Page 39 of What if It's Us

Before I answer, I check my phone curious to see if Marlee has texted back yet. I can’t deny that a small part of me was hoping she might tell me she’d like to celebrate a positive test, but when I check my texts, there are none from her.

She must have a lot going on today.

“Yeah sure. I’m in.”

Harrison and I wait for Bear and then the three of us head out of the locker room and down the hall toward the exit. As we approach the elevators Marlee unexpectedly steps out into the hallway from the press office.

“Hey Marley!” Harrison says, winking at me, no doubt thinking he’s doing me a favor by starting a conversation with her.

Yeah, real cool, Harrison.

Too bad you have no idea what Marlee and I did together a few weeks ago.

It’s fine.

What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.

“Hi Harrison,” Marlee says, swiping her fingers across her cheeks. “Did you guys need me for something?”

“No, we were just—oh, shit.” Harrison stops short and Bear and I follow suit noticing that Marlee is visibly upset. Although she’s desperately trying to hide it, her tear-stricken cheeks and reddened nose are evidence enough that she’s been crying.

Fuck.

“Hey,” I ask softly, stepping forward from Harrison and Barrett. I cup her elbow and turn her slightly so she doesn’t feel like I’m trying to cause a scene in front of the guys. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Really.”

I don’t believe her.

She’s not one to cry at work.

Lowering my voice, I murmur to her, “Is it the?—”

“Period,” she says, knowing full well I was going to say baby. “Yeah. My period came this morning and I’m just not feeling well. That’s all.”

Shit.

Period means no baby.

Period means sad Marlee.

“Darius will have some pain relievers if you need some,” Barrett suggests with a hitch of his thumb back behind us. “He keeps a well-stocked cabinet in the training office.”

Marlee gives him a half-hearted smile. “Thanks, Bear. I think I just need to call it quits for the day and go curl up in a ball on the couch or something. I’ll be fine, I swear.” She can give the guys all the I’m-fine promises and reassuring glances she wants, but I can tell she’s not okay.

“Hey, rain check guys.” I wrap my hand around Marlee’s. “I’m taking Marlee home.”

Her brows arch and her eyes widen. “What? Ledger you don’t have to do?—”

“I want to,” I say, squeezing her hand. I nod again to the guys and repeat myself. “Rain check?”

Harrison gives me a look that says he’s impressed that I came out of my shell all of a sudden where Marlee is concerned, but I know that’s only because he doesn’t know Marlee and I have this baby-making situationship between us.

I’ll let them think whatever they want for now and fill them in later.

Much later.

“Yeah, absolutely.” He shares a sympathetic smile with Marlee. “Hope you feel better Marlee. Have Ledger here stop and get you whatever you fucking want from the store, yeah? Really milk it because he can more than afford it.”

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