The Way We Score: A small-town, accidental pregnancy, sports romance. (The Bradford Boys)

We stay a little longer until Liv’s eyes blink slowly, and I know she’s tired. She gets tired early these days.

With all of us working together, it doesn’t take long to dispose of the trash and put our dishes in the large dishwasher. Tables are cleaned and condiments refilled, and we leave the restaurant ready for tomorrow before telling everyone goodnight.

Being with my family and with Liv this way reminds me of how I always dreamed it would be, and walking back to Liv’s house, she catches my shoulders and hops onto my back.

Wrapping my arms under her knees, I love the feel of her body against mine. “Is your mom playing DnD tonight?”

I can’t get over Ms. Plum being an elf bard.

“She went to Evergreen!” Liv’s arms are around my neck, and she tilts her head to the side. “My cousin Gwen had hip replacement surgery, so Mom packed enough clothes to last a year and went to stay with her. She said you’re welcome to sleep in her room while she’s gone.”

Anticipation tingles my stomach as I think about what she’s saying. “Are you asking me to spend the night at your house?”

“You’re over so early every morning, I don’t see why you shouldn’t. Unless you don’t want to.”

“I want to.” My tone is definite, and we fall quiet.

Liv rests her chin on my shoulder as we walk, and the cool breeze touches my cheek. The weather is changing, and we’ll be wearing coats and the kids will be having bonfires before long. I think of holding her in my arms, watching the orange embers.

“I’m really proud of you for defending Craig like that.”

“I’ve never liked bullies.” It’s low, almost a growl when I remember those big boys holding my friend down, punching him in the stomach and face.

“You really are a champ.”

That makes me laugh. “Champ of spilling the beans.”

Her head tilts to the side and she smiles. “What’s your favorite baby girl name?”

“Hmm…” I hold her legs as I think about it. “I don’t really have any favorites, but Mom’s name was Lucy. My grandma was Grace.”

“What was your mom’s middle name?”

“Knox.”

“Your mom’s middle name was Knox?” Disbelief is in her tone, and I chuckle.

“I think that was her mother’s maiden name.”

“I like that for a boy, but maybe not a girl.”

We’re almost home, and I give her a little bounce. “What’s yours?”

“Angie, Bianca, Lola…”

“I like Lola. She’ll be a showgirl.”

We’ve reached the house, and she slides off my back, skipping ahead of me, up the steps and turning to place her hands on my chest. “Our daughter will not be a showgirl.”

“With yellow feathers in her hair, and her dress cut down to⁠—”

“Garrett!”

I can’t help laughing, and I reach up to cup her face in my hands. Tonight when she tried to get jealous about Aubrey Shiffer of all things, I didn’t hesitate. I’m tired of holding back, and I want her to know how I feel. So I put my cards on the table—in front of witnesses.

Our eyes hold, and a tentative smile lifts the corners of her mouth. She reaches up to slide her hand over my wrist. “We should get inside. It’s chilly.”

I follow her inside, stopping to slip off my work boots at the door and hang my vest on the coat rack. She goes to the kitchen and takes down two glasses.

“Would you like some water?”

“Sure.”

When she returns, she hands me one, and I look down at her, feeling the humming tension of us being here in this house, all alone.

“I’m not really tired. Want to see what’s on TV?” She passes me, picking up the small remote of the end table. “Mom still has cable, so no telling.”

She sits on the couch, and I lower myself beside her, watching as she cycles through the channels. Finally, she stops on an old police show with Kyra Sedgwick in it.

“Oh, I used to love The Closer!” She sets the remote down, settling into my side.

I can’t focus on the show with her beside me, then she shifts again.

“I can’t get comfortable in these jeans.” She stands. “I’m going to change.”

My eyes glide down her body, her full breasts hugged in that sweater, and my dick twitches. “I’d better run back to the house and get some clothes for tomorrow.”

She peeks her head back into the room. “Don’t be gone too long.”

