Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Bellamy
Being in my third trimester of this pregnancy is exhausting.
The last couple of weeks, I’ve been dragging.
It’s hard to get comfortable at night with my growing belly.
I have a pregnancy pillow, and Reid has been incredible.
He holds me, rubs my back and my feet, and waits on me hand and foot when he’s home.
He’s even gone as far as having meals catered so I don’t have to cook, and when he’s home, he does the cooking. My man spoils me for sure.
It’s not just that I’m tired and struggling to find a comfortable sleeping position.
I’ve been dizzy today, and I’m sure it’s my balance with this baby bump.
Oh, and nothing fits. Nothing. Well, not nothing, but my Reid Montgomery jersey no longer fits.
It won’t go over my belly, and today is the third round of the playoffs.
I have to wear his name and number. Plopping down on the bed, I sigh because my only other option is one of his old jerseys hanging in the closet, and they’re way too big for me.
I guess I’m going to look like a pregnant slob today because I refuse to show up at the stadium not supporting my man.
My phone rings, and I grab it off the nightstand to see Sloane’s name. “Hey,” I answer with a sigh. She’s on her way to pick me up, and I’m still not dressed.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“I have nothing to wear,” I whine. I know I sound like a petulant teenager throwing a tantrum, but it’s important that I represent Reid today. I have to. He’s been so good to me, takes care of me, and this is the only way I know to return that favor.
Sloane laughs. “I’m pulling in now to pick you up. Come let me in. I’ll help you figure it out.”
“Okay. Give me time to waddle downstairs,” I tell her, making her laugh.
“I’ll be waiting,” she assures me.
Tossing my phone onto the bed, I slip into my robe to cover myself and start the trek down the stairs to answer the door.
Sloane has been my buddy at games, and I’m so grateful for her, especially on days when Amanda can’t make it, which is today.
Today, my best friend has a cold, which she blames on her career, so she’s staying snuggled in bed, watching television.
I offered to join her, but she exiled me for fear of my getting sick.
I hate that she’s not feeling well, but I’m grateful that I have Sloane to be there with me.
Corie will pop in here and there, and Rowan will be down on the field like always.
By the time I open the door, Sloane is standing there smiling with a bag in her hands. “Hey.” I step back, allowing her to enter, before closing the door.
“This is for you.” She hands me the bag.
“What is it?”
“Just open it, silly girl. Come on, time’s a-wasting.
” She claps her hands as if I were one of her pre-k students, but it works because I dig into the bag, pulling out the tissue paper and then an article of clothing.
Sloane takes the bag from my hands as I hold up the item, and tears spring to my eyes.
“How did you know?” I ask, my voice cracking. These damn pregnancy hormones are going to be the death of me.
“You mentioned last week, when we were all watching the game, that your jersey was getting tight and that you were worried it wouldn’t fit for the last few games of the season. So I thought I’d help you out.”
I’m holding a Nashville Rampage crew neck sweatshirt with the team's logo on the front, centered on the chest. There’s an embroidered arrow pointing toward my belly with the embroidered words Number Twenty Did This.
“Where did you find this?” I ask, laughing. Reid is going to flip when he sees this.
“I bought the sweatshirt, but I added the rest. Look at the back.”
On the backside, she’s added Reid’s last name, Montgomery, in block letters just like on his jersey, the number twenty, and at the very bottom, just to the left of the zero, is small script that reads, Baby Momma. I can’t hide my grin.
“Sloane, this is incredible. Thank you so much. I’ll pay you,” I tell her, feeling the stress of not knowing what to wear fall from my shoulders.
“You will do no such thing. It’s a gift. I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it, and Reid is going to flip when he sees it.”
“Oh, I’m certain he will. Now, go finish getting ready. We need to watch your baby daddy and the rest of the guys bring home a win. We’re going all the way again this year,” she says confidently.
I pull her into a tight hug, as tight as my baby belly will allow.
“Thank you so much.” Tears well in my eyes.
I keep thinking about how if I’d continued to be stubborn and let the past and my anger rule my future, I would have missed out on so much more than my love for Reid.
He’s brought an entire group of incredible humans into my life, and I’ll forever be grateful.
There’s a little more pep in my step as I make my way back upstairs to change into the sweatshirt and finish getting ready. Twenty minutes later, we’re on our way to the stadium.
“Thank you again,” I tell Sloane. “I love it.”
“You’re welcome. How are you feeling, Momma?” she asks.
“Good.” I place my hands on my bump. “A little wobbly at times, tired all the time, but it’s hard to find a comfortable position when sleeping these days, unless I’m in the recliner, but I like being in our bed, especially when Reid is home.”
“Oh, I bet you do.” She giggles. “All my friends are wifed up, and I’m still dating losers.”
“How was the date you went on a couple of weeks ago?”
“Great. He was a nice guy, paid for dinner, which is nice, but he lives in his mom's basement and apparently talks to dead people.” She shudders.
“Yikes.”
“Yeah, I’d rather be single.” She laughs.
“Amanda went through the same thing before she met Ethan. That’s why I didn’t date much before. It was too hard for me to trust.” I also harbored a lot of anger in my heart. I blamed all men for the most part. Until one man broke past the walls of anger I’d built.
