Page 92 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“Yes.”

“I think I like you even more.”

Rylee closes the door behind us and helps me into the passenger seat. I’m having a baby. I’m going to be a mom. Once I’m settled, she jumps in the driver’s seat. Since my phone isconnected to the car’s Bluetooth, we use it to call Lach. It rings a few times before he picks up.

FORTY-SEVEN

TAKE CARE OF HER

Lach

I stroll through the front door of Porter’s early for my shift. Since Eve’s at Rylee’s doing her photoshoot, I got tired of sitting by myself. Jake’s talking to someone seated at the bar. Their back is to me, so I’m not entirely sure who it is. Jake waves me over.

“Lach, I want to introduce you to an old friend, Beckett.”

Recognition hits me. “Beckett Holloway. You’re kind of the local hockey hero.” In high school, he went to three state championships and played for Boston College before making his NHL debut for the Minnesota Mavericks.

He holds out his hand, and I give it a shake. “You can call me Beck.”

“Sorry to hear about the injury a few years back. That’s a tough break.”

“Or it was a sign for me to retire.” He laughs. “Plus, I heard this guy,” he hikes his thumb at Jake, “keeps losing all his bartenders. I got some free time on my hands, so why not come back home?”

“With Eve on maternity leave and Dessa part-time, I could use the extra hands,” Jake says.

“That’s great. I’m looking forward to working with you.” I lift my backpack higher on my shoulder and head toward the employee room.

“Hey, Lach!” Jake catches me at the end of the bar, and I stop. “This came to the house for Eve. Could you give it to her?”

“Yeah. Sure.” I glance down at the manila envelope. The return address is a law office in Knoxville, Tennessee. I slide my bag to the side and unzip the top, shoving it in my backpack. As I continue down the hallway, my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Eve’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hey, Sunflower, what’s up?”

“Lach. It’s Rylee.”

My heart leaps to my throat, and I come to a screeching halt. Why is Rylee using Eve’s phone?

“What’s going on? Where’s Eve?”

“She’s right next to me. Her water broke, and we’re going to the hospital right now.”

“Hi, Lach,” Eve says.

“Sunflower, how are you doing?”

“I’m okay. Slight cramping, but I’m okay. Can you grab the hospital bag from the house and meet me there?”

Shit. She’s having the baby. “Yeah. But isn’t it early?”

“Yes. But I think he’s ready to join us.”

“I’ll meet you there.” I disconnect the call. A rush of adrenaline propels me back out to the bar. I come to a stop where Jake and Beck are still talking. “Eve’s water broke. I have to meet her at the hospital.”

Jake’s eyes widen. “Go. We got it.”

I nod and spin on my heel, ready to sprint out the door, but Jake’s voice stops me.

“Take care of her. I’ll see the three of you soon.”

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