by Meghan Quinn
“How polite.”
I want to tell her the tickets are for the staff here only and no one else. Basically, no Logan.
“Wednesday night we have off, I have some press stuff going on tomorrow, I was thinking maybe I could take you to dinner.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Hayden.”
“As friends,” I say quickly, grasping at anything at this point. “I would like to hear about your birth plans and”—I take pause, swallowing hard—“have you found out the sex of the baby yet?”
She shakes her head. “I want to wait right now. I’m still trying to make it through one day without throwing up, I don’t think I could put a sex label on this baby because right now, all it is to me, is demon child.”
Laughing, I nod. “Yeah, I don’t blame you there.” Taking a step forward, I lace my fingers with hers and rub the pad of my thumb over her knuckles. “Please have dinner with me, Adalyn?”
“I go to bed early.”
“How early?”
“Ten.” She chuckles.
“That’s not early, but don’t worry, I’ll get you home before bedtime.” I pull on her hand. “Please.”
She concedes, and heaves a heavy sigh. “Okay, what time?”
“Don’t sound so pained about it,” I joke, squeezing her hand. “What time works best for you?”
“How about five?”
“Dining with the early birds, I like it. I’ll pick you up.”
“I can actually meet you—”
Not going to fucking happen. I shake my head. “I’ll pick you up.” Gesturing toward the pink box, I say, “Enjoy the fritters, hand out the tickets, and make sure to keep one for yourself. Have a good day.” I bring her knuckles to my lips and kiss them softly. Wiggling my eyebrows, I say, “Don’t forget to text me back, because I have some great conversations planned out.”
Laughing, she takes her hand back and folds her arms across her chest, a glint in her eye. “Is that right? Real riveting text conversations?”
“Get ready to be blown away.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Taking the box with her, she walks behind the reception desk. “Don’t hype it up if you can’t deliver, Holmes.” That right there—that look, the teasing lilt in her voice—that’s the Adalyn who stole my heart. That’s the girl I’ve been craving, and seeing that little glimpse of her gives me hope.
“I always deliver, babe. Always.”
Hayden: Did you know alligators swim out of the way of a manatee’s path?
Adalyn: Is this the mind-blowing text conversation you were talking about?
Hayden: Just a soft opener. What did you think?
Adalyn: I think it’s kind of strange.
Hayden: Fun facts are always strange but useless information you can utilize to impress others.
Adalyn: Is that what you’re doing? Trying to impress you?
Hayden: If I am is it working?
Adalyn: I want to say yes to save your pride . . .
Hayden: Please, no pity yeses, I don’t think my heart can take them.
Adalyn: I think you could have opened up with a more useful fact.
Hayden: Manatees and alligators aren’t useful? Odd . . . give me a good example of a useful fact.
Adalyn: Because of water weight, a women’s shoe size can grow one full size bigger during pregnancy.
Hayden: So what you’re trying to tell me is that you would like to borrow my shoes. Anytime babe, you don’t even have to ask.
Adalyn: Don’t you wear a seven in men? That won’t work.
Hayden: Feeling spicy today, are we?
Adalyn: I think it’s the sugar high from the fritters.
Hayden: How many have you eaten?
Adalyn: I don’t want to say.
Hayden: I’ve seen you take down an entire sheet cake, so your fritter consumption won’t faze me.
Adalyn: I didn’t take down an entire sheet cake. Don’t you dare text lie.
Hayden: It’s called embellishing for comedic effect.
Adalyn: Well since I’m feeling larger than normal, you can cut down on the embellishing, funny boy.
Hayden: Honest comment coming - - > You look gorgeous.
Adalyn: You just want to know how many fritters I’ve eaten today.
Hayden: Yes but I do think you’re gorgeous, so you can’t change my mind about that.
Adalyn: Took an extra dose of charming today, I see.
Hayden: To match your spice. Now tell me, how many?
Adalyn: This is so embarrassing . . . four.
Hayden: *eyes pop out of sockets* FOUR??
