Page 12 of The Game Plan
“I wasn’t calling to give you a hard time. I was hoping to start shopping and send you some clothes for the little bean. But instead of me sending clothes, what if I came down, and we had a little gender reveal party? We don’t have to do anything big, maybe get some of those cupcakes with the icing in the middle.”
A lightness takes over my body, and for the first time today, some of the stress melts away. “That sounds nice. I think I’ve been too scared to open it alone,” I quietly admit.
“Savannah, you’re not alone in this. You have me and Ridge. We’re your family, and we’ll always be there for you.”
“Ridge doesn’t know I don’t know the gender.”
My aunt chuckles. “Sweets, it’s Ridge. He knows you don’t know, even if you don’t admit it. I swear that boy has some sort of sixth sense.”
I groan, my heart kicking a little. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. I want him to stop worrying about me so much. Maybe I’ll feign ignorance and pretend he doesn’t know I’ve been sitting on the envelope for so long. If he knew for sure, there’s no doubt he wouldn’t show up with balloons and a giant lecture.”
Bethany lets out a soft laugh. “That’s my boy. He’s overprotective and cares about the ones he loves.”
I blink hard, willing the tears not to fall. “And we love him for it…but that’s the problem.”
Ridge is fiercely protective. He plays the badass who doesn’t care, but he loves hard. When his mom moved states to marry her new husband, Ridge packed up to be by her side. Much like me and my mom, it’s always been Ridge and his mom. Our fathers never stuck around, and our moms—sisters—never gave us their names. We’re the Holycrosses.
Aunt Bethany and I talk for a few more minutes. She shares how things are in her new town, how she’s staying busy while her new husband runs for re-election as the town’s mayor, and everything in between. When we hang up, my brain has calmed, and my heart feels lighter.
After moving through my nighttime routine on autopilot—cleanse my face, rub my mama belly butter on my bump, brush my teeth, and fill my giant water bottle—I pad barefoot into my room. Lightning continues to streak across the sky as thunder rumbles through the walls. Slipping into a silk nightgown, I slide into bed, adjusting my mountain of pillows until I’m comfortable beneath the covers. Flipping on the TV, I scroll through the channels until something piques my interest.House Hunters International, it is.
The wind howls outside, and I sink deeper into the sheets. My phone lights from my bedside table, and as much as I want to ignore it and figure out which flat the couple on TV chooses, I reach over for the device.
Ridge.
“What’s up?”
“Just checking on you,” he says without greeting. “Mom told me you had an appointment today.”
“You mean, she didn’t tell you everything already?”
“Nope.” He pops thep. “I think she’s finally learned how to keep a secret. But I’ve been thinking about you. You doing okay?”
“Yeah,” I lie. “Baby’s good. I’m good. Life is good.”
“You’re so full of shit.” He calls me out so easily.
With a sigh, I tell him the baby’s growing well and that I’ll go back in two weeks for another appointment. My heart still skips a beat every time I hear that whooshing sound of the heartbeat—it’s the best sound in the world. I’m about to tell him I still haven’t found out the gender when a light crash echoes through the walls.
“What the fuck was that?” Ridge’s protectiveness snaps into focus.
I crawl to the edge of the bed, peering through my bedroom doorway toward the dark hallway. My skin prickles, and I don’t know why. Nothing seems amiss in my apartment, but that doesn’t keep the nerves at bay. Another loud crash sounds, and my breath catches in my throat. I know that sound. It’s the sound of glass shattering.
“Savannah.” His voice takes on a dark edge, but he tries to keep calm while bringing my attention back to our phone call.
“I–I think someone just broke into the restaurant downstairs.” Shouts sound from below me, and terror fills my veins.
“Lock your bedroom door.”
Uneasy, I start to interject, but Ridge’s voice cuts me off. “Now, Savannah.”
I rush to the door as fast as I can at seven months pregnant. With shaky fingers, I flip the lock and stumble back, sinking onto the floor in the corner of the room. “Ridge…”
“You’re okay.” I don’t know which of us he’s trying to convince more. “I’m going to take care of this, alright? Stay on the phone with me.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “How? You’re eighteen hours away.”
“I know,” he grits out, as if it pains him to be so far away. His words become muffled as he begins shouting to someone. “My buddy called 9-1-1 and told them what’s going on. Cops are on their way. You’re going to be fine, Savvy.”
