Page 38

Chapter 37

Shawn

L ee finally wants to talk. It’s been the longest two weeks of my life. Practice had just wrapped up when Soph texted me, and I about ran to my car, but she wanted to come here. I get it; just needing to get out of the house for a minute. I’m glad she is ready to come back to the city she loves.

Instead of sitting in the locker room, I go back out to the court to practice a few routes and get some much-needed practice with my shots. The past couple of weeks, my game has been so subpar that my mom even called to ask if I wanted her to come visit.

I bounce the ball, fake right, shoot left. The ball floats through the air before connecting with the rim and bouncing away.

Damn it. I go again.

The rest of the team and coaching staff have cleared out. Soft music plays in the background as I keep dribbling and then shooting from distinct marks on the ground. I think back to first coming to Toronto several months ago, seeing Liam, seeing Lee, seeing the Six. I have loved everything this city has brought me. Even Mimi, for the short time I had with her. I smile. Dribble, then shoot from the 3-point line. It sinks in. I go again. Sinks in. Mimi must be smiling at me. I shoot again, and it doesn’t even touch the rim - nothing but the net.

The best feeling on the court.

The music suddenly stops, and I hear scuffs behind me on the waxed court. I spin around so fast the squeak of my shoes echoes throughout the arena.

“I always knew you were a good shooter, but I didn’t think that applied to everything you do!”

There she is. My Sunshine.

In jeans, some fine as fuck sneakers, an old Blades sweatshirt, and beanie. Her long blonde hair is wavy, like she just ran a brush through it. I jog over to her and pick her up in a hug without a second thought.

“Baby, I’m so glad you came. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I cradle her head and press my thumbs to her cheeks. Almost leaning down to a kiss, but I remember what she just yelled at me.

Huh?

“Shooting good? Are you making a sex joke?” I look stunned.

“Yeah, I am. Apparently, your shooters can score in more ways than one.” She looks at me sternly. Shit, she looks pissed.

“I swear, Lee. My thoughts have only been of you; I haven’t been with or considered any other women. I put that on everything. Even Mimi, she knew I was going to Dallas.”

She stomps her foot and sucks in a sharp breath, raising her voice.

“Don’t bring Mimi into this right now. I wasn’t talking about you scoring shots with other girls. I was talking about your sperm!”

We both turn as we see Soph running in. Lee puts up a hand to stop her.

I’m just confused at this point.

“My sperm?”

My brain is trying to soak in what she is saying to me. I feel like I’m trying to solve a riddle, but then it hits me.

“Oh, my cum game is strong. That’s what someone says when their partner gets them pregnant easily.” I say, nodding, proud that I got what she was finally trying to tell me.

She stops, folds her arms across her chest and just looks at me, making her already huge eyes even bigger.

What? Is she serious right now? I inhale in a breath and bring both of my hands to my head.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” I say. “Lee, I swear if you are joking, I’m going to lose it! Are you pregnant?”

“Yep, I got labs back after I had a hard time with Mimi. Here ya go…”

She pulls out of her hoodie an excessive amount of pregnancy tests and drops them all in my hand. I flip over each one.

Positive. Positive. Positive…

Shit.

I’m going to be a dad. Lee is going to be a mom. She is growing our baby. I dump the tests on the ground and pick her up, whirling her around. Kissing the top of her head. I put her down and look at her. I mean, I didn’t expect to start a family this early in my career, but the second Lee came back in my life, I couldn’t wait to start a family with her.

“I have an appointment tomorrow to go over everything going on here.” She waves a hand around her stomach.

Fuck.

“We leave for our next game in Dallas tomorrow. What time is your appointment?”

She picks at her fingers. “1:00 pm.”

Shit. “We leave at 11:00 am, fuck.”

“It’s fine, Shawn. I’m just going to check and see if the baby is good and what my options are.”

“Options?” I say, taken back.

“Yeah, I have to just know all the things. We weren’t really planning on being parents.”

“It was always supposed to be with you. Maybe not this fast. But nothing since running into you here in Toronto has been slow. I don’t want slow; I want you. I want us. I want our baby.”

She nods, tears forming in her eyes.

“Okay, well, I’ll keep you posted.”

Turning to make her way to Soph. My mind is still spinning.

Lee. Baby. Game. Options. Fuck.

I run after her.

“Lee, we still need to talk! Please.”

I see her suck in a shaky breath. Soph stops me, and she keeps walking.

“Give her a minute. She took a big step coming here today to tell you. It’s a lot for her to process. You need to process it, too.”

Tears form in my eyes, but I nod and watch the love of my life walk out of the arena, now carrying our baby. This needs to change, and fast. I’m not letting my girl sleep one more night without me with her.

