by Kaylee Ryan
I wake sometime later to whispers. Opening my eyes, I see Ashley and Robin sitting at the foot of the bed. Both wear matching grins. “Hi,” I croak, my throat dry from sleep.
“Hey, you look comfy.” Ashley winks and I can feel my face heat.
“Blaine.” I shake his arm to wake him up.
“Go back to sleep, baby,” he mumbles.
“Aw.” Robin smiles and her eyes shimmer. “I’m so glad to see you’re awake and doing well,” she says.
“Yeah, the doctor says I might be able to go home tomorrow if all my numbers still stay steady.”
“That’s great news,” Ashley chimes in. “We thought we would sit with you while the guys and Blaine talk racing.”
“I’m not leaving,” Blaine mumbles, nuzzling into my chest.
Robin and Ashley crack up laughing, which makes me laugh too. This, of course, wakes him up.
“What did I miss?” he asks, groggily.
“Glad you could join us,” Robin teases her son. “Your dad and Kevin are in the waiting room. We came back first.”
“What happened to two at a time?” he asks.
“Apparently, now that she’s awake that restriction is lifted,” she says as the door opens.
“There she is.” Brian smiles. He comes over to the bed and kisses me on the cheek. My heart swells with the love and support his family and friends are giving me.
“Hands off my girl, Pops.” Blaine chuckles. He sits up in bed, and I do the same. However, he makes no move to climb out, so I curl up against his chest. Oddly enough, it feels natural to be with him like this, with all of them around. To be honest, that’s what my heart has yearned for all along. The five of us spend the next hour chatting. Conversation simmers when they come in to read my levels, but as soon as the nurse is gone, Kevin speaks up.
“We’ve got the car loaded and ready to go whenever you are,” he says.
“Not going,” Blaine says it as if he’s talking about the weather.
“What?” I look up at him. “What do you mean you’re not going? It’s a points race, right?” I look to Brian for confirmation and he nods.
“I’m not leaving this room until you do.”
“Blaine, that’s crazy. You’re leading the points. You’re on track to win your third championship in a row. This is what you wanted.”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “Plans change.”
“No. Nope, not happening, Bishop. This is your career we’re talking about.”
“Baby, this is you we’re talking about,” he says, making me blush.
I look over at his mom. “Can you talk some sense into him?”
“What if Ashley and I stay with Aubree? We’ll make sure she’s set up at your place, and cater to her every need.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I grumble, and she laughs.
“No way in hell am I racing if she’s still here. Even then she’s going to need me.”
“Blaine, I’m fine. Look, I know this was scary for you, for all of you, but I’m okay. I have this new way of living and eating, but it’s not rocket science. I can do this. You can’t give up your career because I’m a diabetic.”
“Aubree—”
His dad cuts him off. “You said she might get released tomorrow. What if we take the car to the track? We’ll leave tomorrow like we normally would. You get Aubree set up at your place, and you can fly out Friday morning. I’ve already checked flights. There’s one that leaves here at seven in the morning on Friday, and there are plenty of seats. There is also one for Thursday night. And”—he holds up his hand to stop his son’s rebuttal—“before you ask, there is a return flight home, the red-eye on Friday night. Plenty of time to get to the airport after the race and back home to Aubree early Saturday morning.”
“That works for you, right? I promise I will not leave your house. I can call Maria and have her stay with me so that your mom can go.” I hate that they are going through all of this trouble, but I know Blaine, and he’s as stubborn as he is sexy. He has both in spades.
“We can leave the T-shirt sales for this one,” Brian says.
“Definitely,” Robin agrees. “No need to have Maria missing work.”
“I like the sound of a girls’ weekend,” Ashley agrees.
“No.” Blaine crosses his arms over his chest.
“Stubborn. Fine, when I get released, I’m going back to my place.”
“Aubree,” he warns.
“That’s the deal, Checkmate. You either fly to the race and I stay with your mom and Ashley at your place or you can be bullheaded and not race, lose out on the points, and sit home alone.”
“Oh, she’s good.” Robin laughs.
“Bree, I—”
“Please? Do this for me. I want the win, Bishop. Can you deliver?”
“Come on now, do you know who you’re talking to?” he boasts.
“Then show me. Go and win this one. Bring it home for me.”
“I have two conditions.” He kisses my forehead as if it’s just the two of us in the room. Heat touches my cheeks again.
“Let’s hear them.”
“You have to be out of here and settled at my place.”
“Done. What else?”
“That we no longer refer to it as my place, but our place. Move in with me.”
“That’s your second condition? You could have asked for anything.”
“All I want is you.”
My heart flips over in my chest and the heart monitor goes crazy, making us all laugh. I look up into his hazel eyes and all I can see is love. All directed at me. There really is no other answer. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a roommate,” I say with more courage than I feel.
“Yeah? We need to do something about that title, but that works for now.” Excitement bubbles inside the pit of my stomach. I’m on board with whatever he has planned. Blaine Bishop owns my heart, and I never want it back.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to introduce you to this year’s points champion. This is his third year in a row winning the points, and this year’s win makes him the youngest driver ever to win three back-to-back championships. He hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, Blaine ‘Checkmate’ Bishop!”
My peers and their families cheer as I lean over and kiss Bree before standing to take the stage. I’m stopped along the way for handshakes and congratulations. They quiet down once I reach the podium. “Thank you,” I say, and they grow even quieter. “This is an incredible honor, one that I will be forever grateful for. This has been a big year for me.” I point out to the crowd, to my future wife. “As some of you might know, I got engaged two weeks ago. My fiancée, Bree—” I wave to her. “—has been with me this year as well as my parents and my crew. There is no way I would be standing up here today without them. Thank you to all of you for such clean, fun racing. I’m looking forward to next year.” I keep my speech short and sweet. We’re a room full of late model drivers in suits and ties. We all want to go home and shed them for jeans and T-shirts. Of that I’m certain.
