Page 50 of Just One: Box Set

Chapter Thirteen

C alli watched the girls dart across the field with determination.

Her heart swelled with pride as she saw them edging closer to victory.

They had made it to the finals, and she wanted nothing more than to witness them winning the championship.

Off to the side, her eyes landed on Phillip, who had been an integral part of the team’s success over the past two years.

He stood on the sidelines, holding his two-year-old son, while his arm was wrapped protectively around his wife—Andre’s sister—who was grinning knowingly at Calli.

Phillip’s hand rested on his wife’s growing belly, covering their unborn daughter.

The sight made Calli instinctively press her palms to her own bump—more like a small mountain as far as she was concerned.

Her due date had passed two days ago, but she was too stubborn to miss this.

She had insisted on being there, even though Phillip had graciously stepped in as coach for the team in her absence.

“You feeling okay, baby?” Andre’s voice was warm as he slid his arms around her from behind, his large hands resting on her belly. “And my boy? Is he giving you any trouble?”

Calli leaned back against his chest, laughing softly. “We’re fine, Andre.”

“I’ll keep asking,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Gotta take care of my wife.”

Wife. The word sent a familiar warmth through her. No matter how many times she heard it, it never got old. After their rocky start, they had eloped six months into dating. She couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering how Shelly had installed that damned dating app on her phone.

“Can you believe it took a dating app to bring us together?” she asked, amusement in her tone.

Andre kissed the side of her neck. “I knew you’d be mine from the moment we met in Vegas, Calli. The app just gave fate a nudge.”

“How’s my nephew doing in there?” Liam suddenly appeared beside them, his hand pressing against Calli’s belly. “He’s gotta hurry up. I want to meet him.”

Calli smiled, her relationship with Liam having shifted over time.

After some honest conversations, they’d moved past their history and formed a friendship.

She had realized they weren’t meant to be, and she had let go of any lingering resentment.

Liam, to her relief, had found his own match—a woman who’d knocked him off his feet in more ways than one.

“He’ll come when he’s ready. Where’s Holly? ” Calli asked, looking around.

“Running late, as usual,” Liam said with a grin.

Holly and Liam had met at the scene of a building fire. She was with the police department, handling crowd control, and they had literally run into each other. Calli knew all too well how meeting the right person could change everything in an instant.

“Excited for next weekend?” Andre asked, giving Liam a knowing smile.

“I’ll be more excited once your wife pops out that baby. I need you two there when I propose to Holly,” Liam replied, glancing down at Calli with a wink.

Before she could respond, a sharp pain ripped through her, making her suck in a deep breath. She winced, squeezing her eyes shut.

“You okay, Calli-girl?” Liam’s brow furrowed with concern.

“Fuck,” Calli groaned, clutching her stomach. “Liam, I think you’re going to get your wish sooner than you thought. Andre—baby, my water just broke.”

Liam’s eyes lit up as he fist-pumped the air. “Hell yes! I’ll go tell the others!”

Andre quickly turned her around, guiding her toward the parking lot. His voice softened, filled with concern. “Calli, honey. Did you lie to me this morning?”

“Maybe,” she admitted, stopping as a contraction hit her hard. “My back was hurting, but I wanted to be here.”

“Mrs. Cross!” Katherine, one of her star players, jogged up to them, breathless. “Hottie told me you’re in labor!”

Calli couldn’t help but laugh despite the pain.

Katherine’s nickname for Liam still amused her.

After the house fire where Liam had saved her, Katherine had turned her life around and was on track to be drafted straight out of high school.

“Yeah, looks like I am. Go get it all on video for me, will you? And tell the team I’m proud of them. Oh, and help Phillip out.”

As Calli eased into the seat with Andre’s help, she spotted Liam running toward a police car pulling into the parking lot. He slipped inside, immediately pulling Holly into a heated kiss.

“They’ll meet us there,” Andre said, sliding into the driver’s seat beside her.

Calli gripped his hand, her focus on the warmth of his touch. She had never imagined in a million years that a silly dating app like I-Hope would lead her to the man sitting next to her now. In a world where dating could often feel like navigating a minefield, she had found her happiness.

“I love you, Andre,” she whispered, squeezing his hand as another contraction gripped her. “Let’s go meet our son.”

“I love you too, Calli,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Let’s go.”

Alli breathed deeply, trying to center herself as another wave of pain coursed through her body. Each contraction was sharper now, tightening her muscles and making her grip on Andre’s hand stronger. He glanced at her between shifting gears, his brow furrowed with concern.

“We’re almost there, baby,” he reassured her, his voice steady though she could sense the underlying tension. Andre was trying to stay calm, but she knew her pain affected him as much as it affected her.

