“Aurora,” both Mark and Jyri called out at the same time—a little too enthusiastically, waking Mark’s sleeping prince.
The baby stirred at first, then let out a pissed-off cry. He didn’t have a chance to protest for too long. Mark swept his son from Becca’s arms and cooed to the infant, settling him down.
Like magic.
“Wow, you’re good,” Josh said to his teammate.
Mark puffed out his chest. Becca snorted a laugh.
“What?” he said to her. “I am good.”
She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Of course you’re good, dear. No one would ever suggest otherwise.”
I smiled at the teasing between the men and their wives, and the men and their teammates. They were like a family. The family Josh never really had.
The family I did have—for the most part.
When I was eight, we had this one nanny who smelled like an old sweater a group of hungry moths had turned into a tasty meal. And discipline? She made a grumpy old schoolmaster from the 1800s—complete with a wooden cane—seem pleasant.
One day, Chris and I had gone down to our favorite pond to catch frogs, even though this was strictly forbidden since proper young ladies didn’t catch frogs.
Unfortunately for me, while trying to catch a particularly stubborn frog, I slipped on a rock, fell into the water, and sliced my leg open on a broken glass bottle. The good news? My parents were away for a few days. The bad news? Well, I think you can guess what it was.
Long story short…Chris and I deliberated for the next five minutes whether I should just bleed to death or tell Miss When I Was A Young Lady what had happened. It was a tight vote—and if Simon hadn’t shown up and told me I would die a long and agonizingly painful death, I would have won. But because I sucked it up in the end and was taken to the doctor for stitches, I barely had a scar to show for it.
I checked the time on my phone and did the quick math. “Excuse me for a moment. I need to make a call.” I turned around in Josh’s arms and gave him a brief kiss. “I won’t be long.”
“You sure?”
That smile on my face? Directed entirely at Josh. “Absolutely.”
I left him talking with his teammates and their wives and found a quiet spot in a nearby park. I sat on the empty bench and pulled up Mum’s number. Part of me hoped she would answer—the other part hoped she wouldn’t.
“Holly,” Mum said. “Are you okay?” She sounded genuinely concerned. That was what I got for not calling her as often as I should. Oops.
“I’m fine. Better than fine.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Quiz time—what’s the best way to tell your mother you’re pregnant when you aren’t married?
I didn’t know either, so I just blurted, “I’m pregnant.”
Wait for it.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Hmm. Maybe we were disconnected.
Five.
“Are you sure?” she finally said, in a tone that would send kittens scrambling in fear.
Not a single tear of joy was about to be shed from her eyes.
Shocked? Me neither.
Despite the immense disappointment in her tone, I smiled at my growing belly. “I’m twenty weeks now—so yes, I’m sure.”
“Twenty weeks?” There might have been some unladylike cursing too—something I’d never heard from her before.
That couldn’t be good.
“Is Jack the father?”
“Josh. Not Jack.”
“I take it that’s a yes?”
At least this time I didn’t have to lie to her—completely. There was still the matter of how I had told her he and I were engaged…and then we weren’t.
I know, this was what I got for lying in the beginning. If I had pulled up my big-girl panties, I wouldn’t be in this situation.
I would’ve just been the daughter who got knocked up while celebrating Nanna’s life.
Nanna would be so proud of me.
No, really. She’d always wanted a great-grandchild.
“Yes, it’s Josh’s baby. I wanted to tell you because…well…you’re going to be a grandmother—and I thought you might want to know.”
“Of course I want to know.” Marine drill sergeants sounded less harsh. “Does this mean the engagement is back on?”
Yeah…about that.
Let’s take a moment here to remember why I had lied to her to begin with. She had wanted me to marry Drew. Drew had been interested in me, but at that time I wasn’t pregnant.
Okay, I was—I just didn’t know it yet.
So if the math added up correctly, marrying me off to Drew was no longer on the table.
“It isn’t something we’ve discussed.” Heck, until tonight, I hadn’t realized Josh thought of me as his girlfriend.
But now wasn’t the time to mention that.
“Right now we’re seeing how things go. Getting used to the idea of being parents. Figuring this all out—the parenting thing, that is.” Figuring out how to balance our careers, our relationship, and our son.
“So you’re just going to be an unwed mother?” The way she said it, you’d have thought I had announced I was quitting my job, becoming a hippie, and starting a marijuana and pumpkin farm.
“I guess so. But given that the idea disgusts you, it looks like we have nothing more to say. Good-bye, Mum.” I ended the call.
Well, I guess that’s that.
Blinking back my darn hormonal tears, I spread my hand across my belly. “Don’t worry, Noah,” I said in the same sweet tone you used with young children, “I’ll find you someone even better to be your grandmother.”
Maybe I could rent one at Grannies-R-Us.
Too bad such a place didn’t exist.
But I bet there were a few elderly women who hung out at a senior center who would love to apply for the job.
Me to Chris: It’s now official. I’m a member of the black-sheep club. I told Mum about the baby.
Chris: Welcome to the group and an endless supply of chocolate milk and cookies.
