I rolled my eyes. “Babe, it’s barely seven thirty in the morning. Your brothers will be over in a few hours and Resha ran out to pick us up some breakfast.”
At the mention of food my stomach growled. Despite the prevailing notion that pregnant women get to eat whatever and however they wanted, that hadn’t been the case for me. Three babies took up a whole lot of space in my small body which meant that even a normal portioned meal got me full pretty quickly. I had to change up to eating a number of small meals throughout the day as to not get too full too fast which was super uncomfortable.
“I don’t like that you’re alone there.”
I grinned at the look of consternation that crossed my husband’s handsome face. It’d been just under three weeks since we closed on our home in Cedarwoods. Joshua, as CEO of Townsend Real Estate, had pulled some strings to get our home built in a timely manner once he found out we were pregnant with triplets. We officially moved in right before Tyler had to leave for training camp. Since he’d been gone his entire family stepped in to help me complete decorating and getting the nurseries together. Resha had been staying over and took time off to travel less for work just so I wouldn’t be alone. My mother even stayed over a couple of nights, using the room that we’d designed especially for her on the first floor. I tried to tell Resha, my mother and Tyler they didn’t need to worry so much but they refused to listen to me, of course.
“I’m not alone. Resha will be back soon. And today we’re going shopping for some last minute items to add to the nurseries.”
“You can wait until I get home,” he reiterated.
“But I don’t want to. I can’t just sit around this big ass house and do nothing. I’m nesting. How’s practice going?” I asked to change the topic.
“It’s going. New guy is fitting in well.”
I nodded. Leonard Riggs had been traded in spite of his performance. The Cougars had opted for a new wide receiver.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“You don’t sound so thrilled about it.”
“I am. I’d just rather be there with you. You sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. And don’t ask me again. Are you okay? You’re starting to worry me a little.” Tyler wasn’t a typical worry wort.
“Yeah, just a feeling. I’m sure it’s due to not being as close to you as I should be while you’re pregnant.”
The Cougars had moved their training camp to a university campus that was two hours away.
“We’re good here. You’ll be done and back home before you know it.”
“And then I’ll be on the road for the season and for sponsorships.” The worry vein in his forehead appeared again as he frowned.
“Hey, what’re you thinking?”
“I’m thinking this … was the life I wanted, but maybe not so much anymore. Hell, even coaching would require long hours away from you and the kids.”
“But not as much.”
He shook his head. “Definitely not as much.”
“Nothing needs to be decided today. We’ll talk when you get home.”
“All right. Love you.”
“Love you.”
“Show me the belly,” he ordered, grinning.
I laughed and pointed the phone down toward my belly so he could see it. He told each one of the babies that he loved them, by name. We’d picked out their names months ago.
As soon as I’d disconnected the call the doorbell rang.
I sucked my teeth. “Dammit, Resha,” I grunted. She was always leaving her key behind. “I’m coming. I’m coming,” I called to the door, after back-to-back ringing sounded. “I told you to take your da?”
My words died on my lips when I opened the door and saw that it wasn’t Resha at my door but Phillip Morris. What alarmed me even more than the fact that he was on my doorstep was the disheveled and crazed look in his blue eyes.
