Play With Me (Playing for Keeps, #2)

by Becka Mack

Maybe, but a year ago I would’ve never expected him to be sitting here playing the audio of his unborn baby’s heartbeat on repeat.

Awwwwjjefie

“You gonna tell him to keep his hands off you, or should I?” My heart skitters to a stop. “What?” Garrett’s grip on the steering wheel tightens, his eyes on the road. “I don’t like the way he touches you.” “Garrett … Simon’s my dance partner. He has to touch me.” “You know as well as I do he wants to be more than that. I can handle the way he touches you when you’re dancing, but I won’t tolerate him putting his hands all over you the rest of the time, like he thinks you’re his.” “Okay, back up.” I swivel in my seat, hands braced in front of me. “What are you talking about? I’m not Simon’s. I’m not anybody’s.” “Right. You’re happy being single.” “Can you fucking look at me?” I snap. “Why are you upset with me?” “I’m not upset with you,” he lies. “I’m reiterating a point you’ve made a couple of times now.” “A point I’m not aware of, clearly, so why don’t you enlighten me.”

“It’s not enough for me anymore.” I stagger backward as the words sink in. Not enough? But … I’ve always been enough for him.

He looks directly at Garrett, smirking as he does it. “Stunning,” he murmurs with a whistle. “Right, Andersen?” Carter’s face appears between us. “Did you just whistle at my sister?” Jaxon’s face drains of color. He shoves my coat into Carter’s chest. “No.”

“I’m so fucking tired of pretending I’m not in love with you.”

No, he’s got his face pressed to Olivia’s belly, his hands cupped around his mouth as he makes these weird, deep, staticky breathing noises. “What the fuck are you doing, dude?” Jaxon finally asks. “Luke,” Carter speaks into Olivia’s stomach. Two more raspy noises. “I am your father.” “Holy fuck.” I scrub my tired eyes. “Not Darth Vader.”

Nothing but the sound of water raining down. And then: “A deal? On air?” “Yeah, I took it to that shop over on Renfrew, and they knocked the price down to four hundred dollars!” The water stops, silence hanging heavy in the air as steam seeps from the bathroom. Slow as molasses, Garrett appears in the doorway, naked, soaking wet, not even bothering to cover his XL cock. “Pardon?” “A hundred bucks a tire! For premium air! Can you believe it?” “P … Premium air?” “They said they normally charge double!” “Oh my God.” His hands come up, head moving rapidly between them like he isn’t sure what to do, before he finally drags them down his face. “Oh my God. Jennie, what the fuck? How-how-how … You got ripped off!” “What are you talking about?” “Air is—oh my God! Jennie, it costs, like, a dollar to put air in your tires!” “What?”

“I fucking love her!” His mouth pops open as his grip on my jersey loosens. “What?” I karate chop his wrists, gulping down air. “I said I fucking love her, okay?” He sits up but doesn’t get off me. “But I thought—” “Because you don’t fucking listen!” I scoop up a glove and chuck it at his face. “It’s not about you, Carter! This was about me and her finding each other!” “But she’s my sister. You can’t—” “Why not? You don’t think I’m good enough for her?” “What? No, I—” His eyes shine with guilt. He shakes his head. “I didn’t say that.” “Then what is it? Because all you wanted was for Olivia to give you a chance, and now you’re not giving me one.” “You might … you might …” His chest rises and falls rapidly, a speckle of blood pooling in the center of his bottom lip. “You might hurt her!” Another damn glove to the face. “You’re the one hurting her right now, Carter! She can’t handle you cutting her out like this. And why should she have to? You’re her brother. Hasn’t she lost enough in her life?” Carter’s throat bobs, and that guilt in his eyes starts to drown them. “She’s spent her life feeling overshadowed by you, thinking all she had to offer anyone was being Carter Beckett’s little sister. She was finally realizing she had people in her life who wanted to be there for her, not for you. She found love, after everything she’s gone through, all the fucking heartache, and what do you do? You leave her. You tell her she can’t have it.” His head wags. “No, I … I would never say...

grinning. “You’re needed at the hospital.” Carter’s spine straightens. “What?” “You’re about to be a daddy.” “Holy shit!” Carter rolls over, throwing himself on top of me in some sort of hug before he scrambles to his feet, throws his arms out wide, and screeches, “I’m gonna be a dad!”

“Olivia! I’m coming, baby!”

“Is this your first?” The receptionist at the desk watches Carter with a smile. It’s one of those humoring kinds, probably because he’s pacing the hallway, flapping at his face. Cara’s been recording to show Olivia later. Right now isn’t the time to shove it in her face that her husband is falling apart. “Baby? No.” He lays a hand on his chest. “Dog dad.” Holly narrows her eyes. “Carter.” “What?” He looks at her. “Oh, human baby? Yeah, this is our first human baby. And our last.” He laughs anxiously. “Just kidding. We’re gonna have three, probably. Maybe five.” Another shrill laugh. “Five human babies.”

Have you ever seen a six-foot-four hulk of a man cradle his tiny, newborn baby girl in his arms while singing “You Are My Sunshine?”

Carterrrr

“What? But I’m not done! She’s just—” He hugs Ireland to his chest and frowns, twisting away when Olivia tries to take their daughter. “You can’t have her!” “Carter, give me the baby.” “No.” “Carter.” His brows knit so tightly, scrunching his forehead. With a huff, he turns toward me. “You have to be careful.” “I’ve already held her,” I remind him. “Well, don’t forget.” “I won’t forget.” “Sit on the couch. I don’t want you

“And don’t forget to support her head.” “I will support her head.” “And don’t—” “For fuck’s sake, Carter, I know how to hold a damn baby!” “Geez,” he mutters, gently shifting Ireland into my arms. “Someone’s testy.” “I swear to God I will rip your balls off and you’ll never father another child again. Now shut up, sit down, or get out of my face.” He sinks down beside me without another word, cowering from my stare like a scared little boy.