in the mirror and I agree, “That you are.”
I hate to admit that this is the first time I’ve felt remotely sexy since I found out I was pregnant, but it’s the truth. For the most part, I’ve only felt like an overweight ball. I know some women feel glowy and special. The only glow I have is the one post puke or when I’m inches from a cupcake that Luke won’t let me have.
“I’ll grab the heels. Leave that dress on. You’re leaving the store in it.”
“Erin that’s not how—”
She rips the tag off and gives me another sarcastic look. “It’s how it works because I said so. Now grab your shit and let’s go. Don’t want you late for your date with Kellar, though when is he ever on time?”
I smirk and do as she says. Once my clothes are folded up neatly and in my hands with my purse thrown over my shoulder I exit the dressing room area, accidentally bumping into someone.
“Sorry,” I quickly apologize picking up my dropped yoga pants.
“Really?” The voice catches my attention. Looking up, I notice Liz smiling down at me looking perfectly put together, like always.
Swear this girl has a wardrobe only Mattel could make.
“Oh it’s you,” my voice mumbles.
Her eyes roam over my attire and she folds her arms. “You look fancy.”
“You look slutty.”
“Thanks.” She winks cocking her hip.
“That’s not supposed to be a good thing.”
“Depends on your views in life.”
I don’t…I don’t even…I just—no.
In a warm tone, she asks, “Did everything work out with Unbreakable?”
Surprised by her question, I don’t respond.
What exactly does she know?
“Did he finally get his head out of his ass and confess he’s in love with you, or are you two still doing that cat and mouse bullshit? I haven’t really talked to him since he asked me to let the kid stay at my hotel. Missed his last fight at the tournament too. I had a family emergency out of town. Tried texting him, but he barely responds.”
In disbelief, I let my jaw open but still say nothing.
Did you know that’s why he was with Liz? Did you know and not tell me? We talked about this! You’re supposed to be a good friend and let me know! What do you mean you tried and I wasn’t listening…
“Can you hear me?” her voice squeaks.
“Sorry,” I say, clearing my throat and trying to shake off being struck stupid. “Yeah. We worked everything out.”
“Good.” She smiles, which feels weird.
I’m rather creeped out right now. Remember that scene in the Addams’ Family Values where Wednesday smiles, and the entire camp looks scared? Yeah. That’s how I’m feeling right now.
“Are you pregnant?” She points to the small bump. When I nod, Liz smiles again this time softer.
Still creepy.
“Good for y’all…” She wets her lips slowly and says, “I have to admit, I’m glad someone broke Unbreakable. He deserves a little happiness, you know? I mean, not that he ever opened up or wanted to talk, but you could tell something inside of him just needed to be broken to be fixed.”
Am I really having a deep conversation with someone that thinks there should be a Math class devoted to counting calories?
“Maxx!” Erin’s voice calls, rounding the corner. The minute she sees Liz, she tilts her head. “Is America’s Next Top Vegan bothering you?”
“Always a pleasure, Erin,” she snips.
“No, gluttony is a pleasure. This is like a diet: painful.” Turning her head back to me, she says, “Let’s go, Maxx. Your boyfriend is waiting.”
“Take care, Liz,” I politely say, and she merely nods before heading back to the dressing room.
“Take care?” Erin mocks me before bumping me with the bag holding my shoes. “Really?”
“She was—I mean, we—but she—,” I fail to explain.
“Pregnancy brain is really doing a number on you,” she mutters, pulling me towards the car.
Once we’re in, I tuck away the clothes I was wearing, slide on the heels Erin picked out, and cave to her every makeup direction, applying retouches while she drives. No more than twenty minutes later, we arrive in front of TKO, and I shoot her a confused look.
“I don’t know,” she grunts as she parks the c
ar. “I was gonna take you home, but Kellar made it perfectly clear to me to drop you off here rather than waste all the gas.” Before I can object, she bites, “Get out. I have dinner plans of my own.” Shaking my head, I reach for the shopping bag, when she insists, “Leave it. I’ll drop it off at home for you. Just take your wallet and phone.”
“Thanks, Erin.” I grab them from my purse. “For the whole spa day thing too. It was really relaxing. And much needed.”
“Remember to thank Kellar. He paid for it.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
I giggle and shut her car door. Quickly, I relocate myself to the inside of the bar, a little surprised that the door is unlocked but not completely.
For someone who has such pride in his bar, the moron forgets to lock the front door quite often.
The sound of my heels bouncing off the empty walls is the only noise in the entire place. It’s weird. In a place that’s always busy, even when the doors are shut, it’s eerie that it’s this quiet. I place my wallet and phone on the bare bar.
“Hello…” I call out continuing on my path towards the back. I check Frank’s office, which is empty, the staff room, my office, and even the rooms where the fighters warm up. Annoyed I call out again, “Hello…”
“I’m in here!” Logan’s voice finally responds.
How long has he been letting me wander around like a lost child in the mall looking for him? I swear I’m gonna punch him.
My body travels up the back stairs and into the ring where I see Logan standing with his back to me looking out to where the crowd would be. “Why are you in here? Are you having a walk down memory lane? It wasn’t that long ago.”
“Feels like a lifetime ago,” his voice mumbles before turning around.
Immediately, I notice the chocolate frosted cupcake in his hand. My stomach grumbles in response.
Fair enough. We haven’t had a cupcake in a very long time. LONG TIME!
With a cocky grin, Logan says, “See something you like, Maximus?” I try not to glare as he extends a hand for me to take. When I do, he pulls me a bit closer but not all the way to him.
“I’m not supposed to have cupcakes.” I pout while watching Logan break it apart.