A softmeowpulled my gaze down.
The ginger tabby I’d seen earlier hopped up onto the empty chair beside me, her tail curling neatly around her paws as if she’d chosen her seat with purpose. Wide amber eyes blinked up at me, unbothered, patient. Like she knew something I didn’t.
“Hiya, pretty girl.”
I reached out and scratched gently under her chin. She leaned into it without hesitation, purring loud enough to rattle her whole body.
“Yeah,” I whispered, smiling despite myself. “I get it.”
Brooks
The house was dark when I slipped the key into the lock, quiet except for the low hum of the fridge. My bag slid off my shoulder with a dull thud, and for the first time all week, I let myself breathe.
Road series were always a grind, but being away while Dani was this far along in her pregnancy felt different, especially since she was under strict instruction not to travel anymore. I hated leaving her. Hated knowing she was counting the days until I came home, same as I was.
The funny thing was, I even missed the parts I used to groan about. Like the way she somehow always managed to rope me into those ridiculous social media trends with the rest of the team, insisting that as the coach, it was necessary for me to “lead by example.”
One week, it had been a TikTok dance challenge with Roman and Pink flailing around like idiots while I’d stood stiff as a board in the back, looking like someone’s pissed-off dad.Another time, she’d strapped her phone to my chest in one of those harnesses during batting practice. I’d spent the entire time trying not to swear like a fucking sailor. And then there was the “finish the lyric” challenge she’d filmed during warm-ups one day—me deadpan, muttering lyrics from some boy band Carolina loved while the bullpen had belted them off-key like it was karaoke night.
And sure, I rolled my eyes and grumbled, but the truth was, I loved it. I loved her laugh when I messed up the moves, loved knowing she was the one holding the camera, spinning her magic out of our chaos.
Without her, the days felt too quiet. The wins were flatter. Even the losses didn’t sting the same. They just felt . . . empty.
The only thing that gave me comfort was knowing that she was waiting for me at home, in bed.Ourbed.
I padded into the living room and froze.
Apparently, I had spoken too soon. She hadn’t even made it to bed tonight.
Dani was out cold on the couch, curled into the corner with her tiny tank top rucked up over her belly, and even tinier shorts bunched up around her hips. Carolina was tucked into her side, cheek pressed to Dani’s belly, her arm thrown over it like she was already hugging her baby sister.
Both of my girls. Together.
All three of them really.
My throat went tight.Christ.The sight hit me square in the chest—I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until just now.
I crouched beside them, brushing a hand gently over Dani’s hair. The vibrant blue she usually kept streaked through it had faded in the summer sun, softening now into a silvery pastel that glowed against the dark strands.
“Kitten,” I murmured softly, not wanting to startle her. “I’m home.”
Her lashes fluttered before her eyes blinked open, hazy with sleep. When they focused on me, a slow, sleepy smile curved across her face. “Hey, coach,” she whispered, her voice rough with exhaustion but warm enough to melt me straight through.
Something stirred low in my gut at the sight of her like that—soft, undone, eyes heavy-lidded in the dim glow of the lamp. It was the same look she got after I’d fucked her slow and deep, sated and wrecked in the best way. The kind of look that made me want to scoop her up and never let her go.
I bent down and kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment just to breathe her in. She smelled like her shampoo and faintly of Carolina’s strawberry-vanilla bubble bath, the kind of mix I never wanted to wash away.
Carolina stirred against her side, shifting but not waking. Dani glanced down at her then back up at me, her smile soft but tired. I understood without her saying a word.
Carefully, I slid my arms under Carolina, lifting her small body against my chest. She murmured something unintelligible before burrowing into my shoulder, still fast asleep. Dani eased herself up with a quiet groan, adjusting the blanket around her shoulders before trailing after me up the stairs.
We moved together in silence, the kind born from knowing each other’s rhythms. I laid Carolina down in her bed, pulling the covers up around her and brushing a kiss over her temple. Dani smoothed her hair back with one gentle hand, eyes lingering on her like she could stay there forever.
When she straightened, she caught my hand and tugged me back down the hall. “Come on,” she whispered. “I have a present for you.”
I arched a brow, keeping my voice low. “Mm, that sounds promising. But I probably need a shower first.”
She smirked, lips quirking as she laced her fingers through mine. “Not everything’s about your dick.”
