Beyond the Game: A Surprise Pregnancy Sports Romance (Chicago Red Tails Book 3)
Beyond the Game: Chapter 3

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

You know those mornings when you open your eyes and you can’t recall ever shutting them to begin with and don’t know how or when you fell asleep but you’ve clearly been out cold for a long time?

Yeah. That’s me.

Sunshine glows bright against my face, my sinfully sore and naked body already feeling the sticky humidity that comes with any Florida vacation.

Or maybe it’s the fact I left my patio doors open last night.

Last night…

Amanda…

A satisfied smirk spreads across my face as I recall the details of last night.

My fingers inside her as she looked over the balcony.

The taste of her sweet pussy on my tongue.

Her voice as I made her come not once, not twice, but three times.

The feeling of her hands on me.

Her mouth on me.

Her…finger…inside me.

“Fuck, that was hot,” I whisper to myself, my dick hardening at the thought.

Just then there’s a beep and my door swings open.

“Dex Foster, you had better have a good reason f— OH MY GOD! What are you even doing?” Rory shouts as she covers her eyes with her hands. “MY EYES! MY EYES!”

I jump from the bed, shocked to see my sister in my room screaming at me while Hawken leans against the doorway smiling in amusement, his arms folded over his chest. My hands go straight to my junk trying to cover myself from my sister.

“What the fuck, Rory? Don’t you fucking knock?”

“WE DID KNOCK, YOU PERV! SEVERAL TIMES! HOW COULD YOU NOT HEAR US? FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST, PUT THAT THING AWAY!”

“I’m trying! You could give me a fucking minute!” I grab a pair of my boxer briefs from my suitcase and begin to pull them on.

“You don’t have a minute, dumbass! You’re going to be late to the wedding.”

I freeze in place as my head snaps to Rory and Hawken. Both of them are dressed and ready for Milo and Charlee’s big day.

“Fuck! What time is it?”

Rory huffs. “Would you kindly put your penis away so I don’t have to throw up in my mouth?”

“Oh, for fuck’s…” I pull up my briefs and then stare at my sister.

“It’s eleven o’clock, Dex,” Hawken finally answers my question with a smirk. “We’re needed at the beach in thirty.”

I push my hand through my hair, frustrated that I overslept. “Shit. I’ll be there.”

Rory stands against the wall with her arms crossed.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m waiting for you,” she states. “I’m not letting you ruin this day for Milo and Charlee.”

“I don’t need help getting showered or dressed. Unless…I mean, unless you want to wash my balls for me? That might save me a minute.”

She mimics throwing up and holding it in her mouth.

“I didn’t think so. I’ll shower and be right down.”

She rolls her eyes. “Like I haven’t heard that before.”

“Oh, my God, Rory. I won’t even take my morning shit, okay? Hawk, get her out of here, will you?”

“I don’t know, this is sort of entertaining.” He laughs but when he sees I’m not laughing, he takes Rory by the arm. “Come on Ror. You should go check on Charlee. She’s more important anyway.”

She points to me. “If you’re not downstairs in ten minutes, I’m giving your flower girl job to Quinton.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” I glare at her.

“Try me!” Finally, she storms out of my room, letting the door slam behind her.

I breathe in a deep breath and release it slowly, going over my immediate checklist of to-dos and pushing all thoughts of my wild night with Amanda as far from my mind as possible.

For now.

___

I don’t know how she did it, but Rory, Carissa, and Charlee’s best friend, Jada who flew in a couple days ago with her husband, have turned what was just another stretch of the beach into a beautiful wedding venue. A few chairs sit on each side of the aisle since there won’t be many guests attending this event. As it was literally a decision made in the air on the way down here, Milo and Charlee had enough time to call a few close friends and family and that’s it. Understandably, not everyone can attend, but the happy couple promised a huge ass party for everyone when we’re home.

Palm leaves line the aisle leading to where Milo and Charlee will stand, and I hold a hollowed coconut filled with tropical flower petals to sprinkle around like a badass. The pergola where the happy couple will be standing was rented from the resort and is adorned with white flowy curtains and some flowers, I wouldn’t dream of knowing the name of, but they match Rory’s dress so I’m guessing it was coordinated on purpose.

Charlee’s bridesmaids, Carissa, Rory, and Jada, all found flowy dresses in one of the boutiques down the road and according to the ladies, Charlee lucked out with a dress off the rack at a local bridal shop. I haven’t seen her yet but I have no doubt she’ll look beautiful. If there’s anything Rory does well, it’s plan events like this. Her creative side knows no bounds and she always goes all in. It’s one of her biggest strengths.

“Hey Man,” Quinton raises his chin as he approaches. “Have you seen Zeke this morning?”

Though we didn’t expect to see him here since he originally told us he needed to stay home, Zeke showed up last night with his little girl, Elsie. He looked a bit like death and it’s not like we all didn’t notice he showed up here without his wife. Something is definitely up between the two of them, but I respect the fact he doesn’t want to talk about it around his little girl. Hopefully we’ll get something out of him later. It’s unlike him to be so down.

