Page 17

It’s so fishy and I fucking hate it.

But mostly, we don’t talk about James at all. We talk about hockey, work, new restaurants, and puck bunnies. Our favorite past times. The amount of times I had a call at three AM to come pick them up from hotel rooms is staggering.

Landon had a serious girlfriend for a few months, and apparently broke up with her when he found her in his bed with another man… and she tried to pass it off as her brother.

In bed. Naked.

I almost threw up when I heard that. Nolan and I never met the woman, but she did a doozy on poor Landon. I think he’s going to just have his fun with puck bunnies for a long while. Hell, I would, too, if I could.

_____________

The game was intense. The girls and I didn’t get home until after eleven, and only one of the guys on our team needed stitches. A handful of others just needed a quick check over before sending them back out.

Dr. Patterson is heading out with the team on Sunday, so Annika is taking over his patients at the clinic and I get the week off, still paid. Works for me.

He’s also already hired two other MD’s to take over the clinic so he can focus on the team anyway, so Annika is just in limbo until the second location opens up.

I’ve already told both of them in emails that I’m staying at the rink until March or April, or whenever I go into labor. I actually sort of love it. Since I don’t have to go on the ice or deal with James, plus the extra money? How could I pass this up?

They have plenty of time to hire someone to take over my duties once I go on maternity leave.

It’s Dr. Patterson’s day at the rink, and I make sure to tell him to check on Nolan again before practice, and I sleep in until noon.

I stumble to the kitchen and find a note from the girls that they ate my hard-boiled eggs and chopped fruit for lunch, but they’ll make more after school.

I snort as I cook up some bacon and eggs, taking my meal to the living room as I turn on the news and curl up onto the couch.

I have nothing going on today, so I just relax, snack, and sit out on the back porch until the girls get home. Which turns into them asking to stay over at a friend’s house and me calling the mom to make sure she’s there and was told that there isn’t going to be a party or any boys over.

Alyssa snickers at me after I get off the phone and I send her a look. “What? I’m about to have two babies, I don’t need any more in my house any time soon.”

Caroline rolls her eyes and hikes her bag up on her shoulder, “We know, we know. We’ll call you if anything’s up. We won’t drink and drive, or drink at all… We’ll text you every damn hour.”

I nod at her and wave them off, settling in for a calm, lonely night. I put on a movie and sigh as I get up to take a shower and just head to bed.

It’s only eight at night and I’m already exhausted from doing nothing all day.

My phone starts to ring right when I’m about to hop in the shower and I frown when I see Nolan’s name.

“Hey, you okay? How’s your head?”

He chuckles. “I’m fine, I’m actually out front. Is it okay if I hang out for a bit?”

“Sure,” I yawn and head to the front door and let him in, ending our phone call. “I just started the shower. Make yourself at home.”

He hums at me, checking me out and sending me a suggestive look. He then laughs his ass off when he sees the look on my face and jumps on the couch and turns on the TV. I take a quick shower and get into a new set of pajamas before I head back out to the living room.

“I’m boring tonight. The girls are out at a sleepover and I was planning on heading to bed… so if I fall asleep on you, don’t complain about my drool. Or snoring.”

He pulls me closer to him and stares at the TV screen. “You don’t snore, M. I know from experience. But you’re fine, rest. I just didn’t feel like going out with the guys.”

I lean my head against his warm, hard chest and try to follow the storyline of the show in between slow blinks. He rests his hand on my stomach and I freeze… Then he tenses. I might look bloated, but it’s already starting to feel a little hard…

He clears his throat and looks down at me, his dark eyes wide. “So…”

I nod and press my lips together. Shit. “Yeah…”

He laughs and pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead.

“Holy shit… I have so many questions. You not skating on the ice, and everything with James… You are gaining a little weight and acting off. Not to be rude, you look so fantastic and… damn. I assumed it was all stress and not wanting to be close to James on the ice, maybe too much pizza or something, not that I’m calling you fat or anything.

Holy shit. How far along are you… And oh fuck is it mine? ”

I laugh and pat his chest. “Nolan, we haven’t slept together in a year… maybe longer.”

He pouts and stares down at my stomach. “I would have loved for it to be mine.”

I snort and shove him, “No you wouldn’t have. You love your bachelor life. But yeah… I’m twelve weeks along now. I’ll grab the ultrasound photos.”

