Page 228 of Force Play
She rolls her eyes and playfully swats me. “I’m literally about to be Head Trainer, Ari. It won’t be a good look for me to be getting trashed with the team.”
“So it’s just an image thing?”
“It’s just an image thing,” she shrugs.
I sigh, and my shoulders fall slightly. “I was hoping for a different reason.”
“I’m sure you were,” she chuckles. “But why don’t we focus on Rory?”
Harlow beats us to it. “Rory,” she says to her sister-in-law. “You didn’t take a drink.”
“I didn’t.” She tries to shrug it off, but Rory has a tell. Anytime she’s uncomfortable, she plays with the hem of her shirt. That’s exactly what she’s doing right now.
Lane looks at her excitedly. “Why didn’t you drink, Rory?”
“Um… I didn’t want to?”
Cole laughs and kisses his wife’s forehead before whispering, “You can tell them, Starlight.”
“Tell us what?!” Lo shrieks, and she’s practically jumping for joy before they’ve even said a word.
“Well, Ari asked Skip why he was smiling earlier,” Cole starts.
Rory jumps in. “Part of that is because of the team. But it’s mostly because… I’m pregnant.”
I didn’t realize our celebration could get any louder, but it did.
We bring Cole and Rory in for a group hug while they wear the brightest smiles.
“Congrats, man,” I smile, slapping Cole on the back. “Fucking happy for you.”
Skip walks over now, Marlene under his arm.
It’s crazy how much happier he’s been since he started seeing her.
He looks at his daughter. “Did you tell them?” She nods. “Finally!” he laughs. “I hated having to keep that in.”
“You excited, Skip?” Josh asks, rubbing his pregnant wife’s shoulders.
“I can’t wait. Sage won’t be my only grandbaby anymore.”
“So many babies all around us,” Knox smiles, looking right at Harlow.
She rolls her eyes while laughing. “We’re not talking about that here, Slick.”
“I’m so excited for you guys,” Ella smiles, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Babe, are you crying?” Lucia asks her.
“I’m a hormonal mess, Luc. Yes, I’m crying.”
Lucia brings her in for a hug while Ella gathers her composure.
But as soon as she does, her eyes go wide.
“Guys…” she says warily, looking to her husband for support. “I think my water just broke.”
“What?!” Lucia yells. “I thought that didn’t actually happen that often.”
