Her beautiful green eyes fill with tears, and I watch a rough swallow work its way down her throat as she lifts her shoulder in a shrug. “Because you’re her daddy.”
I can’t hold back the gasp that bursts from my chest as my eyes fill with tears, a feeling of overwhelming gratitude wrapping around me like a warm embrace. I’d have loved them both until my dying breath, regardless of my title, butgoddamnif it isn’t the most meaningful one that I’ve ever been given. I’ll never be able to thank them for making my dreams come true, even if itlooks nothing like I expected. But that’s the beauty of life. Just when you think you have a plan, the universe sends you two perfect creatures who change everything for the better.
“I love you, baby,” I say, emotion clogging my throat. I lean in and press my mouth to hers, smiling into the kiss as tears of joy mix together on our lips. “You’re my whole fucking world. You and…” Breaking the connection, I look down at her swollen belly. “What’s her name?”
She giggles, swiping the moisture from her cheeks. “I was thinking Norah. It meanslight. I feel like it’s fitting, since my life was so full of darkness before her.”
My chest swells. I’d say this baby has brought plenty of that to both of us. Before she and her mama came along, I was just going through the motions. I had the job, the house, and the dog, but I always knew that there was a piece missing from the puzzle. And now that it’s been clicked into place, revealing the most beautiful picture, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
“Norah,” I say quietly, the moniker rolling off my tongue so naturally that it sounds like I’ve said it a million times. “It’s perfect.”
THIRTY-THREE
FINLEY
“No,”I scold halfheartedly, trying my best to stifle a smile. “You’ve already had four treats. You don’t need more. There’s a whole bowl of kibble over there. Go eat that.”
Boner’s head tilts to the side as he pretends not to understand what I’m saying. I know he does, though. He also knows exactly how to play me, which is why the vet suggested that we put him on a diet during his annual checkup last week. Between the cold weather and me always being too tired to take him to the dog park to run around, he hasn’t been burning nearly as many calories as normal. Now, I’m stuck dealing with the consequences of my actions while I try to break him of histwenty treats per dayhabit.
He gives me his signature puppy eyes. It’s a battle of wills—one that I almost lose—until finally, he gives up and trots over to where his dishes sit in the corner. The little snob sniffs the dog food a few times, looks over his shoulder at me like I just single-handedly ruined hisday, and leaves the room. I’d worry if I hadn’t seen him eat some earlier, but I know his game. He thinks he can break me down, and that I’ll eventually give him what he wants.
Spoiler alert: I probably will.
I chuckle quietly, returning to the sink and loading the rest of my dishes into the dishwasher. The Renegades played in Baltimore earlier today in the Wild Card game, winning by a score of twenty-four to twenty-one. They lost in the same round last year, so this is very exciting. As a second-year expansion team, they’re blowing everyone’s expectations out of the water, and I couldn’t be prouder. Watching Theo play his heart out on that field will never get old, even if I have to do it from several states over.
Checking my watch, I see that I still have about ninety minutes before his plane lands, which means there’s plenty of time to catch up on the newest episode ofSeduction Island. We tried watching it the night it premiered, but I fell asleep the moment Theo started massaging my scalp. I promised him that I’d be up to speed by tomorrow, so we can catch the finale when it airs. Even though I’m already exhausted, and it’s barely even dark out, I’m determined to stay awake.
I plop down onto the couch, queuing up the show just as my phone dings with a text notification. I ignore it at first, but when several more come through in rapid succession, I can’t help but wonder what’s so important. Picking it up from the couch, I notice a string of messages in the group chat I have with the girls.
SYDNEY:
I just saw the news. Finley, are you okay?
BAILEY:
My flight is delayed, so I’m still in Baltimore, but if we need an emergency spa night, I’ll be there as soon as I can.
STELLA:
I had to stay behind to cover the night shift yesterday, and I’m on call tonight, but I can come over if you need me to. Fuck that guy, Fin. He’s an asshole.
LIVVY:
I’m on the team plane. I don’t think Theo’s seen yet, because he’s laughing with the guys. He’s going to be furious.
SYDNEY:
Finley? Are you there?
My brows pull tight with confusion. What the fuck are they talking about? What news? And why wouldn’t I be okay?
I don’t waste a second, pulling up the browser on my phone and searching for the latest news. Several major headlines fill my screen, none of which pertain to me in any way. But when I scroll down to the local stories, my heart sinks.
Cleveland Vipers’ Point Guard, Eric Moss, Expecting First Child with Influencer Alexa Jensen.
My eyes immediately fill with tears as I continue reading, rage bubbling closer to the surface with each cruel word.
The two have been secretly dating for the past five months, somehow managing to dodge media attention by keeping a tight lid on their whirlwind romance. Alexa, daughter of multimedia tycoon Griffin Jensen, said she’s ecstatic about the new addition and that she and Moss will be tying the knot shortly after the birth of their son this spring. When we asked the father-to-be how he was feeling, he told us that he’s beside himself, and that he’d been waiting for this moment his whole life.
