Page 103 of Player Misconduct
The words hit me square in the chest. I don't trust my voice, so I just pull her into me, her head tucking under my chin, my hand resting on the place where our son is growing.
"We're going to be okay," I say softly. "All three of us."
She doesn't answer. But she doesn't pull away either.
And for now, that's enough.
I stay until she falls asleep, her breathing evening out, her hand still tangled with mine. I grab the framed stars and slip out as quietly as I came, locking the door behind me and texting her from the car.
Me:Locked up. Text me when you wake up.
Then I drive home through the rain-slicked streets, thinking about the secret house I bought for them and the life I hope is in our future.
One more week until the reveal. One more day until I know if I’ve royally fucked up, or did something great.
One week until I tell her that I love her.
One week to turn that empty nursery into a promise I'm ready to keep.
I pull into my parking spot, kill the engine, and sit there for a moment, letting the quiet settle.
Then I open my phone and pull up the photo of the nursery again.
And I smile.
Chapter Nineteen
Kendall
The Lamaze class instructor—whose name I've already forgotten despite her introducing herself three times—demonstrates another breathing technique that's supposed to make labor feel like "riding a wave" instead of "being hit by a truck."
I'm skeptical.
But I breathe anyway, because what else am I going to do? Aleksi's beside me on the yoga mat, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees like he's about to meditate his way into fatherhood.He's the only dad in the room who looks genuinely excited about pelvic floor exercises.
"Okay, partners," the instructor says. "Let's practice the supportive touch we talked about. Dads, place your hand on mama's lower back and apply gentle pressure."
Aleksi shifts closer, his palm warm and steady against the small of my back. The pressure is perfect—firm enough to ground me, soft enough not to feel invasive.
"Like this?" he asks quietly.
I nod, eyes closed, trying to ignore the way my pulse kicks up every time he touches me.
"Great," the instructor says, walking past us. "You two are naturals."
Aleksi grins at me, all sunshine and pride, and I have to look away before I do something stupid like cry in the middle of a breathing exercise.
By the time class ends, I'm exhausted in that good, productive way. Like I've actually accomplished something. Aleksi rolls up our mats while I grab my water bottle, and we shuffle out with the rest of the couples, all of us waddling in solidarity.
"That wasn't so bad," I say as we reach his car.
"You almost elbowed me during the hip openers," he says, opening the passenger door for me.
"You were encroaching on my personal space."
"I was providing lumbar support."
I roll my eyes but smile as I slide into the seat. He closes the door gently, like I'm made of glass, and jogs around to the driver's side.
