Page 124 of This Woman Forever

“Ace!” Sam yells.

“Match point,” Drew declares.

For fuck’s sake.

Sam tosses the ball a few times, bounces it, his eyes squinting as I sway, wait, spin my racket. He throws it up, smacks it on a grunt, going safe, getting it a good few feet inside the line. “Pussy,” I yell, returning it with an accurate backhand.

“Meow,” Drew purrs, slicing the ball, the fucker going for the same shot.

“Fuck.” I dive forward, hitting the ball with the edge of my racket. It pings, bounces off in the complete wrong direction, and hits the cage. “Shit.”

“Game, set, and match to Sam and Kinky Drew,” Sam sings, tossing his racket and spreading his legs, yelling to the heavens.

“Yeah, baby!” Drew runs at him, diving, wrapping his legs around Sam’s torso, and Sam begins to bounce him up and down as he whoops and yells.

I laugh and collect up the balls. Two against one, for fuck’s sake. And it took them five hours to beat me. “You’re so humble,” I quip.

Drew hops down from Sam’s body and leaps the net, slinging his arm around my shoulders and getting me in a headlock. “You lost, Lord.”

I roll my eyes, but I appreciate his backward apology. I throw my arm around him, and Sam comes in at my other side, joining the lineup. “I’ve not lost,” I say, as we walk back to The Manor in a row. “I’m winning everyday right now.” Except at tennis.

The boys flick fond smiles my way. I know I didn’t exactly do this conventionally, but they know me. “She’s happy?” Sam asks.

“Yeah, she’s happy. Sick as a dog, but she’s happy.”

“I’m sorry for being a cunt,” Drew murmurs quietly. “I know you need this.” They didn’t know Rosie. But they know Rosie. I smile, a little sad, a little happy, feeling them both squeeze me between them. “You know,” Drew muses. “I never thought I would say this.”

“What?”

“I’m too fucked to fuck.”

I burst out laughing with Sam, sniffing back tears.

“And you?” I ask Sam.

“Never too fucked to fuck.”

Maybe. But he’s still too smitten to fuck, unable to let go. And given I’ve been the same since the first day I met Ava, I commiserate.

The power of a good woman.

20

After showering, changing back into my suit, and texting Ava to check up on her, I join the boys in the bar. It’s busy, members starting to arrive after a day’s work to unwind. But Sam and Drew still haven’t made their way upstairs. Sam, I’m not surprised. But Drew? He’s never too fucked to fuck.

“Why are you still here?” I ask, sitting with them in the corner, casting my eyes around the bar, seeing numerous female members of The Manor looking this way. Wondering where my wife is? Hoping she’s left me? Oh, their faces when they learn we’re expecting.

“Just still here.” Drew dismisses me quickly, knocking his beer back.

I look at Sam. He avoids my eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” they both chime, Sam grinning like a prick, Drew through his teeth, making him look demented. I shake my head and stand when John walks in, looking down at my watch. Four o’clock. Owen Cutler appears behind him, taking in the bar. Suited. Booted. He means business. Let’s find out when he’s got to say.

“See you two chumps later,” I say, leaving Sam and Drew.

“Wait,” Drew blurts, forcing me to a stop. I face him, finding he’s half standing. He checks himself and lowers, playing all casual. I’m not buying it. Especially when I glance at Sam and he avoids my interested look by swigging his beer too, peeking around the bar.

“Wait for what?” I ask, slipping my hands into my pockets.

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