“What are you doing here? You should be in that rink!”
He smiled. “It’s still the break, Doc.”
“You’re playing … great.” I barely got that last word out as the pain took hold and turned me into a blithering fool. “Your blocking stats are stellar.”
His grin vanished at witnessing my distress. “That’s what happens when you have a baby to look forward to, but your woman won’t see sense.”
“You play better?”
“You play like everyone’s the enemy.”
Oh Jason. This was what I had done to him. Pissed him off to the extent he saw red on the ice.
“Glad I could help,” I muttered.
“Jason, if you don’t mind,” another deep voice cut in. “Hi, Ms. St. James?—”
“It’s Dr. St. James,” Jason cut in.
“Sure,” the team doctor said indulgently. “I’m also a doctor and?—”
“Have you ever delivered a baby?” Jason again.
“Let the man get a word in!” Another sharp pain walloped me.
The doctor touched my arm. “I think we might want to lie you down on the floor, Dr. St. James.”
“It’s Franky. I think we’re about to get very personal.”
Moments later, I was flat on my back with a cushion under my head, and my thighs splayed. Luckily most everyone had left the box and all who remained were the people who mattered: Jason, Vi, Rosie, my dad, Harper, and Dr. Sykes.
“I’d say you’re approximately six to seven centimeters dilated, Franky,” the team’s doctor said.
That was much further along than I expected—and definitely too late for me to leave this room and expect a good outcome.
Jason’s brow was as lined as a corduroy swatch. “That’s almost there, right?”
“It’s close,” Dr. Sykes said, sounding worried.
I patted his arm. “Don’t worry, I won’t blame you if something goes wrong?—”
Jason exploded. “Screw that! I will blame everybody in this room if this does not go the way I expect! You had better make sure my baby and my woman are okay.”
“Jason.” I grasped his hand. “This could take a while longer. You could play an entire period, maybe win the whole thing, and be back in time for the delivery.”
“Harper,” he called out without averting his burning eyes from my face. “Do I need to go back on that ice?”
My aunt responded, clear as a bell. “I’ve already informed Coach that you are otherwise occupied.”
I groaned.
Jason leaned in and whispered, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Jason
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