Chapter 24
Cassidy
Imove to sit up on the exam table as my new OB completes her exam. I was having a bit of lower abdominal pains along with some contractions over the last couple of days. It could be because I was putting nursery furniture together and deep cleaning everything while Channing was away, but one can never be too sure.
“Well, the good news is, your cervix isn’t dilated. However, your blood pressure is slightly elevated,” she says, removing her glove, then pulling the blanket draped over my legs down. “But I don’t think it’s anything to be too concerned of right now.”
I nod as I try to steady my breathing. When I started contracting last night, I was a little floored. Channing is on the road, and I’m alone. I didn’t know what to do if it had been more serious. Not many people know that we’re together and having a baby, so it’s not like I could call management and say I need him to come home ASAP.
Shit, maybe we should have said something to management at the least. That way, if I do have something happen, he can be there. Maybe we should just make an Instagram post and announce it to anyone.
“So, you have any questions for me?” the doctor interrupts my inner battle.
“No, that’s it,” I say, trying not to show my inner panic.
“Then I will see you in two weeks.”
I immediately get changed and exit the office, pulling my phone to text Channing. They’re finishing their last away game in Winnipeg, so he may be on the ice, but the thoughts of what can happen while he’s away scare me.
Cassidy: We need to talk to management about us and the baby.
I press send and hope that we’ll get to talk as soon as he gets back to the hotel. We haven’t had much alone time since his first night away was interrupted by Mitchell Tremblay.
Channing has said he hasn’t been too bad of a roommate. He’s quiet but because he doesn’t have many friends on the team, he barely leaves the room, which doesn’t give us much time to have a little risqué FaceTime.
I drop my keys in the key dish before kicking off my shoes as I enter the house. I head to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water before heading upstairs to change into my painting clothes. I know the doctor said to take it easy, but I want to surprise Channing when he gets home.
I’m glad he didn’t hire someone to decorate the nursery. It wouldn’t feel like mine if I let some designers come in and completely impersonalize the place. The dark greenish-teal walls with white wainscot paneling pop against the dark-gray crib that sits on top of a white and gray chevron area rug. The matching dark-gray dresser sits on the opposite wall, with a changing pad on top and a wicker basket next to it, for all her bath needs. The light-gray rocking chair recliner I spent way to much money on, sits in the corner next to the large floor-to-ceiling window with shelves for books hanging above them. It’s perfect and is everything I had envisioned for my little girl. All that’s left is to hang her name above the crib. A name we have yet to pick.
I check the time as I finish hanging some of the décor I bought for the nursery and see that it’s almost five. I decide to try Channing’s phone again. I made a promise to him that I would keep him up to date on all OB visits, and I’m not about to break that promise now. The phone rings twice before a groggy voice comes over the line.
“Hello?” he rasps out as I hear the sheets ruffling in the bed.
“Shit, did I wake you?” I say, immediately feeling guilty. He has a game day routine, and I hate that I possibly threw a wrench into it. “I should have just waited,” I say, as he cuts me off.
“It’s fine, babe. What’s wrong? Is everything okay with the baby?” he says, a hint of concern echoing in his voice.
“Everything’s fine,” I say, sitting on the couch crisscross apple sauce style. “I had an emergency OB appointment this morning. I know it wasn’t on the calendar, and I didn’t want to worry you, but I think you should know. I was contracting last night and had some abdominal pain, so I called last night and was seen today.”
“Shit. Why didn’t you call me when it happened?” he says, as I hear him get out of bed and move around his room. “Fuck it. I’m coming home.”
“Keep it down, Halloway,” I hear Tremblay mummer in the background as Channing unzips his suitcase.
I fiddle with the fleece blanket draped across my legs as I hear him mumble curses under his breath. “Channing, uh. I really don’t think it’s necessary that you come home,” I say, as silence fills the line. “I mean, I want you here, but management doesn’t even know we’re seeing each other. You can’t just waltz out of that hotel and tell them you need to come home because of my baby.”
“Fuck, I know,” he says, in a sigh of defeat. “When I get back tomorrow, we’ll schedule a sit down with all parties and make them aware.”
“Thank you.”
“I just wish you would have called me.”
I release a breath as I absentmindedly rub my belly. “Well, I tried after I got out of the appointment, but you were a little busy.”
“If you can’t reach me, call Hayley, Mr. Richards, anyone for that matter. Understood?” he says, as if he’s slightly panicking.
“I got it,” I say, with a smile. “I’m sorry I woke you from your pre-game nap.”
He releases his breath, and I hear the bed squeak under his weight. “It’s okay. I miss you, and I’m glad I got to talk to you.”
“I miss you too. I’ll let you get back to your pre-game routine,” I say, pausing for a moment to stop myself from saying what I really want to say. I love you. I feel the words could roll right off the tongue, but the thought of saying those words and him not reciprocating stops me. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
I quickly hang up the phone and toss it on the coffee table. “God, you’re such a chicken shit,” I scold myself before moving to make myself a quick bite to eat. “I love you. Why can’t you just say it out loud,” I groan as I wait for the leftover pasta to reheat. “Chicken shit.”
I’m snuggled deep under the covers in Channing’s room when I feel the king-size bed dip beside me. The covers shifting, as two muscular arms pull me back to a hard chest. The smell of mint and bergamot fills my sense as my body relaxes into the hold.
