Marissa: Theo wanted to come see his mom
Me: LOL I’ll be up in a minute
Marissa: no! Stay. I got this.
Me: you sure?
Marissa: positive. Watch your man!
I grin and set my phone away. “They went upstairs because Theo wanted to see his mom.”
“Of course, he did.” Liam chuckles. “I don’t know what she’s going to do if Rosa is a mommy’s girl.”
I sputter a laugh. “Rosa is going to be the ultimate daddy’s girl. I almost feel sorry for Lach.”
He laughs and nods in agreement. “If she’s anything like her mother, I have a feeling we’re all fucked.”
I laugh and hold my breath as Damian, Will, and Finn get near the goal. I don’t even know how they do it, but they pass itbetween the three of them and Finn gets it and taps it in right between the goalie’s left leg and the post.
“HOLY SHIT!” I shout, screaming again.
“He’s so fucking fun to watch,” Liam says, laughing.
We watch the rest of the game like that. We win 3–1. Liam and I go upstairs to celebrate with the rest of them, until the arena mostly clears out and Prescott, Banks, Lachlan, his dad, and Lang say they want to go downstairs and all of us follow.
“I think tonight is the night,” Lyla says, holding her stomach.
I gasp. “Contractions?!”
“How far apart?!” Marissa asks.
Lachlan, who is carrying Theo and talking to the rest of the guys, somehow hears this and turns around. “What’s going on?”
“My contractions are getting stronger,” Lyla says.
“We need to go to the hospital,” Lachlan says.
“Not yet, Lach.” She sets a hand on his arm. “They’re not that bad or that close.”
“Lyla James…”
“I’ll tell you.” She smiles, and it only widens when Theo leans down and wraps his little arms around her neck. She kisses him, then her husband, and everyone keeps walking.
I hold onto her left arm and Marissa holds her right. It’s not like she needs help walking, but it’s the only thing I can think to do. With the measured steps Lachlan is taking, I can tell it’s taking everything in him not to set his son down and carry Lyla instead. By the time we get to the back and pass security, the guys are spilling out of the lockers with their regular clothes on.
They stop and say hi. A few wives are waiting around. I look at the women a few times, trying to figure out which one, if any, is the one I should be thanking for being the reason Finn got his head out of his ass.
When Finn walks out, he spots me immediately and walks over. One of the women, I’m pretty sure the goalie’s wife, calls out his name, but he doesn’t even look in her direction. It’s like he has blinders on and only sees me. When he reaches me, he lifts meup and puts his hands under my butt, so I have to wrap my arms and legs around him.
“You did so good,” I say, grinning.
He gives me a peck on the lips, and another, and another. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I wasn’t going to miss your first game,” I say, sinking my fingers into his damp hair.
“Where’d you get the jersey?” he asks. “I thought they were sold out.”
“They were, but I know a guy.” I wink at him, and he smiles and squeezes me tighter as he kisses me again.
