Page 126 of Stand Your Ground

“So, Livia…” Chloe said next, about as subtle as a train horn. “You and Carter, huh?”

I sipped my water with a sly grin. “Do I win the prize for most shocking development of the group this year?”

“I definitely hold last year’s title,” Mia said, and no one argued.

“I mean, look,” Grace said, holding out her hands. “We all knew he was obsessed with you. But I’ll admit, I’m surprised to see it reciprocated.”

I smiled wider then, warmth blooming in my chest. “If you knew Carter like I do, you’d be obsessed, too,” I said simply.

That earned a chorus of softawwsand cheeky smirks.

“He really is a sweetheart,” Maven said. “He always has been. I remember when I was assigned to follow Vince around and how… awkward it all felt at first. Carter was the first to crack a joke and make me feel comfortable.”

“He does always bring the best energy to the function,” Grace added, tilting her head side to side. “No matter what the function is.”

“And he’s worked so hard to be where he is now. He would literally call Will and ask him for advice after games when he was playing in the AHL,” Chloe said.

“I didn’t know that,” Mia mused. “But Idoknow that while Aleks pretended Carter annoyed him earlier this season, he loves him. I think Carter is his favorite of the group.”

My chest swelled with pride as they talked about him, and I nodded. “He’s just… attentive in a way I didn’t know men could be. He’s always checking in on me, making sure I eat when I’m too busy at work, paying attention to the little things like my favorite cookie or the kind of jewelry I wear… and don’t even get me started on how patient he is. I’m a maddening woman,” I said on a laugh to no arguments. “But with him… I’ve never felt so cared for in my life.”

They all melted at that.

I paused, sipping my water. “Plus, his dick is huge, and he hasn’t said no to a single kinky thing I’ve suggested.”

Maven elbowed me as the rest of the girls dissolved into a fit of laughter.

“Well,” Grace said, raising her glass, “I just want to go on record that I called this ages ago. I swore I saw something between you two even at that charity golf tournament.”

Chloe leaned forward, eyes mischievous. “Okay, but does this mean you’re still freezing your eggs?”

I rolled my lips together, gaze falling to my hands that were wrapped around my cup of water. My eyes flitted to Maven, wholooked ready to burst, and I decided it was time. “Well,” I said. “Turns out… I won’t be needing to do that.”

Confusion flickered across their faces as I lifted that cup in my hands, drawing more attention to the fact that I wasn’t drinking. And then I watched the realization dawn slowly — each pair of eyes narrowing, lips parting, a little head tilt from Chloe. Maven was chewing her lip so hard I thought she’d draw blood, but she didn’t dare say a word. She already knew. She’d been the first I’d told.

“Oh my God,” Mia gasped.

“No way,” Chloe whispered, her hands flying up to cover her smile.

“Do not tell me you’re pregnant?!” Grace squealed, practically climbing over the table.

“Okay,” I said with a shrug. “I won’t tell you.”

I sipped my water with a smug wink, and then they all lost it.

The suite exploded into a fit of high-pitched screams.

They swarmed me with hugs, voices overlapping in a chorus ofno wayandholy shitandthis is going to be the cutest baby to ever live! Immediately after that, it was a gazillion questions aimed at how I was feeling and if I had anything figured out.

Mia, of course, brought back her designer baby shoes joke, declaring she already had a few bookmarked for when the shower invites went out. Grace kissed my cheek and promised she’d be here every step of the way, that this was even more reason for her to stay local for a while. Chloe looked like she might actually cry. And Ava, sweet Ava, started chanting “Baby Osprey”like it was a team cheer as soon as she ran up to find what all the commotion was about and Chloe broke the news.

Of course, she ran right back down to the seats once the chaos had settled.

It was impossible not to feel the overwhelming love in that moment, and my smile was impenetrable. But underneath that smile, a tangle of nerves still lived in my chest.

I was excited, yes — I felt that more than anything, especially since Carter hadn’t even blinked when I’d told him. He’d just pulled me into his arms and said we’d figure it out together, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And since then, he’d been all in.

The fear that had kept me up at night had faded more and more with every grocery run he made for ginger ale and crackers, every podcast he queued up, every kiss he laid against my temple, every time he said he couldn’t wait to meet our baby.