With that, I hustle out the door, jogging quickly to the house and doing my best to grab a few things and stuff them into my duffel bag before leaving again. The house is dark, and I expect Dylan and Logan will appreciate having the place to themselves. It reminds me, I need to start looking for my own place, for when Ms. Plum returns. Something with plenty of room for a family.

When I get back, Liv is perched on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in her lap. Her legs are crossed, and she’s in my old cotton jersey and lounge pants. Fuzzy socks are on her feet, and she looks cute as hell with her hair tied to the side in a ponytail.

“You’re wearing my jersey.”

“Every night.” Her slim brow lowers. “That’s not a lot of stuff.”

“I’ll get more tomorrow.” I carry the bag into Ms. Plum’s small room.

Frowning, I look at her single bed and decide on the spot I won’t be sleeping in it. It’s a kind offer, but for whatever reason it feels weird to me. I replace my jeans with the sweatpants I brought and trade out my work shirt for a tee.

When I return, Liv holds out the bowl. “Popcorn?”

Dropping beside her, I exhale. “Nah, I’m good.” Reaching down, I lift her foot into my lap and take off her sock.

“What—” Her protest devolves into a moan when I start to massage her foot.

Not gonna lie, that moan is the sexiest sound I’ve heard in a while. “The book says expectant mothers really like foot massages.”

“Everybody likes foot massages.”

Kyra Sedgwick is walking around a crime scene in a pretty dress and cardigan set taking pictures, and I reach down to lift Liv’s other foot into my lap to repeat the process.

“You’re really good at this.” She smiles. “You don’t tickle or nothing.”

I grin. “Pulp Fiction.”

“You know what they say about foot massages.”

Pressing my lips together, I nod. “I wouldn’t give a guy a foot massage.”

With a quick inhale, she puts the bowl aside and shifts higher on the couch. “What else does the book say about me?”

My eyes slide from her bare foot to her bare ankle, and I slide my fingers around to the back of her calf, gently circling my fingers. “It says a lot of things.”

Her tongue slides out to wet her bottom lip, and her eyes flicker to my hand. The back of her calves is another one of her sensitive spots.

When we saw that episode of Friends in high school, I immediately made Liv show me all her erogenous zones. It was hot, and I wanted to make Liv moan that way. We spent the summer finding every place—behind her neck, in the bend of her arm, her lower back, the backs of her shoulders… I loved watching her eyes darken and her nipples peak.

“Some pregnant ladies get really horny.” Her eyes drift to the screen, but my senses tingle at her words. “I wonder what evolutionary purpose that serves. I’m already pregnant.”

“Are you saying you’re horny, Cher?”

She shrugs, pushing her hair behind her shoulder. “I think it’s important to be able to communicate your level of horniness with your partner. Maybe you’re both equally horny, but you don’t know it.”

“True.”

“I’ve heard women complain they’re hornier than their boyfriends, but if they’ve never shared that information, how could they know? Maybe their boyfriends are just as horny as they are.”

“I’m getting horny just talking about it.”

She sits forward arching an eyebrow. “Are you?”

“Always for you.” My voice is lower, and my eyes drag from her full lips down her neck. “You know how I feel.”

“How do you feel?” Her voice softens, and our eyes meet.

“Only ask me if you really want to know.”

“I really want to know.”

Taking her hand, I give her a gentle pull, helping her straddle my lap facing me. She sits on my erection, and her eyes slant. I know she feels it.

Leaning forward, she speaks in my ear, soft lips brushing my skin. “Tell me.”

I put my hands on her waist. “I want to tear this jersey off your body and devour you.”

Holding my neck, she hums. “Or you could just slide your hands underneath it.”

Tilting her head to the side, she traces her lips along my jaw, getting closer to my mouth. I do as she says, finding her body completely bare.

Groaning, I lift and cup her breasts, squeezing them and sliding my thumbs over her hard nipples. I’ve been obsessed with touching her for weeks. She’s softer, rounder…

She exhales a hushed moan in my ear. “Don’t stop.”

“Fuck, Liv,” I groan, shifting my hips so my dick hits her core. “It’s been so long since I touched you.”

“I’ve wanted you for months.” Her lips brush mine.

