Page 97 of Pinch

We both laugh softly, but at that moment, baby seems to understand the assignment. Its little body moves, and the tiny legs part.

“I think we have our answer.” Dr. Barry’s eyebrow arches, and she looks at us.

I look at Haddy, and her eyes are filled with tears. She reaches for my neck, and I lean forward to kiss her firmly on the mouth.

I’ve never wanted to tell everybody something so bad in my life.

Music plays in the kitchen,and Maverick is singing some country song while he works on dinner. I’ve been watching the ultrasound of our baby on my phone since our visit with Dr. Barry.

I can’t keep a smile off my face, and I’m already planning all the fun stuff we’re going to do. I wonder if I’m glowing. Do expectant dads glow?

The books only talk about gaining “sympathy weight,” but with all the skating and weight training and nonstopgames, I can’t imagine how much I’d have to eat for that to happen.

Gigi bustles through the door with Spanky on his leash. Her brows furrow when she sees me sitting on the couch.

“Is Haddy working late again?” Spanky jumps all around and she leans down to unhook him. “She usually comes home early when y’all don’t have games.”

“Yeah.” Standing, I put my phone on the coffee table. “She texted that she has a video chat with Daniel and their faculty advisers. They’re examining the composition of the air… Or the density of the particulates or somethingorother…”

I stop before it sounds like I know what I’m talking about. Haddy told me exactly what they’re doing tonight, but it’s a lot of sciency jargon.

“I should probably let you read her text.”

Gigi waves at me, putting her jacket on the stand. “Don’t bother. I can probably infer what they’re doing from what you just said.”

“All I know is saving babies.” I grin, thinking of my girl being awesome. “She’s on her way now, though. I just checked our tracking app.”

“You are so cute!” Gigi skips over to give me a hug. “It’s a little stalkery that you track her location, but it’s also really swoony.”

“She shared her location with me.” I look at my phone feeling guilty. “I shared mine with her…”

“You two.” Gigi pokes my shoulder. “Where is she now? I’m starving.”

That makes me laugh. “So it’s okay for me to stalk your cousin if you’re hungry?”

“Definitely. I’d even go so far as to say it’s mandatory!”

Opening the app, I see she’s pulling into the driveway.I’m about to tell Gina when my best friend appears in the kitchen doorway glaring at me.

“Hey, Mav! What’s the ETA on… dinner…” My tone goes from upbeat to confused when I see his expression.

His jaws are clenched and his shoulders are bowed up. His brow is lowered, and he looks like a raging bull. I can almost see the smoke blasting from his nostrils.

I drop my phone as he storms across the room, headed right at me. Squaring my feet, I brace to stop him when he grabs the front of my shirt and slams me against the wall, forcing anooffrom my lungs.

“What the fuck?” I grab him by the shoulders, trying to shove him back, but he’s pushing into me with equal force.

“I told Haddy you were a good guy!” His fists are clenched, but I’m ready to block if he tries to punch me.

“Maverick!” Gigi’s voice is loud. “Stop this! What’s wrong with you?”

“This is wrong with me.” He lifts his phone, shoving it at my face.

Pulling my chin back, I release his arms so I can take it from his hand. There on the face in all caps, bold black text with a string of exclamation points reads,CHAMPIONS’ KNIGHT SCORES OFF THE ICE TOO!!!!

“What the fuck is this?” I frown, trying to understand what I did.

“It’s a picture of you leaving a birthing clinic in Pasadena,” he shouts. “The article says you’ve been going there every month, meeting some chick.”