Adalyn: I hate you.
Hayden: Nah, impossible.
“Are you ready, Holmes?” Chris asks, sitting next to me, wrapping his goalie stick.
“Yeah, feeling good. What about you?” I nudge his shoulder with mine.
“A little beat up from this weekend, but other than that, ready to go.” Eyeing my phone in my hands, Chris says, “Shannon told me you took fritters to the office this morning.”
I lean back against the locker. “Just trying to win over my girl.”
“Yeah, well, don’t drown the rest of us in the process. Shannon was telling me how we’ve lost our spark, because I don’t take her bakery treats at the office.”
“Oh shit.” I laugh. “Did she say that?”
“Called me once you left, asked me to bring her a latte to go with the fritter that the handsome new guy brought into the office.”
“And did you?”
“Of course I did. I can’t have you showing me up. I brought lattes for everyone, damn it.”
Laughing and shaking my head, I say, “That is one happy doctor’s office.”
“They’re Quakes fans, that’s for damn sure.”
“Bribing nurses and doctors with lattes and fritters, we might be onto something.”
Chris nods his head as my phone buzzes in my hand. “We should bring it up to PR. I’m sure they would have a field day with it.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Zoning out, I open my text from Adalyn.
Adalyn: Pizza should be on the list of things pregnant women should eat. Dairy, protein, veggies, and grains. What more can you ask for?
Smiling to myself, I respond back.
Hayden: It’s on my list of pregnancy-approved foods along with four apple fritters a day.
Adalyn: Funny. Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for a game?
Taking a picture of my socked-up legs, I send it along with a comment.
Hayden: It’s the calm before the storm in the locker room right now. Waiting for coach to come in and do his spiel.
Adalyn: Oh, huh, for some reason I thought you couldn’t have phones in the locker room.
Chuckling, I type her back as fast as my fingers will work. This is a moment, a moment I can show her that in fact I might have a game, but even during that time right before it, we can still be connected.
Hayden: This isn’t one of those hipster parties where you’re required to put your phone in a bowl before you enter the house. A good amount of the guys have families, and they’re usually FaceTiming with their kids leading up to the game.
Adalyn: I see that you’re trying to prove a point.
Hayden: Is it working?
Adalyn: I don’t really want to talk about that right now.
Hayden: Fair enough. Are you going to watch the game tonight?
Adalyn: I can’t, sorry. We don’t have cable.
We.
One single word can turn my fucking stellar day into pure crap.
We, meaning Adalyn and Logan. From the mere thought of them curling up on her couch together, snuggling to watch me play, causes my stomach to roll and my skin to break out into a sweat. Fucking Logan. I still don’t understand why he’s an outside factor I need to work around.
Needing a second, I take a sip of my water and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to rid of the image of Logan wrapped around Adalyn out of my mind.
“Dude, are you okay?” Chris asks, “You look pale.”
“Fine.” I scratch my beard.
“You don’t look fine. Does this have to do with the person who’s texting you?”
Melting into the locker behind me, the hardwood cutting into my back a bitter welcome. “It’s Adalyn. When she moved out here, her friend moved with her.”
“Logan, right?”
My eyes snap to Chris. “You know about Logan?”
“I know of him.” Chris bites the roll of tape, finishing off a section of his stick. “Shannon was telling me about him the other day, how he’s always at the office, picking up and dropping off Adalyn. He hovers, but when Shannon asks Adalyn about him, all she says is he’s a friend.”
“Yeah, that’s the term I keep hearing too. Friend.”
Reaching over, Chris squeezes my shoulder. “Coming from a guy who married way out of his league, I’m going to tell you this. Don’t sweat the stuff that doesn’t matter. If you want Adalyn, focus on her, not him.”
Focus on her, not him. Fuck that’s good advice. Advice I wish I had early on. And it seems easier said than done, not to focus on him, but I’ll try, especially if it stops the sharp, pulsing pain I get every time I hear his name. With that new mantra running through my head, I type Adalyn back.
