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He shakes his head. “Nah. I’m good. I’ll ice it later. Nothing worse than usual.”

It’s just us for a moment, until his brothers come crowding around us, ready to pounce.

“So, Emma,” Aston says, plopping down on the arm of the sofa and grinning like he’s known me forever, “has Archie told you about the cow stampede?”

Archie groans.

“No,” I say, eyes lighting up. “But I’m suddenly dying to know.”

Ace jumps in, practically bouncing. “Picture this: fourteen-year-old Archie, already convinced he’s invincible, dares Aiden to jump the fence into the back pasture.”

“I didn’t dare anyone,” Archie mutters.

“Right, right. He strongly encouraged it,” Aston corrects. “Anyway, Aiden hops the fence, not realizing the cows are behind the barn, and they come charging like something out of a Western.”

“Archie panics,” Austin adds, already cracking up. “Runs toward the cows, full sprint, waving his arms like a lunatic, trying to scare them off.”

“He got knocked clean off his feet,” Ace finishes, dramatically miming the fall. “Came home covered in cow poop and completely pissed off.”

“I was being a hero,” Archie says, deadpan. “They were stampeding my idiot brother.”

“And he still asked his ninth-grade girlfriend to the dance, smelling like a barn,” Aston says.

“Oh no.” I laugh. “Did she say yes? ”

“Shockingly, yes,” Archie mutters. “Then she dumped me a week later for a kid with a four wheeler.”

“So, this idiot got a dirt bike to show him up,” Austin says with a wink.

“And I got asked out by three girls that day.” Archie beams as his arm’s still around me, and his thumb strokes lazy circles into my side like he doesn’t even notice he’s doing it.

“Thus began the era of Archie,” Austin laments.

“How you landed Emma is beyond me,” Aiden adds.

“You’re just lucky she’s already knocked up,” Ace says cheerfully, tossing a grape into his mouth. “Otherwise, she’d have better sense than to date you .”

“Bold of you to assume she’s dating me,” Archie replies coolly. “Maybe she’s just using me for my genetics.”

That gets a bark of laughter from the whole room.

I smile, already feeling strangely at ease with them. There’s a rhythm to the banter, a love underneath all the jabs. I’m still adjusting to it, almost like an outsider looking in, but with a front row seat to it all.

After a while, the conversation splits into side conversations—football talk with Shane, Alicia googling a list of baby names and suggesting them out loud to the room, only to be met with a bunch of vetoes.

Apparently, the Griffith boys have dated a girl with every name on the top one hundred baby names and have a reason why we shouldn’t name our baby that.

I’m looking out the hotel window. Miami is beautiful and bright, even in the dark of night. I turn to look at Archie. He’s so handsome and strong. I can’t believe I wasn’t going to be here tonight. I’m surprised I missed so many moments with him. I guess I’m still waiting for the shoe to drop.

For the messy to begin.

For the bad news to come walking into the waiting room of life and tell me it’s all over.

I want to fully relax into this reality. I’m almost there, and with every day that passes, I feel like it could be true, and it scares me.

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t realize Aston has walked over until he speaks.

“You probably noticed he’s a little … off tonight,” he says under his breath.

My gaze flicks to Archie, who’s standing with Aiden now. He’s laughing at something his brother said, and yet there’s something in his mannerisms. His posture is a little too stiff, and his eyes look a little tired.

“Yeah,” I admit softly. “I figured he’s exhausted from his game. He looks like he took a good hit too. And I’m sure I also threw him for a loop with this surprise visit. You know Archie, always trying to make everyone happy.”

“Exactly,” Aston says.

I tilt my head in question, wondering what he means.

Aston nods. “He found out earlier today that Liam Pitz is transferring out.”

My stomach drops. “His best friend?”

“Yeah. They’ve played together for three years—roomed together, trained together.

Even though he won’t be at Walker anymore either, Archie’s taking it hard.

He won’t talk about it, of course. Just keeps saying he’s happy for Liam and understands why.

But we can tell. And I think the reality of his college career being over is a little bittersweet for him too. ”

“That’s …” I trail off, glancing back at Archie. “That’s a lot.”

“He’s not great at losing people,” Aston says gently. “He’s loyal to a fault. When someone leaves, even for a good reason, he takes it to heart. And he also doesn’t like to leave people behind.”

That makes something in my chest ache.

“Thanks for telling me,” I murmur.

Aston just pats my shoulder. “You’re good for him. Don’t let the caveman act scare you off.”

