"Or something," I muttered, looking at Clay I smile.
"I'll explain it later, why don't we eat lunch? What do you boys want to watch? There's hockey, baseball, basketball?" Jeez, she'd been watching too much ESPN.
Due to our morning mishap, Jack didn't get the meat on the smoker early enough. All the other side's for the barbeque were ready, just not the brisket. We moved outside to the patio, there was a slight breeze and the weather was too nice to sit inside.
Once we were all seated Campbell asked, "Is it always so dramatic here?"
I said, "No." While Clay, Craig, and Jack, said, "Yes." Okay. Clearly I was outnumbered here.
"Let me clarify, I have never instigated a fight before this morning," I said. Stopped them, yes. Instigated, more like flown into a violent rage, until this morning, no.
"Connor's not here. He causes a lot of shit. It's annoying, but never boring," Jack admitted.
"If Connor wasn't a stellar baseball player, I'd drop him. He was spotted coming out of a well-known BDSM club, he's a fucking handful." I giggled. "You would find that funny," Craig said to me.
"His girlfriend got caught mid gangbang by Clay, New Years Eve." Campbell and Johnson laughed. It was funny now, Jack was not impressed with the broken TV then.
Q walked out, and I sat up. "Hey Q." He had to know it was a crap shoot, with a slim to none chance of her settling down. I could tell he was upset, but I think more with himself. He had waited for her to come around a long time. Years he can't get back.
"I'm gonna head out and meet up with Pohl and Davis. We'll get a hotel tonight. She wants to go home. I offered to take her, but—" he shook his head.
"Sure you wanna meet up with Davis?" I asked.
"It'll be fine." I didn't want to push it he was ready to bolt, self preservation and all, I had to let him.
"We'll make sure she gets there," Jack said, standing to walk Q out. Personality wise, Jack and Q shared a lot of similarities. After meeting at the golf tournament, years ago, it didn't take long for them to become good friends.
I looked over at Kristen, "You gonna set Q up?"
She nodded. "He didn't go last time, but I'll try again."
Looking around the table I asked, "Anyone sober enough to drive her to the airport?" I didn't want to put Kristen on the spot knowing she was sober.
"I can take her," Campbell offered.
"She hasn't moved from the office," Jack stated. Looking at Kristen, I nodded my head motioning inside. The kids would be awake soon, and raring to go.
Sarah needed to have it together by then. Heading inside we saw Sarah sitting, somewhat stunned on the couch.
"You okay?" I asked, as Kristen shut the door.
"Yeah. It sucks, but we're better off this way. I'm going to head home." Sitting next to her, I wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me back, resting her cheek on my shoulder.
"Campbell's sober, and he said he wouldn't mind driving you. But, why don't you eat something first?" I asked, knowing damn well she'd be sitting her ass on a bar stool as soon as she gets to the airport.
"Tell him I'm waiting out front whenever he's ready." She pulled out of the hug, standing. Kristen left, presumably to get Campbell.
"Text me, when you get on the plane and when you get home. I'm serious. The last thing you need is to sleep in that airport." She laughed.
"I'll be fine, and I'll text you. I promise." She smiled for my benefit.
Campbell walked by, motioning for Sarah to follow him. As they left, I reflected on things, mostly remembering Sawyer, Porter, and other friends I'd lost over the years. I let out a sigh, heading back outside to enjoy my day with Clay. And my kids.
Chapter Thirteen
Playoffs and Birthday Parties
The twins wanted a pool party. Clay didn't have a pool, but Kristen agreed to host. I grabbed last minute party supplies and picked up the cupcakes. I was now heading to Kristen's to start decorating. Sarah couldn't clear her schedule to make the party, but Q said he'd make it. They seemed to have worked out a system of avoiding each other, which is fine with me.
Clay had taken on the task of distracting the twins at home while I accomplished this. I loved him for that alone. Kristen was expecting me to be early, and I hoped she was up to helping set up. The decorations were minimal, but I still had to put together the kids' goodie bags.
However, I felt like absolute crap. If the unending nauseous feeling wasn't bad enough, I would have rather crawled into bed and sleep. I didn't want to miss the twins fifth birthday party because I was barfing or close to it. If it didn't stop soon, I could write myself a script for Zofran, that's one perk of being a doctor.
In the middle of stuffing goodie bags, my stomach roiled. I pushed past Kristen, running into the guest bath, falling to my knees in front of the toilet. I heaved until my stomach was empty.
Kristen appeared as I flushed the toilet. Even though my stomach was empty I still felt sick.
"You think Jack will fill a script for me real quick? I don't feel up to driving." Maria was watching Matt upstairs, thankfully he didn't witness my puke episode.
