Page 120 of Wild Ever After
I glance down at Sebastian and whisper sorry to him, then to Scarlett, “You’re pregnant?!”
“Yeah.” She’s positively giddy as she smiles back at me. “We just found out yesterday.”
“And you waited twenty-four hours to tell me?”
“I think I was in shock. I took like five tests to be sure.”
“Oh my gosh, Scar. I’d hug you, but my arms are full. Does Cadence know?”
She shakes her head. “You’re the only person that knows. We’re telling my family tonight after the game.”
“Oh man.” My lips pull wider. “I’d love to see the look on Coach Miller’s face when he finds out Leo knocked you up.”
“Leo’s definitely sweating it, but Mom and Dad love him.”
“I’m really happy for you.” I lean my shoulder against hers and let my head fall against hers.
We stand like that until the team is coming back out. Cadence is still missing. I hope she’s getting herself a big glass of wine. She deserves it. Holding this little chunk is more work than it looks. My arms are going to be sore. I might need to start working out before I think about having kids.
Declan skates onto the ice. He takes a puck to the net and then moves around it, scanning until he finds me. A slow smile spreads across his face when he sees me with Cadence’s baby.
“What’s the male equivalent of ovaries exploding?” Scarlett laughs. “Your husband is having a whole moment imagining you with his kid. Are you sure you don’t want to do this together?”
I look away from Declan to my best friend. “I will be with you every step of the way, and someday, when I pop out a couple of cute little babies, you’ll be able to coach me through it with all your wise motherly knowledge.”
“Love you,” she says.
“Love you, too.”
* * *
When the game is over, I head to the back doors to wait for Declan. Staring at my mom’s contact in my phone, I pace. I haven’t talked to her again since we made up. I think part of me has been afraid that letting her in will just lead to future disappointment, but if loving Declan has taught me anything, it’s that you have to fight for the family you want.
My pulse races as the phone rings, but it goes to voicemail. I consider texting, but Declan appears, and I put my phone in my pocket and go to him.
“Hey.” He leans down to kiss me.
“Nice game.” I hold up the puck he gave me. “Think I could sell this and make a little fast cash?”
“Maybe if I sign it.”
“Oooh. You’d do that?”
He grins at me fangirling. Maybe he doesn’t realize it, but I’m hands down his number one fan.
“Ready to go home?” he asks.
“So ready. I’ve been picturing you naked for three hours. Tell me, do you get to bring the uniform and all that padding home?”
Chuckling, he wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me out to his car. Back at the house, a familiar vehicle is parked in the driveway.
“Is that my mom’s car?” I ask. It’s too dark to make out the person sitting in the driver’s side, but I’m positive that’s her black Toyota.
“Don’t be pissed,” he says, once he shuts off the engine, “but I invited her.”
“Why?”
“Because I know that it’s been weighing on you and that you want to have a better relationship with her. And maybe I’m projecting my own shit, but if my mom were here, I’d want someone to push me to work things out with her. I’m just so damn happy. I want you to be too.”