Slim hands cup my cheeks, and our mouths seal together. She exhales a whimper as my tongue invades to find hers. I want to be gentle, but I’m not sure I can.

Her kisses are as hungry as mine, and the way she’s sliding back and forth on my lap is making me crazy.

“Let’s go.” Sliding my hands under her ass, I lift her as I stand.

Her legs wrap around my waist, and I carry her to her bedroom. Lowering her gently onto the bed, I take a knee as I reach up to jerk those cotton pants down her legs. Straightening, I hold her jaw as I kiss her, pulling her lips with mine before opening her mouth and curling our tongues together once more.

Dragging my mouth down her neck, I pause to help her out of my jersey. She lies back, and I lean forward to suck a nipple into my mouth. My hands brace the mattress on either side of her, and I devour her soft skin, inhaling her sweet jasmine scent.

“I want to fuck you til you can’t walk.”

“Garrett…” she moans, threading her fingers in my hair.

Her body curves up to meet me, and she kisses my head, the side of my face.

I’m moving lower, lingering a moment at her stomach, spreading my hand over the bare skin and kissing just above her navel. Tracing my lips to the side, I move lower to where her lacy underwear rises over her hip.

She hisses my name as I hook my fingers in the sides to yank them down her thighs, past her knees, and she kicks them off her feet.

Rising onto her elbows, she looks down at me between her legs. I push my pants down, allowing my erection to spring free, and her bottom lip goes beneath her teeth.

Hazel eyes darken, and she’s so fucking sexy watching me. I palm my cock, sliding my hand to the tip, over the precum leaking, and using it to smooth my strokes as I slowly jerk off for her.

“You make me so hard,” I groan, and her hand slides between her legs.

I know my girl likes to watch, and I’m happy to give her a show. A few more strokes, and I have to stop before I come too soon. Moving forward, I spread her thighs wide, so I can drag my tongue over her clit.

“Oh, God…” She falls back onto the bed, her body shuddering as I eat her pussy.

Her ass tenses, and she moans as my tongue moves in circles up and down and all over that hard little bud. Closing my lips, I give her a suck and her lower body shudders. Another flicker of my tongue, and she breaks into jerky spasms, moaning and pulling my hair.

Kissing higher, I trace my lips over her lower belly. Another kiss for our baby, and my hand is on my dick again. Lifting her knees, she holds her hands out to me. I slide my tip up and down her wetness, coating my cock as I thrust firmly into her core.

“Fuck,” we both groan, and I drop forward with my arms beside her on the bed.

I’m sheathed, warm and tight in her shuddering body, and it feels so damn good. My face is buried in her shoulder, and I kiss her skin, dragging my lips to her collarbone. Her fingers dig into my back, and she moves her hips beneath me.

“Fuck me, Garrett.” Her voice is thick, and I start to move, rocking my hips.

Lifting higher, I meet her mouth for another, messy kiss. Our lips frantically chase each other’s, both moaning as our tongues drag together. She drops her mouth to my neck, biting and sucking at the skin, and it’s a charge straight to my cock.

“Liv…” I groan, unable to slow my raging orgasm.

It climbs higher in my legs, twisting in my core, driving my movements. I’m fucking her hard, and my ass tightens. Everything twists achingly hotter.

“This pussy is mine.”

“Yes,” she gasps.

“This pussy belongs to me.” She groans louder, and my jaw grinds.

Bracing my hand beside her on the bed, a bead of sweat rolls down my brow. I hold her waist as I thrust faster again and again.

“Say it.” It’s a primal demand.

“My pussy is yours.”

I hold, breaking with a loud groan. My dick pulses, and I’m blinded by the intensity of this one. It’s just like before, just like always. For several moments, I can’t move. I’m lost in this moment, holding the one thing I know is true.

Until slowly, my muscles release. I shudder with the aftershocks. It’s so damn good.

Dropping to the bed beside her, I gather her into my arms, hugging her to my chest. Her hands find my waist before sliding around, and she’s holding me equally tightly. I dip my chin and kiss her eyebrow, her hair, the top of her head.

This is my family. She’s my home.