Page 26 of The Unexpected Lineup (Lost in Translation #2)

MAYBE THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW IT’S MEANT TO BE

RASMUS

W e barely make it inside the cabin before I’m tugging off my gloves and heading for the firewood stack. I toss a few logs into the fireplace and strike a match. Flames catch quickly, filling the room with warmth, the sound of the crackling comforting after a long session on ice.

Haisley kicks off her boots at the door and pulls off her beanie, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold, nose red.

Still in her outerwear, she plops onto the couch with a groan, curling her legs beneath her. I follow, dropping beside her. Our thighs brush, and even through the layers, I swear I can feel her heat.

“This is the best part,” she murmurs, her voice relaxed as she sinks deeper into the cushions and closes her eyes. “Thawing out in front of the fire, feeling that tingling sensation when your cold skin starts to warm.”

Her voice is so soft, so content. I want to stay in this moment, bask in the ease of her presence .

“I didn’t realize I’d be competing with the fireplace for your attention,” I tease.

She smiles faintly, and for a moment, everything feels light again. But that peaceful bubble bursts when her phone buzzes from the pocket of her winter jacket, cutting through the silence.

She doesn’t move at first, her eyes still closed as if hoping it’ll stop on its own. But when the device buzzes again, she sighs and pulls it out of her pocket.

“It’s Hunter,” she says, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hey.”

Her voice shifts to a gentler, more alert tone. “I’m okay. Just got back from skating outside…Yeah, he’s here…No, you can’t talk to him.”

She shoots me a quick glance, listening. Whatever her brother is saying, it’s long-winded as always. But I can’t hear the exact words he says.

“No, I haven’t told them yet. I know, I said soon.” Her voice lowers. “I need to do it the right way, Hunt. Not over the phone.”

A pause, then a small laugh that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, I figured you noticed at the party. You always do. I’ll call you tomorrow when we’re back. Tell Mom and Dad I love them.”

She ends the call and sets the phone face down on the coffee table, her expression tight.

“Everything okay?” I ask, sensing the shift in the air.

She nods slowly. “Hunter figured it out the night of the party. He’s always been freakishly observant. ”

“Then I wasn’t imagining his side eye when we played against Seattle before the break.”

That makes her crack a smile. “That’s such a Hunter move! I told him to keep it quiet about the pregnancy, but of course, he had to show his true feelings. I still love how he keeps checking up on me with texts and calls.”

“And what did he want now?”

“He called because he’s with our parents and apparently they’ve noticed I’ve been avoiding their calls.”

“Have you?”

She nods, sheepish. “Dad’s been calling a lot since the party. I think he suspects something’s going on with my life.”

“He’s not wrong.” I hesitate before asking, “So when are you planning to tell them?”

“Soon. That night wasn’t right, even if Hunter found out. And I want everyone there when I do. It’s rare we’re all together during the season, and I don’t want to repeat the news or miss anyone.”

I’m trying to tread carefully, but it’s hard not to feel the pressure in my chest, the need for her to trust me. To trust us .

“I get that. But you’ve been putting it off, Haisley. I want you to feel good sharing this.”

“Don’t,” she warns gently, though there’s an edge to her voice. “They deserve to hear it right. Not during chaos or stress. I need them to really hear me. To understand.”

That’s when I see her vulnerability and how much she needs their approval and compassion. I reach for her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I can be there,” I offer. “If you want me to be.”

Her surprised eyes flick to mine. “That means a lot. Really. But I think I need to do it alone. At least the first part.”

“Okay.” I mask my disappointment. “But you’ll let me be part of the next part? Dinner at my loft, maybe?”

She smiles, reaching for my hand again. “Yeah. I’d like that.

I think they would too. Just give me a little time to get through the hard part first.” She looks down at our intertwined fingers, then back up at me, her gaze full of something unspoken.

“I don’t want to mess it up. It’s such an important moment and I want them to feel the same excitement I do.

But I have to be careful about how to approach the subject. ”

“Then take all the time you need.”

“How about your family?” she asks, her voice teasing, trying to lighten the mood. “When are you telling them?”

“Want to call them right now?”

“You sure I should join you? It seems like such a huge, important moment.”

“In case you’ve already forgotten,” I say, my voice steady, “you’re the mother of my baby. Of course I want you there when I share the biggest news of our lives.”

Her smile softens. “Now I feel awful for asking you not to join when I tell my family.”

“We both know it’s different with your dad being my GM.”

“Still. Maybe we should see them together after all. Let’s see how we feel once the time is closer. ”

“Up to you.” I reach for my phone. “Let me text Manu and see if they’re around. It’s the weekend, so he might have a game or other plans.”

My cousin and aunt look surprised when the FaceTime call connects, and they spot Haisley sitting next to me.

“Rasmus, mijo, who is this beauty?” Marisol exclaims in Spanish, leaning closer to the camera. Her smile is wide and mischievous. “Don’t tell me you finally have a girlfriend.”

Manu snorts. “That would be a miracle.”

