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CHAPTER FORTY

SWIFT KICK

POPPY

I tug Bowie’s oversized jersey over my head, the fabric comforting as it drapes over my fully popped belly. Once I crossed the seventh-month mark, baby boy fully took over my body. Bowie’s number—23—stretches across my midsection, but I don’t mind. I like my pregnant body. It probably helps that Bowie is obsessed with it too. I swear sometimes he sets up a little shrine there and worships. I am oiled up, lotioned up, and loved up at all times.

I like the visible reminder that we’re connected. Me, Bowie, Becca, and our very own champ punter.

Speaking of, the little guy gives me a swift kick and I’m back in the bathroom one more time before I head to Elle’s to ride with the girls to the stadium.

Tru and I commiserate in the backseat. She’s about to pop. Due any day. In fact, Henley tried to talk her out of coming tonight, but she didn’t want to miss out. He was only appeased if Chelle, the wife of one of the defensive tackles who’s also a nurse, would be nearby. Fortunately, Chelle’s great and she happily agreed to hang out with us in a suite tonight.

When we arrive at the stadium, the energy is electric. The crowd is already roaring, and the smell of popcorn and hot dogs drifts through the air despite our spread of chicken wings and fruit trays. Becca is next to me eating a pretzel when she yelps, pointing at the big screen.

“Look, Poppy! We on TV!” she says as the camera pans over us, showing us both proudly wearing Bowie’s jerseys.

Tru has the audio cranked so she can hear Henley commentating while we watch the game, and when the camera focuses on me alone, Henley’s playful drawl makes me snort.

“And here we go, ladies and gentlemen, Bowie Fox’s number one fan is cheering him on tonight. No wonder Bowie’s in fine form, looking like a lumberjack ready to tackle a grizzly.”

Daniel, another commentator, chimes in dryly. “I’d pay good money to see that—Fox versus a grizzly.”

Melanie, the third voice, laughs. “I’m just glad his hair is growing back. You don’t think he’ll buzz it again, do you? I like to think he plays better with it longer…but maybe that’s just me. ”

“Oh, I don’t think it’s just you,” Henley says, laughing. “I was worried we’d have to call him Cueball Fox all season. Now that it’s coming in again, we can all breathe easier…that was too much shine under the stadium lights.”

The girls and I crack up.

Henley snaps back to the play. “And he’s a powerhouse tonight,” he says, his voice rising in excitement. “Knocking that running back into next week and forcing a fourth down.”

When Bowie runs back to the sidelines, he looks up and I can tell, even from a distance, he’s looking for me. My heart swells. I hold my fist up high and when he spots me, he does the same.

“Flattened him like a pancake,” Melanie says. “Someone pass the syrup.”

I’m still laughing when the Mustangs’ offense takes the field again and makes a touchdown on the first play.

The Mustangs dominate and when they win, the sound is deafening. Becca and I cheer our heads off.

When we get home, the house is warm and quiet. I go through the bedtime routine with Becca and by the time Bowie is home, the lights are low. Bowie finds me in the kitchen, and his arms slide around me from behind.

“You’re stunning,” he murmurs, kissing my neck. “Seeing you in my jersey…I think it gave me superhuman strength.”

“Is that right?” I tease, turning in his arms. “Feels like that superhuman strength is still pulsing through you.” I grin when he bends his knees to slide his hardness over my core. “Ahh, proof that I’m right.” I slide out from his grasp and throw out over my shoulder, “Race you upstairs.”

He lets out a playful growl, easily catching me. “Should we leave this on or strip you bare?” His grabby hands are all over me, and I laugh as I turn and face him, walking backwards .

“How about both? You should know by now that I’m up for it.”

“My greedy little fiancée,” he says, smirking. “You should know by now that I’m up for it too.” He strokes his long, thick length slowly and deliberately, and my mouth waters.

I hustle to our bedroom and we prove that, by now, we know each other very well.

“You’re insatiable and I fucking love it,” Bowie says, driving into me as deep as he can go.

