“Turn your damn head and look at the screen.”
“Why? They’re there. I can see them. I guess Ava wanted to go out partying, and he’s doing exactly as you asked.”
“He’s taking the piss,” he said. “I didn’t tell him to let her get dressed up all sexy and come to a nightclub full of drooling men so she could get looked at.”
“What exactly did you want him to do?”
“She’s the mother of my child. She’s supposed to be at home, enjoying a nice, hot drink of cocoa, and reading a book. Or whatever it is women like to do when they’re pregnant.”
“Clearly, Ava likes to dance and be held.”
He wasn’t going to rise to the bait. This wasn’t about Ava or himself. This was about the fact Grant shouldn’t be touching her, or doing anything with her. He had work to do.
Taking a deep breath, he picked up another pen, determined not to look at the screen.
“Is she even pregnant?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, she is.”
“She doesn’t look it.”
“Hunter, stop looking at her.”
“Why not? Other men are. I think they like the look of her ass.”
On his feet, Hunter’s throat within his death grip, Logan glared at him. “You need to stop looking at her ass.”
Hunter held onto his wrist. “You need to think about why it bothers you so much.”
“What?” He squeezed a little tighter before letting him go.
“You and Ava, you’ve been doing this dance around each other for years. Aren’t you bored of it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you do. You’re not stupid. It’s why you don’t want her to be with anyone else, but you’re not willing to take a chance and to go out and get the girl for yourself.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Do you really think she’s here to be with Grant?”
“I can see she’s here to be with Grant.”
“Wow, you really are fucking dense when you start,” Hunter said. “Go ahead. Kill me. It might even help me from all the bullshit you’ve got throwing around.”
“You better be careful.”
“Or what? You’re going to strangle me some more? Be careful, Logan, you keep doing it I may start liking it, and then where is your threat?”
“I don’t have to put up with this bullshit. You work for me.”
“Exactly. Grant and I, we work for you, but have you ever thought that we might actually fucking care about you? I know it seems a little odd considering we weren’t your best friends from childhood, but look how that turned out for you. We’re your friends now, and we both know what it is you and Ava need.”
“And what is that? What is it you think you know better than myself?”
“You’re in love with her. And even though she didn’t realize it either, she’s in love with you as well.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Logan looked out toward the dance floor, and Ava was still there.
Men were checking her out, but so were women checking out Grant. They didn’t look compatible with each other, far from it.
He didn’t like the jealousy spreading through his body. The last time he’d seen Ava, he’d been a fucking jerk to her. Ignoring her. Pretending the only reason he was with her was because of the baby. He’d wanted to ask her so many questions, but like always, he held himself back.
“I don’t deserve her. Not after everything.”
“She hasn’t run back home.”
“I didn’t give her anything to run back home to.”
“Exactly. Everything she could ever want is right here, in this very room.”
“No, she doesn’t want me.”
“And you think you know everything about her to make that decision, do you?” Hunter asked. “You know, you’re starting to sound like a coward.”
“Watch it.”
“What? You think you can dish out beatings but you’re above these other emotions and feelings? Is that it?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know everything I’m talking about, and all you’re doing is wasting time. What will you do when Ava’s in labor? It will happen, you know. I’ve got it on good authority pregnant women go into labor at nine months. Grant will be the one with her. What if you don’t wake up to the call, or you don’t make it in time? Ava has the baby with Grant in the room. He’s the one who gets to see your son or daughter first. How about that? Or maybe she goes into labor when you’re with her, and you do get to see your child first. What about the months and years to come? Will Grant get to be the one to see your child’s first steps? His first words? Or better yet, what if he calls Grant Daddy?”
“Enough!” He bellowed the word.
He couldn’t take anymore.
And there was no way he was going to watch his woman dancing with another man.