Page 24 of Rebound
“I’m fine, Patrick. It’s barely a baby, a bean, remember?”
“Lotus, just…” he grinds his teeth and holds out a box. “Here.”
“What’s this?”
He takes my drink and opens the box. When I see the medal, I gasp loudly. It’s shiny and pretty and my eyes widen as I trace the details. I was joking when I told him to win the medal for me, but here it is and I have no words.
“It’s yours.”
“It’s yours, remember? You scored all those goals and won it.”
“You kept track, huh?”
Jesus, this man. I shake my head and nudge the box away. “Don’t ruin the moment.”
He picks up the medal, fingers sliding along the ribbon before he lowers it around my neck. I sag forward dramatically and he chuckles. I cradle the heavy bronze medallion in my palm, trying to understand why my heart feels the way it does. Is it pride or lust? I shake my head and release the medal to grab my drink instead. Patrick’s gaze is heavy on me, but I refuse to look at him. He doesn’t need to see whatever is swirling in my eyes or know my head is a mess thanks to him.
“Looks good on you, baby.”
“Stop it,” I snap.
“I’m not doing a damn thing.”
“You’re being your infuriating self.”
He arches an eyebrow. “I’m standing here, admiring my medal around the neck of the mother of my child.”
Oh, I want to sock him in his perfect face. In the romance novels I read, this is what gets all the women riled up. But in reality? I need him to stop. It’s difficult maintaining eye contact because he has this weird effect on me. If I wasn’t sitting down, I’m sure my feet would have nudged me forward to close the space between our bodies.
“How long are you here?”
“A while.”
I narrow my eyes and he smirks. Asshole. “How long is a while?”
“A couple of months.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re pregnant. Did you not know?”
“You’re telling me you moved to Chennai because I’m having a baby?”
He nods and gestures between us. “We’re having a baby.”
“I don’t see you carrying extra weight for the next six months. So we’re not doing anything.”
“I like this,” he says with a boyish grin.
“You’re exhausting.”
He laughs, drawing the attention of every woman in the bar. “You’re beautiful.”
“For fuck’s sake, Patrick.”
“What? Don’t like the truth now? It’s really hard to keep up, Lotus.”
“Stop calling me that,” I growl and his smile turns naughty. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
