Chapter 18
Gavin
Haddy is not okay.
We’ve been playing nonstop, and we’re finally getting a break. Only it’s not much of a break, as Mav has us all preparing for Friendsgiving in December—pushed back a week, because our schedule didn’t have any time in November.
I’ve been slipping into her bed every night we’re in town since that first time, and it’s been heaven. A lot of times I just hold her, but other times, in the silvery dawn, before I sneak out to head back to my own room, I’ll take her.
I can’t help it. I always want her.
For the last week, though, I’ve been sleeping alone in my own bed, and it sucks. She says she hasn’t been feeling well, but I have a sinking feeling it’s something more. Particularly because she doesn’t seem to want to meet my gaze, and the few times she does, she doesn’t hold it for very long.
It’s starting to make me a little crazy. I’ve started to feel attached, and I had wanted to ask her out on a real date, see how she’s feeling about our sneaking around. I wanted to ask if she might consider going public.
“A little more to the right…” Gigi is on the ground directing me to hang a giant turkey in the palm tree in front of the house.
It’s all made of paper, but it’s almost as big as me. I’m up on a ladder, and she’s waving her hands as I pull the rope.
“There!” She gives me two thumbs up, and I tie it off. “Now we can put up this garland, and we’ll be done.”
Gigi is really into decorating for the holidays. I thought we went all out at Halloween, but she’s got more decorations than I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know they made Friendsgiving decorations.
I’ve been up and down ladders all day while Mav’s been in the kitchen whipping up turkey burgers. I told him I thought that sounded disgusting, but he told me just to wait.
I’ve learned over the past few months not to question him. He hasn’t made a bad dish yet.
“Hold this side.” Gigi is on a ladder across from me holding the other side of the streaming curtain.
“Thankful for you… bitches?” I slant my eyes at her.
“Two of my dog-breeder friends are coming. They’ll get a kick out of it.”
“What about everybody else?”
“Let’s see… it’s your friends Donovan and Saxon, and Haddy said her lab partner Timothy is coming. I don’t think any of those males will care.”
“I think it’s funny.” I shrug.
If I recall correctly, Timothy’s a little bitch. He might care, but I don’t say it out loud.
Gigi’s pretty feisty, but I’d never call her a bitch. I’d probably punch anybody who did… unless it was a girl, then I’d have to be growly and make the offending female apologize.
“Bitches, Gina?” Haddy’s voice lights my entire body. “Seriously?”
She’s standing at the foot of the stairs frowning at the sign, and she looks so pretty.
Her dark hair is styled in large curls around her shoulders, and she’s wearing an oversized brown sweater that hangs to her thighs.
It’s almost like she’s trying to cover her sexy body, but I know how hot she is under all that yarn.
“We’re hosting dog people, Hayden.” Gigi’s nose lifts as she climbs down the ladder. “I don’t tell you what pageant people will think is funny.”
I take a step in Haddy’s direction, but the doorbell rings, cutting me off. She shakes her head, going to answer it, and a bustle of noise precedes my giant teammates entering the house.
Donovan leans down to give Haddy a hug, and I swallow the jealous knot in my throat. I’m not jealous of Donovan, jeez.
She turns and gives her cousin a pointed look. “The guys are here, Gigi.”
Gigi’s eyes narrow, and she waves her away. “I’ll let Maverick know.”
Again, she tries to pick up that heavy ladder, and I have to take it from her. “You stay. I’ll let Mav know.”
Her hands are on her hips, and with her back to our guests, she cuts those green eyes at me. “Are you two in cahoots?”
Holding up my free hand, I shake my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Whatever Haddy is up to, I’ll support, as long as it keeps her attention on me and not either of those knuckleheads.
Gina gives a big smile, turning to the guys. “There’s beer in the kitchen. Follow Gavin. He’ll show you.”
They take off, following me as the doorbell rings again. I take a quick glance to see it’s Lisa, one of Gigi’s dog-breeder friends. She points at the sign and bursts out laughing. Gina gives Haddy the “I told you so” treatment, and I grin, leading the guys to the beers.
It’s another party like Halloween, only without the costumes. Mav plates the turkey burger patties and heads out the back door to cook them on his big green egg. I step back to the living room, wishing I could get Haddy alone.
Instead, I see her greeting Timothy at the door. He gives her one of those weird little monster dolls dressed in a turkey outfit.
“Isn’t that cute?” She takes it from him, turning it in her hands. “I’ll have to find a place to put it.”
I have an idea for a place.
“Time to eat!” Mav calls from behind me, and Haddy looks up, her pretty eyes meeting mine.
She blinks quickly, almost seeming startled, and my brows lower. What’s going on, Hayden? I wait as she and Timothy head in my direction to the table. He stays by her side, but when she gets closer, I trace my finger over the back of her wrist.