Hayden: Such a shame, you’ll be missing a good show. Don’t worry. I’ll give you a play-by-play on Wednesday.
She’s quick in texting back making me believe she’s giving me her full attention right now. I like that.
Adalyn: Will this play-by-play be at the dinner table with straws and sugar packets replacing hockey sticks and pucks?
Hayden: If you’re lucky.
Adalyn: Do you know where we’re going to dinner? The baby likes to plan these things out.
I smile to myself. This is the first time she’s referred to the baby as a real thing, and fuck if it doesn’t wash away the sour feelings I was having about Logan. Forget all of that, she just mentioned the baby. Our baby.
Hayden: You tell me, what is the baby craving?
Adalyn: Pizza.
Hayden: Then pizza it is.
Hayden: Good morning, beautiful.
Adalyn: Good morning. Congratulations on your win last night.
Hayden: Did you get cable just to watch me play? Wow, that’s going above and beyond for your baby daddy.
Adalyn: Don’t flatter yourself. I looked it up this morning while sipping some tea.
Hayden: First of all, it’s cute that you checked. Thank you. Second, only tea this morning. Captain Cock Blocker didn’t make you eggs this morning?
Adalyn: LOL, he’s not a cock blocker, and I wasn’t feeling too great this morning, so I drank some tea to settle my nausea.
Hayden: I’m sorry you weren’t feeling well. Are you doing better now?
Adalyn: Yes. I brought a protein bar with me to work in case I felt hungry this morning, so I’ll be good.
Hayden: Pregnancy seems like a real joy ride.
Adalyn: You’re lucky all you had to do was stick your penis in me. Carrying this child is a whole different world.
Hayden: I can’t even imagine. That’s why I’m trying to be the best partner in all of this. If you go to the oven in the break room, I believe you’ll find something staying warm for you in there.
Adalyn: Did you bring me more fritters?
Hayden: Better. Go look.
Adalyn: OMG is that breakfast pizza?
Hayden: Yup, fresh from the oven, full of all your daily nutrients: dairy, veggies, and grains plus an additional protein with the eggs.
Adalyn: I’m so happy right now.
Reading that at seven thirty in the morning made my entire day. A picture buzzes on my phone and I quickly open it up to find Adalyn munching down on a slice of the breakfast pizza, a huge—albeit full—smile on her face. I save the picture to my phone and text her back.
Hayden: Even with a breakfast pizza shoved halfway down your throat, you’re still gorgeous.
Adalyn: I’m positively glowing. I can feel the pizza aura lighting up the space around me.
Hayden: Then my job here is done. Have a good day, Adalyn.
Chapter Twenty-Four
ADALYN
Hayden: You don’t want to know what I’m doing right now.
Adalyn: You did that on purpose, open up a text like that so now I have to know what you’re doing. Well you know what, I don’t want to know. Nice try.
Hayden: It involves baby powder.
Adalyn: Damn you! What are you doing?
Hayden: I knew that would get your attention. I’m currently wearing a gladiator costume that’s less than comfortable in the thigh region.
Adalyn: Time out. Why are you wearing a gladiator costume?
Hayden: It’s the reason I couldn’t take you out tonight and I had to revert to tomorrow night.
Adalyn: A gladiator costume is not a valid reason.
Hayden: It is when I have to do a commercial in it.
Adalyn: LOL, okay, now I’m really interested. Are you sponsored by Trojan now? A little ironic, don’t you think, given our situation.
Hayden: Ha. Not sponsored by Trojan. It’s for the league. They like to do skits with all the teams for bumpers in between commercials. I’m assuming since I’m the new guy, the Quakes nominated me for this shit.
Adalyn: That’s fantastic. Do I get a picture?
Hayden: No.
Adalyn: Ahh, you’re all cranky because you’re chafing, aren’t you?
Hayden: This baby powder is pure shit. We will not be using it on our kid.
