Page 21 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter eighteen

Lacey

I 'm a shaking ball of nerves as I walk from Ben's truck to my appointment. He insisted on driving, and honestly, I'm grateful. I'm too jumpy, too nervous, too anxious. Scott's standing next to the door, waiting for us.

I look around for Jonesy, a stupid sort of hope in my heart.

But I don't see him. My heart sinks, but I roll my shoulders back.

I meant every word I said to Scott yesterday.

I won't be with someone who had to be bullied into it.

If he had, I'd never know if he was truly there for me, or from guilt.

My hand rests over my belly. This child will only ever be loved.

"Over there," Ben says, nodding his head towards a hot red sports car. In the driver's seat, a stone-still Jonesy sits, gripping the steering wheel with both hands and staring straight at the wall. I pause. He's still deciding. If he'd chosen us, he'd be standing next to Scott.

I hold my head up with pride and walk to the front door.

"That's my girl," Ben whispers behind me.

Scott steps forward, resting his hand on my hip.

He dips down and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

I'm shocked at the overt display of affection, but he did it to comfort me, and reassure me, and it helps.

I may not have Jonesy, but I do have two men who are ready to figure this whole situation out with me.

And I'm grateful I'm not completely alone.

My knee bounces as we sit, waiting for my name to be called. Ben rests his hand on my knee, the warmth of his touch grounding me.

"Bennett? "

I jump to my feet while Scott and Ben move at a more normal rate. I wipe my sweaty hands on my pants before I follow the nurse back into the exam room.

"We'll have you remove your pants and underwear and lay this cloth over you, and the doctor will be right with you."

I force a smile and nod before she shuts the door behind her. I look at the two large hockey men standing in the small room with me, suddenly feeling very nervous.

"Can... can you two turn around?"

The lines crinkle at the sides of Scott's eyes. He steps into my space, and I swallow. "Sweetheart, we've both seen you naked. We've both been inside of you. I think it's too late now for modesty."

I swallow again. "Please, I need a moment," I whisper, my voice trembling. I just can’t handle being this vulnerable, even with them, not right now.

I get undressed and sit on the exam table, paper cloth covering my lower half.

A knock on the door has me hopeful Jonesy finally came in. But a beautiful, tall black woman with an easy smile steps in.

"Alright, Lacey. I'm Dr. Marley. So, I hear you think you might be pregnant?"

I nod nervously, and explain that I'm two weeks late.

She goes into a lot of easy, small talk to try to comfort me as a patient, before she has me lie back and put my feet in the stirrups for the exam.

"Since you may be pretty early on in the pregnancy, we're going to go ahead and do a transvaginal ultrasound.

" I nod nervously as I watch her wheel the machine and wand closer to the table.

Ben reaches for my hand at the same time Scott moves behind the bed and starts to massage my tense shoulders.

That's when I realize my shoulders are almost at my ears.

Just as she's inserting the wand into my vagina, the door bursts open. Jonesy stumbles in, clearly distressed. A nurse shouts from somewhere behind him. "Did I miss anything?"

Ever cool, Dr. Marley asks, "A friend of yours?"

I nod and blink as I feel a hot tear slide out from my pinched eyelids. My lower lip trembles and I bite it. I reach a hand out for Garrett, grateful he's here.

He steps forward and takes it without question, coming to stand beside me. Garrett’s hand is clammy in mine, his grip too tight, but I don’t care. He’s here, and that’s enough.

"About fucking time," Scott growls from above me.

Dr. Marley moves the wand around inside of me, making me slightly uncomfortable. Finally, she sees something that makes her satisfied.

"Well, Lacey, I can confirm you are, in fact, pregnant. I'd guess seven or eight weeks along." She frowns, though, and moves the wand.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

Her furrowed brow softens. "I assume someone here is a twin?"

I nod. "I am."

"Well, Lacey, congratulations. You're pregnant with twins."

"What!?" I shout, practically leaping off the table. Scott grabs me by the shoulders and gently pushes me back down.

She hits a few buttons on the keyboard and the ultrasound images start printing out .

Her brow furrows a bit as if she's carefully selecting words. "Am I correct in assuming there may be multiple fathers?"

I nod. "Based on your history, we could be looking at identical or fraternal twins." And then it dawns on me. It's even more complicated than I thought. Two of the men here could be the father, while the third might not be.

"Will we be doing any genetic testing to find out who the father is?"

"No." Ben and Scott say at the same time.

"What?!" I repeat, spinning around to try to see Scott's face. He glares down at me with a stern expression.

"Biology doesn't matter. These babies are ours. Family isn't just DNA."

Dr. Marley removes the wand and wipes it off.

"Well, it sounds like something you all need to discuss. But before I leave you, do you want to hear your babies' heartbeats?"

I return my attention to her and nod.

She pulls out a device and presses it against my flat belly.

She flicks a button and suddenly two heartbeats play out loud.

I burst into ugly sobs. Besides the fatigue and nausea, I haven't felt pregnant.

It hadn't seemed real. But hearing the strong, fast heartbeats of the two little people inside of me suddenly makes it very, very real. I'm pregnant. With twins.

I look at the three men surrounding me. Ben's looking at me with the same love and adoration we had as kids, but there's a level of awe to it, too. I know he's happy. I tilt my head to find an upside down Scott. His grip on my shoulders tightens, and he gives me a look of pure heat and possession.

I look to Jonesy, who sways a little, his eyes glazing over .

"Oh!" I shout. He's going to pass out. Dr. Marley moves fast, sliding her stool under Jonesy just as his knees buckle. He collapses his elbows to his knees and hangs his head between his hands.

Scott slaps him hard on the back. "It's all going to be alright, man." He says with a chuckle.

They give me my privacy as I get dressed again and we all file silently back into the waiting room, where I schedule my next appointment.

We're all a little dazed and in our own heads.

When we step outside, I turn to look at them all.

"I think we need to talk."