Page 92 of Play the Game
Leaning forward, I kiss her cheek, smiling at our reflection. “Rhodes, you are well and truly stuck with me. Let your parents do their worst. One way or another, when this night is over, we’re going back to my house, changing into the most comfortable clothes we can find, and eating late night snacks because the food at these kinds of things always sucks. Then we’re going to watch more episodes of that fucked up show you’ve gotten me addicted to.”
Evan laughs, leaning my head against hers. “I knew you would loveScandal.”
“I really do. I think it’s Olivia Pope being all,It’s handled. It’s so awesome. I seem to have a weakness for badass women who can handle their shit and everyone else’s too.”
Turning her head, Evan studies me. “Can we get cherry slushies?”
I scoff. “As if we would watchScandalwithout cherry slushies.”
“Can our late-night snack be breakfast for dinner? The baby really wants breakfast for dinner.”
I grin. “I’ll make you both the best waffles you’ve ever had.”
Evan sighs heavily and picks up her bag from the dresser. “Okay fine, let’s go get this shitshow over with.” She eyes me, looking me up and down like she’s noticing what I’m wearing for the first time tonight. “Jesus, you can really wear a tux. I was too wrapped up in my head to focus earlier but fuck, Cooper. You look unfairly good.”
Running a hand over her hair, I bend to kiss her, turning us so we’re looking back in the mirror, this time standing side-by-side, and I wrap an arm around her waist. “Had to look good for my girl.”
Evan smiles. “Your girl?”
I squeeze her waist and press a kiss to her head. “My girl. The prettiest girl in the world. Come on, Ev. Let’s go dance at the ball.”
“You’ll stay with me the whole time?”
I tighten my arm around her, knowing what it costs her to show even that small hint of vulnerability. “Every single second.”
Nodding, Evan straightens her shoulders, and I can practically see her armor slide into place. “Okay. Let’s go do the thing.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
EVAN
“Evan Rhodes, where the fuck have you been all my life?”
I grin, turning from where I just stepped out of Cooper’s car at the valet stand in front of The Langham hotel where the ball is being held to see my brother and Rio strolling down Franklin Street. “I literally just saw you last week when you both browbeat me into leaving my office for lunch.”
Chris reaches me first and wraps his arms around me, kissing the top of my head. The comfort and familiarity of my brother’s arms has my stress levels lowering immediately. “Can’t have my pregnant sister eating sad desk lunches. You need real food and actual lunch.”
“What he said, Ev.” When Chris lets go, Rio swoops in and hugs me tightly, keeping his hands on my shoulders when he pulls back and studies me with a smile. “As the funcles, it’s our responsibility to make sure the baby is well fed. And right now, since you’re growing the baby, that means keeping you well fed.”
I roll my eyes. “I think you guys and Cooper all forget that I am a whole entire adult who is fully capable of feeding myself. Also, funcles?”
Cooper sidles up next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Fun uncles.”
Rio grins, pulling Cooper in for a hug. “You get me.”
Chris wraps his arms around both of them so they’re in a three-person hug, and seeing my three favorite guys together like this has tears springing to my eyes that I immediately blink back. Fucking pregnancy hormones. “If you’re done with your brofest, I think we have a ball to get to,” I say dryly.
They break apart, and Chris reaches out to take one of my hands, squeezing. “You sure you’re okay to do this?”
I huff out a laugh. “You mean am I okay to tell Mom and Dad I’m almost thirty weeks pregnant in a room full of Boston’s wealthiest and most influential people? Sure, Chris. I’m totally okay. This is all so completely fine.”
Rio takes my other hand. “It’s not too late to make a break for it. We could just say fuck it and dip. Go find somewhere fabulous to have dinner and forget that Kathy and Ed even exist.”
Cooper slides an arm around my waist, and I’m not someone who likes to lean on other people—especially not a man—but standing here, just a few minutes away from causing what I’m sure is going to be one hell of a scene and potentially imploding my relationship with my parents, I can’t deny the fact that the support of these three men makes me feel, just for a minute, like I could take on the world.
“She’s ready,” he says simply, and his quiet confidence and understanding means everything.
I nod. “I am. Let’s just get this over with. My heels are already killing me, and Cooper promised me waffles later. The sooner we see Mom and Dad, the sooner we can get the fuck out of here.”
