Chapter 29
twenty-nine
Waking up in Brett’s room, which he now says is our room, brings me a sense of peace.
It’s been two weeks of living at the hockey house, and let me tell you, these guys have really gone off the deep end.
Last week, they all asked if they could go to childbirth class with me and Brett.
When I asked why, they said they wanted to be prepared in case Brett wasn’t able to be with me during the birth.
I told them I had my mom, but that wasn’t good enough.
No. Kellan grabbed Cora and made her go with him while Wyatt convinced Grace to be his pretend partner with Clay’s permission.
Colson was the odd man out, and since Peyton was across the country with Beckett for his game, he convinced a random girl to show up as his date.
I don’t think the instructor knew what to do with four hockey guys doting on one girl. Needless to say, they asked way too many questions and are probably traumatized by the very graphic video showing a baby crowning.
Serves them right for forcing their way into my class. I acted like it bothered me, but deep down, I found it endearing. These guys all really care about me and this baby.
I went from not knowing what I was going to do at the beginning of this pregnancy to having a whole support system at my side. I questioned if I could do this, but now I know I can.
They say it takes a village, well, I have a whole-ass tribe.
Getting out of bed, I smile at the room around me. I cannot believe he set up half the room to be a nursery. He even cleared out room in his dresser for my clothes since I left my dresser behind. I didn’t think we would have room, but Brett has made room for me in his life and in his heart.
I can’t believe how lucky I got.
It still hurts to know that I didn’t get to go for the gold this year, but I watched the Olympics with pride as I cheered on the USA in all of the events, especially figure skating.
A pang of hurt hits me when I realize that one of our girls from our school could have had a shot to be there if Ashley hadn’t done what she did.
She’s now behind bars waiting for her trial, and our school came up empty-handed on the girls’ side.
There wasn’t enough time to prepare anyone else for the spot.
Thankfully, one of our guys made it, though, and even ended up winning bronze.
It made me happy even though Brett was worried it would make me sad.
Making my way downstairs, I’m shocked when I find Wyatt sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.
“Hey. Don’t you have class?” I ask him.
He looks up and gives me a small smile. “Yeah, but I couldn’t stomach it today.”
“Want me to make you some tea?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You sit. I’ll make the tea. It helps calm me. You know, before I met you, I never had tea, and now I find myself drinking more and more of it.”
I laugh. “Yeah, it’s an acquired taste, but once you have it and realize all the benefits of drinking it? It becomes an obsession.”
“I can see that. It does give me something to drink that isn’t water or sports drinks, so I appreciate that,” he says, messing with the kettle.
We continue to chat as he makes me tea along with scrambled eggs and some buttered toast. When he settles back at the table with me, I take a long look at his face.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “Not really.”
“Okay. Well, whatever it is, I’m here for you.”
He sighs. “I’ve liked this girl since freshman year. She’s dating a real tool, though. He treats her like shit, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
I hum for a second before asking, “Does she know you exist?”
“Everyone here knows I exist, Em. I’m the star goalie,” he deadpans.
“Not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Yes. We met once freshman year before she started dating this guy. Now I see her from time to time. I say hi or talk to her about school sometimes, but we aren’t close. Both she and he are in the class I’m ditching right now.”
“Oh,” I murmur. “Is it a class you need for your degree?”
“No. It’s an elective I took because I knew she was taking it. I didn’t know he was otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered. I can’t stand watching them together,” he admits.
“So you are lightly stalking this chick?”
“What? No. Shit. I guess. Kinda. I’m not trying to be a creeper about it. I just wanted a chance to shoot my shot, you know? Maybe get to know her a little bit better. Doesn’t matter. It’s done now. I won’t do it again next year. I won’t take that risk,” he mutters bitterly.
“Hey.” I reach across the table and grab his hand lightly.
“Things have a funny way of working themselves out. Look at Brett and me. We messed around for years without really being together. I couldn’t see what was right under my nose because of notions I had in my head.
If it’s meant to be with this girl, she will open her eyes and see the man you are.
If not, then she wasn’t worth your time in the first place, and there’s another girl out there for you. Don’t let it bring you down.”
He laughs. “I know. I don’t want to see her hurt, though, and I know he is going to hurt her. I don’t have proof, but I’m pretty sure he’s cheating on her, and I hate that for her. I wish I could tell her, but she’d never believe me. Why would she?”
“Don’t get involved. Especially without proof. She will figure it out herself eventually. Hopefully before it’s too late. Do I get the name of this girl?” I ask him.
He shakes his head with a small smile on his face. “No one knows. Not even the guys.”
“I won’t tell a soul. Not even Brett. He has a big mouth anyway.”
He’s quiet a moment before he finally speaks. “Yeah. She has a name. Lyla Wayne.”
The way his face lights up by her name alone tells me Wyatt is already gone on this chick. I make a mental note to look her up. I won’t meddle, but Wyatt has been good to me. I want to know if this girl is good enough for him.
“She sounds lovely. You need to stop skipping class, though. This little cantaloupe needs his Uncle Wyatt to be smart. Unless you plan to draft…” I trail off.
He shakes his head. “I know it sounds dumb, but I want to stay here my senior year. Kellan is staying, and I want to finish this out with him.”
“And give a certain girl a chance to see the light?” I muse.
“Possibly.”
“You’re a good man, Wyatt. She will come around.”
The front door opens then, Wyatt going stiff.
“Man, the way my back hurts, I swear the baby is going to be the death of me,” I say loudly.
