Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
You’re going to be a dad.
Holy shit. I stared at the sonogram images again, then I looked to Bryn for confirmation, then to her stomach. Everything looked the same, but it wasn’t. Because she was carrying my child. Our child.
“I’m going to be a dad?” My voice cracked.
She nodded then let out a shaky, “Surprise!” complete with jazz hands, but it sounded more like a question.
Had she been worried about how I’d react? Because I was fucking elated. And clearly, I was doing a shitty job of showing it.
I was up and out of my chair, pulling her into my arms. “This is the best news.” I kissed the top of her head. Her temple. Her lips, wanting to both reassure her and shower her with love. “I love you.”
She smiled, cupping my cheek. “I love you too, Frasier.”
“We’re really…” I placed my hands on her stomach. “You’re really pregnant?”
She nodded, biting back a smile.
“Oh my god. I can’t believe this.” I picked her up and spun her in my arms. She giggled, and then I panicked, setting her down gently. “I’m sorry. Was that too much? Are you okay?” I looked her over as if checking for an injury.
She laughed again, rolling her eyes this time. “I’m fine. You’re not going to break me. Promise.”
“I know, but—”
“The baby will be fine too,” she said, placing her hand over my heart.
Everything in me softened at that. “We’re going to have a baby.” I cupped her cheek. The reality of it was still sinking in.
Bryn. Me. A baby.
She leaned into my hold, smiling. I guided her over to the cabana, needing to hear more about it. To hear everything.
I helped her down onto the cushions then sank down beside her. I had a million questions, but Bryn’s well-being was my primary concern. “How are you feeling?”
She brushed my hair away from my face. “Tired. Emotional. But otherwise, okay.”
I nodded, still trying to process this incredible news. How had I not realized or even considered this as a possibility?
The fainting. The exhaustion. The lack of appetite. What I’d thought was stress—and maybe some of it was—must also be symptoms of early pregnancy.
“And the baby?” I asked.
She placed her hand over her stomach, and I wasn’t even sure she was aware of it. She was going to be such a good mom. “My doctor says the baby looks healthy.”
“How far along are you?” I asked, placing my hand over hers, over the life we’d created—together. I swiped away a tear, and I was choked up just thinking about it.
“Frasier.” Her smile was soft, her eyes swimming with emotion as she caught another tear.
“I just never expected this.” I was unable to contain my smile. “I’m so happy.”
“I was just as surprised,” she said. “I’m still surprised. I mean, we were careful. We used condoms.”
“Yeah, but there was that one time…”
“Yeah…” Her cheeks pinkened, and I knew we were both replaying that night. She’d picked me up at the Atlas Center after an away game, and we hadn’t even made it out of the parking lot without having sex in the back of my car. Needless to say, we’d been a little reckless.
“Do you think…?”
She nodded. “The timing lines up. I’m about ten weeks along.”
Eight? My eyes practically bugged out of my head. I felt as if I’d already missed so much.
“You can go with me to my next appointment if you want,” she said.
“Of course I’m fucking going,” I growled. That wasn’t even a question. I wished I’d been able to go with her to the first appointment.
“I’ll try to schedule it around your games and practice.”
“I’ll be there,” I said, and I meant it. I didn’t care what was on my calendar; there was no way I was going to miss this.
We still had so much we needed to plan and do. But for now, I just wanted to revel in this gift.
“I know this isn’t what we planned…” She trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Bryn.” I brought her hand to my mouth, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “We both know that things don’t always go according to plan, but I’m thrilled. Are you—”
“So am I,” she said, shoulders relaxing. “I mean, yes, it was a big shock at first. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
I frowned, not understanding. “How long have you known?”
“I, um—” She glanced down and away. “I found out when I was in the hospital in Seattle.”
My eyes widened. Seattle? She’d known since Seattle? That was weeks ago.
“I kind of freaked out a little.”
“And now?” I asked, hating that she’d been dealing with this all on her own.
It hurt that she felt the need to keep this, or anything, from me. But I was trying to respect the fact that she’d needed time to work things out on her own. My first inclination was always to rush in and fix things, but sometimes that wasn’t the best option.
“I was always happy about it,” she said. “Please don’t ever doubt that. I just… It was such a big surprise. And there was so much going on that night and since.”
