Richardson
Come on, Coach. We’re always on our best behavior ;)
Me
Don’t test me, Richardson.
The moodin the hospital waiting room is different from the night we were here after Riley’s accident. It’s light, eager. Tears, yeah, but happy ones this time. Everyone is smiling and laughing. Emmy’s best friends—Lexi, Piper, Madeline, and Maven, the team’s sports photographer—keep asking for tissues. Maverick’s buddies from outside the team, Reid and Dallas—a kicker for the DC Titans—are bouncing up and down. Grant joins the group of women and asks for a tissue too, blowing his nose and showing off the flowers he brought.
“Aren’t they pretty?” He holds up the vase of lilies and sunflowers. “They symbolize joy, new beginnings, and love. What did everyone else bring?”
“Myself.” Ethan grins from the chair he’s sitting in. “When Emmy gets bored of Mavvy, I’ll be waiting in the wings. We’ll be the redheaded power couple.”
“Maverick will literally kill you before that happens.” Hudson adjusts his position on the couch, keeping a sleeping Lucy tucked tight to his chest. “Sully. What are you holding?”
“Nothing,” Liam grumbles, but I catch sight of a small, patterned piece of fabric. “Mind your own fucking business.”
“Is that a shirt?” Riley asks.
“It’s a onesie,” Piper says proudly, resting her cheek on Liam’s arm. “He learned how to crochet, and he’s been working on an outfit for the baby forweeks.”
“Oh my god,” Grant whispers. “That’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s not great.” Liam scowls. “I messed up one of the sleeves. And the colors don’t match.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Liam.” Lexi beams. “Mav and Emmy are going to love it.”
“On a scale of one to ten, how hard is childbirth?” Ethan asks. “Do you think it hurts as bad as getting hit in the balls with a puck?”
“It’s worse,” Madeline answers from her seat next to Hudson. “You wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“Come on, Mads.” He smirks. “I’ve lost teeth. I’ve taken a stick to the head. I’d be just fine.”
“If you stand up, we could test the theory,” she says sweetly, and Hudson buries his laugh in her hair. “I bet you’d cry within two minutes.”
“Sit your ass down, Richardson,” I warn, and he pouts.
“Come on, Coach. I want to?—”
The doors to the lobby burst open, and Maverick comes staggering out. He’s in a blue smock with booties covering his shoes, and he puts his hand on the wall. Takes a deep breath, and bursts into tears.
“I’m a dad,” he wails, and the waiting room explodes with noise.
There are hugs and high-fives. Ethan pops a bottle of champagne I didn’t know he brought, and Maverick refuses a glass. I shake his hand and he pulls me in close, clasping my back.
“How’s Emmy?” I ask.
“She’s a fucking champ. I almost passed out in there, but she powered through. I swear to god she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love her more right now than I did an hour ago.” He laughs and wipes his nose with his sleeve. “And everyone knows how much I loved her then.”
“And the baby?”
“Healthy as can be. Ten fingers, ten toes. Perfect red hair, just like her mom, and the cutest nose. She blinked up at mewhen I held her for the first time, and I cried more than Emmy.” He looks at me. “I already know eighteen years with her isn’t going to be enough.”
“A hundred years wouldn’t be enough,” I say.
“Emmy’s getting cleaned up. Baby girl is getting her measurements done. It might be a while before you guys can come back, so don’t feel like you all have to wait around,” Maverick says to our group. “I appreciate you being here.”
Liam narrows his eyes in Maverick’s direction. “I’m here in the middle of the night. I’m not leaving until I see that baby,” he says. “And Emmy. I like her more than I like you.”
