44. Winnie
Reese has been off since the fight with Elijah. He’s as loving as ever, and I can’t place a finger on what’s different, but something definitely is. I’ve not been home since the fight a week ago. I’ll have to go before we leave for Christmas break in a few days, but I’m not looking forward to seeing my brother. Reese still hasn’t told me what was all said between them, but Elijah really hurt my feelings with what he said to me. He didn’t give me a chance to explain anything, and he kept going on about how everyone in his life is a liar and a snake. He didn’t particularly kick me out, but it was obvious I wasn’t welcome there anymore.
As far as I know, Elijah is going home for Christmas too, so I’ll have to see him. Mom is aware of everything, and I know it breaks her heart that her kids are fighting, but it’s on Elijah to make the first move because I know if I try and apologize, he’s just going to blow up. I’ve texted him, asking to meet for lunch to talk, but he never replied. The only way I know he’s alive is because I saw him on campus during the week. He didn’t look at me, but I at least saw him.
I should be more sorry for getting with his best friend, but truthfully, I’m not. Reese is the best guy I know. Elijah should want us together.
Everything that’s happened lately is starting to weigh on me and my body. I’ve been having cramps since before things with Elijah, but they definitely got worse after. Which is why I’m sitting in the doctor’s office.
Reese knows I’m at the hospital, but he doesn’t know why. It would only freak him out, and with a big game tomorrow, I don’t want to throw him off any more than he already is. He doesn’t let me out of his sight, and he has my location, so I told him Laney needed me to come with her to get birth control. Sawyer overheard me say that, and I thought for sure he was going to throw his fist through a wall.
Those two are enough to make me want to rip my hair out. Something happened at the fundraiser. I don’t know what, but ever since then, they both have been weird—more than normal.
I wish everyone would just chill out.
“Winnie?” a young nurse calls. I grab my jacket and follow her back with Laney in tow. I’m surprised at how close I feel with Emma and Laney after such a short amount of time, but I’m forever grateful for both of them.
The nurse leads us into a room and does all the normal things—blood pressure, height, and weight. She asks me to lie on the table and wait for the doctor before disappearing out the door.
“Wait until you see my doctor.” I grin and turn my head Laney’s way. “Reese hates him, but he’s rated the best, so he puts it aside.”
“Why does he—”
A knock on the door interrupts her, and Laney’s mouth drops when it swings open. I don’t know what it is with the people in this town, but they all look like they belong in modeling. Dr. Alvarez is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. He also has a slight Columbian accent that hits the ears just right. He’s a total dreamboat, and it’s obvious Laney thinks so too. She’s since closed her mouth, but her eyes haven’t gone down in size.
“How’s it going today, boss?”
Also, I really like when he calls me boss.
“All good. Just some cramping here and there I wanted to be seen for.”
He takes his time washing and drying his hands, then grabs the gloves from the wall and turns to face me with a bright smile. Honestly, panty wetting.
His eyes flick to Laney. “I don’t believe we’ve met?”
“Uh…”
I bite back my laugh. “Dr. A, this is Laney, one of my best friends.”
“Laney, beautiful name.”
“Thanks,” she squeaks.
He turns his back, and she shoots me a look as if saying Are you kidding me? Look how hot he is. At least, that’s what I imagine she’s saying.
Dr. A is great for a lot of reasons, not just because he’s extremely handsome, but he really knows how to handle patients and make them feel relaxed. He pokes and measures, pushes, then pulls out the heartbeat monitor. This is the part I wish Reese was here for. He cried when we first heard the heartbeat. It was so faint the last time, but this time it sounds stronger. I am further along, right around thirteen weeks, I believe.
“Do you mind if I take a recording for Reese?”
“Ah, yes of course.”
Laney passes me my phone, and Dr. A holds the machine in place. When I pass my phone back to Laney, she has tears in her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
She sniffles. “Yeah, sorry, there’s just, like, a whole baby in there.”
Dr. A and I fall into a fit of laughter.
“The baby is about three inches at this time of gestation.” He points to a sheet on the wall showing the baby at all stages and comparing them to fruit. Right now, baby is about the size of a peach, according to the paper.
He cleans off my stomach and pulls me to sit up before taking a seat on his stool. “I want a urine sample and some blood drawn, but the heartbeat was strong. Cramping can be normal. Some women experience period like symptoms through all of pregnancy. That being said, if you notice any bleeding, please come in right away. If the cramping gets unbearable, come in. Basically, if you are at all worried, come in. We are here to ease your mind.”
“Thank you, Dr. A.”
He taps my leg. “You should start feeling flutters soon. That is the baby moving, and in seven weeks, we can look for the sex if you would like.”
I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is going by. Besides being sick, it’s been pretty nice, and I know I’m lucky because some women have an awful experience.
