Chapter 33
Dayton
Acold front came in overnight, and the last thing I want to do is leave my nice, warm bed to go freeze my balls off at the stadium and fend off heckles from a bunch of teenage boys.
Heaving myself upright, I sigh dramatically, wondering how big of a pussy it’d make me if I called in sick.
I miss my girl tagging along, and my asshole players have certainly picked up on my shift in mood since she’s been absent while getting Hudson settled in.
Hoping a hot shower will aid in waking me up, I make quick work of scrubbing myself clean, knowing I’ll need a few extra minutes to start a pot of coffee.
Col and Raiden are already up and moving around by the time I make it downstairs.
We speak in grunts while getting our shit ready for the day, not a single one of us a fan of early mornings.
I toss a few protein bars in my gym bag and fill a thermos with some freshly brewed dark roast. I’m going to need the caffeine boost, considering the physical exertion I’ll be doing before classes even start and the stack of papers I’ve yet to grade.
I say a quick goodbye to the guys, thankful I had the forethought to hit the remote start on my Jeep when an icy blast of air rushes over me the second I step outside.
I’m practically sprinting through the courtyard when an unexpected but beautiful fucking sight comes into view.
Andi’s carefully navigating her front steps with Hudson situated on her hip.
Thankfully, they’re both bundled up, my butterfly wearing the same beanie I placed on her head several weeks back.
A primal feeling makes my dick twitch at seeing her clothed in something of mine.
The image of her in nothing but one of my gym tanks–the armholes stretched and giving me a fantastic view of her tits, that sweet little belly tenting the fabric–is so pornographic, I have to bite back a groan.
Fuck. I don't even know what kind of kink that is.
“Butterfly,” I practically growl, rushing forward to help her down the last step. The cool air causes her breath to fog, making it more obvious how winded she is. “What the hell are the two of you doing outside?”
“Hoping to catch you before you left,” she huffs out. “Would it be okay if we join you? We had another rough night, and I think a change of scenery might help us recalibrate.”
“You never have to ask; I want you with me all the time. Wherever I am, you’re always welcome.” I watch her pupils dilate, fascinated by the effect my words alone are having on her.
“Come on, let’s get the two of you out of the cold.
” I reach for Hudson, relieved when he comes easily and allows Andi to walk unencumbered.
I slip the small backpack she's carrying with all of his necessities from her shoulder and place it on mine.
I still take her hand, not wanting her to slip from the frost covering the dead as fuck grass littering the courtyard.
“We need to grab Hudson’s car seat real quick. I made sure to hit the unlock button on Briggs’ SUV,” Andi comments.
“No need,” I tell her, opening the back door of the Jeep and revealing the one I purchased a week ago.
“Got my own.” Andi’s lips part, her face awash with shock, but did she really think I’d claim her as mine and not include Hudson in that?
It’s honestly a bit shocking how easily I’ve accepted what loving her would mean, but I’m beginning to think that it’s not so much a choice as it is compulsory.
I’ve never given much thought to settling down, but now I can’t imagine my life with anyone else. It’s Andi or no one.
“Why would you buy a car seat?” she questions, those gorgeous, two-toned eyes trying to pry the answer from my head as she watches me buckle Hudson in, ensuring his chest clip is where it’s supposed to be, according to the YouTube video I watched when doing the installation.
“I think you already know the answer to that, Butterfly.” I steer her towards the passenger side, her body on autopilot as she cycles through all the possibilities of what that could mean.
But there’s really only one option: I want her–in every way, shape, and form.
No exclusions. I close the door and head to the driver’s side, then crank the heat up once we’re on the road.
I make a pit stop at what’s become our favorite bakery, blindly passing Hudson a sugary sweet donut that’ll have him bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day.
“Thanks for that,” Andi snarks, an indecent as fuck moan escaping her as she takes a bite of her frosted blueberry scone.
When she licks the icing from her fingers, I nearly run us off the road.
“He definitely won’t be taking a nap later on.
” She sounds exhausted, like she was secretly counting down the seconds until she could rest while he did.
