Page 16

Marie

___________

S econd trimester. All of my tests have been coming back just fine, so no idea why I still sometimes swell up like a balloon.

I see Brenton every two weeks and I’ve been working with Dr. Patterson at the rink for a month now.

The girls are happy, loving our new home, and I’ve been having a blast at dinners and inviting Nolan and Landon over, just like old times, but without the alcohol and sex. Or flirting. At least on my end.

They just think I’m on a health kick and are obviously ignoring my swelling stomach. Maybe I just look like I’m eating too many burgers.

Or they’re being nice. Just as long as they keep their mouths shut, I don’t care if they’ve figured it out on their own.

James and I ignore each other when I’m at the rink and luckily Dr. Patterson works with him and I worry about everyone else. The new clinic will be ready in about a month, and I haven’t had to go out on the ice yet. Thank goodness.

Not that I don’t trust myself, I can keep up with the guys for quite a while, I just don’t want to take any chances.

Brenton and I haven’t been able to have dinner at his parents’ place yet, since they keep going on trips, celebrating their anniversary and retirement. Good for them. With the amount I’m paying for rent, I hope they’re having a good time.

I have another appointment with him coming up this week, and I was able to get a late appointment again for the girls to join.

They came two weeks ago, and they were upset that he wouldn’t do another ultrasound until this week.

Something was wrong with the machine, so we had to wait until this appointment to do the standard twelve-week testing.

We’re doing blood tests and ultrasounds to check for any abnormalities and to talk about seeing a maternal fetal medicine doctor since I’m having twins. I haven’t had any issues yet, so I don’t mind just seeing him. He’s been great so far.

Instead of going to the clinic every day, I’ve been at the rink for all of the home games and every other day during practices just in case someone needs stitches or exams for any hard hits or falls, even during practice and warm ups. These guys are idiots sometimes.

It’s been an easier workload, and I’m making almost double what I was at the clinic.

Maybe I can deal with being here for the rest of my pregnancy until I go on maternity leave. I can save up a ton of money and stay at home longer than a measly six weeks.

I’m sitting on the bench watching the guys practice before tonight’s game and I focus on my phone, reading through emails and setting an alarm an hour before my appointment time.

I hear a scuffle and James slams Nolan into the plexiglass and he goes down hard.

I pop my whistle in my mouth and blow as hard as I can, three times before James finally backs off.

I can’t go out on the ice so I call Dr. Patterson to meet me out here, since I don’t have my skates on.

Good thing he’s in his office down the hall.

He meets me within moments, I wait at the opening as he skates over to Nolan and drags him over to me, setting him down on the bench so I can look him over.

He’s able to sit upright and doesn’t seem confused.

I wave Dr. Patterson off and block out the yelling coming from behind me between James and the coaches.

I pull out my pen light and take off Nolan’s helmet and do a full neuro check and tell him to not talk until I’m finished.

He has a bump on the side of his head but he seems fine.

“Okay, what the fuck is going on?” I whisper and kneel down in front of him.

He shrugs and looks away, his dark eyes pissed and glassy. “Don’t worry about it, M. Am I clear to get back out there?”

I blow out a long, slow breath and stand up placing my hand over the bruise. “Take it easy and ice it for fifteen before going out. Then I’ll check you again.” I rifle through my bag and snap the pack to get it cold and hand it over to him, along with a bottle of water. “Please?”

He nods and stares back out at the ice and I sit beside him as I chart notes in my tablet in his file.

“Has he been acting out like this?”

Nolan sends me a droll look and nods. “Ever since you guys moved out, he’s been a dick.

Even worse after the girls moved in with you…

he knows that Landon and I know where you live and that we’ve been to your house and hanging out with you.

We won’t give him your address or any updates on your life, so he’s been taking it out on us on the ice. ”

I sigh and lean back, shaking my head. They’ve only come over for dinner, what, twice? They watch some tv, hang out with me and the girls, then leave.

“I’ll try to talk to him soon.” I clear my throat and focus on not placing my hands over my stomach. I’ve already had to shop for maternity scrubs so that I’m more comfortable, my belly will definitely be more prominent soon.

“Please do,” Nolan murmurs and we’re silent as we watch practice resume, James is sitting out on the other side of the arena, face in his phone. Shocker.

