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I roll my eyes. “Fine, but I will remember this moment and haunt both of your asses if I can’t get into heaven.”
Francesca reaches over and presses the play button on the screen.
Joseph hops onto the treadmill and presses the speed button a dozen times until he is practically sprinting. “I need to figure out a way to fix everything. I need to make things right. I need to show Dad I’m mature enough to take on more responsibilities and run the empire.”
Gage chokes on his water and slaps his chest several times. “Is he retiring?”
Joseph’s face turns red, and he pants as he continues his fast-paced run. He clicks a few buttons to turn the speed down and says, “No, he’s not retiring. At least not yet. Not as long as I’m on the team.”
“Do you want to take everything over?”
Joseph shrugs. “That has always been the plan. I’ve followed in his footsteps, and I’ve learned how to run the business side of things as well as the political side of things.”
Rhett interjects. “But that doesn’t mean youwantto take over the Marino empire. Would you rather take over the family side of things or continue with your hockey career?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure. I love hockey, I love the game, and I love skating, but I’m tired of all the travel. I always figured I’d play until Dad retired or I started a family, and now that Alexandra is pregnant, I want to be stationary as much as possible.”
Rhett raises an eyebrow. “Are you thinking about retiring from hockey?”
“If Alexandra takes me back, it’s a conversation I plan on having with her.”
Spencer clears his throat and glances around the gym. “Just playing devil’s advocate here, but what if she doesn’t take you back?”
He presses his lips together. “I guess I’ll still have that conversation with her. I don’t want to be a part-time parent. I want to be involved in my child’s life. I want-”
The video shuts off, leaving my mind spiraling as it tries to process what I just watched.
“Wait. What does he want?” I glance from one woman to the other, hoping they have the other part of the video.
“You.” they say at the same time.
Savannah places her hand on my forearm. It’s a gentle and caring touch. “It’s up to you to see things through. Both of you are miserable and want to make things right. Take time to think about what you want for yourself and your baby and then go for it. Francesca and I will be next to you every step of the way.”
Francesca grins. “Speaking of your baby, I have a surprise for you and we need to head out right now, so take a few more bites and let’s go. Hell, bring the container of food. You can eat in the car.”
“Where are we going?”
“The sooner you grab your phone, wallet, and keys, the sooner you will find out. You actually don’t have to go far, just a few miles down the road.”
Eager to see where we are going, I leave the food untouched and follow them downstairs to Francesca’s car. She drives towards downtown but turns down a side road and parks in a doctor’s office parking lot.
When we walk inside, we are immediately shown to a room where a doctor is waiting for us.
“What’s going on?”
“We thought we would surprise you with an ultrasound so you can see your baby.”
The doctor looks at the folder on her desk. “You’re also getting a 4D ultrasound, correct?”
Francesca nods. “Sure are. Well, if she wants one.”
“That would be amazing.”
The two women walk to the door to leave, but I stop them. “Wait. Why don’t you two stay and watch? I promise it won’t be weird.”
They close the door and sit in the seats next to the table.
I lift up my shirt so the doctor can squirt the gel onto my stomach. Unlike my last ultrasound, this gel is warm.