Forever Blake (Once Upon a Player Book 3), Elena Matthews [essential books to read txt] 📗

To the late Karen Frances.

Fly high you beautiful soul,

and may your words continue to live on.

Copyright © 2021 by Elena Matthews

All rights reserved.

Visit my website at www.authorelenamatthews.com

Cover Designer: Najla Qamber Designs, www.najlaqamberdesigns.com

Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Contents

Title page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Elena Matthews

Connect with Elena

“To my two little brothers,” my brother Jace begins as he stands from his seat at our favorite watering hole, Happy Hours, with his bottle of beer raised, looking around our tight-knit family, which includes my brother Nate and his wife, Remi; my other brother Logan and his girlfriend, Ally; and our older sister, Kaelyn and her boyfriend, Chase. “Who have both moved up in their career fields. Blake has finally become a junior partner at one of the best law firms in Dallas, Sullivan-Gould. And Logan has just been promoted to the Intelligence Unit as their newest detective and can finally put his MIT education to better use. Who’d have thought that all the Jensen brothers would not only be good-looking, but smart motherfuckers, too?”

“I also got one hell of a raise, too,” I add, unable to help myself. My arrogance knows no bounds, but when there are a few drinks in me, well, I turn into Mr. Arrogance 2.0.

“Oh, and don’t we know it? It’s why you’re paying for all the drinks tonight,” Jace says with a shit-eating grin.

My entire family cheers at that. I just flip him off.

He barks a laugh before continuing, “Seriously though, I’m proud of you both. You’re exactly where you want to be, and as your older brother, all I want are good things for you. Congrats, guys. You deserve it.”

“Thanks,” Logan and I say at the same time.

“Now, let’s do some serious drinking. Shall I get us all a round of tequila?” Jace asks.

He gets a load of hell yeses, except for Remi.

“Actually, none for me,” she says, glancing over to Nate with a smile creeping along her lips.

Nate gives a nod of the head, his smile matching his wife’s. That’s when I notice she’s only drinking a cola.

“We found out on Monday that I’m pregnant.”

“Wait, what?!” Kaelyn screeches at the top of her lungs, hand on her heart, while the rest of us look at Remi with amazement. Except for Ally.

She and Remi are best friends, so I’m guessing Ally was one of the first people she told.

“Oh my God,” Kaelyn cries out. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

I get a knee to the groin as my sister practically climbs over us to get to Remi and Nate at the other end of the table.

“Jesus, Kaelyn!” I grunt out as I cup my manhood in my hands. Motherfucker. I’m gritting my teeth with the dull pain as I watch Kaelyn finally reach Remi and Nate, pulling Nate into a big mama-bear hug.

“I’ve waited so long for this,” she says as she steps away from Nate before enveloping Remi in her arms.

I can’t help but chuckle. Of course, she had to make their announcement all about her.

“This is amazing news. I’m so happy for you both. How far along are you?” Kaelyn asks as she finally gives Remi and Nate a bit of breathing room.

Remi lets out a breathless laugh before lifting her shirt up a little, showing us a small bump, but honestly, it’s not as small as you would think for someone who just found out she was pregnant. Though what the hell do I know? The only pregnant woman I’ve ever known is a fellow associate I work with.

“I’m eighteen weeks.”

The shock of this is evident on all of our faces. My eyes immediately go back to my sister, who looks like she’s about to hyperventilate with excitement.

“Eighteen?! But you said you only found out on Monday,” Kaelyn points out.

“I know. What can I say? I have irregular periods.”

“Yep, and get this,” Ally begins. “She hasn’t had any morning sickness at all.”

“Wait, none?” Kaelyn focuses her attention back on Remi. “How did you know you were pregnant then?”

“Well, when you suddenly can’t fit into your favorite pair of jeans the day after they fit perfectly, you kind of start wondering.”

Kaelyn shakes her head in amazement, her cheeks smiling so wide that it’s a surprise she doesn’t split her face in half. She pulls Remi back in for another hug and then steps back, her eyes lit up. “I swear, this kid is going to be spoiled rotten.”

Remi laughs lightly. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”

We all then take turns pulling them each in for a hug, congratulating them. I’ve never really been one for kids, and I certainly don’t picture myself having any of my own, but having a niece or nephew would be pretty epic. I mean, I’m not sure I’ll be on babysitting duty until the kid is well out of diapers, but being fun Uncle Blake is something I could see myself being really good at.

Clapping Nate on the back as I bring him in for a hug, I pull back and throw him a smirk. “You didn’t waste any time on your honeymoon, did you, bro?”

He lets out a light chuckle, his eyes crinkling. “You’ve seen my wife, right?”

I have, and he is one lucky son of a bitch.

“Plus,” he begins with a tilt of his head,