Free Play Hard (The Devil's Share Book 5) by L.P. Maxa Page B

Landry watch Stand By Me over three months ago and the chicks were still not happy about it. Hindsight? Not the most kid-friendly movie, even though it was a movie about kids.
    Smith started laughing. “Don’t blame B. Landry called her new swim instructor a ‘cheap dime-store hood’ the other day.”
    Harlow whispered to Landry and me out the side of her mouth, “I love Stand by Me . It’s one of my favorite movies.”
    Could Lo get any more amazing? Dylan cleared her throat and sent me a glare. I sighed and turned to Landry. “You’re going to keep getting us all in trouble. Be cool, yeah?” She giggled.
    Bryan focused her attention on my fake gf. “Harlow, do you live in Costa Rica? Or were you just there on vacation?”
    “Vacation. I live in Miami.” She looked over and gave me a thick dreamy smile, only I noticed the narrowed malice in her eyes. She was having to lie for a backstory, yet again. “I was only supposed to be there for a week, but when I met Luke I decided to extend my trip.”
    “How long have you guys known each other now?” Lexi frowned when Dylan shoved a bowl of yogurt in front of her. She discreetly moved it closer to Dash, who rolled his eyes and took three huge bites, making a big dent in it and then sliding it back.
    “About two months.” Lo reached over with her fork and stole a piece of watermelon from my plate. All coupley.
    Lexi nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
    “Eighteen.” The table was silent. Everyone’s jaw dropped four inches. I used my whole hand to tickle her leg until she started to laugh. “I’m kidding. I’m twenty-four.” I shook my head and looked across the table to see Dash smiling at her. He seemed to approve. Probably just happy to see I’d moved on from his fiancée.
    Halen started to fuss and Lexi got up to grab her, but then stopped and turned to me. “Luke hasn’t seen her in forever, let’s see if he still has that baby-whisperer magic.”
    I got up and took Halen from Smith. “Hey, sweet girl, I sure missed you.” I put her up on my shoulder and covered the back of her tiny head with my hand. I started the bounce she used to love, and then I began to hum the song I used to sing her at night. The conversation around the table kept going. But Lexi got up and came to stand beside me, resting her hand on her daughter’s back.
    “She missed you, Luke. We all missed you.”
    I met her gaze and couldn’t mistake the tears in her eyes. Lexi may have broken my heart, she may have picked another man; she may be trying to sniff out my current non-fake girlfriend lies. But she was still my best friend. We had history. And I’d always love her. “I know, Lex. I, uh, I needed a break.”
    She wiped at her tears. “When I woke up and you were gone…”
    “You knew I was leaving.” Lexi was the one person who knew me better than anyone else. Which meant she knew I’d been poised to leave. Even if she hadn’t wanted to admit it to herself or anyone else. It also meant that she had merit for her suspicions about Lo and me.
    She nodded. “Didn’t make it hurt any less.”
    “Well, I’m home now.” I closed my eyes and breathed in my goddaughter’s sweet scent. I was home. These people were home to me, and as terrified as I was of coming back, I was happy to be here. I didn’t say anything else and eventually she went back to her seat, leaving me and Halen to our bouncing. After a few minutes she was asleep. So I took my place next to Harlow with Halen still in my arms.
    “She’s so adorable.” Lo reached up and put her hand on Halen’s back, rubbing it softly.
    “Yeah, she takes after her godfather.”
    She snorted. “There’s that cocky man. You had me worried for a minute.” She smiled and added in a voice everyone could hear, “You looked so humble and in love holding that sweet baby.”
    “Harlow, do you want kids? Luke loves kids, he’s great with them.”
    I shot daggers at Lexi from across the