Chapter 20
Dean
“Are you heading to the arena with Lilly?” I call out while tucking my dress shirt into my pants. While Ari normally loves getting to a game early, since we’re in the final few weeks of the championships, and her baby bump is more noticeable now, she’s been sticking to more subtle entrances.
I wonder if that will change after we tell our friends tonight.
“Yeah. Stella and Harper are meeting us here and we’re gonna walk over so we don’t have to deal with traffic,” she answers from the bathroom attached to my bedroom.
After this morning’s appointment, we went back to her place so she could pack an overnight bag and get her makeup.
She also tried bringing every single pillow from her bed, telling me how she has to stack them between her legs and along her stomach now just to get comfortable.
It had taken almost twenty minutes for me to convince her that she didn’t need them.
I may have fibbed and told her that I had a stash of pillows in my guest room that she could raid.
She was hesitant, and I don’t blame her.
But I didn’t want to ruin the surprise that was now lying on her half of the bed.
The purple pregnancy pillow had been recommended in three of my latest reads, and after a little more researching and comparing, I finally committed.
She hasn’t seen it yet, since I only brought it over from the other room when she started getting ready. Now I find myself worrying that she won’t be able to get comfortable.
I shake off my concerns. If she can’t use it, I’ll scrounge every pillow I own and even go knocking on my teammates’ doors to steal their pillows if I need to.
Grabbing my belt off the dresser, I slip it through the loops on my pants and check the time.
“I’ll see you after the game then.” Stepping into the bathroom, I bite back a groan at the cloud of perfume that hits me. Everything smells like Arianna, and it causes my brain to short-circuit.
I’m pressed against her back in an instant, wrapping my arm around her waist and hauling her against my chest. With my other hand, I grip her hip, keeping her trapped in place between me and the counter.
She giggles, dropping the makeup brush and leaning into me.
Her head tilts to the side as it rests against my shoulder, and she smiles at me in the mirror.
“If you’re not careful, you’ll be late,” she murmurs, tracing a single finger over my forearm. I drop my head to the crook of her neck, kissing the exposed skin and making her shiver.
“Mm, it’d be worth it.”
“I don’t think your team would agree,” she whispers back, and I move to kiss up the side of her neck, nibbling gently and loving the way her whole body reacts to my touch.
“Fuck them.” My voice is gravelly, and we both know I mean it. I let go of her hip long enough to tease along the hem of her pants. A quiet moan spills from her lips and it’s almost enough to lose me in the moment.
Except the little vixen twists from my hold, making me fall forward into the counter as she slips away.
“Sorry, but I can’t let you be late. Not when you’re this close to making it into the final four.”
Quicker than I can process, she sneaks in to kiss my cheek before darting away and out to the bedroom.
With one last look at myself, I push off and follow after her, ready to plead my case as to why it would be okay to be ten, maybe fifteen minutes late.
Except I find her frozen between the bathroom door and the closet, the zip-up hoodie she was wearing now hanging in her fingers while she stares at the bed.
“Is that…” she whispers, and I nod, even though she can’t see me.
“A pregnancy pillow? Yes. It’s gotten really good reviews, so I figured we could see if it does better than all your—”
My words are cut off as she flings herself at me, silencing me with a messy kiss. It takes me a second to steady us both, not once pulling away from her. Ari pulls away, cheeks flushed and a beautiful smile for only me.
“I love y—it. I love it so much. Thank you.” She stumbles over her words, and I don’t miss her almost slipup. I could walk on water at the heady feeling, knowing her unfiltered thoughts were about to rise up before she caught them.
It doesn’t bother me that she’s not ready to say it. I know she feels the same way I do. Even if she’s not ready to hear me say the words and she’s not ready to say them herself, I know they’re on her mind. And she’s still in my arms.
I kiss her, but before I can take things further, she backs away. This time, when she grins at me, there’s a mischievous glint in her eyes that has me raising an eyebrow at her.
“What do you think of the shirt I had made?” she asks and I finally look away from her face and notice her outfit.
Then I forget to breathe as I read her shirt once. Twice. And a third time after that.
She’s in a red shirt that matches the team’s colors, but instead of the Bobcats’ logo, the words ‘Daddy got one in the goal’ are in golden letters across her chest and an image of a puck with little white feet in a net.
My vision goes blurry just as she turns around, showing me the back, and I swear I’m two seconds from passing out.
The words ‘Baby Hayes’ are across her shoulders right above the number seventy-four.
She’s worn my number before. Ari owns something for each of the guys on the team, always preaching about how it’s not just one of us that carries the team, so everyone should get some love.
But the sight of her proudly showing off, announcing to everyone that she’s not only with me, but she’s carrying my baby, makes some unknown part of me puff with a pride I’ve never felt before.
When she spins back to face me, I prowl forward, only to stop when she holds up a hand.
“Oh no, I know that look.” She gestures to my face before pointing to her rounded stomach. “That look is what got us here.”
“And your point is?” I muse, taking another step, only for her to retreat again.
“That we do not have time for that again. Save it for after the game.” She crosses her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “If you win, that is.”
I narrow my eyes at her, and this time when I move to close the distance between us, she doesn’t stop me.
“I’m going to hold you to that, Freckles.” This time, when I kiss her, I try to keep it short but still longer than I probably should have.
