Page 20

CHAPTER

TEN

EMMA

Telling my parents I was pregnant went about as well as I’d expected it would.

They both started crying, which made me cry.

They’re natural worriers, so I wasn’t shocked when they started asking questions.

Important ones. Namely about how I’ll be a mother and a student, an athlete, a young woman experiencing life in her twenties.

They’re nervous about my future and the impact that Archie’s career will have on all of this and how we’ll be able to raise a baby together.

Will he get drafted and move away? The travel that’s involved and how unavailable he’ll be.

I’m not as concerned about that part as maybe I should be.

Things with Archie have been relatively easy so far, and while we haven’t had any talks about what we’ll do, I do think we’ll be able to make some of these decisions together.

Technically, I have one more year of premed left, so there are not only considerations to be made about medical school, but also how I’ll finish my premed program and be a new mom.

Where the baby and I will live and how I’ll be able to support him or her are at the top of the list of worries.

Who will watch the baby while I’m going to school full-time and finishing out my last year on the golf team?

I know sacrifices will have to be made, but school and the team come first, especially since the latter is giving me my scholarship.

My parents have assured me that they will be supportive every step of the way.

I know they will, mostly because they worry and their love is unconditional.

I don’t want them to feel obligated to raise my baby.

I know I need their help, yet that independent woman in me fiercely wants to try to do as much of this on her own.

And of course, they want to be as involved as possible with the baby and making sure the baby’s health is okay.

My parents’ love was never in question with me growing up; it was their emotional presence.

But time has healed some of their grief, and I think this baby could bring a new connection for me and my parents too.

I know they’re worried like I am about the possibility that the baby could have the same heart defect, but right now, all we can do—all I can do—is take care of myself the best that I can. Which means I need to get a little more rest and make sure I’m eating and drinking plenty of fluids.

Once we got through our talk and got some dinner, it was getting late, so I decided to stay the night with them.

I called Archie to let him know I would be staying with my parents.

Plus, I wanted to check on him after his game, and he told his dad about the baby, so I wanted to see how that went, but …

mostly, I just wanted to hear his voice.

It was an emotional day, and he just has a calming presence that makes me feel better.

When I get to my apartment the next day, I grab a small duffle bag of clothes from my car.

When I was home, I found a few pairs of larger leggings, T-shirts, and sweatshirts that I’ll probably need sooner rather than later.

I’m not really showing yet, but the waistbands on all my pants are definitely getting a bit snugger.

When I push open the door to the apartment, I find all three of my roommates home. Mia and Livi are on the couch, watching some show about a virus taking over the world, and Peyton is in the kitchen, making quesadillas.

“Yum! Smells good in here, Pey. Did you make enough for me?” I ask her.

“Of course I did. Do you want yours with chicken or just cheese?” Peyton asks.

“Cheese is good. No, wait. Add a little chicken in there, too, if there’s enough.” I need to add more chicken and protein to my diet, although my appetite is finicky.

I walk in and set my duffle bag down next to the couch. I tug on Mia’s ponytail, and Livi holds her hand up for me to take.

“What’s up, bestie? We missed you last night. It was the first time in a while that we came home after a football game and you weren’t here,” Livi says.

I squeeze her hand lightly. “I needed to run up to my parents’ for the day. It’s been a while since I’ve spent time with them, and I ended up staying the night because it was getting late and I didn’t want to drive back to campus in the dark.”

“Fair. Well, you’re just in time for dinner, so yay!” She smiles at me.

My phone chimes from inside my bag, so I bend down to take it out. I see Archie’s name on the screen with a text.

Archie: You home yet?

Emma: Just got back.

Archie: Feel like hanging out, or are you tired?

“Who are you texting with, Emma?” Mia asks with a smile.

I return her smile and feel some heat hit my cheeks. Not because I’m embarrassed though. He just makes me feel some sort of way.

“It’s Archie.”

“Hmm. You two have been spending a bit of time together. You guys hooking up or just hanging out?” Peyton asks from the kitchen.

“Both.” I shrug, laughing. “He’s a really cool guy. Super sweet and funny too.”

“Okay, so he’s hot, about to go to the NFL, and he’s a sweetheart? You lucky-ass bitch. We practically shoved him your way. Although who would have guessed that one of the biggest players on campus would be locked down?” Mia laughs.

