29. The Cat is Out of the Bag
CHAPTER 29
THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG
MILES
I glance over when I’m taking a break to see that Delilah is gone, along with my mom. Worry instantly fills me and I remind myself I’m in the middle of a game. If something were wrong, they’d let me know.
I have been worried since I found out about the baby. Delilah is healthy and handles everything well, but she stays so busy with Lola. What if she’s not getting enough rest?
Lola is still there, sitting with Brynn, and they’re both smiling. Soon, there will be another child and I love the idea.
“Back out there, Adams. We need another goal.”
I snap back to reality and take to the ice when I’m clear, going to the face-off. This game is taking a lot out of me, but I keep moving, trying to make opportunities happen for us.
I keep looking over to see the two women absent from the seats. Where are they?
We win by a one goal lead and I skate to the bench, feeling drained. Everyone else is celebrating around me and I sink down to the bench, gulping water.
“Great game, buddy. You did awesome.”
Gabe is beside me, and I offer him a smile.
“Thanks, man.”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s gone. Hasn’t been there for most of the game and I don’t know why.”
“Let’s get back there and you can check your phone. I’m sure everything is fine.”
I stand and follow the guys back without waving at the fans, intent on getting to my phone in the cubby.
D: I wasn’t feeling well and came home with your mom. Nothing serious. I just got dizzy. See you soon.
I search my mind for what dizziness might mean at this stage of pregnancy as I shower and change automatically. Some guys are talking about dinner but I tell everyone I want to head home tonight.
“What’s with you? We won, Miles. Let’s celebrate.”
Andrew is beside me, and I look at his grinning face.
“I just want to go home tonight, Andrew. Next time.”
“You’ve been really off for the last half of the game. What happened?”
“I need to check on Delilah.”
I realized my mistake immediately and close my eyes.
“What’s wrong with my sister? I’m going with you.”
“Fine.”
I pull on my tie and he follows me through the doors. I see the press room and realize I have to talk to them for a minute; I check my appearance with a glance before entering the room. It’s quick and I answer some questions much less conversationally than ever before. Soon I’m going to my car.
Gabe steps in with a nod as I leave the room and I smile grimly at him. I owe this man a lot for keeping my secret this long.
Andrew finds out where Delilah is and follows me to the house, jumping out of his car to walk to the door with me.
“What’s going on, Miles? What have you been hiding from me?”
I turn towards him, feeling myself unravel.
“I’m dating Delilah and she’s pregnant, Andrew. She left early, and I want to make sure everything is okay.”
His face falls, replaced by anger as he stumbles back.
“You got my sister pregnant?”
My family arrives and stands silently in the driveway as they witness our discussion that soon might be a fight.
“Yes, but it wasn’t planned. Shit. I mean, we want this but it was a surprise. I love her, Andrew. I really do.”
“I told you not to touch her, Miles. Several times. What the fuck happened?”
I see Brynn run by carrying Lola and hate that my daughter is seeing this. We’ll need to have a talk with her soon.
“We fell for each other. Both of us tried to fight it and we couldn’t, and we gave in. We’re happy, Andrew. She’s going to give me another baby and a family.”
“She’s my baby sister, Miles. What if it were me with Brynn?”
“Delilah is twenty-four, Andrew. She’s a college graduate. This couldn’t happen with anyone better than me because I’ll give all of them the world. You’ve seen it with Lola.”
“I’m going to check on her.”
“Tone it down in there, Andrew. My granddaughter is in the house.”
My dad speaks in a rare firm tone and Andrew and I look at him before my friend rushes inside.
“She’s pregnant?”
“Yeah, Dad. We were going to tell you soon, but hey. Surprise.”
“Do you love her?”
“I do. She’s so great with Lola and with me. I can’t imagine life without Delilah in it.”
“I agree with that. You have a mess to deal with in there.”
“Tell me about it. This wasn’t the plan.”
We walk into the house and find a scene happening in front of us. Delilah is crying as Andrew sits close to her and my mom watches as if she’s about to interrupt at any time. Lola is nowhere in sight, and I assume Brynn has her somewhere else in the house.
“This is what you want, Del?”
I step forward enough to hear their conversation.
