It was tempting to rush to tell him about the baby, but I wanted to heal the wounds I’d caused first. I wanted him toknow,without any doubt in his mind, that I wanted him for him. Not because I was pregnant, not because of any reason other than that I loved him.
“Bryn.” He took my hand in his, and I clung to him, grateful for his touch. “You have nothing to apologize for. You can take all the time you need.”
“I appreciate your saying that.” I dabbed at the corner of my mouth, setting my napkin aside. “But I don’t want to wait. I know I said I needed to think about it, but I don’t. I didn’t then, and I don’t now. I want to live with you, Frasier. I want to share a life together. I love you.”
He pushed his chair back, and I settled on his lap. I draped my arms around his neck, and I could feel the tension leave him.I felt the same, so much more at peace now that I was in his embrace.
He brushed my hair away from my face, cradling me in his arms. “I love you, Bryn. And I know this isn’t easy—navigating a relationship in the public eye, especially after everything that happened with Derek. But you are my number one priority.”
I kissed him then, sweet and slow. It was a homecoming, a promise.
I knew that. He’d shown me that time and time again. But I needed to show Frasier that he was mine.
“I love that we talk about Derek and share memories of him, and I hope we always will.” Frasier nodded, and I felt encouraged to continue. “I think a big part of why I pulled back was because I was struggling with how to be a supportive partner to you while also continuing to honor his legacy. And then there were the comments that led to the fight, and everything that followed…” I hung my head. “I guess I felt like I was letting you both down.”
“Bryn.” Frasier placed his finger beneath my chin, forcing my gaze to his. “If Derek were here, I’m pretty sure he would agree. You could never let me down.”
“You say that, but I already have. You’ve never lost your cool on the ice. And you got into a fight—because of me.”
“I got into a fight,” he gritted out, “because Wilson’s a dick who crossed the line.”
I hated to admit it but, “He only said what so many other people were thinking.”
“Fuck them. I couldn’t give a shit what people think about our relationship. We know the truth. Derek knew the truth.”
“I know,” I sighed. “And I don’twantto care, but I do. Because I feel responsible for safeguarding Derek’s legacy. I’m happy to do it, proud to do it. But I don’t know what that looks like now that we’re together.”
“It looks like whatever you want it to,” Frasier said. “I know it’s important to you, and it’s important to me too. Derek was like a brother to me. But if you’re worried that honoring his memory will make me feel somehow…less important to you or less loved, you’re wrong.”
I didn’t realize how badly I’d needed to hear those words. And it only made me wish I’d talked to Frasier about this sooner.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Wear my jersey, wear his jersey, come to the games, don’t. Regardless of what you do or which jersey you wear, I know you love me.”
I held him tight, my arms draped around his neck. “I do. I love you so,somuch.”
I didn’t realize I was crying until he cupped my cheeks, catching my tears with his thumbs where he held me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about this until now.” I sniffled. “I was just trying to process everything.” Including the pregnancy.
“You can always come to me,” he said, meeting my gaze. “Always.”
“I know.” I appreciated that he hadn’t tried to make me feel guilty about it. He’d been patient and understanding all along. “And you can come to me.”
He tilted his forehead to mine. “Together.”
“Together,” I echoed.
We stayed there for a while, listening to the crash of the waves on the screen, safe and whole in each other’s arms.
Eventually, I said, “So…I had a surprise planned for you. But, um, well—” I gestured to the backyard. “There was a change of plans.”
He chuckled.
“Who told you I was coming home early?” I asked. He pressed his lips together and shook his head. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Was it Georgia or Allie?”
He shook his head again, looking as if he was trying not to laugh.
