Once Upon A Half-Time 1(62)

“She makes some good points.”

“Yesterday she smooshed a banana in your shoes before covering herself head-to-toe in hand lotion. Surely Rosie is a bastion of wisdom.”

A flash blinked over our table. Jack turned, posed with Leah, and raised his eyebrows. “Look, Kiss. If it isn’t the blushing bride…”

The series of quick, angry flashes deliberately blinded Jack. My vision haloed with floating purple spots, but they cleared to reveal the most beautiful fucking woman in the world.

And, Christ, was she dressed to kill.

A black corset wrapped over Elle’s chest, pushing those tits to Heaven while the plump swell of her hips would damn me to Hell. Her hair tumbled in waves over her bare shoulders, though most was held in place by a dark blue barrette in the shape of a bow that matched her swishing skirt. The pleated navy material caressed her long legs. The outfit transformed my Elle from a trendy little trouble-maker into a sexy, sensual heart-breaker.

She tried to speak, but not a sound puffed from her lips.

It was adorable. I grinned. “Lost your voice?”

She patted her throat with a frustrated shrug.

“You can’t talk at all?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“Lucky,” Cole muttered. Piper smacked his arm.

“What happened?” Leah asked.

“She was sick,” I said.

Elle pointed to me in the affirmative and mimed throwing up, coughing, and then gestured to her voice box. I didn’t need to know the full story. Her charades were horrifying enough.

“You feeling okay now?” I pulled her closer. She tensed in front of the others but nodded. “Want to dance?”

“Aww.” Piper gave Cole a fierce glance. “How sweet.”

Elle didn’t find it as charming. She arched an eyebrow and patted the camera in her hands.

“Oh, come on,” I said. “You’re working?”

She waved to me, Cole, and Jack, then aimed a finger across the room at Coach Thompson and a few members of the defense. Point taken. Team events plus Leah’s PR spin machine meant this would be one well-documented party.

“Well, here.” I handed her my champagne. “At least have a drink.”

She backed away from the glass like it was filled with acid. This time she tapped the camera harder.

“Really?”

She shrugged, stroked her wrist where a watch would go, and pretended to aim the camera. I had no idea what it meant, but whatever. I downed the champagne instead. It definitely wasn’t strong enough to mask the aches and pains from practice, but it was a start.

Another flash captured us. This time, Elle’s boss, Peter, held the camera.

“Don’t you all look fantastic?” He greeted us with a smile. “And Elle. You’re absolutely lovely.”

She gave a knowing shrug and motioned to return to the party. Peter stopped her.

“Elle, why don’t you enjoy yourself tonight?” He took her camera. “Go on. Spend some time with your husband.”

The group laughed. Elle didn’t.

“You’ll have plenty of overtime during these next few weeks,” he said.

“Oh? The exhibition games?” I asked. “You’re covering those?”

She nodded, quickly.

Peter patted her arm. “It’d do you some good to have a night off. Give me one picture of the happy couple, and you can have all the fun you want.”

Perfect.

I seized the opportunity while Elle couldn’t yell at me. I twirled her in my arms, dipped her, and took my kiss.

The camera flashed, and Elle’s heel jammed into my shoe.

“Yeah, I deserved that.” I grinned. “Totally worth it.”

“You two probably know it…” Leah said. “But you make the cutest couple.”

“That’s what I keep telling her.” I kissed Elle’s hand this time. She pulled her wrist back, thwapping my nose with a chastising finger. “She doesn’t know how good she’s got it.”

Her hands poised over her hips, but that insulted back arch pushed up those tits even more.

“First she doesn’t remember our wedding.” I baited her with a smile. “Then she refuses my advances. Teases me. Uses me. And yet, here I am…asking for more trouble.”

“Yeah.” Jack nodded. “That’s marriage.”

Leah flicked his ear. “And you love it.”

“Was never planning on it.”

“You got it anyway, Play-Maker.”

A waiter passed by, and I plucked a champagne glass from his tray. I handed it to Elle.

“Now that you’re off the clock...”

She set the glass on the table with a shrug. Her hand patted her throat once more, but Piper’s startled gasp shocked the group.