20. Liam
LIAM
“I like her,” My father states as he helps me pack up my truck, the one I only use in the winter, to head home.
I don’t have to look up to know that he is talking about Chloe.
My mom told me the same thing this morning after breakfast.
“Yeah, she’s something special.” I say, sliding the last bag into the covered bed.
“You sure you two aren’t together?” my old man asks, shutting the tailgate.
I go through the last two days in my head and try to remember if me and Chloe had acted anything other than just friends that were about to have a baby.
Nothing comes to mind.
Sure, I placed my hand on the small of her back a time or two and she gave me a kiss on the cheek when I gave her her Christmas present, but nothing comes to mind that would have my dad ask that.
It’s not like I snuck into her room late at night and got caught.
“Yup, I’m sure,” I say, giving him a nod. “Why?”
“No reason. I just thought you two look cute together, is all.”
“Look cute together?” I repeat. I have never heard my dad say the word cute. Ever.
“Yeah, cute,” he says again, and it feels weird as hell.
“This is mom’s doing, isn’t it?” I ask nodding over to the woman that is currently showing Chloe all the poinsettia that fill the front porch.
My dad lets out a sigh, like he couldn’t keep in a secret much longer. “She was talking about it last night. Told me to talk to you about making an honest woman out of Chloe, you know before the baby comes.”
Honest woman?
Who the hell even says that anymore?
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I guess even I told her a number of times, my mom hasn’t dropped the whole getting married thing.
“Chloe and I have talked about this and have both think it’s not a good idea to jump into anything. We are concentrating on the baby. That’s it.”
I don’t know how much clearer I can get.
“Have you told your mom that?” he asks but he already knows the answer.
“A handful of times.” I say with a nod.
“Then all I can say is that I talked to you and that I tried.”
“Thanks, dad. I really appreciate this talk.” I say with a little too much sarcasm.
“Of course, son. Anything for your mother,” he claps me on the shoulder and walks over to where mom and Chloe are.
When Chloe notices that I’m not with my dad, she turns until she meets my gaze and gives me a sweet smile that I want to spend the rest of the day looking at.
If I wasn’t the man that I was, I would go against what me and Chloe agreed on and make her mine in every single way that I could.
She would be living with me permanently and not thinking about moving out when the baby comes.
I want her with me at times until she grows tired of me.
But we did agree and I’m an idiot that can’t get his emotions for a woman in check.
And it’s not like she feels the same way.
Ever since she’s moved in, things have become more and more platonic. Even calling me one of her best friends a lot more often.
I just don’t know if the increase of the word friend in her vocabulary is for my sake or hers.
Given the circumstances, I’m pretty sure it’s for mine and so that I don’t forget where we stand.
I was friend zoned and hard.
But I can live with it, for now at least.
After another minute of hearing my mother talk about her plants, Chloe finally makes her way over to me.
“Ready to go?” she asks me, her pregnancy glow all that more vibrant.
“Ready if you are.” I say to her. Very much wanting to pull her in so that I can kiss her.
If I didn’t have ice time later today in preparation for our game tomorrow, we would be staying another night. But unfortunately work duties call.
Chloe gives me a nod before walking back to my parents and giving them both a hug goodbye.
“Did your dad talked to you?” my mom whispers in my ear when it’s my turn to say goodbye.
God, this woman will never let it go.
“He did,” I say, pulling away from her.
“And?” she asks, the excitement in her eyes dancing.
I hate to disappoint my mom, I really do, but what she wants is not something I can give her. Not right now.
“And nothing has changed, Ma. Chloe and I are still just friends. The baby is our number one priority right now.” I say to her, really glad that Chloe isn’t within hearing distance.
“Such a bummer. She would make an honest man out of you.” she says shaking her head at me.
Again with the honest crap.
“Dad told me that I should make an honest woman out of her.”
My mom lets out a snort and continues to shake her head.
“Honey, Chloe does not need you to make her into anything. She’s a strong independent woman, she doesn’t need a man.
On the other hand, you need a woman to show you how to live life and realize that you can’t survive with just hockey. Chloe is that woman.”
I don’t know if I should be offended that my mom thinks that I need a woman in my life or not. It’s not like I only live and breathe hockey.
Maybe during the season but not all year long.
Take this season for example. Sure, I’m concentrating on getting the team to the playoffs and winning the cup, but I’m also thinking about Chloe and the baby.
My life isn’t just hockey. I don’t need it to survive.
But apparently mom doesn’t see it that way.
“I’m fine, Ma.”
“Whatever you say.” She pats my cheek a little too hard. “Now. go take care of the mother of my grandchild and make sure they both get home safely.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I give my mom one last kiss on the cheek and make my way over to Chloe to help her into the truck.