The crowd, which consists of racers, their families, and crew, stands and everyone starts saying their goodbyes, most of them already plotting out next season. I know this because Kevin, Rick, Jacob, Dad, and I have been doing the same thing. We have a game plan. Jonah is on for sponsorship as well as all of my other sponsors, plus a few new ones. Winning the championship helped that.
When I make it back to the table, Bree stands and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me. “I’m so proud of you.” A quick kiss to my lips and she’s pulling back. “Even if I had to bribe you to race. You know, half of that trophy should be mine.” She smiles.
“Baby, everything I am, everything I have is yours.”
“Yeah? So, what if I said I wanted another dog? You know Camber gets lonely.”
“Done.”
“Hmm, too easy. What if I said I want to remodel some of the rooms in the house?”
“Done. I’ve already told you to go crazy.�
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“Really? Just like that? I need to try harder.” She taps her index finger against her chin as if she’s deep in thought. “What if I said that I want a destination wedding?”
“I’d say when and where?”
“All right.” She nods, grinning.
“What if I said you’re going to be a daddy?” She bites down on her bottom lip.
My heart pounds like a heavy bass drum in my chest. Did I hear her right? “It’s loud in here, Bree. I’m going to need you to repeat that.” I send up a silent prayer that I did indeed hear her correctly the first time.
“You heard me, Checkmate.” Her green eyes are shining with happiness.
I’m going to be a father. Dropping to my knees, not giving a fuck who sees me, I place my hands over her belly. I hear my mom, or maybe it’s Ashley, gasp. “When?” I ask, looking up at her. Emotion clogs my throat and hot tears prick my eyes.
“I just found out, so my guess is I’m only a few weeks along.”
“Me too!” Ashley squeals.
“No way!” Aubree steps away from me to hug Ashley. I climb back to my feet and go to her, wrapping her in my arms as soon as they separate.
“Congrats, man,” Kevin says.
“You too. Excuse us.” I lace my fingers through hers and lead her out of the banquet hall down the long corridor to the corner. I need a minute, just the two of us. I need to show her what this means to me, that creating a baby with her is the most special gift, aside from her herself, that she could ever give me.
“What are you doing?” She laughs.
“This.” I cup her face in my hands and kiss her. I try to pour everything I’m feeling into this one. Love, adoration, excitement, fear, all of it for her. For us. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“When can we get married?”
“I’m ready when you are. Maria and Isaac need to be there, other than that, I don’t care.”
“I’ll take care of it.” I kiss her again, this time just a quick peck on the cheek.
“Who would have thought this is where we would end up?”
The journey we traveled to get here was bumpy, but the destination is beyond worth it. I have my future wife in my arms, my hand resting over where our baby is growing inside of her. I’ve just won my third championship in a row. This is our life, and I wouldn’t change it for a thousand championships. No, Bree and our baby, they’re the grand prize, both of which I plan to cherish for the rest of my life.
“Not me.” I press my lips to hers. “But I guess this is what happens when you trust the push. Best advice I’ve ever been given.”
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read Trust the Push. I appreciate each and every one of you. I’d love to hear from you.
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With You Series
Anywhere With You
More With You
Everything With You
Stand Alone Titles
Tempting Tatum
Unwrapping Tatum
Levitate
Just Say When
Unexpected Reality
I Just Want You
Reminding Avery
Hey, Whiskey
When Sparks Collide
Pull You Through
Beyond the Bases
Remedy
Soul Serenade Series
Emphatic
Assured
Definite
Insistent
Southern Heart Series
Southern Pleasure
Southern Desire
Southern Attraction
Southern Devotion
To my readers:
Thank you! Your never-ending support is humbling. Thank you for reading and taking chance on my work.
To my family:
I’m blessed beyond measure with the support that you provide. I could not do this without you. Thank you for being my rock on this journey.
Sara Eirew:
Thank you for another cover worthy image.
Tami Integrity Formatting:
Thank you for making my words beautiful. You’re amazing and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do.
Sommer Stein:
Your talent never ceases to amaze me. Thank you for yet another stunning cover. You’ve brought this book to life and for that I thank you.
My beta team:
Jamie, Stacy, Lauren, and Franci I would be lost without you. You read my words as much as I do, and I can’t tell you what your input and all the time you give means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this wild ride with me.
Give Me Books:
With every release, your team works diligently to get my book in the hands of bloggers. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your services.
Becca Manuel:
You nailed the trailer! Thank you so much for doing what you do.
Tempting Illustrations:
Thank you for everything. I would be lost without you.
Julie Deaton:
Thank you for giving this book a set of fresh final eyes.
Becky Johnson:
I could not do this without you. Thank you for pushing me, and making me work for it.
Marisa Corviesero:
Thank you for all that you do. I know I’m not the easiest client. I’m blessed to have you on this journey with me.
Kimberly Ann:
Thank you for organizing and tracking the ARC team. I couldn’t do it without you.
Pam McFarland:
You won the dog naming contest in my reader group, and I love it. Camber could not be a better name for Blaine’s dog. Thank you for taking part in the contest.
Bloggers:
Thank you, doesn’t seem like enough. You don’t get paid to do what you do. It’s from the kindness of your heart and your love of reading that fuels you. Without you, without your pages, your voice, your reviews, spreading the word it would be so much harder if not impossible to get my words in reader’s hands. I can’t tell you how much your never-ending support means to me. Thank you for being you, thank you for all that you do.
To my Kick Ass Crew:
The name of the group speaks for itself. You ladies truly do KICK ASS! I’m honored to have you on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting, suggesting, the teasers, the messages all of it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do. Your support is everything!
With Love,