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I picked it up and scanned through the page he’d passed me.

The Ten Best Devices for Parents and Baby Bump Headphones.

Top of the list was a strange-looking contraption with monitors similar to the ones Doctor Matthews made us wear in our training classes when she was checking for our oxygen and heart rate levels.

According to the article, they attached to either side of the pregnant bump and transmitted through the fluids in the belly .

I glanced up at the guys. “This is so cool. The baby will be born and recognize my voice.”

Ace nodded. “Yeah, order it now and it’ll be waiting for you when we get back.”

“You know,” Parker started, shoveling a mouthful of cereal in, and we had to wait for him to swallow. “You could use it to your advantage.”

“What d’you mean?”

“Millie’s going to have to play it, so she’ll hear what you’re saying. You can record things for her too.”

“That’s very devious of you,” said Ace, his tone filled with admiration.

“Hey, we’re all wanting Tanner to find love. He’s the last one, and if I can give him a little boost then sobeit .” He shrugged. “It’s nothing he wouldn’t say to her face.”

My fingers drummed against my chin, this could be exactly what I needed to get Millie to take me seriously.

“You’re right. I can tell her everything I’ve always wanted to tell her.” I grabbed Ace’s phone again and held it in front of his face to unlock it, then hit Order. “Sorry, think you paid for that.”

“Hey, whatever I can do to help.” He grinned, only for it to die on his face as he jerked forward from Robson Barry pushing his chair out too far at the table behind. “Dude! Watch it.”

“Sorry, man,” he offered. “But Coach just walked out. We need to get our shit together before the bus leaves for practice.”

I glanced around. We’d been too busy buying baby headphones and reading up on pregnancy facts that we hadn’t noticed the bustle in the dining room as everyone made their way out.

I snatched up one last piece of toast, and the four of us pushed to standing, our chairs screeching across the floor, and followed the crowd.

It was our last day on the road. Out of five games we’d played so far, only one had been lost, and we fully intended to keep it that way. We we’re going to win tonight, and then we’d be flying out of Dallas and heading back to New York top of the standings for the National League East.

Life on the road was hard. For nine long months we traveled back and forth across the country, clocking up thousands and thousands of miles.

It wasn’t something I’d thought much about, it was part of the job.

It’s what we got paid millions for. Yet for the first time ever I couldn’t wait to get home.

Parker peered over Ace’s shoulder. “Hey, can you still have sex when you’re pregnant?”

“Of course you can, dumbass. Where do you think dimples come from?”

I didn’t want to ask him if that was true, instead I pulled my phone out as we waited for the next available elevator.

Tanner: Hey, what are you doing?

Millie: Putting books on the shelves

Tanner: Still? How many books do you have?

Millie: A lot. How’s life on the road? You played well last night

Tanner: Aww shucks, were you watching me? *blush emoji*

Millie: Radley was watching Lux. I happened to catch one particular moment when you were at bat as I walked past

Barking out a laugh, I stepped away from the boys and hit Dial. Millie picked up immediately, her bemused and partly flustered face filling the screen.

“There’s my beautiful baby mama.”

The smattering of freckles across her nose crinkled and her brows knitted together. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? You are beautiful.”

“I meant the other thing.”

“Baby mama? You’re that too.”

Millie’s big brown eyes rolled, but as she propped her phone on the table instead of hanging up on me, I took it as a good sign.

Piles and piles of books surrounded her, more books than I’d seen outside of a bookstore.

I thought Lux had a lot, but the girls had him beat.

I didn’t even know where they’d all come from because there was no way her dorm room was big enough for them all.

In the corner of the frame I noticed one of the books I’d bought online—the one Ace had been reading this morning. I debated on telling her about the watermelon fact but thought better of it.

“So what else did you ‘happen to catch’ while Radley was watching Lux?”

She picked up another pile of books and turned to the shelf. She probably wouldn’t appreciate me telling her that her ass looked super peachy in those leggings.

“I might have seen your home run. Or maybe it was Jupiter Reeves’s. Man, the way he runs those bases…Ooof, he is hawt .”

Ooof. What the fuck was ooof ?

If she was trying to wind me up, it worked like a dream. My blood hit boiling point in under a second.

“Millie. I don’t mind if you’re not ready to admit you’ve fallen in love with me, but I’m telling you now, if you mention Reeves, or another guy being hot , I am going to lose my shit. Got it?”

The way she bit down on her smile, teeth sinking into her full, plump lower lip, barely shifted the black cloud that had enveloped me at the mention of Jupiter’s name.

“Okay. I got it.” The teeth sunk a little deeper. “As long as you understand not everyone falls in love with you. As hard as you find it to believe.”

“I don’t care about everyone. I care about you , but it’s okay, I’m a patient guy.”

“Gee, thanks.” She picked up another pile of books.

“How’s our little baby lime doing?” I asked, moving away from the subject of Jupiter Reeves as quickly as I could.

“Good. Taken down both pints of ice cream plus a third.”

“Three pints? She takes after her dad.” I paused, realizing what had slipped out. Millie’s eyes widened.

I’d never thought of the baby’s sex before, that I could have a daughter.

From the look on her face, neither had Millie.

It was possible I’d stunned her into silence, and to be honest, I didn’t know what there was to say.

Or if I should talk about the baby’s sex.

Waiting for the elevator probably wasn’t the best place to have that discussion.

Before Millie could add her thoughts, I continued, “And what’s your verdict, chocolate or marionberry?”

She paused, the pale pink gloss on her nails caught the light as she pushed her hair away from her face. “Mix the two together and you have yourself a winner.”

I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. “See, you love me.”

I think she let out a little growl, but the elevator doors pinged open, so I might have been mistaken.

“You ready for the ultrasound tomorrow?”

“Yes, are you?”

“Can’t fucking wait. We’ll get to see our baby, Mills,” I whispered as a smile broke across her face, rendering me speechless.

“I need to go, Radley’s calling me.”

“Okay.” I smiled back. “Hey, Mills, our game’s on ESPN tonight, in case you wanna ‘catch’ me again.”

“Hey, Tan , I’ll see you in the morning.”

She cut the call and the screen went black before my laugh could sound out. Even so, I made sure I hit a home run just in case she was walking past the TV.

*Eye roll*