The first time was on the bathroom counter. He set me up there and I leaned my head against the mirror, tilted back enough to give him easy access. This time, his chest is draped over my back as he takes me from behind in the shower. I’ve already had three orgasms tonight.

He’s right, I am insatiable. I want him all the time.

He thinks it’s pregnancy and I think it’s him. We have to work around my basketball belly a little bit, but it’s not been a problem. AT ALL.

The next morning, both our phones are lit with notifications. I look at my text messages as Bowie looks at his, and I gasp.

“Tru and Henley had a girl!” I cry. “Avery Claire Ward. I love that.”

Tru

Don’t tell Henley, but he was right…the excitement of the game DID send me into labor! Okay, okay, the sex afterward probably also contributed. Sorry, TMI. Avery Claire was born at 3 this morning and she’s healthy and the absolute sweetest thing. I’m so in love.

A picture of the little angel is attached and she’s gorgeous. Dark hair and full lips, she is a dream.

Sadie

Oh my God, I can’t believe it. She’s finally here! She is gorgeous. I’m so happy for you guys and cannot WAIT to meet her!

Elle

Such a beautiful name, such a beautiful baby. I’m not crying. How are you, Mama?

Calista

Way to go out with a bang. She’s stunning, Tru.

I shoot off a text next.

She is a dream. Just perfection. I’m so excited to meet her!!

Bowie’s chuckling next to me and I show him my text thread. He grins and shows me his.

Henley

Welp, I’ve got another little girl to dote on! She has already wrapped her tiny fingers around my heart. Meet your newest Ward, Avery Claire.

The picture is similar to the one Tru sent, but in this one it looks like she’s smirking. I smile at the phone.

Rhodes

Holy shit, she’s perfect.

Weston

I’m so happy for you guys! Say the word and we’re there.

Henley

She really is perfect. I’ll let you know when we get home. I’m going to force my girl to sleep as long as we’re in the hospital. She’s my hero. You’d never know she just had a baby. She’s too busy staring at our girl to rest.

I hand it back to Bowie and he types something, a smile playing on his lips.

I get up and go to the bathroom and as I’m brushing my teeth, Bowie comes in and starts brushing his. When we’re done, he slides his arms around my waist, looking at me in the mirror.

“I’m so happy for them,” I say. “I can’t believe our baby will be here before we know it.”

He nuzzles my neck. His hair is not quite to his chin yet, but it’s wavy and flopping in his eyes and tickling my skin. It’s going in every direction from me tugging on it last night.

“I can’t wait to meet him.” He leans his chin on my head. “Should we talk about a date for the wedding? I haven’t wanted to rush you, but—” He grins at me.

It still makes my heart stutter that he’s so quick with his smiles these days.

“I haven’t wanted to rush you ,” I admit.

“Today then?” he says, and I laugh.

I point at my stomach. “I’m a house.”

“You are not. I’m going to miss this little basketball belly,” he says, rubbing my belly.

We laugh when my stomach rolls under his hands.

“Maybe once your season is over?” I stare at his hands in the mirror, getting lost in thought.

“Where’d you go?” he teases.

“Oh,” I grin, leaning my head back against his chest. “I was imagining us getting married on a beach somewhere tropical.”

“Is that your dream wedding? On a beach?”

I sigh. “It sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

“Well, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”

My eyebrows lift. “I…we don’t have to do that. I was just?—”

“I want you to just...” He teases. “It should be exactly what you want.”

“What do you want?”

“I want you to be my wife. The sooner, the better.”

I turn and lace my fingers around his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he says, leaning in to kiss my temple. “So we’ll get married after the baby comes?” His lips poke out in a slight pout.

I laugh. “I mean, it’d be nice to be married before, but that’s so soon.”

“Yeah, and you can’t fly anywhere now anyway…”

I grin. “You’d really want to marry me right away?”

He makes a face. “Are you really in doubt?”

I laugh. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen…”

He tickles my side and I jerk out of the way, cracking up. He chases me out of the bathroom and when the backs of my knees hit the bed, he wraps his arms around me, hands landing on my backside.

“You make me fall deeper every single day,” he says.