Page 63 of Embers in the Outfield

Kennedy stands up to greet her friend and then sits back down, this time fiddling with the ring on her finger.

“I didn’t know you were coming over right now, River.” She makes her way over to me, and I meet her halfway, knowing that although bedrest is modified, she shouldn’t be doing much.

“Shouldn’t you be sitting in bed?” I say, wondering why she’s walking around the house.

“I’m allowed one stroll around the house once per day, and I haven’t done that yet since we got home. I’ve been resting for a few hours now.”

I look over at Ashton, and I can see the concern etched across his face.

“We’re quickly learning Sam makes a horrible patient.” He sighs, and that wins him a look that could kill from his wife. He quickly brings his arms up. “You know it’s the truth, babe.”

She shrugs and goes to sit down on the couch.

“So, what’s new?” Such a simple question, yet it causes me to pause, an uptick of my pulse evident as the blood is now swooshing in my ears. Why is this so nerve-wracking?

“Um…” My gaze darts over to Kennedy, and she looks at me in a panic.

“What’s going on? Everything okay?” Ashton speaks up, and I can tell from his expression he’s worried now.

“Oh yeah, fine, but…” Kennedy attempts to say, and I feel like if we don’t just say it, it will just be the two of us walking in circles all night.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Sam yells, and now I’m not just nervous, but I’m scared. My gaze swings her way, and I’m not sure if she’s stunned or pissed.

“Fuck you, Ashton. Go get my wallet!” she yells at her husband.

He throws his fist in the air and punches it. Utter confusion is the only emotion I feel right now.

“I knew it! I fucking knew it!” Ashton yells from the other room, and Sam just keeps huffing in her corner of the couch.

“What the fuck is happening?” I ask, hoping they can explain themselves.

“You two are fucking each other!” Sam points at both of us, and I still can’t read if she’s pissed or happy about this turn of events.

“Geez, Sam, so crass,” Kennedy says as she rolls her eyes, and my mouth hits the floor.

“You knew?” I say, looking over at Ashton, baffled by this reaction. Right as the pieces are coming together, Sam retrievesher wallet and pulls out a fifty-dollar bill, handing it over to her husband, begrudgingly, might I add.

“Did you fucking bet on us?” I ask. My jaw would be hitting the floor again, but it hasn’t left that spot yet.

“Well, ‘knew’ is a bit presumptuous, but did I guess it was happening? Yes,” Ash confesses.

“How? We were discrete. We tried to keep up charades whenever we saw you,” Kennedy pipes up, just as baffled as I am.

“Ha!” Ashton yells. “I saw you put your hand on her leg at the gender reveal. I thought you were just trying to piss her off at first, but then she didn’t punch you like she usually would, so I knew something was up. I ran to Sam to tell her, and she thought I was crazy. So I made it interesting—for me, that is,” he confesses, no shame in his antics.

“So you made money while you were at it? You’re hanging out with Clay too much!” I throw back. Why is everyone betting on me and my sex life lately?

“You dirty girl,” Sam says, a sly smile taking over her features.

Right then, Kennedy’s cheeks flush, and it’s hard not to enjoy her reaction.

“Yeah, well, he grew on me,” Kennedy says.

“Yeah, I bet he did!” Sam snorts as Ashton throws a look in her direction. “What? Remember that time I walked into the gym locker room by accident, and he was changing? I saw things, hun.” Now her gaze swings back to Kennedy. “Congrats, sis.” Her wink is exaggerated, and now I’m blushing.

Samara is usually shy and reserved, but those pregnancy hormones are making her loose-lipped, and it’s sort of funny to see from her.

Her husband decides not to open that can of worms and looks at us. “How long has it been going on?” Ashton asks.

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