“I’m sure Briggs will be happy to keep him occupied so you can take a break,” I tell her, making a mental note to send him a text and let him know that Andi could use a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
“If Hudson will even tolerate being separated from me for that long,” she mumbles wearily, glancing back at the little guy, a smile tugging at her lips at whatever she sees.
“I actually have a theory about why he’s been so clingy recently,” I state, hoping I don’t sound like an idiot for having done some research.
“Yeah?” The hopeful lilt in Andi’s voice bolsters my confidence, so I forge ahead and explain the information I came across.
“Your due date is quickly approaching, and kids tend to sense when there’s about to be a disturbance.”
“Like animals do?” she questions, her brows drawing together in contemplation.
“Yeah, kinda like animals.” I smile, completely fucking enamored with this woman. “A lot of parents notice shifts in behavior when there’s a new baby on the way. They’re reacting to a change they don’t understand, and their emotions reflect that.”
“How’d you figure this out?” Andi spins to face me as I put the Jeep in park, giving me her full attention.
“Baby books.” My simplistic answer clearly catches her off guard, so I take the opportunity to exit the vehicle and go about gathering my and Hudson’s bags, then quickly unbuckle the wiggling toddler.
“You gonna play football one day, little guy?” I tickle his ribs, loving the smile that stretches his chubby cheeks.
When Andi rounds the back of the Jeep, I take her hand in mine and start towards the field.
Several of the guys are already here, but we still have a few minutes before we’re set to start.
With Hudson on my hip and my butterfly’s dainty fingers intertwined with my own, I feel my chest expand with pride that I get to call them mine, even if Andi hasn’t come to accept that yet.
I’ve just placed my gym bag on the sideline bench when a high-pitched voice shouts my name from across the field.
“Fuck.” I panic, pulling Andi closer, my hand sliding around to cradle her baby bump. Meri-Beth sprints towards us, her eyes pinging between the three of us in confusion.
“Dayton!” She has to stop and catch her breath, then aims a beaming smile at me.
The prick of Andi’s nails digging into the back of my hand makes me smile.
That’s right, baby. No one but you gets to smile at your man like that.
“I was wondering if you planned to stop by the fundraising breakfast the PTO is orchestrating this morning? I could save you a seat.” Her smile turns saccharine, but nothing about this woman appeals to me.
I’ve got all I could ever want right here in my arms.
“Sorry, I have to take my family home afterward.” I politely decline the offer, hoping she takes the hint for what it is: a rejection, like the many that came before this one.
“Your family?” Meri-Beth sputters, glancing at the image we present with new eyes.
“Yes,” I state emphatically, ignoring the way my butterfly is shifting nervously from one foot to the other.
“This is Andi and Hudson.” She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it, repeating the process several times, as if she’s lost for words.
Her gaze drops to where my hand is resting protectively over Andi’s stomach before taking a step back.
“Oh!” Her shaky voice belies how ruffled she is, but I’ve never given this woman a single reason to think I’m interested in anything more than a working relationship, and even that’s pushing it.
We have no reason to interact outside of the rare occasion our paths cross in the break room.
In fact, I’ve politely declined every advance she’s made, so I’m not sure how I could’ve been more clear about my lack of feelings.
“I had no idea. Congratulations!” Meri-Beth turns and rushes back in the direction she came from, not giving me a chance to say anything more, which is preferable, honestly.
“Dayton O’Rourke!” Andi scolds, the back of her hand smacking my chest with a lot more oomph than I anticipated.
“Did you just use me as your scapegoat to get out of a date?!” Her indignant tone is teasing, but the way her eyes have tightened around the edges makes me wonder if she’s questioning the kind of man I am.
“I have never been on a date with that woman, and even if I weren’t spoken for, I’d have no interest in taking her out in the future,” I state firmly, leaving no room for doubt.
“Dayton,” Andi sighs, likely gearing up to, once again, regale me with all the reasons she thinks that she and I can’t happen.
But the strangest thing happens, completely stealing my focus.
A tiny thump against my palm causes my breath to hitch, and I stare at the place my hand is still resting on Andi’s stomach.
“Was that…” I trail off, in awe of what I just felt.
“The baby just kicked, right?” I question excitedly, twisting around so I’m facing Andi.