"Yeah, there's time before the party starts." While she found Jack, I dug in my purse for the blank script pad I kept there. As I finished writing the script, Jack appeared. He shouldn't need my ID, since it's not a controlled substance. I gave Jack the paper and my ID, anyways.
"Am I going to be in deep shit with Clay, if I don't call him about this?" Jack's lip twitched as he asked. Almost as if he couldn't decide if it was funny or if he should be worried. I rolled my eyes, overprotective much?
"It's anti-nausea medicine. He'll see for himself soon enough." Kristen was finishing the goodie bags while I waited for Jack to accept that I was okay.
He stared at me briefly. "Be back soon." And he leaves, finally. Luckily, the pharmacy was five minutes away. I would have relief soon.
After he left, my eyes widened as it dawned on me I could be pregnant. Clay and I had talked about using condoms, but hadn't actually used any. Big fat oopsie. Kristen looked up and noticed my mini-freak out.
"What's going on?"
"Um—"
"Spit it out."
"Do you have any pregnancy tests left over?" Her eyes got round.
"Really?" she shrieked.
"Maybe, we forgot to use condoms, now answer the question." It wasn't planned, we both forgot. What if Clay was pissed? He did say that he wanted kids, but after he retired.
"I might, let's go look. If not Jack can pick one up." Please let her have a spare. Fuck me if Jack was going to buy a pregnancy test. He'd tell Clay and I needed to know for sure before I could mention being late to Clay. We rushed upstairs to her bathroom. She was flipping through drawers like a maniac, but finally produced a pee stick. She handed it to me and stared.
"What are you waiting for?"
"I'm scared, plus I don't have to pee yet." I stuck it in my back pocket, pulling my shirt down to hide it.
We made our way back downstairs to the kitchen. She filled a glass of water and set it in front of me. I wanted the meds before I added fuel to my displeased tummy. "Does Clay know?"
"No. The possibility I could be just hit me. I want to be sure first. He needs to focus right now. You can't say anything." The Stanley Cup finals were going on, game three was tomorrow, then he'd go out of town for game four.
"You have to tell him." She didn't have room to judge, since she didn't tell Jack right away, once she did know about her bun in the oven.
"What if it distracts him?" Maybe I should ask Jack, but he'd tell Clay. Jack chose that moment to return with my meds. He plopped the bag in front of me, handing me my ID.
"If what distracts who?"
"Nothing," I said. Ripping open the bag, I pop open the pill bottle, and quickly took one.
"She might be knocked up, but she's afraid it'll distract Clay."
He grinned. The bastard.
"What the fuck dude. I asked you not to say anything." Jack fu
ll out started laughing, a belly clutching laugh. I didn't think it was fucking hilarious. I was nervous, and maybe a little scared.
"You told me not to say anything to Clay. Jack knows Clay, and he can offer his opinion." Yep, this was going to be my life from now on.
His eyes went soft. "I'll go back and buy a test. He'll want to know."
"I had a spare, she just needs to pee on it," Kristen giddily replied. "Hurry up and drink the water so you can pee." She clapped. Yes, clapped. I rolled my eyes. I was dragging this out as long as possible. They were going to tell Clay if I didn't, I might as well wait for him to get here and pee on the thing, in front of him.
"I'm waiting for the meds to kick in. I'm not barfing more because I chugged a bunch of water." I liked denial, it was a nice safe place.
"Mm-hmm. You don't tell him I will," Kristen threatened. "Just like you practically told Jack."
Bitch. If I wasn't so nauseous I'd be spitting mad right now. I don't have the energy.
"That's totally different, you knew and sat on it. I just realized what could be, and am still in mid freak out. Jack come on?"
"I'm not refereeing this shit. Let Claire go lay down. Clay will get it out of her later."
I headed up the stairs to my old room, how fitting.
######
I wasn't in full on nap mode, just floating between barely awake and asleep. I heard the door open, voices from downstairs filtered in and soon faded back out. Clay was here. So much for knowing for sure before saying anything. "Claire," Clay quietly called. The bed moved when he sat on it. I felt his warmth at my back and his arm around my waist. He moved my hair, kissing my neck. He was sporting a full on beard for the cup because of superstition.
"Look at me, Claire." I rolled back enough to look at him. He was up on one elbow looking down at me, his eyes were melty, almost glistening. "What's wrong beautiful?" Clay asked with concern. I was anxious, but it was time to lay it all out on the table.
"I got sick earlier, and realized I'm late. I didn't want to distract you, but Jack and Kristen got involved. I wanted to wait until after The Cup, to mention—"
Taking advantage of my open mouth, he kissed me, tongue connecting with mine. Guess he's okay with having a baby. After the kiss, my hands pressed into his chest. I needed to catch my breath.
"So we're pregnant?" Um, no.
