Page 24 of Crew
He leaned closer and lowered his voice to say, “Maybe something’s in the water.”
I went to reply but the rest of the guys walked up.
“Ready?” Robinson asked.
Singleton and I stood.
“Yep. You buying the first round?” I asked Robinson.
“Sure. I’ll get a few pitchers for the table.”
The bar was one we always hit when we were in town since it was close to the hotel and we could walk. The place always seemed to have live music, and the regulars were chill about non-locals in their space. The guys and I took over a section in the back and pushed a coupleof tables together. Robinson and Payne brought over the beer and glasses and we each poured ourselves some.
I leaned back in my chair, watching the band set up and enjoying the feeling of our win still running through me.
Singleton sat next to me, close enough that I could feel the heat coming off of him but not close enough to draw attention our way. I glanced over, and Singleton smirked.
He nodded his head toward the guitarist. “Chase’s husband is hot. I’d hit that even though he’s old enough to be my dad.”
Before I could say something, a voice interrupted us.
“Hey, Crew.”
Brows furrowed, I turned my head as a woman stepped up to our table. She was pretty with long, dark hair and dark eyes. She looked vaguely familiar.
“Hey,” I said, setting my beer down. “Have we met before?”
“We did a couple of months ago.” Her gaze flicked over the table, then settled back on me. “And we ... you know. Can we talk though?”
I sat up a little straighter, now remembering the one-night we’d shared, but I still couldn’t think of her name. “I’m enjoying a drink with my team. Maybe another time.”
She took a breath and squared her shoulders. “All right. Well, I’m pregnant and it’s yours.”
The noise of the bar faded. Maybe it was just in my head, but everything else suddenly felt a hell of a lot quieter except for the ringing in my ears. I felt Singleton’s stare, and when I turned my head, our eyes met.
I swallowed hard before looking back at her. “No, it’s not.”
Her expression tightened. “Excuse me?”
“It’s not mine,” I stated again, shaking my head. “I always use protection.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Condoms aren’t one hundred percent.”
I could feel the shift at the table as everyone watched the exchange.
Rubbing a hand over my face, I said, “Look, I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“You need to take responsibility,” she shot back. “Pay for my medical bills. I know it’s yours, Crew. It was the night after your walk-off in April. We were at this bar. We?—”
“I remember,” I cut in. I’d had a few drinks that night, but not enough to forget. I remembered her, remembered how the night had ended, but I knew I hadn’t taken that kind of risk and had used a condom.
The table was dead silent now. Even Latham, who always had something to say, kept his mouth shut.
Singleton cleared his throat. “Maybe this isn’t the place for this conversation.”
She ignored him, her eyes still locked on me. “I’m keeping the baby, and I need help financially and getting everything I need for when the baby arrives in seven months.”
My stomach twisted. I didn’t know what to say to that. Didn’t know how to process any of it. The idea that I could be a dad …
