Bonus Scene
Opening the door to my hotel room, I sense my wife’s presence instantly. I wasn’t planning on Hadley being here, but when I left the stadium thirty minutes ago to find a text from her that I had a surprise in my room, then I knew it would be her—she’s my sixth sense.
While she doesn’t travel with me for away games since it isn’t allowed, she does attend the random game in destinations that are fun and warm and stays in my room, which is allowed. Which is why I’m slightly puzzled that she showed up here in Denver at the end of January. It’s the opposite of warm.
I’ve stayed with the Spinners my entire career so far, which means Hadley traveled from Illinois. But here she is leaning against the desk in the hotel room with a peculiar look on her face.
“Couldn’t wait another week to see me?” I tease her and walk straight into her arms.
My fingers weave into her hair and bring her in for a deep and warm kiss. It’s been days since I’ve touched her, and the feeling never fades. That reunion moment after time away, it keeps us alive.
When I pull back, I can see that she has a shy smile and she peers down.
“You okay?” I smile to myself, as she is kind of adorable.
“Yeah, just since you have to go on to Detroit, it would be next week when I see you for bye week,” she explains.
I’m looking forward to mid-season bye week for a few days off. A bunch of guys are heading down to Mexico, but I just want to relax at home with Hadley. I’ll catch Wyatt’s varsity hockey game too and check in with Alex who decided hockey wasn’t for him at all.
My wife nibbles on her bottom lip, debating something.
I take her hands in mine, determined to get to the bottom of this. “What’s going on?”
“I couldn’t wait to tell you something…”
Squinting my eyes, I’m not a clue further on the mystery.
She gathers where my brain is at and continues. “Remember Christmas?”
My brows raise, as I’m shocked she would even question that.
I had three days off, and we didn’t leave bed except for family dinner on Christmas Day.
We even pulled over on the side of the road at one point.
That’s our rhythm during hockey season; days away from one another, contrasted by days that I live inside her.
“Up there on my list of best days of my life.” I walk her to the bed to sit down.
“Yeah, so, uh, we also decided that we would… you know… try the baby-making thing…” She’s waiting for me to catch up, and the glimmer in her eye informs why she might be here.
“Prime window when we need to try is now?” I wonder.
She shakes her head. “We’re kind of already a few steps ahead.”
Shit.
Didn’t see that coming. But damn, my smile beams. “You’re pregnant?”
She nods before happy tears pool in her eyes. “Found out yesterday, and I’m going crazy not telling anyone.”
Pulling her into my arms, I kiss the hell out of her. This is wonderful news. Great news is exactly what I needed, it was a rough game and loss tonight .
“Well, this is amazing.” I’m nearly speechless.
“I didn’t have time to find a cute little jersey with your number that says baby, and the dog kind of buried the pregnancy test somewhere in the yard, I’m not even joking. But I did take three more tests at the airport for fun.” Hadley shrugs her shoulders, and she’s adorable.
I hold her close and fall back, keeping her tight against my chest. “We’re going to be parents,” I breathe out as I take in the news.
“Yeah. I guess I’m about six weeks. I called the doctor and demanded that we have an appointment next week since you’ll be home.”
I squeeze her tighter and kiss the top of her head. “You know, a week might be enough time to get little jerseys. I think we have some people who would appreciate them.”
Hadley looks up to meet my gaze and splays her palm against my chest. “Our parents are going to flip.”
Standing outside the door to my parents’ house, Hadley fidgets with the presents in the bag.
“Will you relax?” I place my hand on her upper back. Normally, we just walk right in, but we stalled when Hadley had a nervous freakout when my hand hit the door handle.
“Sorry. It’s not every day we tell our parents that they’re going to be grandparents.” She’s a little sassy, but I’ll take it. She had her head over a toilet most of the morning.
I also know that she’s been dying to tell our moms, and I want her to, even though it’s early. She needs a support network until I’m back at the end of season.
“Who do you think is going to combust first?” I ask.
Hadley throws me an entertained look. “My money is on your mom.”
I wiggle my long finger side to side. “Nah, I’m betting on your mom.”
“We shall see.”
The door flies open to my mother on the other side. “Oh, hello. What are you two doing out here? You never come to the front door.” She looks at us peculiarly.