Reese is going to lose his mind when we find out the gender. He’s already set on a girl, but I know he will love him or her no matter what.
“Excuse me for being extremely unprofessional.” He swivels Laney’s way, and her eyes widen. “Are you single?”
Holy. Shit. You know what, I’m holding out for Sawyer, but if he’s going to drag his feet.
“Yes, she is.”
Laney hasn’t moved since he asked her, and I’m not going to let her miss out on being asked out by a doctor.
He glances my way, slight embarrassment darkening his face. “Here is my card.” He leans forward and slips it into Laney’s frozen hand. “If you are interested, Laney. Call me.”
Dr. A writes me a prescription, which just says no stress and stay off my feet as much as possible. At least, that’s what I think from the chicken scratch writing because he didn’t really say anything after asking Laney out. He fled from the room, and the nurse brought by the note. With Christmas break next week, it shouldn’t be an issue staying off my feet. I know Mom is just waiting to get me home so she can wait on me hand and foot, which I won’t let her, but I will gladly accept some help and love you can only get from your mom.
“What just happened?” We step into the cold, and it must make Laney come to. She’s been a robot since we left.
I giggle and do a little jig, excited for her. “Well, my hot baby doctor asked you out.”
She nods and licks her lips. “Thought so.”
I tug her forward, wanting to get to the truck and out of the bitter cold. “You have to call him, Laney. I don’t care about you and Sawyer, you can go on one date with the hot doctor.”
Laney stops, pulling me with her. Her eyes round, and she looks everywhere but at me. “What do you mean me and Sawyer? I’m not—I mean, he’s—”
I grip her hands in mine. “Lane, calm down. It’s so painfully obvious you guys are into each other.”
She cringes. “Is it?”
“Well, to me and Reese. I think Emma is blind to it, although I don’t know how.”
Laney breathes out a sigh of relief. “Oh.”
I tug her to walk again because it’s freaking cold outside, but once again, we come to a stop. I groan inwardly but plaster a smile on the outside. “Zoey.”
She pauses and nervously turns to us. “Oh, you. Hey.”
So kind. “Hello to you too.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sorry, I’m just kind of in a rush. I’m late.”
I glance over my shoulder. This is the OBGYN and Gyno wing of the hospital. “Ah, yeah. Good luck.” I take a step, and she calls after me.
“I’m just going for a pap smear. I don’t have any STDs.”
What a weird thing to say. I wasn’t even thinking that.
“Okay.”
“Although you might. Have you been checked since getting with Reese? Those hockey guys are known for getting around, you know?”
Laney squeezes my arm. “She’s just trying to get to you.”
“Well, it worked.”
I spin and hear Laney mutter something behind me as she jogs to keep up. I stop just in front of Zoey and her stupid smirk like she won.
“No, haven’t had time to get checked…” I tug up my shirt to expose my stomach. “You know, been kind of busy.”
Zoey’s eyes widen at the sight of my hardly swollen stomach. “You’re pregnant?”
I drop my shirt. “Yep. Have a great pap smear.”
“I know we have a break after today, but I don’t want you lazy asses sitting around the whole time. I want you on the ice, running, something to keep you in shape because when you’re back is when the real season begins, you hear me?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Good. Now get out there and let’s make this 8-0.”
Tucker calls us into a huddle and starts our game-day ritual of praying. There’s a reason we call him Priest, and it’s not because his last name is Lamb.
We break, and Sawyer tugs me to the side. He waits for most of the guys to clear before stating, “We need our captain on his game tonight.”
“I’m right here.” I take a step, but he grips my arm.
“Seriously, Reese. You’ve not been good since whatever went down with Elijah.”
I cringe at the mention of his name, and Sawyer notices, his eyebrows falling.
“Whatever it is, I need you to leave it behind until after. We are on a winning streak, and I don’t want to lose that.”
“We’re not going to lose anything. You know how I am. Forget everything and play.”
Sawyer frowns, obviously not thrilled about my answer, but it’s the truth. Hockey is my escape.
“I’m here when you want to talk. You know that, yeah?”
I force a smile and slap his shoulder pad. “I know, man. Now let’s go.”
He lets me go, and we head for the door.
“Are you ever going to let me touch your stick?”
I side-eye him and cock an eyebrow. “I hope you’re talking about this stick”—I hold it up—“and not my dick, but the answer is no. Never. For both.”
He grumbles under his breath, and I push through the door chuckling. My eyes land on Winnie immediately, and she offers a weak smile. She looks behind me to Sawyer and tilts her head.
“All good, baby.” I smack a kiss to her forehead.
She calls after us for a picture, and Sawyer and I turn and pose.
“Come on, boys, smile while you still got all your teeth.”
One day she’s going to jinx me with that shit.