Page 71 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

TWO YEARS LATER

R eed’s mom, Molly, fawns over the new piece of jewelry adorning my finger, and I smile with pride. I never would have guessed that when I met the NFL’s golden boy almost four years ago that I’d be standing here today, engaged and planning a ridiculously over-the-top wedding.

“He did good,” she says with a quiver in her voice. “I’m so happy you’re joining the family.”

“Hey now,” Reed interjects as he walks into the kitchen where his mom and I are baking, something we started doing together to bond. “Hayls has been a part of the family for a long time.”

After my grand speech in the hospital room all those years ago, Molly told Reed instantly that he’d made the right decision, but it took some time for her to actually forgive me for shattering her heart when it was already so close to breaking.

And I completely understood her feelings.

My timing could have been better, but I will never regret what I said. It was the push she needed to finally look into therapy, and after a few months, she took the biggest step of her life, distancing herself from Reed’s asshole brother.

The subsequent weight that lifted from Reed’s shoulders is something I will always cherish.

He’s still my golden boy, and he’s still the first to take on other people's problems and offer to help. But he’s significantly lighter and more open to sharing the load than ever before.

He’s even spoken to Bria about it. The two of them will never share a friendship like they once did, but we catch up occasionally. I say “we” because Reed always drags me along, even though I trust him completely.

Reed’s mom pouts, brushing him off. “I know that, Reed . But I’m excited the two of you are making it official.”

“Me too. And I’m excited to go dress shopping. Will you come with me?”

Reed shakes his head violently and raises his hands in the air. “Been there, done that. I’m out.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, jackass.” I grab his hands and pull him into me. “You’re not allowed to see the dress until the day.”

“Is that so?” He curls his arm around my waist and smirks. “I never took you for one to follow traditions.”

“Reedy boy, I’m always going to keep you guessing.”

“That you are.” He presses a kiss to my head before a sniff silences our teasing, both of us spinning to find Reed’s mom in tears.

“Shit, Mom. What happened?”

“You want me to go dress shopping with you?” she asks and a smile tugs at my lips, my heart jolting.

“Of course I do. I’m going to need your help with everything . If you want to.”

“What about your mom?”

“My mum? My parents are flying over for the wedding, but not before. They said they’d take the opportunity to travel around the US after our nuptials. And yep, that’s exactly how she said it. Nuptials.” I shake my head but continue. “My dad can only take so much time off work.”

Reed frowns but I wave off his concern. For a while I was sad to be missing out on time with my parents, but now I have Reed, and soon, we’ll have our own family.

“So what do you say, Mom?” I try really hard to say Mom instead of Mum, and while Reed chuckles when I butcher the simple pronunciation, his mom cries.

“Yes, Hayley. You just made me the happiest mother on earth. I’d love to. I’d bloody love it.”

I burst out laughing as Reed’s chuckle turns to a groan. “Not you too, Mom?”

“Yes!” I fist pump in happiness. “I’ll turn you all into Aussies before I’m through.”

“You’ll never get Dad.” Reed folds his arms over his chest and raises his brows in defiance.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yep.”

Reed’s dad chooses that moment to walk past the kitchen and I call out. “Don, what are you making for dinner tonight?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“I’m cooking a barbie, Hayls. You know that.”

“Right. I forgot. Thank you.”

He keeps walking and I turn back to Reed, punctuating my words with a satisfied smirk. “You were saying?”

“Motherfuck—”

“Reed!” Molly scolds and I burst out laughing again.

“Sorry, Mom, but this entire family’s gone mad.”

“Mad for your girl?” I challenge and he finally smiles.

“I guess that’s not such a bad thing. She is pretty spectacular.” He curls his arm around my shoulder this time and pulls me flush against him, capturing my lips in a kiss.

“And that’s my cue to leave,” his mom announces from behind us, making me smile against his mouth.

I always wanted a more traditional family, and now that I’ve got one, I couldn’t be happier.

The second the room falls quiet, signaling Molly’s departure, Reed breaks the kiss and grabs my face in his hands, his eyes boring into mine. “What do you say we head home right after dinner? It’s time for us to celebrate. Alone.”

I roll my eyes as his brows bounce in anticipation. “You proposed last week, Reed. We’ve been celebrating every night. Sometimes more than once.”

“Yes, but now we’re celebrating that you made my mom cry.”