I head to the kitchen and grab them out of the drawer. Since having him and Landon over, the girls and I have been shoving them in there instead of them being all over the fridge.

I hand them over and he frowns at the images, his brows furrowing as he looks at them for several moments. “Two? Twins?” I nod slowly and he whistles. “Ain’t that some shit. Is the dad in the picture?”

I shake my head and lean back on the cushions. “Nope, just me. The girls come with me to my appointments, I have their support. Dr. Patterson knows what’s going on, and I’m working at the rink with him until I pop… I’ll be able to save up plenty of money and figure out childcare eventually.”

He sends me a look and shakes his head, setting the images down on the coffee table. “You have the team, too… I hope you call us if you ever need anything. Did James freak? Is that why you moved out?”

“No. He doesn’t know I’m pregnant. Period. And that’s how it’s staying.” I send him a look and he raises his hands in surrender with a sigh, shaking his head. He still looks so shell shocked.

“I’ll tell Landon, if that’s okay with you, I’m sure he’ll want to come around more for support? I’ll tell him to keep it to himself. Is there anything you need?”

I shrug. “Not really. I haven’t started buying anything or decorating the nursery yet. I will find out in six weeks what the genders are, hopefully.”

He wraps his arm back around me and pulls me closer to him. “Well, we’re here for you. Seriously, anything. We’ll paint, put together the baby shit. Shop… Figure out how to change diapers.”

I chuckle and nod against his warm chest. “Thank you. I’m still processing all of it, but it feels more real every day.”

I end up falling asleep on him as he watches movies and I wake up alone the next morning in my bed. Burrowed in my blankets and pillows. Confused and out of it, I sit up and stare out the window at the cloudy skies. What time is it?

When I finally head out to the kitchen to make some tea and breakfast, I find him sitting up on the couch, drinking coffee and watching the news.

“Hey. I ended up passing out on the couch… I woke up and took you to bed though. Eventually.” He winks at me and sips his coffee. “I have practice in about an hour. Can I make you anything?”

I shake my head and pull out the eggs and bacon. “I got it. You relax. Thanks for getting me into bed, I was wiped.”

He waves his hand around and meets me on the other side of the island, leaning down on his tanned forearms. It’s so hard not to stare at him.

Or those impeccable veiny arms. “Don’t worry about it.

I called Landon this morning and he’s on board with Project Twins, or Project Secret Twins…

He swore on his balls that he wouldn’t tell James or anyone else on the team. ”

I press my lips together and nod. So I guess I just have to trust him until James sees my swollen belly and we have that conversation, I don’t have the balls to tell him.

Nolan leaves after breakfast and the girls stroll in around lunch time. We spend the day relaxing and I sit out on the patio watching them swim and gossip in the jacuzzi. Another pregnancy nope. I sigh to myself and I’m starting to get hungry again. At least the nausea is pretty much gone now.

“Hey girls, I’m heading in to get ready for dinner at James’s house… Are you still going to join?”

They share a look and Caroline slowly nods.

“Sure. Give us an hour.” I wave them off and head to my bedroom.

My bare feet sink into the soft, plush carpet as I shuffle to the bathroom and start up the shower.

I’m too exhausted and hungry to do anything aside from wash my body and toss on some comfortable clothes.

I pull on a pair of leggings, a loose sweater, and let my wet, wavy hair air dry.

I stare in the mirror in my closet and frown.

My face looks a little swollen and puffy.

But other than that, I have some color back on my cheeks.

I don’t look as pale since I’m not vomiting a million times a day anymore.

I’ve also already gained ten pounds. Brenton let me know I’m fine and I’ll be gaining quite a bit of weight with twins.

Yay. I wrap my hands around my bloated stomach and close my eyes.

Everything is going to be just fine. Plenty of women are single moms, most with no help or support at all. I got this.

It won’t be much longer until I’m a hippo, though. I step back and pull on my shoes and head into the living room to wait for the girls to finish up getting ready.

I mess around on my phone to find texts from both Nolan and Landon.

Nolan: Let me know if you want me to crash the dinner tonight…

Landon: Congrats, Marie!! I’m here for you. Let me know if you need anything… Like breaking the baby daddy’s face.

I snort as I reply to both of them until I hear the girls’ voices trailing down the hall.

“Are you bringing anything to eat tonight?” Alyssa asks as she pulls out her car keys from her purse.