As I pull out of the driveway, Chloe waves excitedly at my parents.
Seeing her this excited makes me glad that I invited her in the first place. Even thought she couldn’t spend it with her parents, it was still a good Christmas and I am glad I was able to give that to her.
“You had a good time.” I state, not question as I pull into the main road of town.
“I did.” I don’t have to look at her to know that she is smiling. “Thank you so much for inviting me. It was awesome getting to know you a lot better and meeting your parents. They’re both so excited about the baby.”
“They are.” I say turning into the expressway. “Did my mom show you that blanket she’s working on?”
I was told a while ago that she was working on it, but I didn’t see it while I was home. I’m hoping Chloe did and I didn’t ruin the surprise or something.
“Oh my god, yes! She showed it to me yesterday after breakfast. It’s so pretty already. I told her that as soon as we find out what we’re having I will let her know so that she can add color if she wants.”
I never thought that someone could be so excited about a blanket.
“Are we finding out?” I ask.
I’ve gone to her last three appointments with her, I’ve gotten to see the little gummy bear on screen and hear its heartbeat. But during those visits it never came up if we were finding out the sex. I honestly didn’t think about it until now.
“I would like to, would you?” She asks and when I quickly turn to look at her, she is looking at me with excitement in her eyes.
“Yeah, I would like to know. Mentally prepare myself.” I say to her, throwing a smile her way.
She lets out a snort. “Are you afraid of having a girl?”
“Nah, I can handle raising a girl. It's the boys that I’m worried about. Spending time with my teammates has made me realize just how much a pain the ass boys can be.”
Chloe lets out a sweet laugh. “And here I thought it was the other way around.”
“Spend a whole day with Christian and Blake and you will be thinking the same thing as me.” There have been races three more times since the last one.
“Maybe it’s time I go to another one of your games and see for myself.”
“Whenever you want. There will always be tickets at the box office for you.” And there is. Every game I leave at least a ticket available for Chloe just in case she wants to attend. She hasn’t since the first game she went to, but that doesn’t stop me from leaving them, nonetheless.
“Really?” she asks, sounding surprised.
I nod, keeping my eye on the road. “Really. You don’t even have to ask, there will always be a ticket for you.”
“And you wouldn’t mind if people see me there?” She ask and I quickly turn to look at her and see that she is chewing on her bottom lip.
“Why would I mind?”
Does she think I’m embarrassed by her?
“Because people might start to question why you have a pregnant woman attending your games.”
“They could ask all the questions that they want. It doesn’t mean they were going to answer them.” I tell her, but then something clicks in my head. “Is that why you haven’t gone to any other game this season?”
“Well, yeah.” She answers. “I don’t know what you’re telling people. For all I know, you’re telling them that I’m your girlfriend and that we are expecting a baby. I didn’t want to go to one of your games and lie to their faces.”
And here I thought that she didn’t want to go to any games because she really didn’t want to do anything with me.
I let out a sigh. “The only people that know about the pregnancy are Blake, Christian, my coach and the team doctor, and they know our situation. That’s it. The only WAG that knows is Sophia and she’s not even a WAG.”
Chloe shifts in her seat and I turn to see that she turned her whole body to me. “You mean you haven’t told anyone that I’m your girlfriend?”
“No.” Why would I? Sure, it would look better in the public eye, but I don’t honestly see the point in lying.
“Huh.” she says slumping in her seat.
“Now will you come to another game?” I ask just as we are getting on I-57 towards Chicago.
She is silent for a few seconds probably thinking about if it’s a good idea or not.
“I would love to, if that’s okay?” she asks like I haven’t been hoping for this moment since October.
“More than okay.”
“And you won’t get sick of me if I attend all the home games for the rest of the season? I didn’t really enjoy the first one much because, you know things?”
I don’t know how that game went for her, but I do know how it went for me and it wasn’t good.
“We live together, of course I won’t get sick of you.” I tell her and it’s the truth. If I could have her in my space forever, I would be a happy man.
I honestly need to get my feelings for this woman under control. I can’t keep thinking like that.
Maybe I should go on a date or something.
“You say that now,” Chloe says, bringing me back to the present. “But we’ve only lived together for two weeks. Things can change.”
I take a quick second to give her a look that says give me a break.
“I won’t get sick of you after living with you for six months and I won’t get sick of you if you want to attend every one of my games.”
“If you say so,” she chimes a giggle following quickly after.
“I do.”
“Then get me tickets for tomorrow night. I’m going to cheer on my baby daddy.”
I like her calling me her baby daddy a little bit too much.