I half sniffed, half laughed. Chris always knew how to make me laugh.
Me: Just what the OB ordered :)
Chris: Will you be okay?
I sniffed again. I think so.
A moment later my phone rang and I answered it.
No, it wasn’t my mother apologizing for being a bitch. It was Chris.
We talked for a while. But not about Noah or Josh or my new black-sheep status. Instead he told me about his last flying job and about the crazy old man he and his co-pilot had to rescue in the outback.
“I swear to God it’s true,” Chris said as I giggled. “We show up and the guy is dancing around bare-arse naked, claiming he’s getting in touch with mother earth and doesn’t need rescuing.”
I glanced up and spotted Josh striding toward me, his forehead a worried frown. “Josh is here now,” I told Chris. Josh had texted while I was talking to my brother and I’d told him where I was.
Did he know about what happened with my mum?
No—I didn’t wish to spoil his fun. I’d told him I needed to talk to Chris for a few minutes.
But one look at me and he realized something was wrong.
Chris and I ended our call as Josh sat next to me on the bench.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I was about to reassure him that everything was okay—but my hormones decided they were bored.
So instead of smiling reassuringly at him…I burst into tears.
Have you ever attempted a conversation while sobbing?
It was darn near impossible. All I could do was nod while my words sounded like a foreign language no one else knew.
In the end, Josh enveloped me in his arms and let me cry on his shoulder.
Before I managed to flood the place, the sobbing eventually slowed to a hiccup, and I told Josh about the phone call with my mum.
“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling away. “I didn’t mean to take you away from your teammates and then cry all over you.”
“Hey, that’s okay, Hot Stuff. And no matter what you might think, you’re not alone. You’ve got me and your brothers. And you’ve got Trent, Kelsey, and Erin. You’ve got a lot of people who care about you.”
I sniffed and nodded. “I know.”
Besides, my parents hadn’t been there for me for years. Why mess with tradition?
“You ready to go back to your apartment?” Josh asked.
“Definitely.”
Before I terrified some poor little kid—because red hair, makeup, and heavy crying equaled one scary looking clown.
21
Holly
I was officially twenty-eight weeks pregnant—and in my third and final trimester.
Go me!
So far things were going great. My sex drive hadn’t changed. I was still a sexed-up maniac. Josh just had to look at me and I was ready to jump his bones.
The man was a real trooper. Not once did he complain.
I exited my car in the mall parking lot as a text came through on my phone. I still had a few minutes before meeting up with Kelsey and Erin for lunch and shopping.
Josh: How’s the sexiest momma around doing?
Josh and his team were away on a road trip. A very long road trip—according to my libido. Apparently, no one in the NHL scheduling department cared that I was super-horny.
How considerate of them.
Me: I take it you mean me?
Josh: Of course. Who else? So, what are you wearing?
I glanced at my forest-green maternity top, which hugged my body in the right places, and my maternity jeans.
Me: My black lacy bra and matching panties.
Hey, that was partly true. I was wearing them.
Josh: What else?
Me: A smile. Should I be wearing anything else? Where are you?
Josh: Just landed at Calgary airport. Waiting for the plane to arrive at the gate. But never mind that. Let’s get back to what you’re wearing…
Me: Guess this is your way of saying you aren’t sitting on your hotel bed, alone, in nothing but your briefs.
Josh: Yep, that would be correct. But you can imagine it if it makes you feel better.
I ran my hand over my stomach and leaned back against my car.
Me: That would make me feel better.
That was a complete and utter lie. With that image now in my head, all it did was make me hornier than before…if that was at all possible.
Me: I miss you. I miss taking you in my hand and stroking down your length…long and hard.
I giggled as I imagined him groaning at my words.
Me: And as I do that, I’m thinking about putting my lips over the tip and sucking you until you can’t hold back anymore.
I had meant to leave him all hot and bothered, but all I accomplished was to do that to myself. Brilliant.
Did I believe Josh hadn’t been affected? Hell no. The man was as horny as they came. Which had been a huge positive for me.
Josh: You’re killing me, Hot Stuff. You do realize that, right?
I grinned.
Me: You’re welcome, Cool Stuff :)
Josh: We have to disembark now. Will talk to you soon.
Me: Okay. And good luck tonight. Noah and I will be watching the game.
Technically, it wasn’t true. But at least Noah would hear me get excited whenever Josh was on the ice—or whenever the camera flashed to him sitting on the bench.
Before I had a chance to put my phone in my purse, it rang. Dad?
The last time I’d talked to him was a few weeks before I told Mum that I was pregnant.
I accepted the call. “G’day, Dad.”
“Don’t you mean Granddad?” Unlike Mum, he didn’t seem upset about it. “Although personally, I don’t think I look old enough to be a grandfather.”
I laughed. Dad’s hair had been gray for a number of years. It was Mum who looked too young to be a grandmother—thanks to her hair colorist.
“You’re right, Dad. You look too young to be a grandfather.…So, I’m guessing Mum’s still angry about my news.”
“You might say that. But I’m sure she’ll eventually come around.”
