Page 110 of Pipe Dreams
But not my autograph?
Sure, honey. I’m sure she’d like yours too.
You’re hard on my ego.
Even when I’m moaning your name?
Okay, not then. See you tonight. :)
As it happened, Brooklyn won game four about an hour after the dean read Lauren’s name. The series was tied 2–2, and the giddiness Lauren felt made it easier to survive a late dinner with her parents.
“You looked lovely, dear,” her mother said, “even if black isn’t really your color.”
Lauren took another sip of her water glass, wishing there was Scotch in it. Or maybe tequila. Her mother’s greatest talent was missing the point. The color of her cap and gown couldn’t matter less. She’d put herself through college without their help.
To celebrate her victory over their lack of generosity with tuition money, her parents had decided to take her out to an insanely expensive restaurant. Her father ordered a pricey bottle of champagne, of which she had three sips because she was not about to disclose her pregnancy. That conversation could wait until her clothes weren’t fitting anymore, or at least until she and Mike figured out how the next few months were going to work.
After the dessert course, her Katt Phone buzzed with a message. Excusing her rudeness, she checked to find a text from Mike.Don’t come to Brooklyn, I’m coming to you.
Her chest fluttered with excitement, and suddenly the evening became more bearable.Can’t wait! Good game tonight. Wish I could have seen it.
You’ll get your own personal highlight reel a little later.
She smiled and put her phone away. “Brooklyn won game four,” she announced to the table.
Her father made a sour face. “Fucking miracle, then. The new guy is gonna drive that team right into the ground.”
Lauren couldn’t guess who he meant by “the new guy” when there were so many possibilities: Nate, who’d fired him, Hugh who’d been promoted into his old job, or Coach Worthington. She didn’t bother to clarify because it was so obvious that her father was a bitter old man. The team had gotten further than anyone expected this year, and would likely kill it next year, too.
“I’m quite tired,” she said instead of engaging him. “Thank you for this lovely meal, but I think I’ll head home.”
“Well done, honey,” her elderly grandmother said, nodding sleepily from across the table.
“Now if only we could find you a nice, available man,” her mother mused.
“Thank you,gran,” Lauren said, ignoring her mother and rising to leave. “That means a lot.” And now it was really time to make her exit.
“This is for you,” her father said, pulling an envelope out of his pocket. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She tucked it into her bag, where her cap and gown had been stuffed after the ceremony. She kissed her parents quickly and went home to wait for Mike.
•••
An hour or so later they lay in a sweaty heap together, catching their breath after an enthusiastic romp on her bed. She kissed the slightly furry centerline of his chest, then laid her cheek on it.
“When can I get you to marry me?” he asked suddenly.
Her heart skipped a beat. “You want to get married?”
“Of course I do.” His hand sifted clumsily through her hair. “But I know some women don’t want to walk down the aisle with a belly. What are your thoughts regarding weddings and baby bumps?”
“This will be the second time you marry a pregnant wife.”
He hauled up his chest so he could see her face. “The circumstances couldn’t be more different. I would have married you beforehand if I thought you would go for it.”
She smiled down at him. “I know. And I don’t like weddings all that much, honestly. They’re so predictable.”
He let out a bark of laughter. “What do you mean?”