I place Hudson on his feet, making sure to hold his hand.
Another pulsing sensation flutters across her abdomen, causing a shocked laugh to tumble out of me.
“You like the sound of my voice, huh?” I grin, knowing deep down that this baby is going to absolutely wreck my heart. I’m already in love.
“Yes.” Andi laughs, the tinkling sound music to my ears after hearing her distressed voice over the phone for seven months straight. “It feels gross, actually.” Her grin is in opposition to her words, because she looks just as besotted as I do.
“Ms. Andi!” A gaggle of my players quickly surrounds us, their eyes flaring wide when they get a closer look at the intimate position we’re in.
“Holy shit! Coach D is having a baby!” Andi sputters, looking to me in hopes that I’ll correct their assumption, but she’ll be waiting an eternity before that happens.
“Alright, alright!” I yell over the cacophony of voices assaulting us from every direction. “Two laps, boys. Get to movin’!” I lift Hudson off the ground, afraid all the commotion is going to upset him. A few of them grumble complaints, but they eventually shuffle off to do as they’re told.
I drop a kiss to the top of Andi’s head and leave the two of them to their own devices.
As much as I’d love to spend every second by her side, I have obligations I can’t afford to slack on.
A lot of these kids are just like I was, desperate for a way out of small-town life and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure they have the best shot possible of making that a reality.
We run through several stamina drills before moving on to agility, and after what feels like the hundredth complaint about the frigid temperature, I finally call it.
Andi and Hudson are watching from the sideline bench, and even from here I can see the tip of her nose has turned pink.
The guys start tossing around a football, suddenly in no hurry to leave, edging closer and closer to my woman.
Teenage boys are far worse than girls when it comes to gossip.
I’m sure half the school will have heard I’m a father-to-be by the end of the day, and surprisingly, the idea doesn’t incite an ounce of panic. It feels right.
“Baw!” The foreign, tiny voice causes my spine to snap straight, my gaze flying to Andi’s for confirmation that I’m not hearing things. Her eyes are wide, staring at Hudson in complete disbelief. “Baw,” he repeats, pointing at the football bouncing across the turf.
“Holy shit, Dayton!” she screeches, standing so quickly she nearly loses her balance. I rush forward, dropping to my knees in front of Hudson and gripping Andi’s hip to help steady her.
“Yeah, buddy, that’s a ball,” I confirm, smiling so wide it hurts. “Carter!” I shout, signaling for him to join us. “Let me see that.” I snag the football from his hands and give it to Hudson, his eager little fingers outstretched. “Is this what you want?”
“Baw!” he squeals again. I glance at my girl, knowing the riot of emotions she’s likely experiencing. Her eyes are glassy, but her smile is so bright it’s blinding.
“Yeah, baby. It’s a ball,” she answers, a watery laugh escaping her.
“Fuck yeah, it is!” Dunley, one of our safeties who lacks a filter, chimes in.
“Language,” I scold.
Before I know it, half the team surrounds us, chanting ball for no other reason than it causes Hudson to keep saying it, which in turn makes Andi incredibly happy.
I climb to my feet and tug her against me, watching in wonder as a group of teenagers take the time to make a little boy’s day.
They gently toss the football with him, which elicits the sweetest giggle I’ve ever heard.
Andi shoves her face against my chest, needing a moment to break without making a spectacle of herself.
I can only imagine how intense her relief is, the kind that saps your energy from how forcefully it rushes through you.
I take the brunt of her weight, happy to keep the world at bay until she’s taken as long as she needs to regroup.
Suddenly, the rest of my day doesn’t feel as daunting as it did when I first woke up this morning.
I don’t give a shit that I’m behind on grading, because that’s the effect of being in Andi’s orbit.
She makes my mountains seem climbable. Like I’m capable of doing anything, as long as I know I’ll be coming home to her at the end of the day.
I’m not an idiot. I know the four of us are pining after the same woman, but I also know that she’s become an integral part of my being, and I can’t imagine doing life without her.
I think it’s time we act like the adults we are and have an actual conversation about where this is headed, because I don’t see any of them backing off either.
But it scares the hell out of me that I might lose her if I push too hard.