Chapter 45
Teagan
I blow out a breath as I look at myself in the mirror, double-checking my hair and makeup are good to go.
Clara and Kaya are downstairs with Camille and Olivia, getting my very small baby shower ready. I originally told Clara I only wanted it to be with her and Kaya, but I’ve grown close to Camille and Olivia as we’ve been hanging out more recently, and insisted that they be included.
The boys are also coming after their meeting today, including Ryker, Ian, and Quentin’s two friends, Pauly and Cole. Just like how Ian is letting more people into his life, so am I. And it feels good.
It’s still small and exactly what I want. A day surrounded with the people I love, celebrating our baby.
There’s a soft knock at the door, followed by Clara’s and Kaya’s voices.
“Can we come in?”
“Yes,” I say as I stand from the vanity and turn to the doorway.
Clara’s hand flies to her mouth as Kaya’s hands go to her chest while they both look at me in awe.
“Relax, you two.” I roll my eyes while a smile pulls at my cheeks.
“How can I relax when I have the most beautiful best friend?” Clara exclaims.
“You look amazing,” Kaya affirms.
“I’ve missed you two,” I say as I pull them into a hug.
“Did you…just say you missed us?” Clara asks, seeming baffled.
“I think she did. Are you feeling okay?” Kaya puts her hand to my forehead.
“I’ve never felt better, actually,” I tell them, and it’s true.
While these have been the most insane few months of my life, they’ve also somehow have been exactly what I needed.
“Ohhh?” Kaya raises a brow in question. “Do tell.”
I roll my eyes as I fail to hide my smile. “Quentin and I are dating.”
“What?” Clara and Kaya both squeal.
“Yeah, it’s new, but we’re happy. We’ve gotten to know each other really well by living together and we couldn’t fight it any longer. I just hope it works out,” I say wistfully.
“I knew this would happen.” Clara claps her hands together happily.
“Everything’s going to work out exactly how it’s meant to, and I’m positive it’s going to be great,” Kaya assures me.
“Is everything ready? Let’s get out of here before I actually cry,” I say with a teasing tone.
“Clara really outdid herself,” Kaya chimes in.
“I’m sure it’s beautiful,” I say as we make our way downstairs.
Ever since Clara texted and asked about a shower, I’ve known nothing other than the date it was happening. She wanted everything to be a surprise, and I can’t wait to see what she’s pulled together.
Once I reach the bottom step, I can see the living room and kitchen, where there’s a banner that says ‘Welcoming a Berry Sweet Baby’ with blueberry balloons attached to it.
The entire place is decorated in blueberry fixtures, with a mix of blue and purple balloons all throughout.
It’s the most perfect theme, and this time I let the tears fall without a care in the world.
“Clara…this is amazing. Thank you so much.” I pull her into a side hug.
“I know, my creative brain is pretty cool sometimes,” she muses as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“Teagan!” Olivia squeals as she runs toward me in her pink dress and hugs my leg.
I hug her back. “Hi, Livy, how are you?”
Getting to know and love Olivia has been such an eye-opening experience.
I never had much experience with children before this past year, and spending more time with Quentin’s niece has been one of the best things in this new chapter of my life.
It’s shown me that despite everything that’s happened to me, I’m going to be a good mother.
I may not have had the relationship with my mom that I wanted, but I can choose differently in my relationship with my own child.
“I’m good, but Mommy said you may not be my coach once you have my cousin.” She pouts as she looks up at me.
Camille enters the room in a lavender maxi dress, and it’s the first time that it hits me that she was once a princess. The family dynamics are a bit wild, but I’m thankful to be a part of it.
“I was just trying to prepare her, because she loves you,” Camille says, and her words make my chest pinch. Olivia loves me?
Pride blooms throughout me that maybe I’m doing a decent job at this whole coaching thing and family thing.
“Well, I’m going to take a year off once the baby’s here, but I plan on returning once I’m able to,” I tell Olivia.
“Yaaaaay!” She jumps up and down, unable to contain her excitement.
The rest of the shower goes well. With the games Kaya prepared, we’re laughing and having the best time.
I don’t open any gifts, wanting to wait until Quentin’s here to go through them with me. That way we can make a list of things we still need to get before she’s here.
We’re in the middle of eating dessert, a blueberry cheesecake, when the boys stroll through the door.
“There are my girls.” Ryker smiles, walking right toward his wife and daughter to give them hugs and kisses.
Pauly and Cole wave to everyone, then make a beeline for the leftover cheesecake on the counter.
Ian’s the first to approach me, helping me stand as we hug.
“Hey, sis.”
“How was the meeting? You ready for the big games coming up?” I ask.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He smiles, and it’s the most relaxed I’ve seen him in a while. I think bonding with his teammates and having genuine friendships has done wonders for him, and I couldn’t be happier for him.
“Mind if I say hi to my girl?” Quentin cuts in, and before anyone can respond, he wraps his arms around the small of my back and lifts me so that he can press his lips to mine.
I smile into the kiss, then kiss him once more before he sets me down. The room is eerily silent as we turn to face our friends and family, because not everyone knows about this development in our relationship.
“I knew it!” Camille smiles.
“Uncle Q and Teagan are going to get married,” Olivia announces, making all of us laugh.
From behind me, Quentin wraps his arms around my belly as he kisses my cheek.
“So this is new,” Ian comments, but where I would expect anger, I only see acceptance and happiness.
“I’m happy and we’re going to figure it out as we go,” I tell him.
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy,” Ian replies, then looks at Quentin with a death stare. “Hurt her and I’ll hurt you.”
“If I hurt her, I’ll let you hurt me, got it?” Quentin says as he squeezes me tighter to him.
“Relax, you two, there’s no hurting anyone,” I say with a flip of my hand.
We all chuckle as the group slips into conversations, and I take a moment to take it all in.
Even though it’s a small group, it’s still the biggest group of support I’ve ever had.
All my life it’s been Ian, Clara, Kaya, and me, and until my grandparents died, my grams and pops.
Now I have Camille, Olivia, Ryker, Quentin, and my daughter.
Although this isn’t what I predicted or envisioned for my future, it was the perfect twist I needed.
I was so scared to be without gymnastics because I didn’t know who I’d be.
And guess what? I like that version of myself a lot.
I’m not just a gymnast. I’m a friend, a mother, a sister, a girlfriend, a coach, and a person who’s just trying to find out what hobbies she likes and doesn’t like.
“All right, we’re dying to know. What are you guys having?” Clara asks over the groups of people talking, drawing all of their attention to us.
“Clara, you can’t just ask people what they’re having,” Kaya scolds her.
“We’re best friends. Those rules don’t apply,” Clara defends herself.
“It’s okay. We planned on announcing it tonight to everyone anyways,” I say, and with a deep breath, I grab Quentin’s hand. “It’s a girl.”
The room explodes into cheers of joy and congratulations as we’re greeted by our friends and family, and by the end of it, I’m fighting back tears. Because why wouldn’t I be crying at this point?
I turn around away from the group as I wipe my eyes, with Quentin whispering in my ear, “Don’t worry, we’ll pretend it never happened.”
His comment makes me laugh because it reminds me of the first time I cried in front of him and just how far we’ve come.
And I can’t wait to see how far we go together.