“It’s crazy shit, I know, but I’m excited.” I rub my hands together, glancing at each of their faces, relieved to see genuine happiness for me in their expressions. Why did I doubt they’d support me in this? “I’m going ring shopping tomorrow.”
“When? Tomorrow?” Caleb asks, his eyes going wide all over again. He sounds traumatized. “Wait, you can’t be serious. You will give all the women in our lives ring fever and baby fever.”
“Wait a minute, you can’t marry Ava before I marry Jocelyn,” Diego says, seeming put out. “Then I’ll think you’re just showing off.”
“Bro, you’ve had four damn years since you got your girl pregnant to make her your bride. Get on it,” I remind him before I turn to Caleb. “And it’s not like I did this on purpose. Ava didn’t mean to get pregnant, but she is. Now I gotta step up and make everything right between us. Put a ring on her finger and get married before the baby is born so everything’s legal and we have ourselves a baby Bennett.”
Tony chuckles. “I think you like this.”
“I love it,” I say with a grin.
“Trust me, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be,” Diego says, and I can’t help but send him a frown. “You can take your time, you know, and not rush into anything. Make sure everything’s going to work out between you guys first. I only say that because you two have had—trouble recently.”
“I know what I want,” I say firmly. “And what she wants too. I love that girl. So fuckin’ much I’m willing to give up whatever I have to in order to make her my wife.”
“You won’t have to give up anything,” Tony says reassuringly. “You two love each other, it’ll all work out.”
“Just—don’t get her a giant ring that’s like twenty carats or whatever,” Caleb adds. “You’ll put us all to shame.”
“Twenty carats?” Diego starts laughing. “Please. None of us can afford something like that.”
“Tony might be able to.” I point at him and he slaps my hand away. “He’s the one who’s sitting on the family fortune.”
“Hayden comes from money too,” he says. “A giant ring won’t impress her. She probably just wants a simple gold band.”
We all make ooh noises, giving him shit.
“You been thinking about this, huh?” Caleb asks Tony, scratching the back of his head and acting uncomfortable. “Crazy motherfucker. I need to get out of here if this shit is catching. Next thing you know my ass is in Zales at the mall and I’m buying a ring for Gracie like a chump, when I don’t even plan on asking her to marry me yet.”
“Ha, he said yet.” Diego laughs.
We all laugh.
Caleb just glares.
They all talk about rings and commitment and I sit there, thinking about Ava and what she might want. She’s never really said anything about the type of ring she’d prefer when we got married. And we’ve definitely talked about getting married before, but we were never serious about it.
At least, I wasn’t serious about it.
I’m for sure going ring shopping tomorrow, when I have a break in the middle of the day from school. After practice tonight, I plan on going straight home and convincing Ava that she should go back to her parents’ house and hang out with them for a few days while I put something together for her. Get ready to propose to her somehow. I want it to be sweet and romantic. I want to watch my girl melt and cry tears of joy when I slip that ring on her finger.
This is a time for celebration. Our lives are changing, but I’m embracing that shit wholeheartedly.
Life is good.
It can’t get any better than this.
Well, that’s a lie. If the NFL came knocking on my door and I got confirmation that I’m definitely going to be in the draft, then hell yeah. I’d really be on top of the world then. All of my goals reached.
We chat more about me and Ava. Babies. Diego shares horror stories about his daughter Gigi and what a little nightmare she can be, especially when she was a baby. The endless diapers full of disgusting poop, the throwing up, the crying fits, teething. You name it, he throws it out there, trying to scare the shit out of me.
The only one it works on is Caleb, who looks like he’s watching a horror show. All wide eyes and gaping mouth and endless cursing. I just smile and nod, taking it all in. Being a parent won’t be fun all the time, but damn it, that’ll be my baby, so I’m good with it.
Bring it on.
“You tell the parents yet?” Tony asks me once Diego has finally shut up.
I shake my head. “Not yet. Ava didn’t even want me telling you guys.”
Caleb frowns. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “She’s nervous. Afraid of the unknown, I guess? She doesn’t want her parents disappointed in her since she’s going to quit college and stay with me.”
“Is she moving into our apartment?” Caleb asks, his brows shooting up.
“Maybe…” Shit. That’s one of the plans we came up with. Probably should’ve checked with him first, especially since one of our plans is having Caleb move out. “Would you mind if she did?”
“Nah, once football is over, I’ll probably end up spending a lot of time with Gracie at her place. My class load next semester won’t be too heavy,” he says. “But what’s your plan after school?”
“Not sure yet.” My gaze slides to Diego, who’s smiling. “The NFL maybe?”
“Hell yeah.” Diego holds up his palm and I slap it with my own. We keep doing this. “We’re on our way, Bennett.”
“Hopefully,” I add.
“No hope about it, we’ve got this.” He laughs. “It’s our time. We deserve this.”
“Happy for you both,” Tony says, sounding like a proud dad. Bet he feels like one too.
“Yeah,” Caleb adds. “Maybe a little jealous too, though I’m happy for you guys.”
“I love you, Caleb,” I tell him, meaning every damn word I say. I love all of them. “I’m gonna miss playing with you fools.”