I shake my head. “No, not yet. Hey, what do you suppose happened to him? You think he and Lori are fighting?”

“They have to be, right?” He shrugs. “Why else would he have Elsie with him in Key West?”

“Yeah, true.”

Rory steps out to the patio followed by Hawken, Colby, and Milo. “Alright guys, are you about ready to get this shindig started?”

We all nod at the same time Zeke steps out a different door carrying Elsie to a seat in the sand.

I turn to Milo. “What’s going on there? Did he say?”

Milo nods. “Lori left him.”

Quinton, Hawken, and I gasp. “What the fuck? Are you serious?”

“Mhmm,” he says with his hands shoved into his pockets. “And when I say she left, I’m pretty sure she left both of them.”

“What the actual fuck?” Rory is the one shocked this time. “She left her kid?”

“That’s how Zeke made it sound but don’t hold me to that. I could be wrong. He didn’t go into details because there were people around but long story short, Lori’s gone and he’s in charge of Elsie now.”

“Oh God, poor Zeke.”

“Yeah,” Milo says as we all watch the two of them from afar.

Rory claps her hands and shakes her head. “But hey! We’re here for Milo and Charlee and let me tell you, Charlee looks hot as fuck, so let’s get this party started and liven this place up a bit, huh?”

All of us follow suit clapping Milo on the shoulder. “Let’s get you your girl, Landric.”

“Hell yeah.” Milo smiles. “That’s a great idea.”

Milo and the rest of the guys make their way to the pergola, but I stay behind with my coconut of flower petals watching Zeke and Elsie and feeling bad that he’s not up there with the rest of them.

Rory has a staffer start the music and the ladies make their way down the aisle one at a time, Carissa first, followed by Rory and then Jada. And then it’s my turn.

Proudly holding my coconut, I wait until the music changes and happily sprinkle flower petals into the air until I reach Zeke and Elsie. I hold my hands out for Elsie in hopes she’ll come with me.

“Hey princess, you want to help Uncle Dex?”

Zeke gives me a questioning look and I gesture up front. “You belong up there, man. Elsie and I have a job to do and so do you.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not dressed for this.”

“Bullshit. Since when has that stopped any of us? We’re family. We stick together and we stand with each other.” I turn to look at Milo and he nods, gesturing for Zeke to join them. Elsie moves happily to my strong arms and I let her hold the coconut with my help. Zeke steps down the aisle to join the guys, hugging Milo and bumping fists with the other guys while Elsie and I fight the wind as we playfully toss our flower petals.

Once down the aisle, I help Elsie give everyone a fist bump and then keep her in my arms while we stand next to her dad.

Charlee rounds the corner as the music changes once again for her entrance and damn, Rory wasn’t lying when she said Charlee looks hot as fuck. She’s an absolute knockout and glancing over at Milo and watching the tears building in his eyes, I’m certain he agrees. Charlee’s white dress is long and flowy with a huge slit up the side all the way to her hip and a deep V-neck halter-like top. Her dark hair is half up and half down, just enough to show off her neck but not blow around in her face. She walks barefoot through the sand with a smile on her face bigger than I’ve ever seen and she has us all following suit.

I may not be the marrying type, but I’m still a bit of a sap when it comes to the happiness of my friends, and I could not be prouder of my friend Milo.

___

“Hey.”

I turn my head and pass a friendly smile to the woman next to me at the bar who is literally wearing a teeny yellow polka dot bikini, her suntanned skin making the bright color pop. Her long black hair is piled in a bun at the top of her head, her sunglasses resting above her forehead.

Yep. Totally my type.

I’d do her.

“Hi.”

“Was that you at the wedding today? With the flowers and the little girl? My friends and I were watching from the pool.”

“Yep.” I nod. “That was me. One of my buddies got married today.”

Her eyes float down my naked torso to my swim trunks and back up. “Well congratulations to your friend. You looked great up there doing your flower guy thing. It was…sexy.”

She winks and I know exactly where this is going.

Look all you want, Sweetheart.

Not the first time. Won’t be the last.

“Thanks.”

“Your wife is a lucky lady.”

“She would be if I had one, yes.”

“You’re not married?”

“Nope.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Easy.” I shrug. “I don’t like to commit.”

“Well, how perfect is that then? Neither do I.” She slides her hand over my arm resting on the bar. “I’m Catalina. What do you say we keep each other company tonight? You know, in that perfectly noncommittal way.”

I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s nowhere near what I had with Amanda last night and something about that rubs me the wrong way. If she were Amanda offering herself up to me again, I would be naked in my room and on my knees licking her sweet pussy already, but Catalina is not my Amanda Hugginkis.

The bartender finally hands me my drink which I tip to my mouth before answering the pretty lady in the sexy yellow bikini.

