“Reproductive parts sounded weird in my head. I don’t know. I also didn’t want to reduce them to only a means to make a baby. You’re more than that, and I don’t want you to feel like you should endure what you have on the off-chance that we’re able to get pregnant. Unless that’s what you want. Fuck, I’m really shitting the bed on this conversation.” I drop my head back on the couch and close my eyes. It sounded so much better in my head, but saying it out loud, I just sound like an out-of-touch ass.
Taylor grips my shirt, urging me to look at her. “You’re not fucking this up. I’m glad you brought it up. To be honest, I’ve been considering it more and more since my IUD came out. I just, I don’t know, it’s such a life changing decision. I haven’t fully gotten my mind around exactly how much life would change and all the repercussions that come from having a hysterectomy at my age.”
I swipe at the tears running down her cheek, framing her face in my hands. “Then I think that’s what we talk to the doctor about—get the full picture so we can make the most informed choice that’s best for you.”
“We?”
“We. We’re a team. I want to be there, to support you, to be a shoulder for you to lean on and bounce ideas off of.”
“I’d love that too. To make this decision together, as a couple.”
“Partners, in every way. I’m here for you.” I pull her into a hug, cradling her against my chest.
After a few minutes, she sits back and says, “If the hysterectomy will solve the issue, then I’d like to do that. We can take the other challenges as they come, but you’re right, this is no way to live.”
“We do what’s best for you. What makes you feel better and gets you back to normal.”
“Do you know how awesome it would be to not have toworry about tampons?! Those damn things are expensive as hell, and very fucking uncomfortable.”
I choke out a startled laugh from the unexpected comment. “We’ll add that to the pro column then.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything? Noticing, taking an interest, caring, putting me first. All of it.”
“Watching you is my favorite pastime,” I shrug, giving her a playful grin.
“My own personal stalker,” she teases. She glances at the time and sighs. “I need to get going.”
Helping Taylor off my lap, I stand as well. “I’m going to head to the stadium and check in on the guys.”
“Really?”
“I’m in the inner circle, remember?”
“How can I forget?” She laughs at my reminder of Miller’s welcome when I attended Preston and Ivory’s wedding when Taylor threw a fit at my unannounced arrival.
Unable to resist touching her, I slide my hands around her waist until there’s no space between us. “Do they still need to hold a vote or are you okay with me being invited in now?”
Her hands wind around my neck as she hovers her lips over mine. “Keep giving me epic orgasms and you’re allowed to stay.”
“A hardship, but I think I’ll manage.” I close the distance, kissing her deeply, reluctantly letting her go so we can get out of here.
We pack up and leave the penthouse hand in hand, going our separate ways at the valet. I watch her pull out first, then get into my car and make the short drive to the stadium. The team should start arriving soon to get ready for the game. Making my way through the clubhouse, I head to Mike’s office first. Sure enough, he’s inside.
“Grant, what’s got you stopping by?” He gestures for me to come in and moves the lineup he’s working on to the side.
“Wanted to come by and check in with everyone with Gabby’s news.”
“Awful, isn’t it? Ivory is pretty upset. You should’ve seen Chase and Miller last night. They were barely holding on.”
“Taylor was too. That’s why they weren’t in the lineup last night then?”
He heaves out a sigh. “Yeah, Chase missed warmups and batting practice. If I weren’t such a stickler for the rules, I wouldn’t have cared in this situation, but he had no business on that field last night. He was a mess when he got here after dropping Gabby at home. Miller wanted to play, but that girl’s like a sister to him and he’s already lost one sister. He needed to sit this one out, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.”
“Are they back in the lineup tonight?”
