Page 84 of Pack Plus Three

“You are 100% going to be on snack duty. I would just offer to steal your car and go get snacks, but given that I’m the size of a blimp, I can't really drive. I wasn’t the best of drivers before I was this big, so I don’t want to attempt it now.”

“Of course, I'll happily go get snacks anytime you want,” I said eagerly. Daisy's face broke out in a smile as she nodded happily at that prospect. “Doesn't Jeremy see to all your snack needs already?” I smiled, cocking my head.

“He does,” she said, grinning conspiratorially at me. “But I feel bad constantly asking him for snacks, 'cause he's a busy man, and he has done nothing to upset me. You, on the other hand, haven’t been asked. So, I feel no guilt asking you to go and get me tacos at three a.m.”

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. “Funny thing, you mentioned three a.m. tacos because I distinctly remember a night when Devon and I went out for tacos at like four a.m. when I was studying for the bar.”

“See!” Daisy exclaimed excitedly, “You’re already—agh!” She broke off with a cry, leaning forward, clutching her stomach. Her eyes screwed up as a look of pain crossed her features.

“Daisy?” I asked, leaning forward and holding an arm out to steady her. “What is it?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It just hurts,” she whimpered. “I think, maybe, it’s a contraction?”

Fuck. It wasn't her time yet. She still had weeks left to go, didn't she? My stomach churned as it occurred to me that extreme stress would probably put her into labor early. And I, being the absolute butthole I had been recently, had stressed her out quite severely.

“Okay. I'm calling Jeremy, and we're taking you straight to the doctor,” I said, not leaving it up to discussion. Standing up, I gently swept her into my arms, sweet apple pie filling my nose.

Chapter 34

Daisy

Braxton Hicks.

I had been such a baby over practice contractions.

It was embarrassing, really.

“You’re not allowed to leave the nest without one of us with you,” Jeremy insisted.

“You heard what Doctor Parrish said. They weren’t even real contractions,” I insisted, sitting up. The moment the doctor had cleared me to go home, the guys had taken me straight to my nest and seemed to think I was going to somehow avoid leaving it until I popped out the babies.

“She also said you should take it easy,” Devon said as he pulled fresh linens out of the linen closet. “So, no leaving the nest unless one of us is with you.”

“What if I need to pee?” I asked pointedly.

“One of us will carry you there,” Jeremy insisted.

“Jeremy! The bathroom is ten steps away. I think I can manage that.”

“Don't even think about it!” Devon yelled from where he was buried in the closet.

“You guys are going to smother me,” I muttered to myself, crossing my arms.

Jeremy leaned forward, giving my forehead a gentle kiss, cupping the side of my face. “Please? For me? I need to know that you and the ducklings are safe.”

My resolve was crumbling. How could I deny him when he looked so innocent and caring?

“The ducklings are fine, and they are happily kicking away at my bladder,” I assured him.

“I hate that I've got to be away for a few days. Are you sure you'll be okay? You know what? Maybe I should just say screw the contract and stay.”

“Jeremy!” I cried. “You are not going to miss a game you’re contracted to attend. It's very unlikely the babies are going to come in the next day or two. It's two nights away, and Devon and Nate are both going to be here, keeping an eye on me. We can video call every night. We better do that, anyway, because I'm not going to have much to do while lying in bed all day.”

He frowned. “It's not fair that I have to go away.”

“I know, but you wanted to save your paternity leave for when the babies are here.” Players only received two weeks of paternity leave, and Jeremy had insisted on using that from the day the babies were born. He made it clear he didn't want to miss a moment with them.

“I know.” Jeremy sighed, leaning down to kiss my belly. “Now, you two are going to stay in there until I get home, aren't you? And then I'm going to make a lovely nursery for you. You guys are going to let your mother rest, yes?” He looked pointedly at my stomach, like the babies were going to respond.

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