Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
THEO
There’s nothing like the roar of a home crowd on game day.
The way each step toward the end of the tunnel brings another rush of adrenaline, until I’m a live wire that’s ready to explode onto the field.
It’s why we play the game, putting our bodies on the line week after week in search of a victory.
But today is different. The chants and cheers are louder, the grass is greener, and my hunger to win is more insatiable than ever—because she’s here.
It’s week nine of the regular season, and I finally talked Finley into coming to a Renegades game.
I know she’s been doing her best not to feed into the media speculation, which has been running rampant since our trip to the maternity boutique three weeks ago.
She’s still concerned with my reputation and people gossiping about whether or not the baby is mine, but as I’ve told her a hundred times before, I don’t give a single fuck.
In fact, I hope they do think that…because I wish she were, too.
I haven’t stopped thinking about the way it felt to hear Finley beg for me to breed her.
The heady mixture of hormones and emotions that blazed throughout my body as the desperate plea left her lips was otherworldly, causing me to go completely feral until I was sure that every drop of my cum had been emptied inside her.
I understand biology, and I’m fully aware that it’s not possible to get her pregnant twice at the same time, but something shifted between us that day—at least, that’s how it felt for me.
It wasn’t just two bodies coming together for pleasure like we had in the past. It was an act of possession.
A claiming. I made them mine, and now there’s no way in hell that I’m letting go.
“You ready to put on a show for your girl?” Jett says, a shit-eating grin plastered across his face as he fastens his chin strap. “Maybe if you pull in a pick six, she’ll pet your Boner later.”
“I hate you,” I deadpan. “I hope you know that.”
He chuckles. “No, you don’t.”
“Who’s hosting dinner tonight?” Maddox cuts in as he sidles up beside us. “Kingsley says he’s out of the rotation forever, so someone needs to volunteer.”
Jett turns his head like the goddamn exorcist, eyes wide as they practically burn a hole through our quarterback. “Maybe if my fiancée hadn’t found a dried puddle of jizz on the guestroom carpet, we wouldn’t have to prohibit you horny fucks from entering our home.”
Maddox’s head rears back, a dramatic hand lying across his chest as though he’s appalled by what he just heard.
“Why are you looking at me?” he gasps. “It wasn’t mine.
Emmett and Stella were also upstairs that night, so maybe you should point your judgy finger in his direction.
Come to think of it”—his eyes narrow on me—“I’m pretty sure Theo was up there, as well. ”
I scoff. “Yeah, you caught me. I got so turned on by my near-death experience that I immediately had to rub one out. My bad.”
It seems like just yesterday we were meeting Stella for the first time, even though it’s been nearly a year.
She had just started caring for Austin after his surgery, and he talked her into accompanying him to our end-of-season dinner at Jett and Bailey’s.
None of us knew about her history with Emmett, which is why I was caught off guard when he followed us upstairs and had me by the throat within seconds.
Thankfully, he calmed down when he realized that the interaction was completely innocent, allowing Stella to pull him into an empty bedroom where they eventually reconciled.
But I heard a lot of moaning and grunting coming from behind another door that night, and the voices definitely belonged to Maddox and Liv.
“Whatever,” Maddox relents. “I’ll host again.”
We iron out the details, agreeing to meet around six for dinner, then to watch the prime-time game.
I’m not sure if we’ll even stay for all of it, since Fin’s feet have been swelling and aching when she’s on them for long periods of time.
I’m sure a fun night out followed by a long soak in the tub—and me burying my face between her thighs—will fix her right up.
Fingers crossed on that last one. I’m insatiable when it comes to my girl.
We go through warm-ups, and the game kicks off, starting with the Renegades on offense.
I try to stay focused on the sideline, but I can’t stop my gaze from wandering up toward the WAGs’ suite every now and then.
There’s a glare off the glass, making it impossible to see inside, but just knowing Finley is up there cheering me on has my stomach flipping with excitement.