I walk towards the locker room to get my stuff and try to figure out a way to untangle this all. I’m going to be a dad. Holy shit. My brain is going in a million directions.

Lee. Appointment. Game. Doctor. Options. Nursery. Diapers. Baby.

It’s like my brain is glitching. I drag my hands over my head, scratching my scalp. My phone buzzing pulls me from my chaotic thoughts. I look down, see my sister calling, and hit answer.

“Nora. You good?”

“Well, hello to you, too!”

She hits at me through the phone. Whatever. She doesn’t know what’s going on. Not fully.

“Yeah, just trying to get my shit together before we play Dallas.”

“They’ve had a lot of changes to the team; should be an interesting game.”

“Well aware, sis!” I snap.

“Damn, okay. So, speaking of Dallas, are you planning on seeing us?”

“Shit, I hadn’t even thought about that. A lot has been going on over the past couple of weeks. I can get y’all some seats to come. Mom, Dad, and you. It would be awesome to have y’all there.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t going to ask for a handout, but I would like to see my big bro play in an NBA game.” She chuckles.

“Duh, sorry. My mind can’t keep track of it all right now. I’ve got to get a PA.”

“Does that have anything to do with Lee? You came to Dallas to see Brittany and didn’t tell any of us, and I’m assuming you didn’t tell Lee?”

“Fuck. How did you figure all that out?”

“You’re everywhere in the news now. I saw Liam and Lee at your first game in Toronto and then the shit with you here in Dallas was everywhere. Mom and I figured you would let us in on what is going on when you were ready.”

“Yeah, well, Brittany was…” I try to explain.

“Helping you get a ring?” She quips.

“Um, yeah. Shit. Seriously, how does everyone but Lee know?” I groan.

“Bro, I may be younger than you, but I’m not stupid. I know Brittany and what she does. It didn’t take long to figure out what you were doing. The way you have always talked about Lee since we were kids, Mom and I just laughed.”

“Damn, a man can’t get nothing past y’all.”

“Damn straight. Just text me when you get here, and we will meet you at the game,” Nora replies.

“Wait. Actually, let me see if Lee’s family wants to join you guys. It would be great to see them again, and I have been wanting to catch up with her dad. Maybe he knows a good PA.”

She laughs again. “Yeah, I’m sure you have.”

“What the fuck ever, Nor. Just let Mom and Dad know I can’t wait to see them, and we can all go get dinner or something after the game.”

“Sure bro, but Shawn?”

“Yeah?”

“Bring Lee. I don’t know how you’re going to fix this mess. But fix it. She probably would love to see her family, and Mom would probably ban you from Christmas dinner if you don’t bring her.”

“Yeah, I’m working on it. Trust me.” I sigh.

“Okay, bye bro.”

“Bye sis!”

I hang up the phone, appreciating having a sibling who can help me when I need it most, simply by having a quick conversation.

Oh shit, that’s it.

Liam.

I find his name on my phone and press on it. The phone rings and rings to the point where I’m sure it will just go to voicemail. But then his voice fills the phone, echoing when he talks.

“What?” he yells. I’m pretty sure he is in his car.

“You alone?” I keep it straight with him.

“No, I have the whole fucking team in my Maserati. Duh, I’m alone in my car.”

Geesh, someone is still pissy.

“Okay, okay. I need your help.”

“I’m not feeling like giving you much, but you get one ask. So make it a good one?”

“Actually, where are you?”

“Heading to the chiro by Scotia.”

“Cool, I’m at Scotia now. Can I meet you at Hortons around the corner?”

He scoffs. “Sure, be there in 5.”

* * *

I take in the smells of Tim Hortons and set the double-doubles down in front of me and Liam.

“Thanks.”

“Sure, thing. Thanks for meeting me. I need to solve the Lee thing like now.”

He smirks. “Nah, shit Sherlock. I know you’ve been doing what you can, but she’s been through a lot. We all have.”

I stand up abruptly at his confession. I feel like a terrible friend. My recent decline in my game, having Lee’s stuff surrounding me at home, Blaze whimpering all damn night. I haven’t focused on my friends. I should’ve followed up with how he was doing more.

“Get up!”

He frowns but stands as I pull him into a massive hug. I hear him around the back of my head.

“Bro, you’ve already been there for me and Lee as much as you could. You helped get in contact with my team and Lee’s work so she could take some extra PTO and I could miss a few games. Just because she hasn’t wanted to talk to you right now doesn’t mean that you haven’t done what you can.”

“Well, now shit just got even more real, so I need to figure out how to talk to her… tomorrow. I need your help.” I slap him on the back as we return to our seats.

He looks at me funny. “What do you mean ‘even more real’?”