Page 120 of The Games We Play

“Dane…” he threatens. Dane walks up behind Ember as he begins to serenade her. His hands softly press against the side of her arm and down to her hand as he raises it and kisses her knuckles.

He’s singing quite good, actually, and Ember is blushing, her cheeks almost matching the color of her vibrant red hair.

Hudson backhands me, pointing to Dane, and I can’t help but laugh as Hudson freaks out. But still stays put because we fist bumped on it.

Dane picks Ember up and spins her around, and she squeals with excitement.

“That’s it.” Hudson takes a step in their direction, but I grab his arm.

“It’s fine. He’s just?—”

I glance over as he places Ember down then takes Mimi’shand and walks her to the stage, sitting her on the edge. He steps in front of her and begins to roll his hips over her leg, Magic Mike style.

What the fuck.

I stand abruptly, now side by side with Hudson. He crosses his arms with a tight-lipped smug ass smile. “It’s fine, Shay,” he says, mocking me.

Bastard.

My face must be beet red by now. I clench my fists as Mimi looks over at me, and she fucking smiles with a glint in her eye. She runs her hands over Dane’s shoulders and through his hair, egging me on because she’s a brat, then tosses her head back with a laugh when he nuzzles into her neck.

“That’s it.” I step around Hudson and now he’s the one to grab my arm, but we both pause when he grabs Ember, sitting her down next to Mimi. Now he’s tag teaming them as he dances and sings for both of them.

We would have won a gold medal in synchronized motion if this were a competition by the way we both rushed the stage.

We’re steps away from the girls when Dane spreads his arms out, separating us from them and announces, “Ah, my backup singers have finally arrived!” He tosses each of us a mic and begins to sing the chorus ofMy Girl.

I roll my eyes and peer over to Hudson as he shrugs, and thankfully, we have consumed some alcohol tonight.

Hudson raises the mic and sings along, providing a balanced background to Dane, then I join in, singing the words to the Temptations classic, my timbre just a little deeper than the two of them, as we all sing the chorus in harmonious tone.

Dane still doesn’t let us through to the girls as he wraps his arms around our shoulders. I belt out the song smiling, hating myself for actually enjoying this.

Thankfully, the song was almost over and we finished quickly, but admittedly—that was pretty fun.

Even though you’d have to torture me for an extended period of time before I’d confess that out loud.

I turn and pull Mimi into me as the song is over, and place one hand over her petite belly. She’s finally starting to show, and she’s never looked more gorgeous.

I don’t know what I did right in this world to have her come back to me and choose this life with me. I find myself anxious for the first time, wanting to meet our child and be the father I never had.

“So,” Dane comes up between us. “Have you found out if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” he asks.

“We’re going to have it be a surprise,” Mimi says excitedly.

Dane flinches, like her words physically hurt him. “And you’re good with that, mister must-be-prepared-for-everything?”

“Absolutely,” I lie.

I haven’t been able to prepare for anything specific, so instead, I’m just preparing fully for either.

“Well, I’m glad I’ll be living here to see Seamus freak out when it happens.”

I turn to face him, surprised.

He’s planning a backpacking trip over the summer through Europe, which I knew about. But, we never know what he’s doing or where he’s going to end up most of the time. Frankly, I don’t think he does, either.

Not that it matters for him. He’s got a genius level IQ and has been independently wealthy since he sold off the platforms he created in college. He has only consulted for companies when he feels like it because he’s neverhadto work.

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