Overtime Read online

  Stacey’s eyes narrowed more, her mouth setting in a line. “Sure.”

  Kacey went to say more, but Jordie shook his head, his eyes pleading with hers. Dropping his lips to her ear, he whispered, “It won’t change what she thinks.”

  “That’s fine, but I refuse to allow her to think so lowly of you or, hell, me!”

  He let out a long breath, kissing her below her ear as he said, “It doesn’t matter what she thinks. Only what you think.”

  When she pulled away, his eyes bored into hers and she smiled. “Well, I think you’re perfect.”

  He scoffed. “A perfect mess, right?

  “My mess,” she reminded him, and his lips quirked at the sides before he leaned over, kissing her bottom lip. Pulling back, he asked, “How did I get so lucky to have a second chance with you?”

  Her eyes never leaving his, she cupped his face. “You were you, and in case you didn’t know, you’re kinda irresistible.”

  He scoffed, leaning his nose to hers. It was something he’d always done, but yet, there was always a new wave of butterflies in her belly whenever he did. It was their thing, something she cherished, probably as much as she cherished him. And by God, she was not going to let this woman bring him down.

  But thankfully, his eyes were bright as they held hers, his nose moving along hers before he paused and pulled away, grinning. “Oh, I know,” he teased, and she laughed as he pulled her along to catch up with Stacey and Phil.

  After he pulled her chair out, Kacey shot him a grin as she sat down and he sat next to her, taking her hand in his before resting it on his thigh. Before they could even pick up the menus though, Phil was firing question after question about hockey to Jordie. Kacey was sure he didn’t mind though—he loved talking hockey—but it was obvious that Stacey did not care for it. She huffed and puffed the whole time, probably because the attention wasn’t on her, but Kacey was sure Phil wasn’t listening to her. He was too engrossed in Jordie.

  “You play a sick game, man. I really enjoy watching you play.” He beamed and Jordie grinned.

  “Thanks. You know Kacey played in the Olympics,” he said, looking over at her, and she waved him off.

  “No big deal, I just brought home the gold,” she joked and they laughed, while Stacey just glared.

  “Where is the waiter?” she complained as Phil looked closely at her.

  “Wait, are you Kacey ‘Khaos’ King?”

  Kacey beamed at Jordie as he gave her an exaggerated eye-roll. “Why, yes, I am.”

  “I watched you on TV. You’re amazing!”

  “She is,” Jordie agreed, kissing her cheek. “Stupid nickname and all.”

  Kacey was about to defend her nickname when the waiter stopped at their table. “Hey, y’all! Sorry for the wait,” he said, bringing everyone’s attention to him. “What can I get y’all to drink?”

  “Oh, thank God,” Stacey almost cheered. “Well, first, I want a glass of your best red. And then, Philly, you want a Jack and Coke?”

  “Please,” Phil said. Kacey’s hand squeezed Jordie’s, her eyes cutting to his as he looked to her, a little panic in his eyes.

  “It’s fine. It’s gross anyway,” she tried and he scoffed. “Kinda.” He smiled as he shrugged, the waiter looking to her. “Water, please.”

  “Me too,” Jordie added and the waiter nodded, but Stacey stopped him.

  “Also a round of shots. Tequila?”

  Phil nodded, but Kacey shook her head. “Pregnant, no can do.”

  “What?” Stacey blurted out. “Pregnant?”

  Jordie glanced at her, surprised, and she smiled. She was trying to protect him. She knew he was proud of his sobriety, and she was too, but having the attention on her and off him seemed like a good idea.

  “Yeah, only seven weeks, but pregnant nonetheless.”

  “With your baby?” Stacey asked Jordie and he nodded, his arm snaking along Kacey’s shoulders.

  “Yup, we are really excited.”

  She made a face as Phil turned to her. “You’ll be a grandma.”

  Cold day in fucking hell, Kacey thought, and Jordie’s eyes said the same thing once they met hers.

  “Eh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she said, and Jordie whipped his head to her.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means no telling what will happen between you two,” she said, her lip curved as she moved her finger between the two of them.

  “I can tell you, actually,” he said with a little venom in his voice, his hand squeezing Kacey’s. “We’ll get married, have a baby, and live a fucking great life.”

  She looked to the wide-eyed waiter—why was he still waiting? She understood the drama was probably entertaining to an outsider, but he needed to go get the drinks. “So, just two shots then,” she said to him, and he realized that she was dismissing him before Stacey stopped him.

  Glaring at Kacey, Stacey’s hand curled around his arm before she dragged her gaze to his. “No, three,” she demanded before looking back at Kacey. “Just ’cause you can’t drink doesn’t mean he can’t. Don’t let her start controlling you, Jordie,” she snapped and Kacey’s eye started to twitch. She wasn’t going to make it with this chick.

  “Um, actually, still just two. I’m an alcoholic.”

  Well, there it is, Kacey thought, leaning back and looking at Jordie, bursting with pride. Was he perfect? Hell no, but he was honestly the strongest man she had ever met, and she loved him, truly. With all her heart. He wore his sobriety like a badge of honor, and he fucking should. He was amazing.

  But apparently she was the only one who thought so.

  Phil’s jaw had dropped and Stacey started to sputter before she shrieked, “What?”

  “Good for you, bro. I’ll get you guys your drinks and just two shots,” the waiter said and she almost asked him to take her and Jordie with him, because one look at Stacey and she knew that shit was about to hit the fan.

  “Actually, can you make it just a Coke for me, and no shots?” Phil asked. “I don’t want to wave it in your face.”

  “Thanks,” Jordie said appreciatively, and Kacey decided that maybe Phil wasn’t so bad.

  “Oh no, I want my shot and my wine,” Stacey said, and she must have missed the way everyone looked at her…or maybe she didn’t. Because, with a snide look, she said, “What? I’m not an alcoholic. And what does that even mean? How do you know?”

  Sitting up a bit taller, Jordie said, “I drank myself stupid, went to rehab, and haven’t drunk since.”

  “That’s dumb. I doubt there was anything wrong with you, just overreacting like always,” she said, waving him off. “He does that. He used to make up the most awful stuff as a child. Then his friend got killed, and he’s been trouble ever since. So pay him no mind. It’s probably a stunt for attention.”

  Kacey’s jaw actually dropped. “Attention? Are you fucking kidding me?” she shrieked when she recovered from the shock. Jordie cupped her shoulder and she glanced over at him, her eyes wide. Slowly he shook his head before leaning over and kissing her on the lips.

  “I got this,” he said against her lips.

  But Stacey was still running her mouth. “Tell your baby momma to watch the way she speaks to me, Jordie Scott!”

  “Stacey, please,” Phil asked, but Jordie’s eyes were on Kacey.

  “She can’t hurt me,” he said slowly to her, but Kacey didn’t believe him. She knew Stacey could, but soon, he was looking back at his mother, his shoulders firm as he held her gaze.

  “It’s not an attention-getting stunt. I had a problem; I’m treating it. And I’m not here to point fingers, but did it ever occur to you that maybe you were the root of my problem?”

  She laughed. “Please, I never did anything to cause that.”

  “You’re right, you didn’t do anything,” he said calmly, but his chest was rising and falling quickly. “You did nothing for me. You didn’t love me, you didn’t care for me, and you sure as hell never put me