Triple Power Play (Obsessed Players Club #1)

17. Jackson

SEVENTEEN

JACKSON

“We’re getting the ultrasound.” I cross my arms over my chest, staring down at Aurora. “I’ll sit here all night until we do.”

She’s trying to convince me to leave the emergency room without the recommended procedure. It’s not happening.

The same caramel eyes I’ve dreamed of for months gaze up at me. “Jackson, I had an ultrasound today. Everything was fine. I had a panic attack and felt faint. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the baby.”

Her voice is filled with more patience than I’ll ever have, even when she’s irritated with me.

“You fainted, not merely felt faint. There’s a distinction. And I don’t think you’re fine . The nurse said your blood pressure is high. We’re getting the ultrasound. The doctor recommended it, and I’ll cover the expenses.”

I want this baby to be mine as much as I want my next breath—which, right now, with Aurora, is whole hell of a lot. I realize it’s unlikely. She’s barely showing, and we haven’t been together in five months, but the thought is stuck in my head.

If the baby is mine, Aurora intended to hide it from me, which is understandable, considering how I treated her during our relationship.

Who wants a kid with an addict? Among other things. Like my father.

Yeah, I’d hide a pregnancy too if I were her.

Her brows furrow. “Please stop pacing.” There’s that gentle tone again, the only one ever able to calm me.

I sit in the chair beside her bed and gather my courage. “Tell me the baby is mine.” Lie to me.Please lie to me.

A sympathetic frown adorns her beautiful face. “Jax, you know it’s not.” Fear trembles in her voice, and her hand moves to her belly. “We haven’t been together in months.”

Her protective gesture irritates me and provokes doubts about her honesty.

My knee bounces, and I crack my knuckles. “What if I got a paternity test?”

She swallows hard. “It can’t be. And I know you won’t because your father would disown you.” Her expression hardens, her tone brimming with bitterness.

My father has been the center of our arguments, in one way or another, throughout our entire relationship. Little does she know, I hate him more than anyone.

“I don’t give two flying fucks what he thinks. I don’t talk to him.”

“Really? About time.” Her pleased smile fills me with hope until she says, “But let me reiterate: the baby isn’t yours.”

I reach in my pocket for a Jolly Rancher, unwrap it, and pop it in my mouth. “Damn. I wouldn’t mind getting a supermodel pregnant.” I wink.

I’ve lived a life filled with disappointment. It’s easy to make jokes. Part of me doesn’t want to believe her. Another part of me doesn’t care if the baby is mine or not. Nothing matters as long as she gives me a second chance.

And fuck, I hope she does because being in the same room with her, having her smile at me, is a total mindfuck. My body is energized, adrenaline pumping hard through my veins. My heart is beating against my sternum as if it’s trying to escape my chest, as if it knows its home is right in front of us.

“Well, you had your chance. Clearly, I’m already pregnant.” She gestures toward her slightly rounded stomach.

She can’t be far along. I wouldn’t have noticed had she not shielded her belly, which means she’s pregnant by some fuck she met while modeling.

That pansy-ass photographer she went on a date with? She could’ve reunited with him. Fuck! I should’ve done more than threaten him with the loss of his job. I should’ve broken his nose—or neck.

The one time I refrain from violence, and see at what happens?

I twirl the candy with my tongue. Before I get too worked up and add someone else to my hit list, I need to verify who the father is.

“Will your baby daddy mind if I stay?” Not that I fucking care. “After all, you are my girlfriend.”

I refuse to listen to what anyone says. She never broke up with me. No form of those words ever came out of her mouth or via text. Nothing. She ghosted me.

Again, I don’t blame her. I was off the rails. Deep down, I realized it was over, and I couldn’t bear to go through that sober. Or breathing.

Now that I’m clean, she’s all I think about. All I want. All I dream of.

She rolls her eyes in response to my thinly disguised attempt at gathering information and pushing my boundaries. “No father involved, and I’ll let you stay if you stop calling me your girlfriend.”

Fuck, yeah! My heart leaps. I’m demented for wanting her alone, especially while pregnant, but I need her all to myself.

Plus, that’s one less person to consider murdering.

I try to control it, but my grin is downright wolfish. “Perfect. Now tell me about the asshole who did this.”

She adverts her gaze and twists the banket, all humor between us fading away.

I take her hand in mine, and a jolt of electricity runs through my fingers, scorching heat dancing along my skin from her touch. “Hey, look at me.”