I pause, reading his text a few times. OUR kid. That’s kind of weird and scary and . . . comforting. Despite Logan being here for me, I’ve felt so alone during this pregnancy, maybe because whenever I envisioned myself being pregnant, I envisioned being married, owning a home, and cuddling up next to my husband every night. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury with this pregnancy.
Adalyn: I don’t think baby powder is used that much anymore with babies.
Hayden: Shit, really? Well good thing because it doesn’t work. How have you been feeling today?
Adalyn: Good, the breakfast pizza was exactly what I needed. The lunch pizza you sent to the office was even better. Do I need to prepare myself for dinner?
Hayden: I would tell me now if you would like to pass on a dinner surprise.
Adalyn: Depends, what’s on the pizza menu?
Hayden: Hawaiian pizza, extra pineapple.
Adalyn: Bless you, Hayden Holmes. Bless you.
Adalyn: Are we going anywhere fancy for dinner?
Hayden: It’s not Subway if that’s what you’re asking.
Adalyn: I’m trying to decide what I need to wear, smart ass.
Hayden: Bikini.
Adalyn: Over my dead body.
Hayden: Okay, okay, lingerie works too.
Adalyn: I thought this was supposed to be a “just friends” dinner.
Hayden: Do you not wear lingerie for your friends?
Adalyn: Want to ask Logan?
Hayden: Ohhhhhhh low blow, babe. Low fucking blow . . . do you wear lingerie for him?
Adalyn: No.
Hayden: Cool. Cool. Not like I cared or anything.
Adalyn: You’re so full of shit.
Hayden: Can’t show all my cards right away, got to play it cool.
Adalyn: Oh is that what you’re doing? Could have fooled me.
Hayden: It’s the new way of acting cool, something these youngins came up with.
Adalyn: When you say youngins you make us seem so old.
Hayden: Well we are having a baby together. That is a very adult thing to do.
Adalyn: We’re having it out of wedlock.
Hayden: Fishing for a proposal?
Adalyn: Just tell me what to wear.
Hayden: Anything you feel comfortable in.
Adalyn: Comfortable right now is sweatpants.
Hayden: Then I look forward to seeing you
in your comfy threads.
Adalyn: I’m not wearing sweatpants, jeeze.
Adalyn: Heads-up. I just ate a sleeve of Oreos.
Hayden: I can see you’re starting to feel better. I hope you still have an appetite for dinner.
Adalyn: Pretty sure right now, with the way I’m feeling, I’ll be eating my dinner, your dinner, and the patrons’ next to us.
Hayden: I’ll ask for a secluded table then, this place isn’t a family style restaurant.
Adalyn: Rookie mistake with a pregnant woman. Always go family style.
Hayden: Making notes now. Should I highlight family restaurant for emphasis.
Adalyn: I recommend it.
Hayden: Done.
Hayden: Leaving my place in a few to pick you up.
Adalyn: I’ll wait outside in the front of the complex.
Hayden: No way, I’ll come get you.
Adalyn: Logan is here.
Hayden: I’ll be sure to slow down enough by the curb for you to get in.
Hayden’s black Porsche Cayenne pulls up to the curb, the sleek car polished and glittering under the streetlights. Popping out of the car, Hayden rounds the hood and opens the door for me as I reach for the handle.
“Can’t let me be a gentleman?”
Smiling, I pat his chest. “Not a date, remember?”
“Doesn’t mean I still can’t open the door for you. Let me be old-fashioned; there are few of us left in the world.”
I settle into my seat, the soft leather sucking me in like quicksand. Forget the restaurant, I can eat here and be the happiest person on earth.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. We millennials think old-fashioned is cool.”
“We also think we can find our next love on Tinder.”
I point my finger at him right before he shuts my door. “Hey, there are Tinder love stories out there, and they’re beautiful.”
Chuckling, he shuts the door on me and walks toward his side of the car. I take that moment to peruse his choice of clothing. Dark wash jeans, a light blue button-up shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and his hair styled messily to the side with a mild amount of scruff on his jaw, highlighting his dark features. There is also an air of confidence about him I haven’t seen in a while. It’s sexy.