Free IMPACT: A Secret Baby Sports Romance by Vivian Lux Page B

exclusive?"
    "Weren't we?"
    Her chest rose and fell. "I thought we were."
    I wanted to fucking touch her so badly right now. "We were."
    She nodded and didn't say anything to agree. But she didn't need to.
    "So under the part-time fuck-buddies arrangement, I need to give you privacy now?" I asked.
    She looked me full in the eye. "Please."
    "Okay." I nodded. "See you."
    She nodded again. She brushed a distracted kiss across my lips.
    Then she pushed me out of the bathroom and shut the door in my face. I heard the bolt catch, shutting me out.
    But I didn't give a shit. I was smiling.
    Because that was the first time Olivia Bryant had ever said "please."
    And I knew I'd make her say it again.

Chapter 13
     
    Olivia
     
     
    When my legs gave out, there was no place to land but on the toilet, so I sat my still-clothed ass right down and prayed there wasn't anything wet in the way.
    I was shaking.
    Why was I shaking?
    Deep, gulping breaths did nothing to slow my racing heartbeat. I blinked, startled when I felt the tears starting to gather, pricking at the corners of my eyes and threatening to fall and ruin my eye makeup.
    Holy hell, what was happening to me?
    My pulse raced each time I touched my bruised lips. His beard had chafed my cheeks, leaving my skin feeling tender and raw...like my fucking heart.
    Taking another deep breath, I closed my eyes and tried to count backward from one hundred. But closing my eyes was a mistake, because in the darkness behind my lids I could only see Brad's blue eyes staring coolly at me as I desperately tried to erect barbed wire around my emotions.
    He looked at me like he didn't believe a word I was saying but was willing to indulge my whim.
    Brad always indulged me. I used to like that about him. But right now it seemed downright...
    Dangerous.
    That kiss. That had taken things far beyond what I ever wanted from a goddamned hockey player. He was supposed to fuck me the way I liked and then fucking leave.
    Guys leave. That's what they do. That's what my father did when I was seven years old and then that's what every boyfriend my mother ever found after that did as well. I was used to it. I expected it, and, goddamn it, I needed it.
    Shaking, I stood up and yanked down my skirt. May as well fucking do what I came back here to do in the first place.
    I peed, wiped, and then out of habit, checked the paper.
    That's when I saw the tiny smear of color and....
    "Holy shit," I breathed. "That's why!" That's why I'm such a raw, ragged wreck! That's why I'm practically crying over Bradley Scott! "My period!"
    I nearly cackled in relief. I sounded like a crazy person, but that's because it was for good reason. "Two days early." Which was weird, because I was on the pill and took it religiously every morning. I must have missed a pill or screwed up my schedule or something. No matter. It was here and it explained my momentary psychosis. "Thank god."
    I finished up and went to the sink and splashed some water on my face. My eyeliner was smeared and my hair was a mess where his fingers had tangled in it. I still looked like a train wreck, but I no longer felt like one. Just knowing there was a legitimate physiological reason for why I had lost control like that was enough for me to completely regain it.
    I smiled over my shoulder at myself, flicked my hair behind my shoulders and went out to find a damn tampon.
    *****
    "Olivia?"
    It was the Monday morning after the Brad-bathroom incident. And I still felt like absolute ass. I was wearing the most loosely fitting pair of slacks I owned and I still felt like my bloat was going to burst the button at any moment. I was in no shape to be around people. Least of all Kyle.
    I took a deep, steadying breath, then swiveled my desk chair to face him. I tried to smile, but I was sure it looked more like I was baring my teeth. "Yes, Kyle?" I gritted.
    "Whoa, no need to jump down my throat."
    I flexed my hands. "I can assure you, I did nothing of the sort. You'd notice