With tears in her eyes and trembling lips, she glances up. My mind jumps to the worst. A spark of rage burns in my chest, and I clench my jaw, struggling to contain my emotions.

“It’s okay, baby.” I tuck away loose strands of her hair that have fallen from her messy bun and pin them behind her ear. “Did he hurt you?”

All joking aside,if he did, I might kill someone.

No, I know I would. I have no mercy for those who harm women or children—just ask her ex, who now resides in prison. Turns out, Aurora wasn’t the only girl he was unkind to.

She shakes her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “No.”

“Tell me, Aurora. No matter what, I’ll always be here for you.” I bring her knuckles to my lips and inhale her intoxicating scent. A wave of heady recognition washes over me—jasmine and vanilla, her favorite lotion.

She settles against the starch-white pillows with a deep sigh, and I continue to hold her hand, not daring to move. Anguished eyes meet mine, and I’d do anything to erase it all.

“I’m overwhelmed, Jax.”

That goddamn pouty lower lip tears my heart from my chest.

Here, fucking take it. It’s yours. Whatever you want.

“This is hard,” she cries. “I went to the resort to relax. I’ve been working my ass off to prepare for this baby. Emily has been supportive, but lately, she’s…”

“Emily,” I finish for her. “She only cares about two things—herself and money.”

“That’s not true.”

“Fine. I’ll add dick to the list, since she’s been through the entire team.”

Her brows rise. “The entire team?”

“Fuck no. I’d rather die. Now, continue.” I gesture with my hand.

I don’t need Aurora thinking about me with other women. It has never happened and will never happen, but it is an area of insecurity for her.

“ Anyhow .” She gives me that sass I secretly love. “I have to find a place for me and the baby and tell Emily. On top of that, my agent doesn’t know I’m pregnant, and my dream job is probably lost.”

A few phone calls. That’s all it’d take for me to fix all her problems if she’d let me.

“I’ll bring you back to the resort once we’re finished and ensure you get all the rest you need.” I wipe away her tears with my thumb. “The agency won’t release you. You’re absolutely beautiful, even pregnant. I’ll fucking riot if they do.”

I ghost my knuckles over her cheekbone, and she stares into my eyes.

My voice becomes raspy. “I have every one of your magazine photos. I’m an avid collector.” I’m unable to stifle my mischievous thoughts, and a sly smirk plays on my lips.

“Jackson,” she chides and slaps my arm.

We burst into laughter, and fuck, I’ve missed this. Her smile lights up her entire face, and I want to get on my knees and beg her to take me back.

She’s my best friend.

“Everything will work out. I’ll make sure of it.” Compared to the rest of my life, this is easy. Spoiling her is an honor. But I still need to know my competition. “Now, tell me about the baby’s father. Why can’t he help you?”

Part of me, driven by jealousy, feels a twisted sense of satisfaction knowing he’s not involved. His absence is the second-best option. Another part of me, filled with curiosity and concern, wants to understand the situation. Either way, I need Aurora and her baby in my life. Therefore, he’ll have to fuck off.

She presses her lips together, seeming to contemplate whether to tell me. “He’s married.” Her eyes implore me to remain calm. “He made it clear he didn’t want this.”

Her gaze shifts downward, as if reminiscing over her time with him. And nope, she will not be thinking about him while she’s with me.

“Fuck him.”

She cringes at my snarled response.

“You don’t need him. You may find it hard to believe, considering how badly I fucked up, but I’d do anything for you. Anything . And if not me, any guy on the team would give their right nut to help you.”

I’ll never let another player near her, but it’s the truth and makes her smile. So, we’ll pretend I’m not certifiably insane for this girl.

Despite Aurora’s resistance, I find peace in our shared moment. Peace isn’t the appropriate word. I’m ecstatic. We could stay overnight in this hospital, and it’d be the best day of my life.

We sit silently, waiting for the ultrasound, and I can’t stop staring at her. When I’m not, I’m learning about her pregnancy.

They brought a machine to monitor the baby’s movements and heart rate. I’ve positioned my chair next to it and checked it a dozen times, obsessing over every detail.

It’s going to crush my soul when I have to leave them.

Aurora clears her throat, capturing my attention. “You look good, by the way. Healthier. Happier.” Her cheeks flush, and she picks at her nails—a habit of hers.

I grasp her hand to stop her. “Thank you. I’ve been, ah, seeing someone.”