“I know,” Calli gasped, focusing on the sound of his voice. It anchored her, even as her body prepared for what came next. “I just need… to breathe.”

Andre smiled, though his eyes remained serious. “We’ll be at the hospital before you know it. You’re doing great.”

Calli leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to mentally prepare for what lay ahead.

She had been ready for this for months, but now that it was happening, reality hit her hard and fast. They were about to meet their son— their son.

The thought filled her with excitement, but also a tinge of nervousness.

“I’m so glad you’re here with me,” she said, opening her eyes to find him watching the road but holding her hand tighter. “I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.”

“Where else would I be?” Andre said, his lips curving into a soft smile. “You’re everything to me, Calli. I’m going to be right here, every step of the way.”

The sincerity in his words warmed her even more than the heat blasting from the vents.

They had come so far since their chaotic, whirlwind romance had begun.

Sometimes it still felt surreal, like waking up in the life she had always dreamed of.

Andre had become her rock, the man she could count on for everything—even in the middle of life’s messiest, most unexpected moments.

As they pulled into the hospital parking lot, Calli’s breath hitched again, another contraction crashing through her like a wave.

"Fuck,” she breathed, her hand squeezing his again.

Andre jumped out of the truck and rushed to her side, helping her out with gentle but firm hands. “Easy, baby. I’ve got you,” he whispered, sliding an arm around her waist for support. His presence was calming, even as her nerves kicked into overdrive.

The moment they stepped into the bright hospital lobby, a nurse spotted them and rushed over. “Let’s get you to Labor and Delivery,” she said kindly, signaling for a wheelchair.

“No,” Calli said, shaking her head. “I want to walk.”

Andre shot her a look of concern but didn’t argue. He understood her need to stay strong, to be in control of her own body and her own choices.

With each step they took down the hall, Calli became more aware of how quickly things were progressing.

By the time they reached the delivery room, her contractions were coming faster, harder.

Nurses bustled around them, getting her settled on the bed, attaching monitors, and taking her vitals, but all she could focus on was Andre’s hand gripping hers.

“You’re doing amazing, babe,” he said, leaning close to kiss her forehead as she breathed through the pain. His voice was a balm, his presence the only thing keeping her grounded as everything else started to blur.

“I… I can’t believe it’s happening already,” Calli panted, her face twisted in concentration as the next wave of pain hit her. “He’s really coming.”

Andre’s face softened, his eyes shimmering with emotion. “He’s coming, baby. And he’s going to be perfect—just like his mom.”

The doctor entered, checking her progression. “Looks like we’re not too far off. Won’t be long now, Calli.”

She tried to nod, but the pain was becoming overwhelming, and the reality of labor was taking its toll.

She could barely catch her breath, her body working through each contraction like it had a mind of its own.

And through it all, Andre stayed by her side, whispering words of encouragement, his hand never leaving hers.

When the next contraction hit, her grip on his hand tightened, and she cried out. Tears of pain welled in her eyes but also tears of anticipation.

“I can’t do this,” Calli sobbed, suddenly overwhelmed.

“Yes, you can,” Andre said firmly, his forehead pressing against hers as he spoke. “You are the strongest woman I know. You’ve got this, Calli. We’ve got this.”

Hearing him say her full name in that tender, protective way sent warmth through her chest, even as her body protested. She nodded, taking a deep breath, trusting him, trusting herself.

The hours passed in a haze of pain and pushing.

At some point, Holly arrived, with Liam at her side, both of them offering support, their excited faces a comfort.

They didn’t stay long, knowing it was a private moment for Calli and Andre, but their presence was felt, their love adding to the energy in the room.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor’s voice broke through the fog. “One more push, Calli. You’re almost there.”

Andre squeezed her hand, his voice full of awe. “He’s coming, baby. Our son’s almost here.”

With every ounce of strength she had left, Calli pushed, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the final release. And then, the sound of a newborn’s first cry filled the room.

Her heart swelled, tears spilling down her cheeks as she collapsed back onto the bed, panting, utterly exhausted but filled with more joy than she could ever describe.

“He’s here,” Andre whispered, his own eyes damp as he looked down at their son being placed on her chest. “Calli, he’s perfect.”

Calli gazed down at their baby, her heart bursting. The tiny boy nestled against her skin, his cries softening as he found comfort in her warmth. She glanced up at Andre, and the love in his eyes reflected everything she felt in that moment.

“We did it,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Andre kissed her forehead, his voice thick. “You did it, baby. You’re incredible. I love you so much.”

Calli smiled through her tears, her heart full. “I love you too, Andre. More than you’ll ever know.”

Their son, still nestled against her, let out a soft coo, and Calli knew—this was everything she had ever dreamed of. A future with the man she loved, and now, their beautiful baby boy.