Chapter 48
Grant
It’s been a few weeks since the day my life changed forever.
The day Heather told me she was pregnant.
I never put too much thought into having kids or settling down with someone before she came along, but now it’s all I can think about from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night with her in my arms.
My parents were such an important part of my life, and then hockey, but nothing compares to the way I feel about Heather and April, and now our unborn child as well. It’s such an all-consuming love that I wouldn’t have believed I was even capable of feeling until now.
Last week, Heather got an email from her real estate agent saying the condo lawsuit had been settled and the place was ready if she still wanted it.
She showed me the email, and I asked if she wanted to go.
She didn’t even hesitate before she said no, and I swear my heart almost burst out of my chest.
Damn straight, Hurricane. You’re already home.
Even though there are a thousand different moments I love and appreciate with this woman every single day, these few minutes early in the morning when I’m awake and still watching her sleep next to me are my favorite.
She’s so beautiful and serene when she sleeps, like no stress or trouble can reach her. But even as I think that, I see a tiny wrinkle appear between her eyebrows and she lets out a small, quiet whimper that I probably wouldn’t have heard if I hadn’t been watching and listening so attentively.
At first, I think she might be having a bad dream, and I’m tempted to gently wake her. But no.
She makes another noise, a moan this time, and I recognize it for what it is. I’ve heard that moan before. She’s having a good dream. A very good dream.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Does that feel good, Hurricane?”
I don’t expect her to hear me even though I hope there’s some part of her subconscious that can.
She whimpers again, and it makes my cock throb.
I stay still, biting my lip as her noises grow a bit louder and more frequent.
When she starts seriously grinding against me, I can’t resist the urge to murmur more dirty words into her ear.
“Do you want me to fuck you, beautiful?” I breathe. “Is that what you’re dreaming about?”
Her eyes pop open on a soft gasp, and she stiffens for a second with the shock of waking up before she melts against me and moans my name. “Grant. I… I was just having the best dream.”
“You were, huh?” I chuckle. “What was it about?”
She smiles, and it’s full of so much sleepy arousal that it makes heat rush through my veins. “Do you even need to ask? It’s always about the same thing lately.”
“Describe it to me.” I rise up onto one elbow, trailing a hand down her body as I gaze down at her. “In detail. Maybe we can make your dream come true.”
Her smile widens, her eyes darkening as her pupils expand. Then she does just what I asked, speaking in a low voice as she describes everything she was dreaming of.
I was right. Her dream was filthy. And to my great pride, it was about me.
My hand delves between her legs, my fingers slipping inside her before dragging her wetness over her clit. I don’t take my eyes off her as she keeps talking, working her up slowly and methodically until she comes hard for me, just like she did in her dream.
Her voice chokes off as she comes so hard that her thighs clamp down on my hand, and she rocks and grinds against it as I kiss her neck and shoulder.
“That’s it, Hurricane,” I praise. “Come all over my fingers. Let me make you feel good.”
She rides my hand like that for several more seconds, bucking her hips and arching her back until the most intense part of her orgasm has passed. I can still feel her clenching and releasing around my fingers as wave after wave of tiny aftershocks ricochet through her body.
When she relaxes her legs, I pull my fingers free and hold them up to her mouth. “Taste how sweet you are, beautiful. Suck these fingers clean for me.”
Her nostrils flare slightly, and she lifts her head off the pillow to wrap her lips around my digits, swirling her tongue around them.
“Such a good girl.” I shake my head in something like awe as I slowly pull my fingers from her mouth. “Remember when we first met? When you hadn’t come for so long that you didn’t think you’d remember how? When you were afraid to even say the words out loud?”
She bites her lower lip, sighing softly. “That feels like a lifetime ago.”
“Because we’ve crammed a lot of living into the months that have passed between then and now. And we’ve also created a whole life since then. I’m so fucking lucky that you came into my life.”
She hums and turns her head to kiss me, warm and languid. Then she laughs against my lips. “I’m not sure how lucky you’re going to feel by the end of this pregnancy. My hormones have me so turned on all the time. You’re probably going to need a break by the time it’s all said and done.”
I arch a brow, grinning. “Oh, I doubt that very seriously. In fact…” I pause to grab her by the hips and slowly roll her on top of me. “I’m ready to make you come again right now, if you are.”
She nods, her eyes flashing. “I think we both know the answer to that.”
As I sit up to kiss her, my hands already roaming over her body, I murmur the words that I plan to tell her every single day for the rest of our lives.
“I love you, Hurricane. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
A week later, I find Heather pacing in the kitchen. She’s been nervous all day about telling April, checking the clock every few minutes and wringing her hands whenever she thinks I’m not looking.
“She’s going to be excited,” I say for probably the tenth time over the past two hours.
“You don’t know that.” Heather’s voice is tight with worry. “She might feel left out. Or scared. Or like we’ll somehow love her less.”
“That’s why we’ll be ready to reassure her and answer any questions she might have. But she’s going to be excited,” I repeat, more firmly this time. “Trust me.”
Heather takes a shaky breath and nods.
When April bounces into the kitchen a moment later, I give Heather one more meaningful look. We’ve got this. It’s going to be fine.
“Can we watch a movie tonight? Sophie’s mom let us watch this cool one about space, and I think there’s a second part. Maybe even a third one.”
“Actually, sweetheart, we need to talk to you about something first,” Heather says. Her voice is nice and steady, like she hasn’t been freaking out over this exact moment for days.
April’s eyes widen. “Am I in trouble?”
“No, nothing like that.” Heather sits down at the kitchen table and pats the chair next to her. “Come sit with us.”
