Page 73 of Power Play
I pull her into my arms now that the hallway is empty. "I love you, but your family sucks."
She lets out a sad chuckle. "I know. I've been with them almost my entire life. I know how this plays out."
I lean back and hold her shoulders so I can look her in the eye. "And how does it play out?"
She gives a sad shrug. "Tracey does everything right. I do everything wrong." She looks down, unable to meet my eyes and it fucking guts me.
"Darling, I love you, and I mean this with the most love possible... your family is shit and the sooner you stop caring about them the happier you'll be."
She looks down as she considers my words. I know family means everything to her. But I think it's because she's never seen a realfamily. I mean I did while my parents were alive. They loved and supported each other until I got drafted, played professionally for fifteen years, before they passed in a car accident. I mourned. Went through all the stages of grief. But one of the things that helped me recover was knowing that they lived life right. They loved each other fiercely. Had a family they were proud of. And loved unconditionally. They pursued passions as well as service. They were excellent people who knew how to live. And thanks to the woman in front of me, I stand a chance at the same. To love her fiercely. To have a family I'm proud of. One I can love unconditionally. Something I had given up hope for, but this woman.
This. Woman.
"I just don't think I'm ready," she whispers against my chest. "I feel like... like somehow I can still save all of this. If I just do the right things, say the right things, then suddenly my parents will see me. I know it's stupid. And people show you with their actions every day where their priorities lay. But I can't get over the desire that they'll finally see me."
I peer down into her beautiful green eyes. The most beautiful eyes I've ever looked into because she's mine. Honestly, unapologetically mine.
Lacey has a lot of shit she needs to work through. And I'm more than happy to help her work through it.
You deserve that love and acknowledgement not because you are, or you do anything, but because you exist. Tell me, how do you feel about the babies inside you?"
Her hand instinctively goes to her stomach. "I love them. I haven't even met them, and I love them."
"And would you treat your babies the way your parents have treated you?"
Her face pales. I may be overstepping now, and I know I'm an asshole, but I still feel like we're on the brink of her finally letting go of her toxic family. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her mouth opens to answer, but I can tell she's spooked, so I interrupt. "In what universe would you ever treat our babies the way your mom treats you?"
Her mouth closes again. Because of course she can't think of one. The tiny souls growing in her stomach are loved by her unconditionally. She would never treat her babies any differently. Of course, there will be hard times and boundaries tested and everything that parenting includes. But neglecting one over the other? Not a chance.
"In what universe would you choose to love one baby and not another?"
She gasps. The final truth of our reality sinking in. She may have made excuses for her parents her entire life, but now that she was about to be a mother herself, she knew. She knew babies deserve unconditional love. She knew she would love our babies unconditionally. She knew she would never treat our babies the way her mom had treated her.
I nod. Grateful she's come to the right conclusion.
I hold her close, kissing her hair, her temples, her cheeks, and finally her lips. "I'm no therapist, baby, but I can tell you that your family's behaviors? They don’t' align with a family who loves. And you deserve a family that does. And you have it. You have me, and Ben,and Jonesy. You have the Titans, and Lauren, and Craig.... who wanted to fight me because he thought I took advantage of you."
She snorts a laugh and it's a step in the right direction. "What you do with your family is up to you. I think they don't deserve to breathe the same air as you, but I understand it's your battle to fight. Just know, I'll always be in your corner. No matter what you decide."
She looks up at me. Big bright, green eyes that I've fallen in love with. Because they're the window to the soul of the woman I love. And I'm not kidding when I say I would do anything for her. I love her. Unconditionally. And I love our babies. Unconditionally. Because that's what love is.
Unconditional.
Chapter forty
Lacey
The day I've been dreading is here. I'm twenty weeks pregnant and can't hide my belly anymore. I've been wearing the guys' sweatshirts at work, but Tracey sometimes travels with the team. We told the travel department to book us separate rooms after Colorado, but she's going to figure it out.
So, Ben and I flew to our hometown.
I have to look my parents in the eye and tell them I'm pregnant, and I don't know who the father is. That fact doesn't bother me anymore. All three of the potential fathers are wonderful in their own unique way and I will not feel bad about sleeping with them.
Nothing I've done with any of them was a mistake, and I don't feel bad about a minute of it. I had moments of uncertainty - of not knowing what their reactions would be. But I never regretted sleeping with Ben, Scott, and Garrett. They're sweet, sexy, thoughtful men and I'm beyond lucky any of them gave me the time of day.
And I don't regret getting pregnant. In twenty more weeks, I'll bring two new babies into this world. And I already love them. I'm not so naive to think everything will be rainbows and butterflies. But I've spent my entire life not really having anything of my own. But the guys have already proven they're mine, and no one can take these babies from me.