“Yes. I love him, Drew. I’m not giving up on my life or my plans. He’s just going to be a part of it. You know Miles and how good he is. Look at him with Lola.”
She wipes her eyes and I move beside her, wrapping an arm around Delilah’s waist. Andrew glares at me and I tighten my hold.
“I can’t believe this, Miles. You promised nothing would happen when she got the job. I was doing you a favor.”
He’s still angry, but I can see the force of it fading away.
“We tried, Drew. I promise.”
Delilah’s voice is soft but sincere, and I smile at her.
“Are you okay?”
I lean in when there’s a break in the conversation, kissing her hair. Andrew is there, but I don’t care.
“I was dizzy when I stood up and your mom offered to come back here with me. It wasn’t anything serious.”
She looks at me and our eyes lock as I feel my body relax.
“Great game tonight. Both of you.”
Delilah looks at Andrew and he nods his thanks before standing.
“I am going to take some time to let this sink in.”
He runs a hand through his damp hair and looks at us. Shaking his head, Andrew leaves the living room.
“Your mom knows. She guessed.”
“How?”
I stare at my mom as she chuckles, joined by my father on the other couch.
“She’s glowing, for one. I’ve seen that she tires easily and the way you two look at each other made it all add up. I have kids, you know.”
“She is glowing. It’s beautiful.”
Delilah blushes and looks down.
“We should have told you before, but things were complicated. We’re going in for the big ultrasound in two weeks.”
“Can I come?”
Mom and Brynn speak at the same time, and I look at Delilah with an arched brow. Where did my sister come from?
“She’s sleeping on the couch.”
Brynn sits down on the love seat and looks at us.
“You want to be there?”
Delilah looks around the room.
“If you’re comfortable. It’s not that invasive, honey. Just your stomach.”
Mom smiles and I shoot her a grateful look.
“Yeah. Sure. I mean, we still have to tell my parents if Andrew doesn’t blab and Mom might want to go. If there’s room, I want you there.”
We talk for a while about our plans, and I can tell Delilah is exhausted.
“Since Lola is already asleep, just leave her here. Get this mama home for some rest.”
Mom smiles at me, and I realize they know everything. As uncomfortable as it was, this feeling is worth it.
I walk to the car with Delilah, and she gets into the seat, leaning back.
“What a fucking day. Brynn asked about the day Lola found me in your bed and then your mom guessed I was pregnant. She was kind enough to do it at the house, so there’s that.”
I chuckle and shake my head.
“Do you think Andrew will come around?”
I know Delilah is worried about the friendship and work connection between me and Andrew, but I think he’ll be fine.
“Yeah. He’s just surprised, even though it doesn’t sound like we were hiding a thing. Andrew was probably in denial.”
I drive us to the house that officially feels like ours and get water before we go to my room.
“I guess you might as well sleep in here now, since the cat is out of the bag.”
I slip under the covers with her, pulling her against me.
“I don’t mind. It’s so comfortable.”
“So, I kind of told you at the game I loved you. Did you catch that?”
“Yeah. I love you, too.”
“I told your brother the truth. I’ll give you and our family anything you want.”
“I know, Miles. You’re a really good man.”
We sleep in the following morning since I don’t have an early practice. I help Delilah with breakfast, and we have a relaxing morning before I head off to the arena and she goes to pick up Lola from the house.
Andrew looks at me when I walk in and I can see that he didn’t sleep well.
“Feeling better?”
I sit down and he sighs.
“The way I see it, we have a lot going on together in this world. I guess I need to be okay with this. Just don’t hurt her. Ever.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Are things good?”
Gabe is standing there, and I grin with a nod.
“Shit. He knew?”
I shrug and glance at Andrew.
“Someone needed to.”
Andrew mutters something under his breath and I grab my practice clothes.
That night, Delilah makes dinner, and we sit down with Lola to tell her she’s going to be a big sister. It’s something I vaguely imagined, though never with Kim. My daughter is young and sweet and seems excited about the idea of a baby brother or sister. She’ll have a birthday two months before the baby arrives, turning four and likely old enough to help. That will be great for Delilah since I’m still a hockey player, plus I suspect she’ll become friends with the other team wives now that we’ve spent time with Gabe and his family.
Kim wanted nothing to do with it. I wonder if she wanted any of it at all.