Page 57 of Interference
Do I still want to go for the gold? Of course. It has been my dream since I saw my first Olympics when I was a child. I loved how pretty the girls looked and how they flitted around the ice like fairies. Little did I know the amount of work that went into it.
That’s not my only goal now. I want to be a mom to this child. A girlfriend, and maybe even a wife, to Brett. I want the little family he envisions. I need this right here. Walking side by side under his arm as he rattles on about some hockey thing that I don’t fully understand.
It feels right.
“Did I tell you I’m starting in the game tomorrow?” he asks me.
I shake my head. “You did, and I’m not surprised. I have seen you play before. You are pretty good.”
He scoffs. “You wound me, buttercup. Only pretty good?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know enough about hockey to say otherwise. You’ll have to teach me. Then I can see how extraordinary you really are.”
He laughs. “Deal. We will watch some games together, and I can show you some greats and you can see how I can compare.”
“Humble as always, babe,” I tease.
“Always. So, um, will you come to the game?” he asks, looking nervous all of a sudden.
“Of course I will. Was that even a question?” I ask him.
He looks relieved. How shitty I have been to him for him to think I wouldn’t come to his game? I have a lot of shit to make up for.
“I mean, you are growing a baby in there. If you don’t feel good, I don’t want you to come. You come first,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “I want a jersey with my baby daddy’s name and number, and I want to sit where you can see me. If Corais going, I would love to sit near her. Then she can tell me how amazing you are being.”
He gives me a warm smile. “Done. Cora and Grace are coming. I’ll make sure you are sitting with them, and I would love to see my name on your back.”
I would love to see my name with his last name.
The thought hits me out of nowhere. I know I said I might be his wife one day, but I hadn’t actually thought about it like this.
Could I be Emery Woods?
I think I could be.
All of this has been so scary, but with Brett, it feels effortless. He makes me feel alive in a way that I have never felt, even on the ice.
“Here’s your class. I’ll see you later?” he asks.
I nod as he cups my cheeks. Then he kisses me like his life depends on it. When we finally pull away, my cheeks are heated. I know we have the attention of everyone around, but Brett doesn’t care.
“See you and our little apple later.”
He presses one last kiss on my lips before he turns and walks away.
My hand finds its way to my stomach. I don’t know how I lucked out to get Brett as the man to go through this with, but he makes this all feel worth it.
He makes me feel worth it.
I think I’m falling in love with him.
I’m nervous. Not only about being out on the ice against another team for the first time since my injury, but Emery is in the crowd.
This feels different. She’s come before, but she wasn’t mine then. I’ve watched the other guys skate out and see their women, but I’ve never truly had that chance. I do now, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.
I mean, I’m ready for her. I want all of her, but this feels monumental.