When I release her, I place a hand on her stomach, taking in the shirt one last time before dropping to my knees and kissing her stomach. I peer up at her from my knees, flashing her a quick wink.
“Need a kiss from all my girls for good luck.”
“You better not forget to let Cora give you one on your way out then.”
“I always do.” I push to my feet, giving her one last peck on the lips before heading out.
There’s something about being in the locker room before a big game that helps me focus. Most of the time, the second I set foot in one, nothing else matters. Everything fades away until the only thing on my mind is the guys surrounding me or the rink on the other side of the brick walls.
Today, though, there’s a buzz humming through my veins, and no matter what I do, all thoughts circle back to Arianna and the baby.
I look around the room, watching as everyone starts getting into their gear or finishes some stretches. To my left, Dominik and Greyson are tying up their skates in silence. On my right, Carter sits between me and Landon, something the former has finally stopped giving me questioning looks for.
The reminder that Landon is still barely speaking to me is the only reason I didn’t blurt out my news the second I walked in. For the past few minutes, I’ve been trying to think of a way to help make this easier for him, only to come to one conclusion.
Why the hell should I bend over backward for someone who can’t even look me in the eye and talk shit through like an adult?
Clearing my throat, I get the attention of the guys around me.
I turn to Grey first. While everyone on the team has noticed the distance between Landon and me, Grey is the only one who understood what was happening.
He hasn’t treated either of us any differently, hasn’t given any sign that he would know what’s going on.
But his support comes from his actions, like when he takes the empty seat beside me as if it was always meant for him.
Offering to refill my beer when we go out with the guys, even though it’s something Landon and I normally do for each other.
I never noticed just how much Landon and I were attached at the hip until he wasn’t there.
Right now, I’m grateful Grey’s able to pick up on what I’m about to say. His subtle nod is all the support I need.
“I’m, uh, gonna be a dad,” I say awkwardly, having not thought through any better way to break the news.
Anyone who’s closest to me falls silent, and I wince at the lack of noise. If it weren’t for Greyson’s rare smile, I’d probably panic.
“Dude, what? That’s amazing!” Dominik finally breaks the silence and I let out the breath I was holding. “Who’s the mom?”
Since I’m looking right at him, I watch Grey’s smile tighten as he glances over my shoulder. I turn my focus to Dom, needing to just say the rest.
“Arianna.”
If Dominik is shocked by the news, he hides it real fucking well. Without missing a beat, he’s pushing off the bench and pulling me up into a hug.
“Congratulations, man,” he says, patting me on the back before turning me to the next guy.
Carter does the same, followed by Reid and Evan.
The news spreads around the locker room, making more guys jump in to shout their congratulations for me.
By the time I’ve been hugged by damn near half the team, I’m left standing in front of Landon and Greyson.
Grey stands to one side, ready to either give us space or jump between us. Dominik and the others are still close by, chatting loudly about how excited they are for me, but I tune them out and stare my best friend in the eye.
“We found out the gender today,” I tell him and the way his eyes widen in horror should probably bring me some small joy. Instead, I just feel…guilty.
Risking a step closer, I shake my head, over this ridiculous drama.
“Look, man, I—”
“I’m sorry.” Landon interrupts, I reel back in surprise.
He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head.
“I was being stupid. I know that. But every time I tried to think of something to say, none of it sounded right for how I behaved. Then the next thing I knew, it had been one week, then two, then a fucking month. Nothing I can think of seems good enough.”
I close my eyes, grateful that we’re one step closer to getting past this.
“Dude, saying sorry is good enough for me.” I pause, letting the meaning sink in.
Grabbing his shoulder, I yank him into a hug, our pads bashing against each other awkwardly, but I ignore it.
“You really hurt her. So it’s probably going to take more than those two words to make things better, but I do know that saying something, that showing up and just trying, will go a long way.
She misses you. It’s killing her that you haven’t been around, but she refuses to make the first move. ”
I let him go but keep a hand on his shoulder and hold his gaze. “Just get your head out of your ass, apologize, and stop being a dick to the woman I love.”
He pats my arm, nodding before stepping back. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Good.” I cross my arms and grin. “So you wanna know if you’re gonna have a niece or a nephew?”
His smile is sad, but he shakes his head. “Yeah, I do. But I think that’s something I should find out from my sister.”
“Damn, man. I’ve already cried once today. Don’t make me tear up again.”
Landon shoves me away, laughing as he passes to finish getting ready for the game. We easily fall back into old habits, taunting and teasing each other about how we look in full gear.
By the time we’re hitting the ice, there’s a lightness to me. Like everything is falling into place and that it’s all exactly as it should be.
We’ve got some ground to make up, but my best friend is talking to me again.
The woman I love is carrying my daughter.
When asked, I’ve always said I don’t have a family. But I was wrong. These people here, they’ve shown up for me when I needed a friend, celebrated my wins, and helped me work through my losses.
I’ve had a family for years now and didn’t realize it.
And now, even if we haven’t figured out what it’s gonna look like, I’m building a home with Ari. For us, for Cora, and for our baby. We haven’t talked about it, but it’s only a matter of time before we talk about me moving into her house, or if we want to buy a new one together.
I’ll go where Ari tells me to. I’ll bounce between my condo and her house until she’s ready to live together. So long as she lets me be there for her, how we get to the end doesn’t matter to me.