I glance over at Archie again—and this time, his eyes find mine across the room, like he felt me looking. He gives me a small, weary smile. The kind of smile someone only gives when they’re tired, but glad you’re there.

It hits me, all at once: He’s always the strong one. For his team. For his family. For me.

But tonight, maybe he needs someone to be strong for him .

I squeeze Aston’s hand in thanks and stand up.

Time to remind him he’s not alone anymore.

I walk over to him and take his hand.

When he looks down at me, he smiles. As I start to smile in return, I yawn instead.

“I think it’s time for me to get my girl to bed.” He releases my hand and wraps his arm around my waist.

“Boo. Okay. Emma, promise you’ll come see us soon.

And I hope you don’t mind all my excitement about the baby, but I can’t wait to show you the nursery.

And don’t you hesitate to let me know if you need anything.

Oh! We could do some baby shopping if you come down too! ” Alicia pulls me in for a hug.

“I would like that. Thank you. And I’m glad you’re excited. Shopping would be fun. I definitely need to start getting some of the things off my list.”

“You just tell me what you need, and it’s yours.” She nods and smiles.

“Okay, Mama. Dad. Boys. We’ll see you soon. Aiden, call me when you get back to New England.”

A collective goodbye is said, and we wave as we leave.

Once we get into the elevator, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“You okay, baby?” Archie turns to face me.

I nod. “I’m so good.”

“Thank you for meeting them. It means a lot to me.”

“I’m really happy I got to meet them too. I love the way your family is so in tune with each other. You can literally feel the love in the room. I want that. ”

“You’ll have that, darlin’. I promise you.” He leans down and kisses me.

As we walk back to my hotel, he tells me some more about the game, and a peace settles in me. This beautiful, kind, caring, talented man, who loves his family, is mine. And even though this pregnancy wasn’t planned, I couldn’t have picked a better daddy for my baby.

When we get to the room, I drop my bag on the dresser, and he sets his wallet and phone next to it.

I take his hand and turn him to face me. “Hey, babe. I’m really glad I got to meet your family.” I tilt my head up to look at him.

He leans down, frames my face with his hands, and takes my lips. When he breaks the kiss, he smooths my hair back off my face and just looks at me.

“Emma, you’re so fucking beautiful. How did I get so lucky to knock you up? Turn around and let me see my name on your back.”

Okay, maybe he is feeling the buzz a little. When he releases my face, I turn but look over my shoulder at him.

“Aww, you’re the sweetest.”

I laugh.

“Do you need to get something to eat? Want some water or anything?” he asks.

“I’m good. I have a bottle of water on the bedside table, and I ate earlier.”

He moves the hair from my back and sets it over my shoulder. Then he brushes one hand across his name and hums. “I sure do like this.” He buries his face in my neck and kisses me softly.

“You know, if you wanted to stay with your family or go party with your friends, I wouldn’t have minded. I just wanted to be here with you to celebrate a little bit.” I sit down on the edge of the bed.

He moves in front of me, and I open my legs for him to stand between them. They kind of spread anyway with my growing belly. He places his hands on my shoulders and looks down at me as I look up at him.

“Darlin’, there is nowhere else I’d rather be than here with you and my baby. And I gotta say, I think you like me a lot if you flew all this way to see me play. Oh, and you’re wearing my jersey, so this feels like a big moment.” He winks at me, then kneels between my legs.

“I mean … I might like you a lot. You’re pretty fun to hang around with, and you’re a beast on the football field, but the orgasms … that’s the clincher.”

He knows I’m mostly joking with him, but he also knows he blows my mind in bed too.

“You know it, darlin’. Now let me see my baby.

” He brings his hands to the hem of my jersey and slides it up over my belly.

“Hi, baby. Daddy had a really good day today. Someday, I’ll be able to tell you all about it and maybe even show you the game.

Although things will probably be weird by then, and I won’t understand technology, but I’ll tell you all about it.

And then Mommy came to surprise Daddy, and she all but claimed me as hers by wearing my jersey.

Then she met your grandparents and uncles and didn’t get scared away. ”

“Okay, babe, I think you’re going a little overboard here.” I huff, even though it’s pretty much the truth. “There were a lot of people wearing your jersey today, and you know it. And your family is amazing.”

He places a kiss on my belly but looks up at me. “Mommy is trying to pretend it doesn’t mean more than it does, but I know she can’t resist me.”