“Catalina, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Sweetheart, but I think I’m going to have to take a rain check.”

Wow.

Any other day and in any other town I would be taking her up on her offer, bending her over a bed and plowing into her until I can’t see straight.

What the hell am I doing?

“Your loss, big guy,” she retorts with a disappointed half smile.

“Agreed.” I gesture to the bartender and tell him to put Catalina’s drink on my tab as well as a free drink for her friends. Fuck, I never do shit like this either, buying women pity drinks.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

___

“Cannon baaaaall!” Colby pulls his knees to his chest, bounding from the side of the pool into the water. His sheer size guarantees we’re all in the splash zone, like it or not. He springs to the surface and grabs his wife who squeals loudly. Zeke’s little one, Elsie, mimics her squeal and giggles with laughter, in turn making us all laugh right along with her.

What is it about kid giggles?

Works on adults every time.

Rory and Jada take Elsie from Zeke and play with her in the baby pool splash zone while the rest of us are hanging in the deep end sans the newlyweds. They’re not leaving Key West for an official honeymoon right now, but we left them alone for the night once dinner was over.

“What do you suppose they’re doin’ up there?” Quinton smirks.

I chuckle. “I wonder if she made him wear his cock ring all day?”

The group laughs with me over the memory of Charlee gifting Milo a remote-controlled cock ring for his birthday. Unbeknownst to him, she invited all of us to hang out and then tortured him with it all evening until he couldn’t take it anymore. Pretty sure they had it out in the wine closet of his penthouse. Funniest evening ever.

“Either she didn’t, or he’s gotten really good at withstanding it.” Carissa giggles in Colby’s arms. “He didn’t seem to be squirming up there while they were saying their vows.”

“Speaking of squirming, bro…” Hawken gives me some side-eye. “What happened last night after Rory and I went to play pool? Because I came back for you and you were nowhere to be seen.”

“Oooh that’s my cue to leave.” Carissa scrunches her face. “Y’all do your man-talk thing. I’m gonna go play with Elsie.”

“You finally get some action last night, Dex?” Colby asks, watching his wife hop out of the pool and adjust her bikini.

Hawken laughs. “Either he did or he spent the night spread eagle with himself because that’s what I walked in on this morning.”

“Oh damn.” Quinton laughs.

I hadn’t thought about her for most of the day, but suddenly all the memories of last night with Amanda wash over me.

“She told me her name was Amanda. Amanda Hugginkis”

The guys burst out laughing. “No, she did not.” Quinton cackles. “And you fell for that?”

“Not at all. I played along and told her my name was Ben Dover and by God, I think she may have been the best sex I have ever had.”

Colby’s brows shoot up. “Wow. That’s sayin’ something. You sure about that? You have a lot of sex, man.”

I nod. “I do and rarely with the same girl twice but I’ll tell you what, if Amanda Hugginkis were still here right now, she’d be at my side. Better yet, she’d be on her side and I’d be eight inches deep inside her because fuck me…she was…” I shake my head, thoughts of her finger pushing into me, pleasuring me in a way nobody ever has, render me speechless. “She was…shit, I don’t even know what to say.”

“Where is she now?” Zeke asks.

“She left me sometime last night and had an early morning flight back to Michigan. That’s where she’s from.”

“Does she follow hockey? Did she know who you were?”

I shake my head. “If she does, she didn’t lead on that she knew me. Even if she is a hockey fan, she’s probably a Detroit fan so maybe she wouldn’t know who I am anyway.”

“And you didn’t think to get her number? I mean, you two could’ve met up whenever we’re in Detroit.”

I shake my head. “Nah. You guys know I don’t sleep with the same woman twice. The minute I start that shit they’ll be crying about relationships and the press will have a field day.”

“Well…” Colby claps me on the shoulder. “Good for you for scoring. You needed that.”

“Yeah, he did.” Hawken nudges me with this shoulder. “He was a grump and a half these past couple days.”

“Yeah, yeah. Fuck you too, Hawk. I could’ve had someone again tonight. Did you see that woman in the yellow bikini?”

The guys look around until they spot her by the bar.

“She propositioned me when I went up to get my beer and I turned her down.”

Hawk’s eyes bulge. “You turned her down?”

“She’s hot man,” Quinton murmurs. “Did she have bad teeth or what?”

I laugh. “No. Her teeth were perfectly fine. She just wasn’t Amanda.”

Holy fuck.

I said that so matter-of-factly I didn’t even consider what I was saying.

“Wait.” Colby shakes his head. “You just turned down another night of sex because of the woman you fucked last night?”

I mean…he’s right, right?

That’s why I turned down Catalina.

Because she’s not Amanda.

Slowly, I nod. “I…yeah. I guess so.”

“Fuck, man.” Hawk shakes his head scoffing out a laugh. “You must’ve had some night last night.”

I told her I would ruin her for any guy who came after me, but what if she ruined me for all future women?

Fuck me.

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