The Sweetest Game (The Perfect Game 3)

“You’re not, but I think I am,” Melissa said dryly.

Jack opened the fridge and pulled out two beers. “Time to man up. Drink,” he said, tossing a can at Dean. “Fun-Size, you need another shot of liquid courage? Not that it helped. ”

Dean looked down at her, a playful smile on his face. “You did shots before I got here?”

“Correction, I did a shot. One. And yeah. I thought I was going to throw up on your shoes if I didn’t. ”

He wiggled his right foot. “I like these shoes. ”

I hopped up on the counter, my legs and feet dangling over the side. “Hey, I have a question. ”

Melissa’s perfect little eyebrows drew together as she asked, “What is it?”

“While Jack was eavesdropping on you guys, and I couldn’t help but overhear because I refuse to leave his side,” I said innocently as Jack poked me in the ribs. “What did you mean about all your plans? Or the rest of your plans or something?”

She pressed her lips together before blurting out, “It’s all wrapped up in the same thing. The breakup. I lose him first,” she said, pointing at Dean before continuing. “Then I lose my best friend. And then I lose her kids. And so that means that I don’t get to have kids with you and our kids won’t be best friends and we won’t move next door to each other or raise our babies together or do any of the things that I completely plan on doing with you. Because that’s what best friends do. We have kids together and shop together and our families grow up together. ”

I tried to kick her, but my foot wouldn’t reach that far and I refused to hop down from the counter. “You’re a dork. Just marry Dean and then we can do all those things, ‘kay?”

Dean looked down at Melissa and squeezed her shoulders. “Yeah, just marry me. Problem solved. ”

“I’m serious!” she practically screamed.

“So am I!” Dean yelled back.

“Enough!” Jack pressed his hands around each side of my stomach as if the baby’s ears were there. “You’re going to stress out my baby. And I’ll fucking kill both of you if you do that. Don’t shout around my kid,” he said forcefully, and I rolled my eyes. “If our baby comes out rolling his eyes, Kitten, so help me God—”

“Yeah? So help you God, what? What are you going to do?” I shot back playfully.

Jack slammed his fist against the granite. “I don’t know, but I’ll think of something to torture you with!”

“You two are ridiculous,” Melissa said as she snuggled closer into Dean’s arms.

I stuck my tongue out at her and she did the same. “You,” I pointed at her, “are not ever allowed to say that to anyone. Ever. You’re the most ridiculous couple I’ve ever met. ”

“You gonna let her talk to us like that, Melis?” Dean taunted.

Melissa narrowed her eyes playfully. “You want me to hit a pregnant chick?” She made a fist and punched her other hand with it.

Jack stepped into the space separating us. “I will hurt you, Fun-Size. No one messes with my baby mama. ”

“Oh my gosh, how long have you been waiting to use that line?” I doubled over laughing, along with everyone else.

“Weeks,” he admitted with a dimpled smile before stepping between my legs.

I love those dimples.

I hope our baby has those dimples.

“I almost forgot, I have something for you. ” Jack perked up and disappeared into the garage. I heard one of the car doors open and close, then Jack walked back into the kitchen.

He tossed a small package at me and I caught it with both hands. “What in the world?”

“Just open it. ”

I peeled back the wrapping paper to reveal a small cardboard box. When I opened the top and looked inside, I gasped with surprise, then pulled out a miniature mason jar filled with quarters.

Jack beamed at me. “Those are for all the belly touches. I’m going to be touching your belly a lot. I figured I oughta pay up. ”