“Me too,” Tony says.
We nod in agreement, all of us quiet.
It’s coming to an end, this chapter in my life. College. Classes. Football. Parties. Living with my friends. Not having to worry about work or real life. I mean, this shit is real life and sometimes, I let it get to me way too much—hello my football season junior year—but it’s got nothing on what could be coming.
Again, bring it. I’m ready. I feel mentally and physically prepared.
We part ways after we eat—Tony needs to grab something from his car, Caleb has to drop something off to a class and Diego is meeting with Jocelyn—and I wander around campus, taking my time. I stop at the student store and go in to kill a few minutes, stopping short at the display of Bulldog gear near the front.
There’s a red baby onesie thing that looks like one of our football jerseys. There’s even one with a number one on the front with the words “Bulldog fan” beneath it. I flip the onesie over. Too bad it doesn’t have Bennett on the back of it.
I grab it and take it to the girl standing behind the cash register, her eyes widening when she spots me. “Aren’t you Eli Bennett?”
I nod, setting the onesie on the counter and reaching into my back pocket for my wallet. “Yep. And you are?”
“Uh, Clarissa.” She says it like a question, as if she’s unsure what her name is.
“Nice to meet you, Clarissa.”
“Nice to meet you too.” She taps away at the keypad on the register and then scans the price tag, hitting a few more keys before she rattles off the total. I slip my credit card into the reader, watching as she bags up the little onesie. “Isn’t number one yours?”
“It is.” I take my credit card out of the machine and put it back in my wallet.
“What a cute gift. Maybe saving it for later? When you’re married and have a baby?” she asks hopefully.
“Sure.” I take the bag and receipt from her, smiling at Clarissa. She smiles back, appearing a little starstruck. “I’m keep
ing it for when I’m married and having a baby.”
Which if all goes well, will happen in the next eight months.
After practice Caleb and I return to the apartment to find Ava waiting for us, the kitchen counter covered in various takeout boxes from a nearby Chinese restaurant. The delicious aroma hits me the moment I walk inside and my stomach growls.
Hey, I could get used to this kind of treatment quick.
“Damn that smells good,” Caleb says hopefully.
“I bought enough to feed eight, so have at it,” Ava tells him.
We enter the kitchen, Caleb grabbing a plate and starts filling it. I approach Ava and sweep her into my arms, kissing her.
“You’re too good to us,” I murmur.
“I have selfish motives.” She grins as she pulls out of my arms, going to one of the containers and opening it, pulling out a piece of…
Pineapple.
She pops it into her mouth, humming in approval. “Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple. Sooo delicious.”
“You have issues,” I tease her.
“More like cravings,” Caleb mutters as he helps himself to the sweet and sour chicken, kicking any pineapple he scoops out back into the container.
Ava goes still, her gaze wide when it meets mine. “You told him.”
I wince. “I couldn’t help it, babe. I’m excited.”
Her smile softens and she exhales, like I’m a hopeless case. “I get it. I already told Ellie.”
“See? It’s hard to keep it in.” I wanted to announce to the entire damn football team that I’m going to be a dad, but held back at the last second.
I need to tell my family first. And she needs to tell hers.
“Congrats, Mom and Dad,” Caleb says with a grin as he dumps about half of the rice onto his plate. “I’m excited for you crazy kids.”
“Don’t act like you think we’re crazy. You’ll be a dad next, I bet,” I tell him.
Caleb shakes his head as he heads for the table. “Hell no. I’m not ready for that.”
I grab an empty plate but Ava takes it from me. “Go sit. I’ll make you plate.”
“Really?” I drop a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks, Princess.”
I go to the table and sit across from Caleb, who’s shoveling food into his mouth as fast as he can. “She’s spoiling you now because you’re going to have to return the favor later, you know.”
“True,” Ava says cheerily as she’s dumping all sorts of food onto my plate. Not a pineapple in sight though. “When I’m fat and waddling around, totally uncomfortable and my belly full of his baby, he’s going to have to make me dinner and rub my feet every night.”
The image she describes fills me with satisfaction—mixed with an unfamiliar, primal feeling. I cannot wait to see her waddling around, her stomach round with our baby and knowing I’m the one who put her into that condition.
We eat and talk, Caleb telling funny stories and making Ava laugh. She doesn’t eat a lot—mostly sweet and sour chicken with a boatload of pineapple—while Caleb goes back for thirds and I eat two platefuls.
It’s nice. Everything feels normal, yet different. I think about showing Ava the onesie I bought earlier today, but decide I won’t. Not yet. I’ll give it to her when I ask her to marry me.
Yeah, she’ll like that. A lot.
“What are you smiling about?” she asks softly.
I glance up, realizing that Caleb has left the table. I can hear him chatting on the phone as he heads down the hall to his room. Sounds like he’s talking to Gracie.
“Nothing.” I shake my head, reaching out and settling my hand over Ava’s. “Thank you for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.” She squeezes my hand. “It was good, huh.”
“Yeah.” What’s even better is having her here with me.
I haven’t been this content in a long time.
Her expression changes, turning serious. “I probably need to go home.”
“Tonight?” I frown.
