I sigh, upset I fell for her fake nicety. “She fucking drugged my coffee. I don’t remember anything after that.”
His eyes widen as a streak of panic races across them. “We have to get you to the hospital right away. That can’t be good for the baby.”
Frozen, I suck in a sharp breath. My heartbeat pounds in my ears as I stare at him, trying to figure out what he’s thinking.How does he know when I don’t even know myself?“What? How? How do you…” my voice trails off, seeming to not know what words are anymore.
He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “You left the test in the bathroom. It had a plus sign. That’s positive, right? We’re going to have a baby?” he asks with a shaky voice as tears well in his eyes once more.
“I left before the five minutes were up, so I didn’t get to see the result. I was too nervous. It was…it was positive? Holy shit.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m pregnant?”
He nods ridiculously fast, making this all seem even more real. “Yeah, baby. You are.Weare.”
Holyfuckingshit. I swallow hard, preparing for my next question and hoping the answer is the one I’m longing for. “And you…you’re okay with this? I know I’m older and ready to settle down, but you still have so much life to experience and I?—”
“Kennedy Kramer, would you look at my face?” he says with the biggest damn smile I’ve ever seen. “I could not be more fucking excited. I have always wanted a family.Always.Honestly, after everything that’s happened these past few years, I was beginning to think that would never happen. But with you? I will have a thousand babies with you. I have so many names picked out, we’re going to have a hard time narrowing down the list. I also may have asked Siri for some strollerrecommendations while I was driving like a madman to find you.”
I shake my head and grin. “I was so worried you wouldn’t be ready for this. But I should have known. You get excited about everything. I couldn’t be happier! I love you, Jordan; I want to have babies with you, too. Maybe not a thousand, but at least this one.” I settle back against his chest. “You’re going to be the most fun dad ever. And don’t worry, I know full well I’m going to have to be the disciplinary in the relationship.”
“Well…we have already established you like to be the one in charge,” he says with a smirk.
“I’m not even going to argue that.” I snort. “You like it though.”
“Never said I didn’t,” he says, pulling me in for a kiss. I nearly lose myself in him before I quickly realize two things. First, he just puked, like, five minutes ago—may not be the best time for a makeout session—and two, Angelica’s waking up, letting out an agonizing moan.
“Shit,” I grumble, dropping my head back to look at the ceiling. “I kind of forgot about those two. Also…how the fuck do we get out of here? Where the hell are we?”
His gaze bounced around the space. “I have no fucking clue. Chadd had a bag over my head the whole time he dragged my ass down here. I thought I knew every inch of this building, but not this place. Did you see where they have our phones?”
“Mine’s over there. I’ll call the police; you tie them up. Then let’s get the fuck out of here. You have a Cup to win.”
68
jordan
The police arrive quickly and work with the Riders personnel to figure out where we are. Apparently, there is a storage room no one uses anymore.No shit.It had some water damage, which forced them to move almost everything to another part of the arena, letting this one just stay empty. Angelica, somehow, stumbled upon it and thought this would be a fitting place to hold Kennedy hostage.
We watch as our kidnappers are hauled away on gurneys in handcuffs. I should be thankful neither of their injuries were life threatening, but I can’t say I’m not a tad disappointed they will still exist on this earth. Hopefully, they will be spending the rest of their lives behind bars. The EMTs and the Riders’ medical personnel check us out as well. Outside of the cut on my face, which is not out of the ordinary for me, especially during a game, I’m good to go. Kennedy checked out fine as well.Thank you, hockey gods.All her vitals are great, but they want her to get some bloodwork done and see a high-risk pregnancy doctor as soon as possible. I lean back against the wall outside the medical room, the cool brick settling me.Our family is okay.
The calm evaporates quickly as I realize I have to turn my attention to the other part of my life. The fucking Cup final.Game fucking seven to be exact. It’s ninety minutes till game time, and fans are already filing in. I haven’t done my pre-game routines, meal prep, or had a nap. I run my shaky hand through my hair, tapping my foot at warp speed.I don’t play well without my routine.
“Hey.” Kennedy grabs my hand. “What’s wrong?”
My shoulders slump. “I didn’t get to do any of my pre-game stuff with all the…ya know…kidnapping and attempted murder. I don’t typically play well unless I finish my routine. Vladi’s superstition is easy—sit next to me on the plane. Although I heard a rumor he has some good luck charm he keeps with him too, but no one knows what it is. But for me? It’s my whole fucking game day routine.”
She squeezes my fingers. “Oh shit…Jordan, this is all my fault. This is like the biggest game of your life, and today has ruined it.”
“No, Kenni, absolutely not. This is all Chadd McKidnapper and She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s fault. I’ll push through. We can’t change what happened, and I’m beyond thankful to have you back and safe andhere.I just have to rely on my skills and pray they’re enough for tonight. I’ll just channel the adrenaline from almost dying into the game. I just have to get out there and go for it.”
Kennedy freezes, a spark in her eyes. “I have an idea. Wait here!” she yells over her shoulder as she races to the vending machine down the hall. She frantically taps her phone on the card reader, racing back to me with two items in her hands.
I narrow my brows.What the hell?“Cheese-it’s and jellybeans?”
She nods with a reluctant smile. “I know it’s not thetraditionalGenovian cheese and pear dessert, but it is cheese crackers, and these jellybeans are pear flavored, so…closeenough? And…” —she swallows hard, nervousness creeping across her face— “I have another idea.”
She steps back, looking around the tunnels as if she’s double-checking no one is around. Something tugs behind my rib cage—I can feel it in my gut this is another rom-com dream come true. “Grilled Cheesus, I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but…here goes,” she mumbles under her breath.
I try not to react, to stay calm so she doesn’t lose her nerve—but it’s no use. A smile creeps across my face as wide as the entire rink as I watch the love of my life singing about putting her mind to it, going for it, and breaking a sweat along with every hand motion of the Go For It song from Saved by the Bell. She doesn’t quite have the pizzazz I do, but damn, it’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. I race to join in, doing all the moves with her and goddammit this is the best moment of my life.
The moment she’s done, I pick her up, swinging her around in the hallway, and kiss her harder than I’ve ever kissed her before.This is it. The woman of my dreams.Well, shewasthe woman of my dreams. Now she’s the woman of my present and my future. No more dreaming needed. She’s here, in my arms, and I’m going to go fucking win the goddamn Cup for her.
