Page 41 of Home Run

Checkmate. Douchebag.

This time Millie’s surprise was legit. So was everyone else’s, including mine. But I’d said it now and there was no backing down. Not in front of Hulk and Hulkier.

Seven sets of eyes widened, and I think it was only Parker, Ace, and Radley who didn’t shout, “What?”

“What I meant by that is, Millie’s moving into the building. We also have the one other apartment on this floor, and Millie’s moving in there.” I didn’t dare look at her, or Lux, who was really the one who rented the apartment, though I’m certain a smirk was forming on his face because he knew I now needed to come up with a plan to figure out what we were going to do with the Secret Service, who usually stayed in there. But one ridiculous problem at a time. “I’m sure even you can agree that this place is goodenough for Millie. There’s security downstairs, underground parking, and no one is allowed up without passing the front desk.”

There was silence while everyone tried to figure out whether thisstupidplan of mine was supportive enough for the woman carrying my baby.

The side of Parker’s mouth barely moved as he muttered, “Nice deflection on the love declaration, buddy.”

Josh and Matty turned to their sister. “Mildred? Is this true? You’re moving in here?”

I held my breath as I waited for her to turn around and tell me to go fuck myself. It would certainly be on brand for her if she did. But part of Millie’s charm was also her stubbornness, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when she replied, “Yeah, and Radley’s moving in with me too.”

Looks like I needed to book some removal guys. Stat.

NINE

MILLIE

Radley droppedone of her boxes on the kitchen island. “Did you pick your room yet?”

I had not picked my room.

The sum of all things I’d done this morning included instructing the movers, holding my temper every time I tried to pick something up only for someone (Tanner) to remove it from my hands, and sitting down on the couch I was currently lying on while people moved around me. On the plus side, I hadn’t been sick.

“Mills?”

By the time I lifted my head and opened my eyes, a deep crease had formed between her brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Millie, what is wrong?”

Out of nowhere my eyes brimmed with tears. Over the past two weeks this had been happening more and more. The baby had replaced making me sick with making me cry. Also making me frustrated. Very frustrated. The more Icried, the more frustrated I got. And the more frustrated I got, the more I cried.

You see the issue I’m having.

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong at all. I just can’t stop crying for no reason.” I sniffed. “Less than a month ago I found out I was pregnant with a guy I could barely tolerate, and now I’m moving into an apartment he’s given me, in an incredible building, and the past few weeks he’s been nothing but totally sweet, and supportive, and helpful. And…”sniff,“it’s really…”sniff,“annoying,”sniff,“and I haven’t even helped at all with the moving,”sniff,“no one,”sniff,“will let me.”

The last part of my sentence came out as more of a wail, but at least I made it to the end before I completely dissolved into a waterfall of tears broken up by heaving sobs. From the corner of my eye I saw one of the movers appear in the doorway only to make a hasty backward retreat.

Radley’s expression morphed into one of those sympathetic ones that came with a head tilt and sad eyes as she knelt down in front of me.

“That doesn’t sound like nothing,” she said gently. “And I’m sure Tanner will go back to being just as annoying soon. They’re leaving for the away series tonight, I’m sure by the time he returns he’ll be back to his truly irritating ways.”

The next sniff came out as more of a chuckle, along with a bubble of snot from my nose, at which Radley turned hers up.

“Gross.”

“Sorry,” I replied, swiping a sleeve across my face andsuddenly feeling a whole lot better. That was the other thingsuperannoying about this whole pregnancy. Everything turned on and off like someone was flipping a switch.

“Hey, what are best friends for.” A twinkle of amusement flashed in her eye. “Seriously though, are you okay?”

I sat upright, hugging my knees to my chest before worrying I might squash the baby. My feet hit the floor instead. “Yes. I am. It’s a little overwhelming how quickly this has all happened, that’s all. It was only ten days ago I was trying to find somewhere else to move into, and now we live here.” I swept my hand around the enormous space, one wall made up entirely of windows and a view stretching up to Central Park and beyond, past Lions Stadium. Out to the east, the United Nations building was almost directly ahead of us, sitting on the east side of Manhattan. “This place is insane. We could fit our entire dorm room in the main bedroom.”

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