"We are not pregnant. I might be pregnant, haven't peed on the stick yet." I hated when guys said that. It wasn't their bodies going through this major hormonal disturbance, ending in a dramatic and painful exit, and they still get to drink beer.
"This is a non-negotiable we situation," he said, looking a tad worried, and more than a bucket load offended. He took my comment completely the wrong way, making me smile.
"I know what you're hinting at, but unless you wanna carry this kid for nine or ten months, I'm the pregnant one." His body started shaking with silent laughter.
Once his laughter subsided, he spoke, "I want to show you something before you pee on it and we find out." He looked at me, I nodded, and he continued, "I showed this to the twins earlier, and I have their blessing." He pulled a small, red, Cartier ring box out of his pocket, handing it to me.
I raised up on my elbow, taking in the box. "You asked the twins permission to propose?" I questioned, wondering how exactly that went down.
"Yes. Tara-Lynn may have freaked out a little bit. A little bit meaning lots of screaming and jumping. I didn't think about trying to video it until after." I laughed, smiling. Tara-Lynn's most likely downstairs bugging Kristen to look at dresses and flowers. "Aren't you going to look at it?"
"I could care less about the ring, as long as we're together. But, I still want you to ask."
"And that is one of the reasons why I love you. Will you marry me Claire?"
I dropped the box, throwing my weight on him and forcing him to his back. I planted a wet kiss on his lips, and pulled back. "Yes!" I whispered, against his lips, in between kisses. Clay pulled away from my mouth, found my left hand, and flipping the ring box open, he slipped the ring onto my finger. It was a gorgeous round stone, with micro-paved diamonds on the band.
"Will you please go pee on the stick now?" I was content with living in denial, but everyone refused to let me stay there.
I grumbled, "Okay." I find the white package, and there's no instructions. Heading into the bathroom I close the door. I empty the entire contents of my bladder on the absorbent tip. Placing it face down on the counter, I wash my hands and go stand by Clay's side.
"Kristen didn't give me the instructions, but I'm guessing three minutes or so, we'll know—" He leaned down and kissed me quiet. He pulled away, tucking my hair behind my ears.
Glancing down at his watch, he grabbed my hand and led me into the bathroom. He flipped the plastic stick over.
We both gawked at the stick, Clay smiled. And that was, well, that. His face dipped down to mine, kissing me, then guided me downstairs to party.
Epilogue
Time Marches On
A lot has happened this past year. Clay and I hightailed it to Vegas and got married. Our nuptials happened after the Avalanches won the Cup. Once Clay hit the off season, we took a month long vacation to Alaska.
A short time after our return, we were informed that I wasn't just pregnant. I was pregnant with twins. I cried. Yes, I actually cried. After my mini-meltdown I told, okay asked, Clay to get a vasectomy because I couldn't handle another surprise pregnancy with a possibility of a third set of twins.
He laughed. He laughs a lot, usually at my expense, but I love him.
Kristen found out she was pregnant with a girl, McKenna, a week before I found out about the fraternal twins being boys. Cullen and Clay were ecstatic with the news. Tara-Lynn cried saying, "we owe her a sister." Poor girl.
I've cut down my hours to part time. The boys(Evan and Declan) are now three months old. Clay's season is in full swing. I love being at home with them, but I work enough to keep my sanity.
I opted for an IUD after the twins were delivered. Clay wouldn't give on his manhood being snipped. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Clay plied me with enough wine, which honestly wasn't that much, so I agreed to one more pregnancy, but after he retires from the NHL.
Kristen focused her matchmaking skills on Q. He's now happily engaged, and we're all happy for him, even Wilson.
Davis, well, Davis is now a model and promotes wounded veterans charities. Chicks dig scars, and he has plenty of both(women and scars).
Wilson and I are still very close, and that will never change. She's single, but focuses on competing in Crossfit and bikini competitions.
Conner hasn't grabbed my ass again. I'm not sure if it's because Clay's "claimed me", or if it was my showdown with Davis. Regardless, Clay and Jack gave me the green light to pop him should he ever cross the line. He's been more respectful of boundaries, but I think he's just afraid of me, or Clay, handing him his ass.
All hasn't been fair in love and war, but for me, I have a hot loving man, kids I adore, great friends and in-laws. What more could a girl ask for?
Nothing.
About the Author
Ryleigh grew up in Texas and enlisted in the military after high school. After traveling the world she came back stateside and started a new chapter in her life. She currently resides in the inland northwest. When she isn't crafting with words she can often be found outdoors with her toddler or be found reading a good book and eating dark chocolate.
To learn more you can follow her on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RhodesRyleighAuthor
Twitter - @ryleigh_rhodes
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Inspiration for Enforcer on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ryleighrhodes/enforcer/
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