“Oh, shit!” She snatches her hand from mine. “You had a date tonight.”

“What? That’s not what I meant. I didn’t have a date.”

She glances away. “The blonde at the resort.”

I smirk at her nervousness. She’s not immune to me. I’ve seen it in her eyes. There’s vulnerability and something more.

Something I’m too afraid to let myself believe.

“I was meeting a realtor. I had a game tonight. No date.” Or any date. Ever.

Her mouth pops open with a gasp. “Jackson, go! I’ll be fine.”

She tosses the blanket aside and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She goes to detach the monitor from her stomach but freezes when I clasp her bare thighs, pinning her in place.

“Get back in bed.” My voice comes out husky, a surge of arousal shooting through me. “I’m not leaving you.”

Our eyes lock, and I know I should remove my hands from her, but I can’t . Not tracing them along her smooth, sun-kissed skin is agonizing. It’s unbearable, and I give in to the temptation, letting my fingers graze her thighs.

Fire ignites my veins, and my throat goes dry. She sucks in a sharp breath and presses her legs together. And fuck me, desire sweeps through my stomach, and every fiber of my being urges me to lean in and kiss her.

I can practically taste her.

The door opens before I have the chance, and Aurora jumps away from me. She rushes to arrange herself in bed, and my hands fist, holding on to the feeling of her skin beneath my palms.

A technician enters, pushing what must be the ultrasound machine, and I do my best to adjust the erection pressing against my zipper.

He takes one look at Aurora’s flushed face and stills. He picks up a paper, glancing down and then back up at her, recognition flaring in his eyes.

“Aurora Embers?” he asks, a little too dreamy for my taste, and a smirk tugs at the corner of his lip.

Damn, I’m not used to her being recognized or having men envisioning her naked on the beach when they see her.

She casts a nervous glance my way and nods.

His smile widens. “Tonight’s my lucky night.”

Like fuck it is. My spine straightens, irritation bubbling in my chest. I’ve never been good at controlling my emotions regarding Aurora, especially jealousy.

I pat my jeans for a Jolly Rancher—fuck, I’m out.

I take a slow, steady breath.

I’ve lost her once, and if I want a chance with her again, I need to channel these feelings inside of me.

Another deep breath.

If these months have taught me anything, it’s that life without her is far worse than any insecurity.

I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. This affirmations shit isn’t working. I still hate this motherfucker.

They engage in pleasant conversation while he prepares the ultrasound. I try to concentrate on the procedure, clenching my jaw whenever he makes her laugh.

I lean in, placing my elbows on my knees, and watch intently as Aurora lifts the hospital gown, keeping her lower half discreetly covered. Her belly is adorable, and I want to put my hands all over it.

My knee bounces with anticipation.

The technician reaches to tuck the sheet into her underwear, and my patience snaps.

My reaction slips out, and I jolt to stop him. “Dude, seriously?”

He raises his arms in surrender, and Aurora glares at me.

“What? He doesn’t need to be touching you.”

She cocks her head in warning.

“Okay, I’ll be good,” I relent, but fuck, this guy needs to learn some boundaries.

After squirting some clear jelly on her stomach, he continues, moving the wand over her lower abdomen. With brows pinched, she takes several trembling breaths, and worry flutters in my chest.

Then, the sound of the baby’s heartbeat erupts in the room, and she peers over at me with a huge grin and glassy eyes. Her sheer happiness steals the air from my lungs, and I stare at her in awe.

She wholeheartedly loves this baby, and it’s fucking beautiful.

The technician moves the probe over Aurora’s belly, and I’m captivated by a grainy, black-and-white image. My entire body heats. Indescribable emotions take hold of me, and tears sting my eyes. Time stands still while I grasp the significance of what I’m seeing—a baby.

Holy fuck. A baby inside the woman I love.

“Do you know what you’re having?” he asks.

She beams a proud smile. “Yes, a boy.”

My heart stops. I wouldn’t care either way, but an image of a little boy takes shape in my mind. Stick in hand. Skates on his feet. Because, of course, he’ll be a hockey player.

A hockey god.

I grip Aurora’s hand. Eagerness grows with every detail that comes into view. Every movement, every flutter of the baby’s heartbeat, intensifies my desperation to care for them, to provide for them, to protect them.

Something breaks in my brain. I’m truly obsessed.

I want her more than ever—more than anything. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn the privilege of being part of their lives.