Page 45 of Hooking

My smile.

The perfect blend of my blond and his sandy blond hair.

Perfect. She’s not even here yet, but I know deep down she will be this beautiful little miracle.

“You know, there’s a house down the street from Brooks and me that just went on the market,” Hayley says as she carries the last few things from the powder room. “It’s a great location, and it’s not too far from work.”

“Can everyone seriously just slow down for a moment?” I say, as I take a seat on the hardwood floor. Yeah, I will regret that later when I struggle to get up. “We’re moving in together for the baby, not because he wants to marry me. Who knows? This whole thing could blow up in our faces as soon as the baby comes. He could realize that he doesn’t want me and the baby at all.”

“You can’t seriously be thinking he’s going to bail on you?” she says, in a whispered hiss.

I know I shouldn’t think like that. What Channing and I have is totally different from what he had with Natasha. And as much as I want to believe he’s serious and all in, part of me thinks he’ll change his mind and run away once again.

I’m guarding my heart. Something I should have done when Vincent came back into my life. I can’t be foolish this time around.

“It will always be there in the back of my mind, Hayley. I don’t know how to quiet that intrusive thought.”

She nods at me in understanding before going back to finish loading her box. A few hours later, we have fully loaded and then unloaded the U-Haul into Channing’s house.

“Welcome home,” he says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around waist. “I had a crew in here every day this past week to make sure everything is perfect.”

I spin around in his arms. My gaze locks with his as my arms wrap around his neck. “It’s perfect. Thank you,” I say, placing a gentle kiss on his mouth.

I look around my new home and can’t believe I’m living here. I try to picture all the ways I can decorate the new space, while internally reminding myself that this is only temporary. But hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?

Chapter 22

Pregnancy Journal Entry

24 weeks pregnant

Weight: Still not keeping track

Cravings: EVERYTHING… however, pickles with hot sauce is like my new favorite thing. I know it sounds gross, but you seem to love it.

HAPPY VIABLITY DAY, little bean. We finally have made it to a point where if you come now, you’d have to spend a lot of time in the NICU, but you’d have a great chance at surviving. I don’t even know why I just told you that, but it’s true. You’ll find out one day when you’re old enough to start a family of your own. Your father just said you’re not dating until your thirty, but we both know he can’t stop you.

Oh, and if you haven’t guessed by now, your father finally knows about you. I won’t go into details on how he found out and what happened when he did, but he knows, and he couldn’t be happier that you’ll be his first child born. Yeah, that half-sibling I mentioned in earlier entries, well, it turned out the woman was scamming your daddy.

Note for your future: Date someone who doesn’t puck anything that moves. Okay, more like don’t date a hockey player. They attract some crazies.

But enough of that. We moved in with your daddy and though I still have my doubts and think this whole situation is only temporary, I am happy. Every day I feel you move more and more. And though it feels like I’m in that movie Alien and you will burst out of my belly at any minute, I can’t help but marvel at you.

Until we meet.

Love You Always.

Your Mama.

Chapter 23

Channing

I’m flying high.

No scratch that. I’m on a motherfucking high right now.

Ever since I found out about Cassidy’s pregnancy and my little princess, I’ve been on a high like no other. Nothing can stand in my way. I finally rid myself of Natasha, for good I might add. Got Cassidy to move in with me, finally. And the team is on track to make playoffs.

---