“Sure, maybe when Noah is in college,” I muttered.
“I wanted to make sure you’re all right,” he said, either not hearing me or choosing to ignore what I’d said, “and suggest that maybe you should consider moving back here.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re going to be a single mother. Wouldn’t it be better to do that here, where we can help you out? I mean, your mum and I know all about being parents.”
Good thing I hadn’t been eating when he’d said that. I might have choked.
Any suggestions who we could nominate for the Most Delusional Parent Of The Year award?
“Thanks for the offer,” I said, “but I like it here and I have a great job.” Not to mention Noah’s daddy lived here and not in Sydney.
“Just thought I’d suggest it. Well, I’ve got to get back to work. If you need anything, let me know, otherwise I’ll talk to you soon.” Before I could say anything, he ended the call.
Surprised at the short duration?
Don’t be. Normally they were even shorter than that, usually due to a meeting he had to rush off to.
Kelsey and Erin were waiting to be seated when I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes later. Three-month-old Samantha was asleep in the infant seat next to Erin’s feet.
“How’s it going?” Kelsey asked as she and I hugged.
And yes—Kelsey had agreed to be my backup labor coach if Noah decided to come into the world while his daddy was away.
“We’re still doing great.” Minus the part where I needed to go to the loo every five minutes—especially when Noah found it particularly amusing to use my bladder as a hockey puck.
Speaking of which…
“I’ll meet you at the table. I need to go to the bathroom.” I didn’t even wait for their reply. I hurried off in the direction I was well acquainted with.
Once finished there, I walked out of the washroom and collided with a tall, hard body coming toward the men’s room.
“Sorry,” I said, stumbling back while doing my best not to fall on my arse.
Which meant grabbing the closest thing to me—the man’s arm.
“Holly?” a surprised Aussie accent said.
My head jerked up and I blinked—while trying to recall if What To Expect warned of possible delusions during pregnancy. Possible delusions that looked especially hot in a dark gray suit. “Drew? What are you doing here?”
“The company sent me. We’re examining expansion opportunities in the U.S.” His gaze dropped to my belly, but if he was surprised that I was pregnant, he didn’t show it.
But maybe he wasn’t surprised. My pregnancy was hardly a national state secret—especially where Simon’s loose lips were concerned.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” I asked, smiling.
Was I happy to see him? Yes—now that Mum had given up trying to marry us off to each other.
Thank you, Noah, for putting a wrench in that plan.
Whatever you want once you’re born, it’s yours.
“I was planning to contact you once I arrived,” Drew said. “I just haven’t had a chance yet.”
“Well consider me contacted. How long are you here for?”
“Just until tomorrow night this time. But I’ll be back next month and will be staying till the end of January. The company rented an apartment for me.”
“Nice. Are you here with someone?” I indicated to the restaurant.
“Just a business associate. Who I guess I should get back to. But I would love to get together with you for dinner next month.”
“That would be great. I’m sure Josh would like to see you again.” All right, maybe that was
a bit of a stretch. More like amused.
Thanks to Mum, Drew had my number—which she must have given him prior to my little announcement. I entered his into my phone.
“Holy smoking hot male,” Erin said as I rejoined the girls at our table. She and Kelsey had had a bird’s eye view of my run-in with Drew. “Who was he, and why were you exchanging numbers with him?”
“That’s Drew.”
That was all I needed to say. They knew all about him. Did they also know about what had happened between my mum and me?
Yes. Erin had decided her parents would adopt me like they had unofficially adopted Kelsey and her brother when their parents died.
She was kidding of course—about all of it.
But it was the thought that counted.
“Is there something wrong with him?” Erin asked, eyes wide, as if she was expecting me to announce he was an ax murderer—of chocolate bunnies.
I laughed. The women at the next table winced. “There’s nothing wrong with him. Not as far as I know. I was just never interested. That’s all.” Of course, back then he hadn’t looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ.
“So you’re planning to get together with him to reminisce?” Erin asked.
I chuckled. “You make me sound old. And sure, why not? It’s not like we’re going out on a date. I’m currently with Josh.”
As you might have guessed from the sexts, we were still boyfriend-slash-girlfriend. Other than when the team was away on a road trip, he and I slept together. Every. Single. Night. Surprised? Don’t be. I’d given him a key to my apartment last month so he could join me in my bed after his home games. Usually I was asleep by then, but I was always happy for him to cuddle me awake.
What’s the best way to deal with an adrenaline overload?
Hot. Steamy. Sex. Lots of it.
And I had to say the sacrifice on my part was well worth it.
But that was as far as things had progressed between us. There had been no discussion of moving in together once Noah was born. I had even tried bringing it up once—but when he began acting like someone who had sat naked on a red ants’ nest, I’d dropped it.
So why couldn’t I go out with Drew—as a friend?
It wasn’t like I was cheating on Josh—which I would never do.
“When did you and Josh want to do the prenatal photos?” Kelsey asked after the waiter had taken our order. The pictures she had taken of a pregnant Erin and Erin’s husband were gorgeous.
Decidedly With Baby (By the Bay Book 2) Page 14