She’s the closest thing to a steady girlfriend I’ve had since making it to the pros, and I have to say that I understand why my teammates play so much better when their significant others are here.
Not only do I feel more relaxed because I can get to her quickly if she needs me, but I also want her to be proud to walk out of this stadium with me later.
To me, that’s better than all the trophies and rings this career has to offer.
I can’t think of a single thing that could be more fulfilling than strutting out of this motherfucker someday with Finley on one arm and a beautiful baby girl in the other, and I’ll be damned if I don’t give her every reason to want that, too.
FINLEY
“You were amazing,” I say to Theo as he pulls out of the players’ parking lot.
The game was a blowout, ending in a twenty-one to zero Renegades win over New York.
I’ll be honest…it was rough at first, since I’ve never seen him get hit in person.
It took him popping back up unharmed after what looked to be several brutal collisions—and Livvy explaining the science behind their pads and helmets—before I was able to watch without wanting to throw up.
But by the end, I was a proper fan, screaming and slapping on the plexiglass every time one of them made a big play.
“Thank you, Mama,” he replies, a pink blush creeping up his cheeks as he reaches for my hand. “I’m glad you had fun. I hope you’ll come again.”
“I’d love to.” I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips when I remember how excited he was to find me standing outside the locker room with the girls.
I didn’t even care that there were cameras around as he hugged me, then turned his attention to my belly before asking the baby if she saw his interception.
I’m sure photos of that moment will be front-page news on a bunch of gossip sites tomorrow, but whatever.
It was the cutest thing—and if he isn’t worried about it, I probably shouldn’t be, either.
The ride is short, and before I know it, we’re pulling down the driveway that leads to Maddox and Livvy’s place.
It’s a beautiful home, with its rich exterior and perfectly manicured lawn, a row of in-ground lighting leading to a set of wide, brick steps.
Theo keeps a protective hand on my lower back as we climb them, dropping a soft kiss to the top of my head when I reach out to ring the doorbell.
“Glad you two could make it,” Maddox says in greeting as he pulls the door open and steps aside so we can enter.
He tells us that food should be arriving soon, and we split up, Theo and him going off to watch the game in the living room while I join Bailey, Livvy, Stella, and Syd in the kitchen.
They’ve all got wine glasses in their hands, hovering over what looks to be a bunch of luxurious white fabric swatches on the counter below.
“Oh, thank God you’re here,” Bailey says in relief, waving me over. “I need your opinion.”
My brows pull tight. “Me?” I ask, my tone laced with confusion. Aside from the occasional question about which liquor to use in mixed drinks at the club, I can’t think of a single time someone has sought out my advice on anything.
“Yeah,” she replies, spreading the pieces out so I can see.
“I’ve decided on two different wedding dresses.
I’m having a designer alter the one that Jett’s mom wore, and I’ll wear that at the reception.
But I can’t decide which of these I like best for the ceremony.
Give me your vote before I say fuck it and marry this man in my underwear. ”
Warmth expands throughout my chest, a cocktail of emotions that I’ve only felt in the midst of this group prickling behind my eyes. Thanks to them, I now get to experience things I’ve longed for since I was a kid.
Acceptance.
Belonging.
Love.
It may seem silly, but the fact that Bailey values our friendship enough to ask for my input is something I’ll never forget, and my heart is unbelievably full because of it. It’s comforting to know that—although my future remains so uncertain—I’ve found a safe place right here with the Renegades.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I step up between her and Sydney, running my fingers over each piece thoughtfully.
They’re all so beautiful, and I know without a doubt that there isn’t a wrong answer, because she’ll look like a princess in whatever dress she wears.
But it’s the soft floral lace adorned with small white rhinestones that screams Mrs. Jett Kingsley.
“This one,” I declare, pointing at the small square. “It’s perfect.”
“I told you,” Syd sasses, popping the tab on a can of strawberry sparkling water and pouring it into a wine glass for me. I thank her with a smile, letting the bubbles tickle my nose as I take a sip. “Finley and I obviously have superior taste. Your dress is going to be epic, thanks to us.”
