11. Chapter 11
Deacon
Pregnant. The word echoes in my head, bouncing around like a puck in overtime.
"Jesus, Holly." Jaxon’s words are a whisper, as if he's afraid to break whatever spell has been cast.
"Are you—" I start, but my voice cracks. Clearing my throat, I try again. "Are you sure?"
Her nod is small but certain. "I took three tests."
"Damn." That's Jaxon. Always straight to the point.
"Is it...?" I can't finish the question. Don't want to ask. But I need to know.
"Okay." That's me again. My brain's scrambling, trying to piece together a future that just got more complicated. "We'll figure this out."
"Figure what out?" Sawyer's up now, the towel dropping from his face, forgotten. "What's there to figure out?"
"Everything, man." That's Jaxon again. He steps closer to Holly. "This changes everything."
"But we're in this." Cameron moves too, flanking Holly like he's ready to protect her from the world.
"Right." I catch Holly's gaze and hold it. "We said we're all in. That hasn't changed."
"Hasn't it?" Holly's question floats over us like a feather. I feel it, light as can be, but still slicing right through me.
"Never," I say firmly. "We'll work through it. Together."
"Damn right," Jaxon adds. And just like that, the team's back together.
"We’re a team," Cameron says with a small smile. It doesn't reach his eyes, but it's something.
I step forward, the distance between Holly and me disappearing like the final seconds of a game that’s hanging in the balance. My hands are gentle as they find her face, holding it like she's the most precious trophy I've ever won. And she is.
"We're going to be dads?" The words tumble out, disbelief glazing every letter. Beside me, Cameron and Jaxon have closed in, forming a protective triangle around Holly.
She looks up at us with those big blue eyes, shimmering pools that always seem to see right through me. And now, they're filled with silent tears that spill over, carving wet tracks down her cheeks.
"Hey, no crying." I brush the tears away with my thumbs, trying to smile for her, trying to be strong. But inside, my heart is doing somersaults, and my mind races with a million thoughts about cribs and diapers and late-night feedings.
"Sorry, it's just... a lot," she whispers, her voice so small it nearly gets lost in the enormity of the moment.
"Understatement of the year," Cameron murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper, but it's enough to draw a watery laugh from Holly.
"Okay, team." Jaxon's voice is steady, certain. "Looks like we've got a new player joining the lineup."
I snort out a laugh, grateful for his unwavering confidence. "You're not alone in this, Hol. We're here, all the way."
"Every step," Cameron adds, his hand finding its place on her shoulder, grounding her.
"Every heartbeat," I promise, feeling the truth of my words deep in my soul.
“Look, I don’t expect anything. I can do this just fine on my own.”
Sawyer growls from his spot slumped on the floor. “Bullshit.”
I'm pretty sure my heart's pounding loud enough for the whole room to hear. Holly’s eyes are like oceans, deep and blue and brimming with a storm of emotions. I take her hands in mine, feeling them shake. "You're not doing this solo, Holly. Not a chance."
She tries to pull away, the stubborn set to her jaw telling me she’s ready for a fight. “I don’t need—”
"Stop." Cameron's voice cuts through like a slapshot, fierce and fast. He towers over her, like a protective giant. I’m shocked at his tone. I would have expected it from Jaxon. But Cameron? "You think we'd let you do this alone? Bullshit."
Jaxon steps closer, his presence like a force field. "He’s right. You're ours, Hol. And so is this little one." His hand rests on her still-flat belly, possessive and gentle all at once.
She sobs and nods her head in understanding. Thank fuck. Because I wasn’t above kidnapping her and tying her to my bedpost to make sure she understood. She’s ours. We’re hers. And there is no way in fuck we would walk away from her and our child.
The weeks slide by like periods in a game, fast and full of change. We're at every doctor's appointment, every check-up. While the doc talks about folic acid and due dates, I watch Holly. She’s strong, so damn strong, but I see the relief when Jaxon cracks a joke, or Cameron reaches out to squeeze her hand.
Work gets harder as her belly grows, but we're there. Jaxon takes over as usual, finagling the cameras to favor her good angles, and Cam’s always hovering nearby, ready to fend off any stress or strain that might slip through the cracks. I handle the heavy lifting—literally and figuratively—making sure she never feels overwhelmed.