Wyatt gives me a thankful smile.
“I can help with that,” Brett calls, walking into the kitchen to kiss me.
“I have class. I’ll see you later.”
After he is gone, Brett takes his seat. “What was that about?”
“Nothing. Just talking with my brother,” I joke.
“A damn good brother he is. So about your back…”
I’m nervous. I shouldn’t be, but I am.
Today is the day.
I only hope it goes well.
“Is it all set up?” I whisper to Wyatt.
“Yep. Coach helped and everything.”
I nod gratefully at him. This is a real shot in the dark for me. I think I know what her answer will be, but I can’t be one hundred percent sure. I mean, we have only been technically dating for a couple of months, but it feels like years for me.
I don’t want to bring this child into the world without making a commitment to his or her mother.
“Cora said they are almost here. You ready?” Kellan says from next to me.
“Yes.”
We head out of the locker room to the ice. The red carpet we lay out for celebration ceremonies is laid out with a flower arch in the middle at the end.
It looks exactly how I imagined.
“She has no clue?” I ask Kellan.
“Cora told her it was a surprise ceremony for you that the team put together because of your efforts last year with helping Coach,” Kellan says.
“Good. She is going to kill me, isn’t she?”
“Probably,” Wyatt adds. “She has been extra irritable these days.”
“Wouldn’t you be if you were carrying around a watermelon?” Colson spits out.
I smile.
My little watermelon. Emery is now thirty-eight weeks pregnant and ready to pop at any moment. It’s why I hustled to get all of this done. I realized when we had a false alarm last week that I needed to show her I was committed beyond what my words have said. I needed actions.
Today she will get both.
The door opens, and I turn to see my beautiful girl walking through the door.
She is wearing a long sundress that covers her down to her ankles, her breasts spilling out the top a little.
They have grown so much. She hates them, but I secretly love them.
I hope she doesn’t lose them all after birth.
Grace, Peyton, and Cora lead her down to the edge of the ice as Emery looks at me oddly. I’m dressed in a three-piece suit, looking more put together than she has ever seen me.
“What is going on?” she asks, looking around.
It’s only our friends here. No one else.
“Come here.” I stride toward her, taking her hand as she steps onto the carpet.
I walk her down to the arch while our friends move so that we are the only ones there.
“Emery Monroe, you tore into my life at a time when I was sowing my wild oats. I was lost and drifting, but you brought me back to shore, anchoring me to you without even realizing it. I pined for you for three long years before you gave me a shot. I might not have put that baby in you on purpose, but this baby will always be a miracle to me because he or she helped open your eyes. It helped you see me standing here begging you to love me. I know it’s too soon.
I know you have goals that you want to complete, and I promise you, I will be by your side the entire time as you do it.
I will care for our child, and we will both be cheering for you as you go for gold, buttercup.
These are all promises I make to you, and I only ask for one promise in return. ”
I fall to one knee, bringing out the luxurious diamond ring I bought for her. It’s not the five-carat ring I would have chosen to show my love, but it is one that fits her more than anything else, and that is what matters. It is a dainty thing, but still beautiful nonetheless.
“Be my wife.”
She looks down at me, tears in her eyes. “Yes. Of course, I will marry you,” she cries out.
I stand, pulling her into my arms as I kiss her. She hugs me tightly, and our friends cheer around us as we embrace.
“We don’t have to get married now. Whenever you are ready,” I promise her.
“Anytime, Brett. I am already yours.”
I go to slip the ring on her finger, but it doesn’t fit. I frown.
“I can get it resized,” I promise her.
“Don’t bother. My hands are swollen from the pregnancy,” she says. “I’ll wear it around my neck in the meantime.”
“I love you.”
She laughs. “I love you. You sneaky man, you. How did you set this up?”
“With some help from our friends.”
We turn and look at the group that has become our family. I wish Clay and Beckett could have been here, but they both ended up in the playoffs. There’s no rest for the best after all. Still, I can feel them here with us. I know they are happy for us.
“So, should we go get food to celebrate?”
“Ooh, food sounds good,” Emery says as she takes a step forward.
She winces, stopping in place.
“What’s wrong? I ask her.”
She shakes her head. “Braxton Hicks. I’m fine.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “This kid is going to take years off my life.”
She laughs. “You’re not the one who can’t breathe because of the weight I’m carrying.”
She takes another step, then pauses, her eyes widening.
“Are you sure you are okay?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I’m pretty sure my water just broke.”
I look down, watching as liquid pools at her feet.
“Oh shit. Okay. This is not a drill,” I call out to my friends. “We are in active labor. Someone drive. Someone bring us the go-bags. Someone else get this cleaned up.”
Everyone is moving at once. Wyatt comes to help me walk Emery to the car while Kellan and Cora take off toward my car for the backup hospital bags. I have been keeping one in there just in case.
Grace, Peyton, and Colson start cleaning up the elaborate proposal I had set up.
Once at the car, I slide her into the back seat before getting in beside her. Kellan shoves the bag into the passenger seat with Cora.
“I’ll be right behind you,” he promises.
Then Wyatt takes off.
“Call my mom,” Emery tells me.
I do as she asks, shouting, “She’s in labor,” as soon as she answers the phone.
“I’m on the way.”
I look back to Emery. She looks so beautiful even as she winces in pain.
“That one is eight minutes from the last,” Cora calls out.
I’m thankful she is timing the contractions because I feel like I’ve lost my head.
Today, we will be welcoming our watermelon into this world.