“It’s settled, then,” Bailey replies, clearing the counter.
“Now, can we please talk about Luke Pritchard’s wife screaming at the suite security guard because he wouldn’t let her entourage come in?
She had one social media post blow up two years ago, and now she thinks she can raise her voice at the staff whenever she wants. ”
“I’d rather freeze my tits off with the fans than be anywhere near her negative energy,” Stella says, tipping back the rest of her wine.
I laugh in response, but it’s cut short when I feel something push against my palm that’s resting haphazardly on my tummy. It happened a few times this past week, but only when I was alone, so I wasn’t able to share it with anyone.
“Theo!” I shout, causing all the girls to whip their heads in my direction.
“Are you okay?” Livvy asks, concern falling over her features, but I’m gone in an instant, running toward the living room as fast as my feet will carry me.
“Theo! Hurry!” I call out as I skid around the corner in my socked feet, just in time to see him shoot off the couch like his ass is on fire. He practically trips over Emmett as he shoves his way past, rushing to my side.
“What’s wrong?” he says, his eyes wide with worry. “Is it the baby?”
I grab his wrist, bringing his open hand to my stomach and holding it there. He looks down at me, brows knitted in confusion, until finally, it happens again. A great, big kick—so strong that it almost takes my breath away.
“Holy shit,” he chokes out, that gorgeous, dimpled smile stretching from ear to ear. I nod in response, tears of happiness blurring my vision when she does it again.
Kneeling down in front of me, he places his hands on the sides of my belly, leaning in close so she can hear.
“Hey, baby girl,” he rasps, his voice so full of emotion that it makes my chest ache.
“I’m your…” His eyes squeeze shut, and he swallows thickly, pushing down the thing he really wants to tell her—that he’s her daddy.
The whole room looks on with bated breath, every one of us silently hoping that he’ll take this moment for himself and say the word—because he deserves it more than anything.
But he doesn’t. Instead, he leans in, pressing his lips to the exact place where he felt her kick in the sweetest, gentlest kiss. “I love you so much,” he whispers. “I can’t wait to meet you.”
I don’t think there’s a dry eye in the house when he stands, pulling me into his arms and burying his face in the crook of my neck.
Every time I think I’ve seen the limits of this man’s perfection, he shows me more, and I fall all over again.
My heart never stood a chance against Theo Calloway, whether I wanted it to or not.
“She loves you, too,” I say quietly, deepening the embrace and hoping like hell he can feel everything I’m not saying.
He isn’t like the others I’ve let into my life, claiming that I’d be okay without them when they inevitably walked away.
If that day ever comes with Theo, he’ll take a piece of me with him wherever he goes.
And as scary as that is, I’d still choose to give it to him a hundred times over.
He leans in slowly, giving me plenty of time to back away if I want to. But fuck that. Everyone here just saw what happened, and I’m tired of denying the connection we’ve built. I may not know what tomorrow brings, but today, I want to kiss him like nothing else matters.
So, that’s exactly what I do.
Without another thought, I yank him to me, fireworks exploding behind my eyes as soon as our lips collide.
Strong hands grip onto the fabric of my shirt, holding tight as we devour one another like there’s nobody else in the room.
My heart swells, and my knees go weak, a million emotions pouring into the kiss, so he knows exactly how much he means to me.
After what seems like seconds and hours all at once, we pull away, both breathless as we return to awareness.
I cringe internally when I remember that we have an audience, slowly turning my head to find every one of our friends staring with smiles on their faces.
Of course, it’s Sydney who breaks the ice, always knowing how to make an awkward moment even worse.
“Great,” she says sarcastically. “I have a breeding kink now, so thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome,” Theo shoots back with a grin, leaning close so only I can hear. “Let’s get out of here, Mama. I need some time alone with my girls.”
Yes, please.