Before I can answer, Haisley replies to them in our shared second language. “Hi, I’m Haisley. It’s really nice to meet you both.”

“And she speaks beautiful Spanish!” Marisol grins, impressed.

“I do,” Haisley says proudly. “My mother’s side of the family is from Barcelona and my stepmom is Colombian. I grew up speaking both English and Spanish.”

Marisol beams at the camera. “A bilingual beauty. Rasmus, you better lock this one down.”

I groan, feeling heat rise to my cheeks, while my cousin laughs next to his mom. “Tía…”

“Hush, let me talk to her,” she says, waving me off. “So, Haisley—what a pretty name—how did you meet my bullheaded nephew?”

“Well, we met at a Halloween party last year, but lost contact. Then he was traded to the team my family runs, and we were reunited. ”

“Wait, what’s your last name, Preciosa?”

“It’s Lavigne.”

“So, your father is the GM of the team, correct?”

Haisley only nods, pink returning to her cheeks.

“?Dios mío! Out of all the women in the world, you had to fix your eyes on her, mijo?” My aunt gives me a pointed look. “I sometimes can’t believe you and your ways.”

Manu howls with laughter in the background, slapping his knee like he just witnessed the punchline of a killer joke.

“Tía, come on ,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s not as if I planned it.”

“But you did plan to sleep with the boss’s daughter?” Marisol raises a perfectly plucked brow.

Haisley’s cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink, but she doesn’t look away. “In our defense, we didn’t know each other’s last names that night.”

Marisol gasps, acting scandalized while clearly loving every second. “And now?” Her tone turns serious. “Are you playing around with her, Rasmus?”

The question hits like a slap, even though I know she means well. She’s looking out for Haisley, which I’m grateful for. “No games. It’s serious. We actually have some big news to share.”

I glance at Haisley, and she gives me a small, reassuring smile that settles the nerves fluttering in my chest. Marisol studies us both and her face breaks into a beaming grin, not letting me finish.

“Bueno, then I suppose we can forgive the way you two met.

Especially if there's going to be a little sobrino or sobrina in the future. ”

Haisley freezes beside me as my aunt uses the Spanish terms for nephew and niece, and so do I.

“Tía,” I say slowly, “how did you—? I didn’t have a chance to tell you!”

She winks. “You’re not as subtle as you think, mijo. And I saw the way she touched her stomach just now. A mother knows.”

Haisley swallows, then smiles faintly. “It’s still early. We haven’t told many people yet.”

“Well, you’ve told the right people now,” Marisol says with fierce affection, her eyes shining with happiness. “Congratulations. I don’t even have words to describe how delighted I am to hear the blessed news. This baby is going to grow up with so much love around them.”

“And they’ll probably have a custom jersey or two by the time they’re born,” Manu jokes, still grinning. “Congrats, you two.”

“Thanks, primo.”

“Just promise me you’ll take care of each other. And bring her to Mexico soon. I want to meet this brilliant girl in person before she starts waddling,” Marisol adds.

“I’m not sure how I feel about being called a waddler,” Haisley says with a dry smile, but she’s clearly charmed.

“Get used to it, Preciosa. You’re family now. Speaking of which…”

Haisley laughs as Marisol starts rapid-firing questions next.

When is the baby due?

Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?

Are you moving in together ?

When do I get to meet you in person?

Haisley answers each question like she’s been part of the family for years.

No nerves, no awkwardness. Only ease and confidence.

Even through the small FaceTime screen, I can see how naturally she fits.

She’s curled up beside me on the couch, talking to my aunt and cousin like she’s known them forever.

It knocks the wind out of me in the best way.

After another question, Marisol presses a hand to her chest, her eyes misty again. “I’m so glad you’re now ours, Haisley. Whether you like it or not.”

“I think I like it,” she replies.

“She’s a keeper,” Manu comments, his grin aimed at me. “You better not screw this up, primo.”

“I’m working on being worthy of her.”

Haisley glances up at me like she wasn’t expecting that. I give her a soft smile, and she returns it without hesitation. The conversation continues with more questions.

We say our goodbyes a few minutes later, after promises to call again soon.

When the screen goes black, Haisley sets the phone down on the coffee table and leans back into the cushions with a soft exhale. “Your aunt is kind of a force of nature.”

“Yeah, she is. But I wouldn’t want her to change,” I chuckle, still grinning after the call. “She reminds me a lot of my abuela.”

She turns to look at me, her expression soft. “It’s clear that she loves you. A lot. Same with your cousin.”

“I’m lucky to have them both, even if we live thousands of miles apart. ”

“And now I’m lucky to also know them.”

“They adored you if you couldn’t tell.”

"I love that they included me and made me feel welcome, not just some random girl who appeared out of nowhere."

“You could never be that,” I reach over and gently link our fingers. “You’re someone who matters. To me, and now to them too.”

“It’s strange how quickly something can start to feel that safe,” she admits.

I press a kiss to the top of her head, not able to resist the urge. Her hair is soft against my lips. “Maybe that’s how you know it’s meant to be.”