Her hand turns, and without looking, she gives it a gentle squeeze. It’s not much, but at least it’s positive.
“I don’t know how you guys can keep up that schedule.” Timothy is on his third glass of red wine. “When do you ever have time for a personal life? Or is that something you even want?”
I don’t know if he’s aiming that comment at me, but I’m ready to answer when Donovan jumps in ahead of me.
“It’s not so different from any other demanding job.
The hours are just different.” He straightens in his chair, putting his hand on the back of Gigi’s beside him.
“We prioritize relationships just like doctors or firemen or people in the military. They’re all pretty tough schedules, yet they manage to have personal lives. ”
“Don’t forget scientists!” Mav jumps in with a laugh. “Haddy works just as long hours as we do sometimes.”
I’ve noticed my girl hasn’t touched her wine. She’s barely eaten anything, and I don’t like that. Is it possible her stomach is still messed up? It’s been a week. We really need to talk.
“Not so much this semester,” she counters. “That was when I was assisting Dr. Warwick and had to grade all those papers. That was rough.”
“That reminds me…” Timothy is running his mouth again, only this time, he clutches her arm, and my eyes narrow. “I’m assisting Dr. Becker next semester.”
“That’s amazing, Timothy!” Haddy moves her arm out of his grasp and pats him on the shoulder. “No papers to grade in that job.”
“Nope, just processing grad school applications.”
“You’re selecting the next generation.”
The two of them share a laugh, and I stand, collecting the empty plates. “I gotta hand it to you, Mav, I didn’t know you could do that with ground turkey.”
“That was turkey?” Saxon’s eyes are wide, and Donovan stands to help me clear the table.
“It’s Thanksgiving!” Mav explains how he infused the turkey with onion powder and grated mushroom, and as I expected, Haddy stands to collect their empty plates as well.
Timothy tries to stand, but she puts her hand on his shoulder. “No, no—you’re a guest. Stay right here and have dessert.”
He tries to argue Donovan is helping, but she argues she’ll take over for him. Our team captain appears in the doorway, and Haddy puts her hand on his arm.
“Guests don’t clean. Go sit and have dessert.” He starts to argue, but I back her up, taking the glasses from his hand and nodding to the other room.
I’m glad she and I are on the same page about being alone in the kitchen.
As soon as the plates we’re holding are rinsed and put in the dishwasher, I catch her around the waist. “I’m thankful we finally have a little alone-time.”
Her hands are on my chest, and her lips tighten. “We need to talk, Gav. Wait here.”
I don’t like the sound of that, but I do as she asks, listening to her telling Gigi she’ll take the dogs for a walk and finish cleanup when we get back. Gigi and her friend offer to help, which elicits another complaint from Timothy.
Haddy handles them, and as soon as she returns, she shoves Spanky’s leash into my hand and grabs my wrist, pulling me to the door.
“Come with me. Hurry.”
She’s got Peepee under her chin, but the serious expression hasn’t left her face. We have to talk. She wants us to be alone, and I can’t tell if it’s a good or bad thing.
We’re a block from the house, and she’s still quietly holding the tiny poodle. I’ve got Spanky’s leash, and that spoiled mutt has sniffed every bush we’ve passed and hasn’t stopped to go yet.
“I like all your family rituals,” I say, hoping to break the ice.
She nods. “Family is really important to all of us. We were raised on it.”
“Me, too.” I glance over at her worried expression. “I think that’s why Mav and I are such good friends.”
“It’s true.” She says it in a way almost like she’s remembering something. “He thinks a lot of you.”
“He’s a great guy.” And this is a weird conversation.
Spanky finally stops at an open patch of grass and starts acting like he might go. Haddy puts Peepee on the ground, and while the two dogs do their thing, she crosses her arms, looking up at me. Her blue eyes are so round, my stomach dips.
“What’s going on, Haddy?” I take a step forward, putting my hand on her arm. “Whatever it is, you might as well say it and let us both off the hook.”
Uncrossing her arms, she shakes her hands like she’s loosening up. “I’ve never been this nervous before.”
A frown pulls at my lips, and I couldn’t be more lost. “It’s okay, you can tell me anything.”
Her lips part, and she exhales a deep Oh, man… Then she inhales again, walking away and back again, stopping beside a bush covered in purple flowers.
Squaring her shoulders, she clears her throat and looks up at me. “I don’t know if there’s a good way to say this. There’s definitely not a good way to find out about it…”
“Jesus, Haddy, what the hell?” I do my best to keep my voice gentle, but dang, she’s killing me.
The dogs are coming back to us, Spanky at a bounding run and Peepee doing her little hop. Haddy doesn’t pay attention to them.
Her sapphire blue eyes hold mine, and she gulps air before stopping my heart. “I’m pregnant.”