“I hear that,” she agrees, pulling into the stadium.
Thankfully, we have a private VIP entrance, so we don’t have to shuffle in with the rest of the crowd. Not that I mind going through the main entrance, but with my baby bump, it’s a little harder to maneuver these days.
When we reach our suite, I’m surprised to see Corie there with Camden and his nanny, Mrs. Ward. “Hey,” Sloane and I say at the same time.
We wave to Mrs. Ward, who’s already sitting and bouncing a happy Camden on her knee. “I thought he was with his mom this week?” Sloane asks Corie, her voice quiet.
Corie rolls her eyes. “She’s on vacation, apparently.”
“Without her kid she rarely sees?” I ask, not bothering to hide my disdain.
“Yep,” Corie replies.
“Damn,” Sloane mutters. “That poor baby. She has no idea what she’s missing out on. He’s going to resent her for this once he gets older.”
Corie shrugs. “I don’t think she cares, to be honest.”
“I figured you’d be down there getting some pregame footage,” Sloane tells Corie.
“I did. Now it’s all in the hands of the photographers. I’m done for the night. The photographers will send me everything, and I can use that for my content. Besides, I don’t need to be down there bothering them when the guys are trying to get their heads in the game.”
Speaking of, my phone rings. Digging it out of my purse, I show them the screen with Reid’s face and step off to the side to answer the call. “Hello.”
“Hey, baby. Are you here?” Reid asks.
“I’m here. We’re in the suite. Corie’s with us, and Mrs. Ward is here with Camden.”
“Good. Yeah, Baker mentioned that Natasha was on vacation or something like that. Said she needed a break,” he says, and I can hear the disapproval in his tone. “How’re my girls?”
I smile. “Tired and happy,” I tell him honestly.
“Won’t be much longer,” he whispers. “I think tired and happy is about to be our life for a while.”
“You’re right, but it will be worth it.” I can’t believe this is where life has taken me, but the universe knew what it was doing when it dropped Reid into my life. He’s healed me in ways I never knew I needed.
“Do you need anything?”
“We have a suite all to ourselves. It’s just me, Corie, Sloane, and Mrs. Ward with Camden. There are tons of food and snacks. We’re all set,” I assure him.
“All right, Dream Girl. I’ll see you after the game.”
“I’ll be right here waiting.”
Someone yells, and he groans.
“Go. I’ll see you after.”
“Bye, babe,” he says, ending the call.
“Everything okay?” Corie asks when I rejoin them.
“Perfect,” I tell her, placing my hand on my belly. “Reid was just checking to make sure we made it here okay.”
Corie nods. “I rode with Knox, or I would have gotten the same kind of call.”
“Dada!” Camden calls out, pointing to the field, and we all turn our attention to him.
“Let me take him,” Corie offers to Mrs. Ward. “Have a break, and grab a snack.”
“Oh, he’s just fine,” she assures her.
“No, I insist. I need baby Cam snuggles.” She holds out her arms, and Camden reaches for her, too, as she settles him on her hip.
We all take our seats as the opening ceremonies begin.
We’re playing the New York Tigers, and they get the ball first. On the first drive, Cody Martin, a defenseman, catches an interception and takes off down the field.
He’s tackled at the thirty, but everyone in Rampage Stadium goes crazy.
This team has fought hard all year, and they want this.
They want another league championship with their name on it.
If this is how this entire game is going to go, it’s going to be a nailbiter.
The game is back and forth. We’re holding strong, up by a touchdown, and we’ve all been on the edge of our seats the entire game.
Well, not technically. I’ve been shifting this way and that, trying to find a comfortable position, and my head feels a little fuzzy.
I’m sure it’s all the excitement and lack of sleep I’m getting these days.
Reid was right, though: tired and happy is about to be our new normal, and it’ll all be worth it when we get to hold our baby girl in our arms.
“Go!” Rowan cheers as she holds Camden’s arm in the air.
His baby giggles fill the suite around us, and I grin.
Next year, that will be me. Our daughter will be here with us, and Camden will have a friend to play with.
It’s not lost on me that I ran, scared of this life, and now, I’ve fully embraced it.
I have Reid to thank for that. He’s shown me time and time again that our daughter and I are first with him.
It’s nearing the end of the second quarter, and the Rampage are still up by seven.
It’s been an intense game so far. I’ve already made what feels like fifteen million trips to the restroom.
Thankfully, our suite has its own. I was trying to hold out until the end of the quarter, but baby girl is right on my bladder, and I have to go.
Defense is on the field, so I won’t miss Reid play.
“It’s that time again,” I tell the girls, and they smile and nod. When I stand, I do so quickly, and I feel a little lightheaded. That’s happened a lot in the past couple of days. I slow my steps as I make my way to the small restroom that’s just ours.
After handling my business, I wash my hands and pull open the bathroom door, and another wave of dizziness hits me.
Suddenly, I feel more lightheaded than before, and my legs feel weak.
I think I’m going to need some help to get back to my seat.
I open my mouth to call for one of them to help me, but before I can, everything goes black.