I hear my phone vibrating on the bench and I glance at it, seeing James’s name. I cock a brow at it and frown.

James: Can we please talk?

I sigh as I reply… for the first time in what feels like years. Just kidding, it’s only been a few moments.

Me: When? I have somewhere to be at four.

James: Alex is in LA for the week, can you and the girls come by this weekend? No drama or fighting. Does that work? The team leaves on Sunday for Oregon.

Me: Okay.

I set my phone down and check Nolan’s head and do another neuro check. “You seem fine. Take it easy tonight, no alcohol after the game. Plenty of water and ibuprofen if you need it, I’ll check you out again before the game tonight.”

He nods and claps my back as he suits back up and heads back out on the ice. Hopefully the coaches put James in his place. Save that animosity for the real opponents tonight at the game.

I still don’t understand what even happened. Nolan’s a goalie and shouldn’t have been able to do anything to piss off princess James.

But he’s obviously pissed off anyway. He needs to get over himself.

______________

“Everything looks great. The babies are both measuring a little over twelve weeks. Your urine is good... I’ll send the ultrasound images over to the MFM and I’ll call when bloodwork comes back.” Brenton murmurs and Caroline and Alyssa squeeze my hands, still staring at the screen.

Gosh, they almost look like real babies now, it’s a trip. Still sort of oddly shaped and blobby though.

I nod at Brenton and smile at him. “Thanks. I’ve been feeling so much better lately… I just feel bloated.”

He smiles and chuckles. “You’re only going to get bigger. Just think, only six more weeks until we find out the genders, are you excited?”

I smile and listen to Caroline and Alyssa whispering over my head, placing bets. “Sure am.”

“Oh, before I forget. My parents are finally home this weekend, if you wanted to head over to dinner with me? The girls are invited, of course.” He smiles and washes his hands. Gosh, why is he so nice? And so good looking. “Let me know what day works for you.”

“Sunday would work for us, I think. The team is leaving for away games that day so I won’t be working.”

He waves on his way out and I stand up after cleaning my belly.

“Damn, Marie… You should totally date him,” Alyssa whispers in my ear as we walk out.

I clear my throat and shoot her a look. “First Nolan, then Landon… Now my doctor? Make up your mind. I’m going to say the same thing I’ve been saying for weeks. No. I’m not getting involved with anyone, especially not now. Plus, he’s probably already taken. A man like that isn’t single… ever.”

We all laugh as I walk over to the reception desk and set up another appointment.

We all jump in my car and I start to drive us back home to eat dinner before the game. “But seriously, Marie. He’s smart, tall… absolutely gorgeous… Why else would he invite you to his parents’ house? You should ask him if he’s single.”

I send Caroline a look in the rearview mirror. “Because his parents own our house, you little demon. He’s just being nice, he thinks I need a friend, and he obviously knows that I need one right now.”

Alyssa and Caroline share a look and I focus back on the road, letting them gossip with their twin telepathy.

“What do you girls want for your birthday?” I murmur, trying to change the subject.

Alyssa snorts and shakes her head. “Yours and James’s birthdays are coming up first. Ours isn’t until March, why are you asking so early?”

I shrug and park in the garage. “Because I like to get a head start. I already have almost all of my Christmas shopping done. And I bought James’s gift months ago for his birthday…” Maybe I should return it at this point.

Or I can just throw it at the porch anonymously and Alex can take the credit for it.

Alyssa hums and stalks over to the door to head into the house. “How about a spring break trip? We can head to the lake and we can make it a baby moon!”

I look over to Caroline to see if she agrees and she nods enthusiastically.

“All right, I’ll book a house, good thing I asked in advance.” I wink and head into the kitchen to start on dinner. This weekend is going to be interesting. First, dinner with James, then dinner with Brenton and his parents.

At least I’ll have the girls as a buffer for both.

Nolan and Landon have been wonderful, I feel awful about neglecting them while I was separating myself from James. They don’t give a shit, since they’re men and they don’t care much about the drama. But it’s still nice to have them around again.

Just without alcohol or staying out too late now.

Neither of them have hit on me, so they must know something else is up.

And only Nolan has met Alex, I guess. Not sure when or how, but when I asked why the rest of the team hadn't, Landon explained that Alex doesn’t want to meet any of the guys until her and James are more ‘serious’. Which makes no damn sense.