It had become familiar, but it still made my heart beat fast. As soon as that shirt came off, I couldn’t help myself. Being around Gibson’s cocky smile, his shirtless body, his sexy tattoos, it all drove me wild. I had to keep my head level, though. I couldn’t risk getting stuck in all of this again.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked me as I went through checking him.
“Nothing special.”
“It’s Friday. You have to be doing something special.”
“I’m pregnant, remember? Anything fun or special is basically off limits for me.”
He laughed. “You can still have fun.”
“Hardly. I’m tired all the time. I’m bloated and gross. I don’t feel like myself.”
“You don’t look bloated or gross,” he said softly. “I’m barely containing my hard fucking cock, actually.”
I glanced down at his gym shorts. “You’re not doing a good job at it.”
He grinned at me. “Well, I’m not trying that hard.”
“Anyway, I’m just sitting around. Why?”
“Me and some of the guys are going to Dom’s tonight, getting some dinner. Nothing crazy since tomorrow is game day. Come with us.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Come on,” he said, “it’ll be a group thing. Non-threatening. You can meet the guys.”
“I don’t need to meet the guys.”
“Sure you do,” he said. “You’re desperate to meet them.”
I sighed. “I don’t know.”
“It’s free food and great company. What more could you want?”
I glanced at his chest and looked quickly away. The memory of his cock between my legs pushing deep inside me came back, and I knew that was what I really wanted.
“Okay,” I heard myself say.
“Good. I’m off tutoring. I’ll get you around six.”
“Fine. Six.”
I finished up writing in my journal and put away all of the equipment. Hynes reappeared, and we made small talk as I finished putting stuff away in my bag.
Gibson walked me to the door. “See you later,” he said.
“Yeah. See you.” I turned and left.
So much for keeping my distance from him, but then again, it was a group thing, and I hadn’t really gone anywhere in so long. I felt like an old lady already, and I was barely nine weeks pregnant.
If anything, I needed this. I needed a little time out, even if I couldn’t drink, even if it was with my baby’s father, my baby’s gorgeous and complicated father.
I completely lost track of time. By the time six rolled around, I was barely ready.
He knocked at five after six, almost as if he sensed that I needed a few extra minutes to get ready.
I answered the door. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey yourself.” He was wearing his usual jeans and a button-down, but he looked great. There was just something so attractive about him, something that took me and wouldn’t let me go no matter how badly I wished I could get past it.
“You look fucking nice,” he said. “Ready?”
“Ready.” I looked back into the apartment. “Bye, Harper!” I called out before we walked outside together.
We walked onto campus, toward Dom’s. It was another beautiful night out, which meant campus was full of people looking to hang out.
“So,” I said, “who’s all coming?”
“Me, you, Hynes, and Drinkwater.”
“Just us four?”
He nodded. “Just us four. You wanted more?”
“No. I mean, I guess I expected a bigger crowd.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
I laughed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. Relax.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “I guess I am nervous.”
“No need to be. You know Hynes. Drinkwater is a good guy.”
“Does he know about the baby?”
“No. And Hynes knows not to say anything.”
“Okay. So no baby talk. Got it.”
He laughed. “What, were you going to go into a monologue on morning sickness?”
“Haven’t had it yet. Fingers crossed.”
“Good,” he said. “I hope you skip that.”
“Some women do and some don’t.”
“Did your mother?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“I guess things aren’t good there.”
“No. She basically disowned me the other day.”
“Shit,” he said. “I’m really sorry. Fuck parents.”
“Do you talk to your parents much?”
He shook his head. “Both of them are petty assholes and drunks. I try to keep contact to a minimum.”