Leaning against the studio door frame, I watch Holly in her element, the glow of the camera lights casting a halo around her. She's talking with Colton about the upcoming season, and she’s nailing it. She’s not just getting by—she’s owning the space confidently.
"Colton, what are your thoughts on the upcoming draft?" she asks, her voice smooth and assertive.
I can't help but smirk. Holly's not just good; she's made for this. The way she pauses to give room for his answers, her blue eyes locked on his, she’s all business and it feels right. Colton respects her, values her insight. If only he knew the whole story. But that's our secret, our private play.
To the world, she’s Cameron’s. He always hated the attention from the puck bunnies, so it made sense he’d be the public face of our private relationship. Behind the scenes? It’s still the four of us, always the four of us. Well, soon to be five.
Sawyer finally sold his apartment, and we sold ours too. We found a house just outside the city. It’s still close enough to the arena that it’s not a hike to come to work, but it’s a safer neighborhood. The schools are great, and the yard is big enough for our baby to play in.
Back at home, it's Jaxon who slides the envelope across the kitchen island to Holly. His brown eyes are serious but warm, a silent vow echoing in the silence.
"Doesn't matter what it says," Cameron states simply, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. It's rare when he speaks up first, but when he does, we listen.
"Damn right," Jaxon adds, his dimple flashing despite the tension. Holly takes a deep breath, her delicate fingers tearing open the envelope.
I watch her scan the contents, then let out a slow exhale. She doesn't say the words, doesn't need to. It never mattered to us which one was the father. Her eyes meet mine, then Jaxon's, then Cameron's. Relief, love, certainty—it's all there.
"Ours," she whispers, and that's everything.
"Ours," we affirm together, stepping close, our little huddle a fortress against any storm.
One Year Later…
Life is crazier, louder, better.
I'm rocking gently, my mind drifting. The scent of talcum powder fills my nose as I look down at the most precious gift I’ve ever been given. I wouldn’t trade this for anything, even if I am exhausted.
The door creaks, and in comes Holly, laughter bubbling from her as she spots me trying to keep my eyes open. There's that glow about her, the kind that only motherhood brings.
"Hey, sleepyhead," she teases, coming over to plant a kiss on my forehead.
"Hey yourself," I reply, my voice groggy, but I’m smiling just the same.
Jaxon follows right behind her, the warm bottle in his hand. His brown eyes meet mine, and we share a look that says we wouldn't change any of this for the world.
"Got the goods," he announces, handing over the bottle.
"Thanks, man," I say, grateful for more than just the bottle. For this—us, this bond, this family we've built. It's more than I ever knew I wanted.
"Anytime," he replies, that dimple showing itself off as he watches me take the bottle.
The soft weight of my little girl in my arms is a feeling I never want to let go. Her tiny fingers curl around mine, and it's like she's already got me wrapped around her little finger. Which she does. Completely. I look down into those eyes that are so much like Holly's and my heart just about bursts.
"Finally found them," Cameron grumbles as he steps into the room, his arms full of fluffy, white cloths. "Had to fight through a mountain of onesies and blankets."
"Sorry, man." Jaxon's voice is laced with amusement rather than remorse. He leans against the doorframe, the warm bottle still in his hand. "Laundry isn’t exactly my forte."
"Understatement of the year," I tease. Cam rolls his eyes but the corner of his mouth twitches up, signaling that he's not really mad.
"Here, let me." Holly reaches for our daughter, her blue eyes shining with that mix of love and exhaustion only a new mom knows. She gently takes her from me, cradling her close before accepting the bottle in my hands.
"Got it?" Jaxon asks, and Holly nods, her attention now fully on the baby.
"Like a pro," I say, watching Holly settle back into the rocking chair. She's a natural at this, soothing the little one with soft words as she starts to feed her.
I lean back, taking in the scene. Jaxon, with that dimpled smirk as he watches over Holly's shoulder. Cameron, still holding the burp cloths, but his irritation forgotten as he gazes at the baby—our baby. And Holly, the incredible woman who brought us all together, who made us more than just teammates—made us a family.
"Nothing could be better than this," I murmur, the peace of the moment settling deep in my bones. We're a team in every sense of the word. And this...this is what winning really looks like.
Simple, perfect, and so damn full of love.
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