“Thanks?” I laugh and meet Livi’s gaze. Then walk over and sit next to her on the couch, my phone still in my hand.

“Is he coming over tonight?” Livi asks.

“Oh, I’m not sure. He just asked if I was home and if I wanted to hang out tonight.”

“And you’ll say yes, right?” Mia leans over Livi to ask.

“I mean, probably. But y’all need to tell me if having him over all the time annoys you. We are spending a lot of time together, and that might not be fair to you guys.”

Livi takes my hand. “Babe, we like him—right, girls?”

Mia and Peyton both agree.

“So, if spending time with him makes you happy, that makes us happy.” She pulls me in for a hug.

“And may I just say,” Peyton chimes in, “I wouldn’t mind if I accidentally saw him walking around in his boxers.”

“He doesn’t wear any, so that probably won’t happen.” I let it slip out before I can really think about what I’m saying.

“Period,” Mia says with a snap of her fingers. “You really are a lucky bitch.”

“I’m not even gonna deny it. Although I’ve really only seen him naked a few times. And I do like him for other reasons too. He’s a total sweetheart, super caring and attentive too.”

“Well, young Emma, I feel like you’re missing out on a lot of opportunity here. If he doesn’t wear boxers, why are you not climbing him every second you’re together?” Peyton asks.

“You know we’re the same age, right, Pey?” I giggle. “But, yes, I one thousand percent agree. I should be naked with him at all times. There’s a little thing called school, along with golf and football, that prevents that from happening though.”

We all laugh, and my phone chimes again.

Archie: You leavin’ me hangin’, Em?

“Oops. I forgot to reply to him. So, you’re sure you guys don’t mind if I invite him over?” I ask them and release Livi’s hand.

“Totally fine,” Livi says.

I look at Peyton, who gives me a thumbs-up, and then at Mia, who smiles and nods.

Emma: Sorry, I was just catching up with my roommates. Do you want to come over?

Archie: Yeah, I can do that. We just finished dinner here, so give me a few, and then I can head out. I just need to help with cleanup tonight.

Emma: How nice of you. See you soon.

“Okay then. I’m going to go take a quick shower before he gets here. I didn’t shower before I left my parents’.” I walk around the couch, grab my bag, and start down the hallway to my room.

“Oh, hey, Em!” Mia shouts. “If you need any condoms, let me know. I have some in my room.”

They all laugh.

“We got it covered, Mi, but thank you!” I shake my head when I get to my room.

When I finally tell Mia and Peyton that I’m pregnant, I wonder what they’ll think about our situation then. Not that I think they will be upset with me, but I have no doubt they’ll be shocked.

After a quick shower, I’m dressed in my PJs and brushing out my hair when I hear a knock at the front door. When I open the bathroom door, I see Mia opening it to let Archie in. He’s standing at the door in joggers, a T-shirt, and a backward baseball hat.

Why does that have to be so hot?

“Ladies. How we doin’ tonight?” He looks around at each of them with a smile.

They all start chattering at the same time, but I’m struck speechless, just looking at him. I really am a lucky bitch. He’s the complete package—kind, sweet, thoughtful, has a good head on his shoulders, ambitious, and utterly sexy.

He meets my stare and smiles wider. “Hey, darlin’. You shower without me?”

“Marry him, Emma! Right now, or I will,” Mia yells.

Of course, this makes Archie laugh, but then he says, “I’m sorry, Mia, but I’m spoken for.”

They all look over at me at the same time.

Not sure what to say in response to that in front of everyone, I settle on, “Get over here and kiss me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Archie makes his way to me.

When he’s standing in front of me, I look up at him and smile. “Hey.”

“Hey, baby.”

Then he slides his hands into my wet hair, tilts his head, and devours my mouth. He isn’t shy about kissing me in front of my friends, which I’m happy about, so I wrap my arms around his shoulders and return the kiss in kind.

He releases me from the kiss and moves his hands from my hair to my waist, then around to my ass. He lifts me up and carries me to my room. I look over his shoulder and wave to my roommates.

“What about the quesadilla I made for you?” Peyton asks.

“I’ll come get it in a bit,” I reply before Archie shuts the door with his foot behind us.

He walks us over to the bed, then gently lays me down. Bending over me, he kisses me deeply again, and I reach for his waistband, but he pulls his waist away from me and stops the kiss.

“Before I get lost in you, are you hungry? We can pick this up after you eat something.” He kisses my nose.