“Reed! What an awful thing to celebrate.”

“Not when you know that it’s the happiest anyone’s ever made her.” He smiles while I laugh.

“And you want to celebrate that by fucking like rabbits?”

“What?” His face drops. “Fuck. Not when you put it that way. I’ve changed my mind. No sex for you.”

“We’ll see.” I waggle my eyebrows just like he did and sashay out of the room, giggling when he groans behind me.

D espite joking about it, my stomach throws our sex plans out the window when I feel nauseous during dinner. Don went out of his way to put on some of my Aussie BBQ favorites, and even the smell made me ill.

Reed flashes me a concerned look as we drive home, but I ignore him until a thought hits me and I freeze. We shouldn’t even be able to have sex this weekend. I should have my period. “Stop the car!” I yell, and without looking behind him, Reed slams on his brakes.

“What happened?” he asks, finally checking for other cars before putting his truck into park.

“We need to go back to the twenty-four-hour pharmacy.”

“Shit.” He cringes in sympathy. “Is it that bad?”

“No. Well, yes. But it’s not that.”

“Not what?”

I bite my lip before grabbing his hand. “I think we should get a pregnancy test.”

Reed’s jaw drops.

“Is that a good jaw drop or a bad one?”

Without a response, he throws his truck into drive and U-turns right there in the narrow back street, heading to the closest strip mall. The one he knows will be open. “It’s a bloody good jaw drop, Hayls. I’m fucking stoked.”

I laugh at his Aussieism, before my hand falls to my stomach, praying I’m right now that I’ve seen Reed’s excitement.

M y eyes water as I read the pee-covered stick, the positive markings staring back at me. “Reed?” I glance up as the first tear cascades down his cheek, and the most beautiful smile lights up his face.

“We’re having a baby?” he asks, his voice full of wonder.

“We are.”

“We’re having a baby!” he yells as though announcing it to a room full of people before lifting me into his arms and spinning me around, wincing once he’s set me down. “Sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you or the baby.”

“I’m fine and I’m sure the baby is too. That’s gentle compared to the way you were pounding into—”

“Fuuuck.” He runs a hand down his face and I snort.

“This is going to be fun. I can assure you, that didn’t harm the baby.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” His relief-filled sigh makes me laugh louder until a panic takes over me.

“God, we have so much to do now. We’ve got a wedding to plan, and a baby on the way.

We’ll need to time it right so that I’m not huge for our big day.

I don’t mind showing, but I don’t want to be so uncomfortable I can’t enjoy myself.

We’ll also need to figure out which room works best for a nursery, and oh my God, I can’t be pregnant in my next movie. I’m playing—”

“Easy there.” Reed grabs my shoulder to still me, his expression warm. “I thought you weren’t a planner?”

“I’m not, but this feels like something we should plan for. Right?”

“Wrong.”

“Wrong?” My eyes widen in shock.

“Not right now anyway. We’ll figure out the wedding and the nursery in time, and as for your next movie…you’ve had success after success. Reckless Desire is still talked about to this day. They’ll make it work to keep you. Right now, we need to live in the moment.”

He walks out of our en suite and grabs his phone, pressing buttons until “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton comes on over our house speakers.

“Okay… What’s that about?”

He drops the phone on the bed and stalks my way, resting his elbow on the door frame as he takes me in, the pregnancy test still in my hand. “I’m living in the moment.”

“I don’t think now’s the time to listen—”

“Dance with me, Hayls.”

“What?”

Reed takes the stick from my hand and gently places it on the counter before curling his fingers through mine, walking me through the house, only stopping when we reach the living room.

“So now you want to dance?” I ask, faking a pout. “How many times have I asked you?”

Without answering, Reed rolls his eyes and bites back a grin, pulling me into him, securing his free hand on my waist.

“What—”

He spins me around, forcing me to dance while I protest.

“Reed, we need to talk. We—”

“Shh.” He presses a finger to my lips, his smiling eyes meeting mine. And I’ve got to admit, it’s infectious.

My heart pounds as I think, but when the next words leave his mouth, I laugh, finally giving in.

“Shut up and dance with me, Hayls,” he says, twirling me under his arm. “I love you, and I love our growing baby, but right now, it’s time to shut up and dance.”

Thank you for reading Reckless Storm. I hope you enjoyed Reed and Hayley's story.