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Chapter Twenty-Nine

Savannah

The ride home is suffocatingly quiet. I sit in the back seat with Jared holding Noah while Jamie is upfront chatting about…God knows what.

Troy hasn’t said a word since we left the hospital, and it’s starting to gnaw at me. His hands grip the steering wheel tighter with every turn.

When we pull up to the house, I almost stumble out of the car in my rush to get some air. Jared adjusts Noah in his arms, his expression unreadable.

“We need to figure this out,” he says, his voice calm but firm. “But first, Savannah needs to say what she wants to say. Because let’s face it, this is a lot.”

I take a deep breath, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. My chest tightens. “If the test was correct, and I’m…I’m pregnant, then…” My voice catches, but I push through. “Then it could be any of yours.”

Jamie’s head snaps toward me. “You want a paternity test?”

“Not unless you guys do,” I say quickly. “It’s not about that. I just…I need to be honest. And I know this is a lot—hell, it’s a shitload —but I need you to know I want this baby.”

The silence is deafening. Jared nods slightly, his jaw tense but not unkind. Jamie scratches the back of his head, looking like he’s about to crack a joke but thinks better of it. Troy? He doesn’t even look at me.

“Troy…” I whisper, my throat tight.

His head tilts up slightly, but his eyes stay fixed ahead. “We just got Noah. And the damn puppy. And we’re in the middle of the season, Sav.” His voice is low, rough, like he’s trying not to explode.

I take a step toward him, even though it feels like I’m walking into fire. “So…what do we do?”

Jamie clears his throat, breaking the tension. “How about we all sleep on it?” His voice is soft, almost gentle. “We’re all scared, and we’re all in shock. Let’s just…take the night to process.”

“Yeah,” Jared agrees, handing Noah to Jamie. “I’ll take the pup. You two figure yourselves out.”

I can barely nod before they head off, leaving me standing there like a ghost. My hand drifts to my stomach, and the reality of it hits me again like a tidal wave.

Up in my room, I stand by the window, cradling my stomach. “Are we really doing this?” I whisper to no one, the room swallowing my voice.

I love Noah. Taking care of him has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. But another baby? Alone?

If they don’t want this, can I really raise a baby on my own?

Troy’s words play on a loop in my head. The season. The puppy. The timing. He’s not wrong. And the truth is, all of them are so career-focused, so driven. A baby doesn’t fit neatly into their lives.

Tears prick my eyes, and before I know it, they’re spilling over, streaking my cheeks. I wipe them away quickly, but they keep coming. I sink onto the edge of the bed, my chest heaving.

A soft knock at the door startles me. I don’t have to look up to know it’s him.

“Sav,” Troy’s voice is rough, hesitant. He steps inside and closes the door behind him. His eyes are softer now, not hard like before. “I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, swiping at my tears. “It’s fine. You don’t have to…”

“I do.” He cuts me off, crossing the room in a few quick strides. He crouches in front of me, his hands gripping my knees. “I’m fucking scared, okay? I’ve never felt…I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. And now this?” He gestures vaguely, like the whole situation is too big to put into words. “It’s a lot. But that’s not on you. It’s on me.”

I sniffle, meeting his gaze. “I know it’s a lot, Troy. But I want this. I need this. And I can do this. With or without you.”

His hands tighten on my knees, his jaw clenching. “No. You’re not doing this without me. I want this too, Sav. I just…I needed a second to process.”

I nod, relief flooding me, but my voice shakes. “We’ll figure out the logistics tomorrow, okay? Right now, I just…I just need you.”

His eyes darken, and the tension between us shifts. It’s no longer heavy; it’s electric. His hands slide up to my thighs, his touch firm but gentle. “I’m here,” he murmurs.

“Show me,” I whisper, tugging him closer.

The next moments are a blur of heat and urgency. His lips crash against mine, and it’s messy, desperate, like we’re both trying to pour all our fear and hope and need into this one act.

My fingers fumble with his shirt, yanking it over his head. His hands slide under mine, lifting it off like it’s in his way. He presses me back onto the bed, his weight solid and grounding as his mouth moves to my neck.

