Page 48 of Closing the Distance

“For forgetting we’re still in public.”

“We’re in public?” she asks, and I pull back, letting out a laugh. My whole body feels light knowing she’s as affected by me as I am by her.

Her eyes brighten as her lips twitch with a small smile, and her hands rest on my chest. “You were amazing out there.”

“I had some great motivation in the stands.”

“He was trying to show off,” Dom says behind me.

I glance back to see the other guys coming out, Gabe and Dom both making a beeline for their women, while Romel is already on his phone, probably texting his babysitter to check on Kay who’s likely asleep by now.

“I was not,” I argue, as Lexi slides her arm around my waist. I glance down at her and nuzzle her ear, whispering so only she can hear, “I thought you didn’t want to be too close in public yet.”

Her deep ocean-blue eyes meet mine, and I swear my heart skips.

“I love you, Ty. I don’t want to pretend you don’t mean the world to me. There’s only another week left of winter break anyway, so things will be out in the open soon enough.”

This woman. She’s completely ruined me for anyone else. Thank fuck I don’t want anyone but her. Without another thought, I wrap my arm around her, keeping her close to my body as we all start heading out to our cars.

On the drive home, my fingers are restless against the steering wheel as I debate how to approach this conversation with Lexi.

“You okay?” she asks.

I glance over at her before focusing back on the road. Maybe there’s no time like the present. “Actually, I was hoping we could talk about something.”

“Okay,” she says, and I hate the caution in her voice. She’s bracing herself for the worst, and I’m worried what I’m about to say will land under that definition.

“The press are going to get word of this soon, especially once we’re not hiding our relationship anymore.”

“Uh-huh,” she says when I stop talking.

“They’ll pick apart our relationship if they think it’s juicy enough, and considering we haven’t been together that long and you’re pregnant, they’ll jump to a lot of conclusions—maybe even say some nasty things.”

“Like what?”

“Like questioning the paternity.”

I swear her whole body freezes in the seat next to me.

My words rush out of my mouth like a torrent of water. “I’m notquestioning it. I want that to be clear. I have zero doubts our baby girl is mine. Do you believe me, Lexi?”

I glance over to find her staring straight out the window. Her body is so stiff it doesn’t even look like she’s breathing.

“Lexi?”

“Y-yeah.”

“You believe me?” There’s no way she can miss the pure panic in my voice.

“You want me to get a paternity test.” It’s not a question.

My stomach tightens, but we’ve already come this far. “I’m thinking it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get one if we can. To prove those rumors false before they can take off.”

“I have nothing to hide from you, Ty. This baby is yours. If you want a paternity test, I’ll give you one.”

I pull up to my place and put the car in park, thankful I can give her my full attention. I grab her hand and hold it tight in mine. Her blue eyes don’t reveal any of the emotion I’ve grown so used to seeing there, and my heart sinks to my stomach.

“Lexi, I don’t doubt you.” I place one hand on her stomach, and her eyes flare and start to shimmer. So she hasn’t shut me out completely. “This baby is mine, no matter what, because youare mine. Test or no test, I still choose you and our baby. I trustyou. But the press can be vultures, and they don’t trust anything but receipts and irrefutable proof. I don’t want your name dragged through the mud if they think this is a ploy to bag a pro athlete. I don’t want that to ruin your reputation since there is no such thing as innocent until proven guilty when you’re a public figure these days. You’re tried in the court of public opinion, even if evidence comes out way later that shows all the accusations were false. I don’t want to get to that point. I want to be prepared to put out any fires they try to start the second they light the match. Does that make sense?”

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