“I wish you’d told me, but I’m glad I know now.” I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers.
She cupped the nape of my neck, holding me in place. It was sweet and tender, expressing everything our words couldn’t quite convey. I’m sorry. I love you. I’m here for you—always.
“I missed you,” she said when I leaned my forehead to hers. “Missed this.”
I nodded. I’d missed her more than words could say. And now that she was pregnant, I had no idea how I was going to handle being away from her when I had to travel for games. I squeezed my eyes shut, already dreading it. Because I loved hockey, but I loved Bryn more.
“You okay?” she asked, and I didn’t want to think about anything else in this moment.
“Happy,” I said, running my thumb over her bottom lip. “So happy.”
I glanced down at her jersey, plucking at the front.
“Also…where’d you get this?” Seeing her wear my name and number was always hot, but especially so tonight.
I felt possessive, primal. Maybe it was because it was my college jersey, or maybe it was just because it was Bryn.
The woman I loved. The mother of my child.
She cleared her throat, though it sounded almost as if she was trying not to laugh. “Allie had it.”
I sensed there was more to that story, but I didn’t push. What mattered was that Bryn was here in my arms, right where she belonged.
“Are we okay?” she asked, and she seemed so uncertain. I hated it.
“Bryn.” I cupped her cheek, softening. “We’re good. At least on my end.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I know I screwed up, and these pregnancy hormones make me feel…” She shook her head. “Like my emotions are all a little too close to the surface or something.”
“Are we good on your end?” I asked. “Or do you need me to provide some reassurance?”
She arched one brow, a mischievous smile playing at her lips. “What kind of reassurance?”
I chuckled, brushing her hair away from her face. “You tell me. I’m at your service.”
She tugged on my shirt, pulling me back down to her. “Well, since we are in Anguilla, it would be a shame to waste such a nice cabana.”
“We can’t have that.” I slanted my mouth over hers, pulling her on top of me.
I placed my hands on her hips, my cock already aching to be inside her. Her hair fell down, shielding us in a golden cocoon.
“Hi.” She smiled.
“Hi.” I returned her smile. I’d never imagined that I could be this happy.
“Are you waiting for a personal invitation or something?” she teased, kissing my cheek, my brow, my nose, my lips.
“I’m just not sure where to start. I want you naked, but I want to see you in only my jersey. I want to be gentle and tender and loving, but I want to pound into you.”
She laughed. “Do it all. We have time.”
“What do you want?” I asked, skimming my hands up her sides so I was cupping her breasts. She moaned, pressing into my hands.
“You,” she whispered. “Only you.”
Gabe smirked at me from across the locker room as we laced up for morning skate. “I take it from your huge, dopey smile that your ‘trip to Anguilla’ went well.”
“Something like that,” I said, trying to play it cool, but failing miserably.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I was going to be a dad. I was bursting to tell everyone the news, but Bryn and I had decided to wait a little longer, at least until the end of the first trimester. Keeping this secret was going to kill me.
“We’re moving in together,” I said, grinning. And we’re having a baby.
Gabe patted my shoulder. “My man. That’s awesome.”
“Congrats.” Carson held up his hand for a high five.
I could only imagine how excited the guys would be when I told them we were expecting. One step at a time.
I slapped his palm. “Thanks, Kovi.”
Practice went well enough. I felt invincible, as if nothing could touch me.
That said, I knew I wasn’t superhuman. And considering what had happened to Derek, and the fact that I had a child on the way, I was determined to put things in place to protect Bryn and our baby.
They were my priority, and they always would be.
I planned to call Talia on my way home, but first, there was someone else I needed to talk to. After practice, I got in my car and pressed the button to connect the call. It rang and rang, finally going to voice mail, not that I’d expected anything else.
“Derek, hey. I, um—” I tucked my wet hair behind my ear. “I’m going to be a dad.”
The bridge of my nose stung, and yet, I smiled. “Can you believe it?”
I let out a shaky exhale, feeling as if my heart might explode from sheer happiness.
“Anyway, I know I usually call to bitch on here, but I wanted to give you some happy news for once. I hope that wherever you are, you’re cheering us on. And I promise to take good care of our girl.”