April climbs into the chair, looking between Heather and me, then back again. I offer a reassuring smile, but leave the talking to Heather.
“So,” Heather starts, then pauses. She takes a deep breath, then starts again. “April, you know how much we love you, right?”
“Yeah.” April’s tone is cautious now, like she’s waiting for bad news.
“And you know how happy we’ve been, the three of us, living here together?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, our family is going to get a little bigger.” Heather’s voice softens. “I’m going to have a baby. You’re going to be a big sister.”
April’s mouth drops open. For a second, she just stares at her mom. Then her gaze swings to me. “Grant’s the dad?”
I nod, and I’m already grinning from ear to ear. “I’m the dad.”
April breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. “Really? I’m going to have a baby brother or sister? For real?”
“For real,” Heather says, and I can hear the relief in her voice.
“Oh my gosh!” April launches herself at Heather, wrapping her arms around her mom’s neck. “This is the best news ever! When? When is the baby coming?”
“Not for a while yet. A few more months.”
“A few more months?” April pulls back, and the flash of disappointment on her face is already being overtaken again by excitement.
“That’s so long! But that’s okay. I can wait.
I’m going to be such a good big sister. I’m going to teach the baby everything, and I’ll help with diapers and bottles and anything else you need, Mom. I promise.”
She’s talking so fast she’s barely breathing, and Heather laughs, pulling her close again. “I know you will, sweetheart. You’re going to be amazing.”
April turns to me then, and before I can react, she throws her arms around my waist. “Thank you for being the dad, Grant. I’m so glad it’s you.”
My heart does a slow roll in my chest as I wrap my arms around her and hold on tight. And now there’s a lump in my throat that makes speaking impossible for a few moments.
“I’m glad it’s me, too,” I finally manage.
She squeezes me harder, then pulls back and looks between us again. “Can I tell Sophie? And Cory? And everyone at school?”
“Maybe wait a little bit,” Heather says gently. “We want to keep it just between us for now, okay?”
“Okay.” She nods solemnly even though she’s practically bouncing out of her chair with excitement. “I can wait. But this is so cool. I’m going to be a big sister!”
“You’re going to be the very best big sister,” Heather says. “Now, how about some carrots and peanut butter for a snack while you tell us about this space movie?”
I clear my throat before April can launch into a conversation about the cosmos. “Actually, there’s one more thing I want to show you both.”
They both give me a nearly identical questioning look. “What?”
“Come with me.”
I lead them upstairs and down the hallway to a guest bedroom that I’m pretty sure has never seen a single guest. I open the door and step to the side, letting them walk in first.
Heather gasps, and both hands fly to her mouth.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve completely transformed the room, sneaking away in the early mornings and mid-afternoons whenever I’ve found the time.
The walls are painted a soft sage green, and I’ve stenciled elephants along the border near the ceiling—dozens of them in different sizes, marching in a gentle parade around the entire room.
There’s a white crib in the corner, already assembled, and a rocking chair by the window.
Shelves line one wall, waiting to be filled with books and toys.
“Grant.” Heather opens her mouth and then closes it again, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. “When did you do all of this? How did you keep it a secret?”
“I’ve been working on it for the past couple of weeks,” I say. “Every morning after practice, while you were at work and April was at school.”
“The elephants,” she whispers, running her fingers along the wall. “This is exactly what I would’ve picked, but better.”
“Good. Do you really like it?”
She turns back to me and nods. “This is perfect. It’s absolutely perfect.”
April rushes over to the wall, pointing at different elephants as she passes them. “Look at this one! And this one has a little hat! Wow, this is so cool!”
Part one of the reveal has been a success. Now for part two.
I take a breath, and my heart starts pounding so hard it feels like it might crack through my ribs as I reach into my pocket and pull out the small velvet box I’ve been carrying around for the past several days.
Then I drop to one knee.
Heather’s eyes go wide, and I can see the exact moment she realizes what’s happening.
“Heather, before I met you, I didn’t know what I was missing. I had hockey, and my routine, and this big empty house, and I thought that was enough. But it wasn’t. Not even close.”
Her eyes are locked on mine, and they’re bright with all the same emotions I’m feeling.
“You walked into my life and turned everything upside down. You and April. You made me realize that all the control and routine and perfection I thought I needed was just a way to avoid actually living.” I open the box, revealing the diamond ring inside.
“My life wouldn’t be complete without you and April in it.
Without this family we’re building together. ”
April is watching with her hands clasped together like she’s afraid to move.
“I want forever with you, Heather. I want every messy, chaotic, beautiful moment. I want to raise April together, and I want to hold our baby when they’re born.
I want Sunday morning pancakes and goodnight kisses and everything in between.
” I look up at her, hoping she can see how much I mean every word. “Will you marry me?”
For a second, she just stands there. Then she nods, fast and desperate. “Yes. Yes, of course, yes.”
I stand and slide the ring onto her finger, and the second it’s in place, she throws her arms around my neck. I lift her off her feet and kiss her, deep and thorough, pouring everything I feel into it.
April squeals and starts jumping up and down, clapping. “You’re getting married! We’re all going to be a real family!”
I set Heather down but don’t let go, keeping her close while April rushes over to hug both of us at once.
“We already are a real family,” I say, looking down at April and then back at Heather. “This just makes it official.”
Heather laughs and holds up her hand to look at the ring. “It’s beautiful. Grant, it’s perfect.”
“You’re perfect.”
She kisses me again, quick and soft. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Both of you.” I pull April into the hug, and we stand there in the nursery, surrounded by the promise of everything we’re going to build together.
This is my family.
And I’m never letting go.