“I missed you,” he says, into my ear before placing a kiss on the back of my neck.
“What time is it?”
He chuckles a little as I groan and turn over in his arms. “A little after ten. I figured I would wake you up so we could eat before meeting with the team.”
I sit straight up in bed and stare at him as I realize what he said. Meet with the team. When I told him we had to tell management, I thought it would be at least a week or two, but I should have known it would have been sooner, especially after seeing his reaction last night.
A jolt of nerves moves through my body. My stomach flips, and my head spins as I jump off the bed and move to the toilet in the ensuite, emptying the contents from last night’s snack sesh. I should be nervous. This is what needs to be done, yet part of me is freaking out.
“Hey,” Channing says, pulling my hair from my face. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head as I sit back on my heels. “Sorry, just got a little nervous.”
“I get it. But it needs to be done,” he says, handing me a wet washcloth to wipe my mouth. “What’s got you so worried?”
“Mr. Richards is like a second father to me,” I say as I remember back to when I started working for the team. He always warned us about his players. He especially warned us when Channing joined because he had quite the reputation, and he didn’t want to see us fall victim to the shenanigans that came along with dating a hockey player. Well, unlucky for me, I fell hard for Channing. “You know he warned Hayley and me about getting involved with hockey players before we even thought about working for the team. You specifically.”
He scoffs as he leans back against the bathroom counter. “Well, looks like he should have warned you about the asshole you tried to marry.”
“You may be right. But you almost fathered a baby to a puck bunny.”
“I knew it wasn’t mine. I always wrapped my tool.” I stare at him with an incredulous look. “Except when it came to you. Which I can’t say I’m mad about.”
I rinse my mouth in the sink and stare at myself in the mirror. Channing comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, placing soft kisses on the column of my neck. “You were always it for me, Cassie. I was scared. I had a lot of shit happen in my life to make me that way. But now more than ever, I know for sure, that I’m not going anywhere. Your end game.”
I turn in his arms and bury my face in his chest as I relax slightly. “Thank you.”
“Let get dressed and get this meeting over with.”
Channing’s hand lightly rubs my thigh as we sit next to one another. Mr. Richards, along with Lucas Stone, the team GM, Talya, and one of the team lawyers sit opposite us. Channing had just dropped the bomb on all of them that my baby is in fact his baby. The moment the word leaves his lips, Talya smiles like a Cheshire cat, while Mr. Richards’ stare shoots daggers to the back of Channing’s head.
“So, how long has your relationship been going on? I know that there was some buzz earlier this season about a rumored child with someone else,” Lucas says as he eyes us cautiously.
I look at Cassidy and smile softly, not breaking our eye contact once. “Truth be told, we never really had a relationship. I mean we did hook up in Mexico when she invited me on what was supposed to be her honeymoon. We were going to give this a real try when we got back, but all that other stuff happened. So, I guess you can say it’s been ten weeks now.”
“And you’re sure this one’s yours?” the team lawyer interjects, and I clench my fist under the table, quickly breaking eye contact from Cassidy.
“One thousand percent,” he says, through gritted teeth.
The lawyer nods before snapping what I can only guess is a file containing our team contracts, closed. “Well, both of their contracts were signed before you implemented the no-fraternization clause, so they aren’t in violation. However, we do wish that you would have told the team of your relationship sooner, so we could have been ahead of any scandals.”
“Noted.”
“Well, in that case, I think we’re good. Talya, I’m sure you’ll release a sweet little post about their relationship on the team page at some point.” She nods as she gathers her belongings. “Congrats to you both. And we will be in touch if needed.”
The three of them move to stand, but Mr. Richards stays planted to his seat, stroking his stubbled chin. Everyone moves to leave, but Mr. Richards stops Channing and me. “Sit.”
We both resume our seats as we wait for Mr. Richards to start talking. “Cassie, well, I shouldn’t say I’m surprised by this, but well… I am. I thought I had warned you well enough.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner—” I start to say as he raises his hand to stop me.
“I’m not mad or disappointed. Well maybe disappointed a little,” he says, sitting forward and placing his elbows on the table. “I owe Celeste a thousand bucks betting against you guys.”
I shouldn’t be surprised by his approval, but I can’t help the look of shock that appears on my face. In all the years I’ve known Wade Richards, he’s never been a betting man. Hell, that man is firm and serious with everything he does. So, the fact he took this bet is surprising.
It’s Brooks. He has to be softening him. That and well, since Camden had been born ten years ago.
“So, with that being said, Channing, I expect you to still be on your game a hundred percent of the time. We all want another Cup this year, so don’t let me down.” Channing nods in his direction as he focuses on me now. “Have you told your parents about this little one? Because your father is one of my closest friends, and I can’t keep something like this from him. He’d kill me.”
I smile when he mentions my parents. They may have been in different tax brackets, but they built a bond like no other. I think that’s because my parents never really cared that they had money. They just wanted the best for me.
“They know. They weren’t ecstatic about her at first, knowing the circumstances, but they came around. Pretty sure they’ll be spending more time in Seattle again once she arrives.”
He smiles at me before pushing to stand. “Good. Well, that is all from me. You two take it easy. We’ll talk soon.”