32. Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chase
Millie heads straight for the bathroom and I sit on the edge of the bed, my mind racing. I try to focus on the positives—she’s been with us for a while now and we all care about her. But the uncertainty and fear is overwhelming.
A few minutes later, she emerges from the bathroom, her face a mix of relief and anxiety.
“I took the tests,” she says, her voice shaky. “We should know soon.”
I get up and pull her into a hug, trying to be as calm as possible. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get through this, whatever the results are.”
She nods, her eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you for being here with me, Chase. I really needed that.”
“Of course,” I say, holding her tightly. “We’re in this together.”
We sit on the bed, holding each other, waiting for the results. It feels like an eternity, but eventually, Millie pulls away to check the tests. Her face is a mixture of emotions and I hold my breath as she reads the results.
“Positive,” she whispers. “They’re all positive. How did this happen? I have an IUD…”
I feel a wave of shock crash over me. I reach out and take her hand, trying to steady both of us. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out. We can do whatever you need.”
Millie looks at me, her eyes wide with uncertainty. “I...I’m not sure. I need time to think, but I don’t want to tell the guys until after the finals. It’s only two weeks.”
I frown, concern etched on my face. “Are you sure? That’s a lot to keep to yourself.”
She nods, her expression resolute yet fragile. “Yeah, I’m sure. Just two weeks. I can handle it.”
Then, as if the reality of the situation fully hits her, she breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably. I pull her into my arms, holding her tightly as she cries. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. We’ll get through this together.”
Millie clings to me, her body shaking with sobs. “I’m so scared, Chase. What if they’re mad? What if they don’t want this?”
“Hey, none of that,” I say firmly, rubbing her back in soothing circles. “We all care about you and we’ll support you no matter what. I promise.”
She looks up at me, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. I just...I need some time to process this. Can we just...can we just pretend everything’s normal for now?”
I nod, kissing her forehead. “Of course. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
We stay like that for a while, just holding each other, the fear and tension slowly melting away. It’s been a long, emotional night, but I know we’re stronger together. No matter what challenges come our way, I’m committed to standing by Millie’s side.
***
The next day, we’re at Finn’s place. He’s proudly showing off his garden and hockey memorabilia, his excitement palpable. Millie is filming him for a segment of her show, and she looks so professional, so in her element. It’s hard to believe she spent half the night crying.
Finn points out a section of his garden, talking animatedly about the different plants. “And over here, I’ve got my tomatoes. They’re finally starting to ripen.”
Millie smiles, capturing everything with her camera. “They look great, Finn. How do you manage to keep up with all this and hockey?”
Finn laughs, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s not easy, but it helps me relax. Gardening is my therapy.”
She moves closer, focusing on his face. “I bet it is. So, tell me more about your ADHD diagnosis. How has that affected your life and career?”
Finn’s face softens and he becomes more vulnerable. “It’s been a struggle, honestly. I didn’t get diagnosed until I was an adult. Growing up, I just thought I was different, you know? Always distracted, always moving. It wasn’t until I discovered hockey that I found a way to channel all that energy.”
Millie nods, her eyes full of understanding. “And how do you cope with it now?”
Finn sighs, looking down at his feet for a moment before meeting her gaze. “It’s a daily battle. Meds help, but it’s more about finding a balance. Hockey, gardening and having a support system. Like you guys.”
Millie smiles and kisses him softly. “You’re doing great, Finn. We’re all proud of you.”
As I watch them, I can’t help but admire her. She’s so gentle with him, so supportive. It’s clear how much she cares about him. And seeing Finn open up like this, it’s obvious how important this upcoming game is for him.
Finn steps away to grab some water and I seize the moment to talk to Millie. “I get it now,” I say quietly.
She turns to me, her eyes questioning. “Get what?”
“This game, how important it is. I can see it in Finn. I understand why you want to wait to tell him and Declan. It makes sense.”
She relaxes a bit, nodding. “Yeah, it’s everything to them. I don’t want to distract them before such a big moment. After the finals, we’ll tell them. I promise.”
I reach out, squeezing her hand. “Okay. But just know I’m here for you, no matter what.”
She gives me a grateful smile and for the first time in a while, I see a bit of the old Millie shining through. “Thanks, Chase. That means a lot.”
We rejoin Finn, who’s now showing off his prized hockey stick collection. He’s in his element, talking passionately about each one. Millie keeps filming, her energy contagious.
Finn grabs a stick, twirling it in his hands. “And this one, this is my favorite. Scored my first hat trick with it.”
Millie laughs, clearly enjoying his enthusiasm. “That’s amazing, Finn. You’ve got quite the collection here.”
He grins, his eyes shining. “Yeah, it’s my little piece of history.”
As they continue their interview, I can’t help but feel a swell of pride. Despite everything, Millie is holding it together and Finn is thriving.
When Finn heads to the kitchen for another drink of water, I look at Millie, my voice soft. “You’re doing great, you know that?”
She looks at me, a hint of surprise in her eyes before kissing me. “Thanks, Chase. I needed to hear that.”
I smile, knowing that no matter what happens, we’ll get through it together.