“Troy,” I gasp, my hands clutching at his shoulders.

“I’ve got you,” he growls against my skin, his voice rough and full of promise. “I’ll always have you, Sav.”

And for the first time since the hospital, I believe him.

***

The smell of coffee and bagels hits me before I’m even fully awake. I shuffle into the kitchen, rubbing my eyes. Jared’s standing by the counter, unpacking a bag that’s clearly from the café down the street. Jamie’s already at the table, nursing a cup of coffee like it’s the only thing keeping him alive. Troy leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

“Morning,” Jared says without looking up, pulling out what looks like half the bakery. “Figured we could all use some breakfast to get a little break from…you know, the chaos.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, sliding into a chair. My stomach twists, not from nausea this time, but from everything hanging unsaid between us.

Jamie hands me a cup of tea. “Figured coffee might not be your thing this morning,” he says with a small smile.

“Thanks.”

We eat mostly in silence for the first few minutes, the quiet only broken by the occasional clink of silverware. Jared clears his throat, breaking the tension.

“Okay, so…I need to tell you something,” he starts, his voice low. “But this can’t leave this room. Like, seriously, it can’t. It could cost me my job.”

All eyes snap to him. Even Troy stops pretending to stare at the window.

“Shit,” Jamie mutters. “What is it?”

Jared hesitates, then leans forward. “The team is discussing selling some players.”

The words land like a punch to the gut. My fork freezes halfway to my mouth. Troy stiffens. Jamie’s eyes narrow.

“What the hell does that mean?” Troy asks, his voice sharp.

“It means,” Jared says slowly, “there’s a chance some of you could get traded to different teams. I don’t know who yet, and I probably won’t know until the end of the month. But it’s on the table.”

My heart sinks. “So, this Christmas, I might be having this baby alone?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. My hands tremble as I set down my fork. “What if you guys get traded to different corners of the country? What then?”

Jamie reaches over and grabs my hand, his grip firm and steady. “Sav, come on. We’d never let you deal with this alone. No matter where we are.”

Troy nods, but his jaw is tight. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s not panic yet.”

Jared leans back in his chair, his expression softening. “And for what it’s worth, I’ll be wherever the team is. Chicago is the home base. That doesn’t change.”

I nod slowly, but the knot in my chest doesn’t loosen. “You don’t get it,” I say quietly. “My dad was a sports agent. He was obsessed with work—gone all the time. My mom tried to make it work, but eventually, it was too much. She divorced him, and even after that, I barely saw him. He missed everything—birthdays, holidays, milestones.”

The words come tumbling out before I can stop them. I glance up, and they’re all staring at me.

“My mom…she passed away a while back,” I add, my voice cracking. “And I’ve wanted stability ever since. I’m not saying this to guilt-trip anyone. I just…I need you to know where I’m coming from.”

The room goes quiet again. Jamie clears his throat, sitting up straighter. “So…stability. Marriage, then?”

I blink at him. “What?”

He shrugs, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “I mean, I could marry you right now. Problem solved.”

Troy chokes on his coffee. Jared mutters something under his breath, shaking his head. But Jamie? He just keeps looking at me like he’s completely serious.

“Jamie,” I start, unsure how to even respond.

“I mean it,” he says, his tone soft but steady. “I care about you, Sav. We all do. This doesn’t have to be as complicated as we’re making it.”

Tears prick at my eyes again, but I force them back. “You guys…” I take a deep breath. “I know you care. I know we’re all scared and overwhelmed, but let’s just…let’s take it one step at a time, okay? We don’t have to figure out the next twenty years today.”

Jared nods, his voice calm. “She’s right. Let’s just focus on getting through this month. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Troy finally speaks, his voice softer than before. “You’re not alone in this, Sav. I know I’ve been…quiet. But I’m not going anywhere.”

They all nod, and before I know it, they’re wrapping me in a group hug, their warmth and strength surrounding me. For the first time in days, I feel a flicker of hope.

We’ll figure this out. Together.