“No, but tomorrow for sure. And eventually…we need to tell them about the baby,” she whispers.
“We’ll do it this weekend. Sunday,” I say, thinking about how I’m going to buy her a ring tomorrow. That’ll work out perfectly. We’ll be engaged, ready to become a family, and her parents will totally approve of that. Me stepping up and taking care of my responsibilities.
That should satisfy them.
“Okay,” she says, her smile shaky. “It’ll be weird, going home and knowing what I know, yet not telling them.”
“You want to tell them sooner?” Whatever she wants, I’m game.
I’ll do whatever my girl wants.
“No, Sunday makes the most sense. You have practice every afternoon and then your game. I can wait.” She touches her stomach, filling me with the need to do the same, but I can’t reach her. “I hope they’ll be happy for us.”
“Why wouldn’t they? We’re going to give them their first grandbaby.” I start chuckling, I can’t help it. “Damn, Jake’s gonna be pissed. He likes being first in everything. Looks like I’m going to beat him.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “It’s not a competition, Eli. And I don’t think Jake will be mad. Pretty sure he’s not ready for babies yet.”
“It’ll still be fun, beating him in the grandchild race.” I can’t stop grinning.
Neither can Ava, even though she’s shaking her head at me.
Everything’s going to be all right.
I can just feel it.
Thirty-Six
Ava
I’m at my parents’ house when I wake up in the middle of the night with the urge to pee. I slip into my bathroom in the dark, sitting on the toilet and peeing when I hear something heavier than urine drop into the toilet. Grabbing some toilet paper, I wipe and look at it.
Even in the dim light, from the tiny nightlight in the room, I can tell it’s blood.
Panic racing through me, I waddle over to the wall and turn on the lights, glancing into the toilet before I sit back down and see…
More blood.
“Oh no, oh no,” I whisper, grabbing more toilet paper so I can wipe.
Red again.
After I flush the toilet, I grab a pantyliner from the cabinet under the sink and put it in my panties, then wash my hands. I stare at my reflection, see the fear in my gaze and think to myself, what do I do now?
I never told my parents I’m pregnant. They have no clue. Mom knows I’ve gotten back with Eli and she supports my decision, but I never told her what else is going on.
I was too scared.
Rushing back into my bedroom, I grab my phone and send a text to Eli.
Me: Please call me.
I sit on the edge of my bed, chewing nervously on my fingernail. Blood could mean nothing. Or it could mean I’m having a miscarriage.
Oh God.
I rest my hand against my belly, wincing when I feel the cramp ripple through me. Maybe it wasn’t the need to pee at all. Maybe I’m cramping and that’s what woke me up.
“No, no, no,” I murmur, hitting the call button and trying to reach Eli.
It’s after two in the morning. He’s for sure sleeping.
It goes to voicemail and I end the call and redial again.
Still no answer.
I text him again.
Me: Please call me. It’s an emergency.
Me: I need you, Eli.
I pace my room, a wave gripping my lower belly that has me bending over. There’s a gush between my legs and I run back into the bathroom, pulling down my underwear to see I’ve bled right through.
There’s blood everywhere.
Crying, I clean myself up, grab another pair of panties and a full-blown pad this time and slip everything on.
And then I go to my parents’ bedroom.
I don’t even bother knocking on the door, I just walk straight in, going to my mother’s side of the bed. I shake her shoulder gently, whispering, “Mom,” a couple of times until she
wakes up. When she spots me, she sits straight up.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“I think—I’m having issues.”
“What sort of issues?” She’s frowning, confused.
“Womanly ones.” I start to cry harder.
She climbs out of bed and I watch as she slips on a pair of old sweatpants and an oversized sweater. Dad doesn’t even stir. The man must sleep like the dead.
“What do you want to do?” she asks me.
“I want to go to the hospital. The emergency room.”
“That’s so far though. How about the twenty-four-hour clinic?”
“We have one of those up here?”
“It’s new,” she says as she slips on a pair of old Ugg boots. “Get some shoes on. And a coat.”
I rush to the hall closet and pull out an old winter coat, then slip on a pair of Autumn’s old black Uggs that she left behind. I love that my mother didn’t even hesitate or try to talk me out of what I want to do.
She’s just doing it.
I wait for her in the kitchen, gritting my teeth when another cramp grips me and she magically appears, her purse already slung over her shoulder and her car keys clutched in her fingers. “Let’s go.”
I follow her into the garage and we get into the car, me checking my phone every few minutes but still no response from Eli.
He must sleep like the dead like my father.
“What’s going on, Ava?” Mom says once we’re on the highway that leads into town.
“I’m p-pregnant,” I say, barely able to hold it together. “And I think I’m losing the baby.”
“Oh, Ava.” Her voice cracks and she reaches out to settle her hand on my knee. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I explain how I woke up and what I discovered. She nods, her gaze on the road, her hand still clutching my knee.
“I tried texting and calling Eli but he won’t answer,” I practically wail, banging my head against the seat.
“He’s probably sleeping like your father, though I did wake him up to let him know we were leaving.”
“What did you tell him?” I whip my head in her direction.
The Senior (College Years Book 4) Page 29