“Oh.” I scratch the back of my head. “Felt like shaking it up since there is a pile of snow over there,” I lie. As proven by the fact my mom peeks her head out the door to examine the driveway that was clearly shoveled earlier today.
“Right.” Her tone informs me she doesn’t believe us. “Come in, you two. Both of your brothers are starving, and your mom, Hadley, went overboard with dinner and wine.”
I guide my wife inside and whisper, “Showtime.”
After a round of hellos, we all find ourselves at the dining table where we left presents on our parents’ plates. Since it’s a school week, our brothers just grabbed some food and went to go work on their homework.
Hadley leans in to speak softly into my ear. “One of the moms are on to us.”
“How do you know?” I whisper back.
“Wine. Blue cheese in the salad. Things I can’t consume.” She’s overreacting, but it’s cute.
I rub a soothing circle on her back. “Ugh, common ingredients at a dinner.”
Hadley throws me a death stare. “Presents. Now.”
I laugh and lazily hit my wine glass with a knife to grab everyone’s attention. All eyes are on me, and I stand up with wine glass in hand.
“Good to be back for a few days,” I begin. “As you can see, we left you each a present, so perhaps open them?” I’m not one for speeches.
“At the same time,” Hadley adds and touches my arm.
Our parents glance at one another, curious yet with gentle smiles on their faces. I notice April squeezing Spencer’s hand for dear life on the table.
Slowly the tissue paper finds its way to the floor, and everyone is lifting little hockey jerseys up.
My mother is the first to gasp before she beams a smile.
April coos and grins. “This is wonderful. I mean, I’m going to be a young grandma, but this is awesome. I’m so happy for you both. I was picking up the vibes.” She nudges Spencer’s shoulder. “Didn’t I tell you she had a glow the other day at lunch?”
“Not a glow. Just post-vomiting color,” Hadley states bluntly.
“How are you feeling? How far along?” my mother begins to list.
Hadley squeezes my arm and returns to sitting to be close with her as we take in our parents’ faces. “A lot of morning sickness. I’m about eight weeks, and we had an ultrasound yesterday since Connor is home for a few days.”
My eyes drive to my dad who claps his hands together. “This is great news. Like really great news. My son is going to be a dad.” He blows out a breath. “Crazy but amazing.”
All our attention turns to Spencer who seems to be transfixed by the tiny shirt in front of him. He’s awfully quiet, and his face is neutral.
April rubs his arm. “Alive there, Grandpa?”
Then it happens.
Spencer Crews cracks. A tear, then he swipes it away.
Everyone is surprised by his clearly emotional reaction to our news. It would be entertaining to most, but it feels somewhat fitting considering his relationship with Hadley.
My wife stands up and circles around the table to kneel down and hug him. “Yeah, Dad, you’re going to be a grandfather. If it’s anything like your dad skills, then you’re going to be an amazing grandfather.”
They share a moment together and hug.
“You’re going to be a great mom. My daughter is going to be a mom,” he reflects, with a smile spreading.
“There is kind of one more little detail,” Hadley informs him, with fingers coming up to indicate a smidge in length.
“Oh?” he says, curious.
Hadley stands again and walks back to me, taking a seat next to me. We interlace our fingers on the table and prepare for the gasps about to hit our ears.
“Twins skip a generation,” I inform the table and wait for someone to get the hint. I see that little detail beginning to register in our parents’ heads. I decide to add fuel to the fire. “Due date is right before season starts, but we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“Twins?” Spencer’s jaw drops.
It’s a total myth that twins skip generations, but I’m not about to highlight to my father-in-law that either his daughter’s eggs or my super sperm decided two babies would be in our cards.
“Surprise,” Hadley announces.
The table erupts in a lot of comments and sounds of celebration. It’s good to see everyone happy. But the best part is watching my wife completely elated by the scene in front of us and the fact that she’s carrying our children.
Really, though, I didn’t factor twins anywhere into our game that turned into more. No, like, this is coming from the blindside, but really, it’s the perfect play.
Leaning in, Hadley’s and my foreheads touch, and I have to grin because I’m going to rock this dad thing with her, because I only play to win.