29. Wes
Chapter twenty-nine
Wes
“You ready for this?” I adjust my grip on the baby shower gift I’m holding and turn to peek at Hadley.
She swallows, fiddling with the basket in her hand.
Another gift from the two of us. She insisted that the swing I’d picked out for Hunt and Mads was for the baby, and we should put together a gift for the parents, specifically momma, since she’d be doing the hard work. Didn’t have to tell me twice.
We may have gone a little overboard, hence the huge basket Hadley’s carrying, which is filled with Madison’s favorites: gift cards to the local coffee shop and a few of the restaurants she and Hunt enjoy, and a few other things Hadley deemed essential.
“Hads?” I prompt.
She squares her shoulders, turning to me. “Let’s do this thing.”
With that, we make our way up the sidewalk toward Hunter and Madison’s house.
Pausing at the door, I try to decide if I’m supposed to ring the doorbell or just go in.
Before I can make a decision, the door swings open, and Elias, Hunter’s half brother, who I haven’t seen since the season ended—almost three months ago now, since it’s early July—is standing there.
“Hey, E. Good to see you. Didn’t realize you were back in town,” I greet him.
“Hey, guys.” He breaks out into a slow grin, glancing between Hadley and me. “I wanted to be close in case Hunt needed me. Besides, I couldn’t miss their baby shower.”
I can understand that. According to what Hunt told me last week, Madison’s technically full term and could go into labor at any moment.
And aside from her dad and her aunt, they have no other family here.
I’m sure Hunt’s cousins, who were more like parents to him, would be down here in a heartbeat for the birth of his first child if he asked them, but I know he hasn’t.
“Hi, Elias,” Hadley says.
“Heard congratulations are in order,” he says, stepping back so we can head inside.
“Yep, we’re engaged,” I say.
“I’m happy for you. Both of you,” Elias says as he rounds the corner and pauses in the entrance to the living room.
“Thanks,” Hadley says.
I scan the room, noting that most of my teammates and their partners are here. There’s even a few of the retired guys who still live locally.
“I’m gonna go find the guys,” I tell her once we’ve dropped off our gifts. “Do you want to come with me?” I study her, trying to figure out how she feels about this. Aside from the moment on the sidewalk, I can’t tell if she’s nervous or not.
She shakes her head. “I’m going to go say hi to Sutton and Ansley.”
“Okay.” I kiss her cheek, and we go our separate ways.
“Brother,” Holt greets me when I step into the kitchen, where he, Hunter, and Elias are hanging out.
I shoot him a look that I hope conveys don’t oversell it. “Not yet.”
“Thanks for coming,” Hunter says, giving me a hug.
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. No Sebastian, eh?”
Hunter shakes his head. “No, he sent a gift but wasn’t able to make it. He’s back home in England, something about helping his mom on the farm.”
“His family owns a farm?”
Hunter shrugs. “He didn’t say own. Maybe they work on it. Or rent it.”
“Huh,” I mumble, taking the beer that Elias hands me. “Thanks.”
“You’re the last one standing,” Holt says to Elias.
“Last one standing?” Elias asks.
“Not dating, engaged, or married to anyone,” I answer. Technically, Hadley and I aren’t engaged, but we are dating, so I guess I’m still not single.
Elias scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Sebastian is single too.”
“Pfft, he and Sutton are endgame,” I say, grabbing a chip from the bowl on the counter and dunking it in the salsa before popping it into my mouth.
“Unless there’s something you’re not telling us,” Hunt says to his brother before taking a sip of his drink.
“Ha. Nope. Nope,” Elias says, shaking his head a little too vigorously. “Bachelor life for me.”
“We should set him up with someone,” Holt says. “Anyone you’re interested in?”
“Hey, guys,” Caleb, our former team captain who lives locally with his family, says as he enters the kitchen. “Look who I found.”
I turn to see him holding Hazel. “Aww, thanks for finding her.” I set my beer bottle on the counter and walk over to them, my hands outstretched. “Hazel, girl, want to come hang out with your favorite uncle?”
One of the guys snorts, but I ignore it. They’ve all tried to take the best uncle title away from me, but none have succeeded.
Hazel giggles, clapping her hands, and I take her from Caleb, who lets go reluctantly. He’s got kids of his own. He doesn’t need to snuggle my niece.
“She started crawling the other day,” Holt says.
“She did?” I swing back around to face them. “You’re crawling now, Haze, girl.” I kiss her on the cheek.
“She’ll be walking before you know it,” Caleb says.
Holt groans, and I can’t help smiling. “I thought I’d have a few more months. She’s only nine months old.”
“Just you wait,” Caleb says, grabbing a beer out of the fridge. “See what you have to look forward to,” he tells Hunter.
Hunter just grins. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait. And to think our kids will get to grow up together,” he says to Holt, rubbing his hands together. They share a look.
My shoulders slump, and a pang of sadness pings through me at the thought of the bond they’re sure to form over both being dads. An exclusive club I’m not invited to.
“We hanging out here or joining the rest of the party in the living room?” Caleb asks.
“Right, living room,” Hunter says, leading the way out of the kitchen.
Coach makes a beeline for me and holds his arms out for Hazel. “Gotta get some practice in before my grandson gets here.”
“Want to go to your Great-uncle Jake?” I ask Hazel.
She claps her hands together and reaches for him.
I let her go, and once relieved of my baby duties, zero in on Hadley, who is sitting on the couch between Sutton and Ansley, the three of them having a very animated discussion.
Madison is relaxing in a rocking chair next to the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table.
“Hi, ladies,” I greet them. “Momma.” I kiss Mads on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”
She rubs her very pregnant stomach. “Tired. Ready for little man to be out.”
“I can imagine. Anyone need anything?”
“Could you get me more water?” Madison holds up her reusable cup. “Or ask my husband to do it.”
“I got you.” I take it from her. “Anyone else?”
“No. Thanks.” Ansley gets to her feet. “I’m gonna head to the bathroom. Excuse me.”
Sutton shakes her head.
“I’m good. Thanks,” Hadley says.
I lean down and kiss her, just because I can, before I stand to my full height, wink at her, and walk away to get Madison’s drink.