Page 37 of Baller's Surprise Baby

I had already been selected for the All-Star team, so I’ve been traveling all week. It just so happened that the day I returned she’d been on a trip to Austin for her new job, so that’s when I’d taken the time to visit my parents. I shake my head, wondering how much longer it would have taken for me to find out about the baby if I hadn’t seen Becca. It’s perplexing to think about. I mean, did Everly ever plan to tell me? I purse my lips and ball my hands into fists again at the thought that maybe she doesn’t see me as the one she wants to be with long-term. What the hell, Everly?

My nighttime epiphany was just as life changing as our first night together in that hotel in Phoenix, AZ, but my reaction was the complete opposite. After pacing the floor for an hour I’d broken down and texted her in the middle of the night, but then she’d called the next morning, oblivious to my line of thought and had reminded me that she wasn’t free for breakfast because she was flying out for the wedding.

Rachel had invited me a long time ago, but I hadn’t planned on attending, but that’s all over now. I booked a flight for the next day to get here. Now, after all the travel I sit, waiting again and ready to burst. When the ceremony finally ends, the attendants go through their procession and the officiant announces that they’ll be doing photos. The rest of us can make our way to the reception in the building next door…and wait some more. Great. Just great.

I head to the reception and forty minutes later am finally rewarded.

“You’re here!”

I turn at her voice and stop to stare.

“Everly.” My mouth is suddenly dry. She’s so beautiful in that dress. Her skin is glowing, and her hair is loosely pinned back. I’m suddenly in awe of her, the mother of my child. I realize belatedly that she’s still got her bouquet and is hugging a cardigan to her stomach. Taking it in stride I bend down to press my lips to hers, a stolen moment in the midst of the crowd. Lingering there, my lips move gently over hers with one hand raised to her cheek. Stepping back, I’m gratified to see a dazed look in her eyes. If ever there was any doubt in my mind that she wants me, that look quells it.

“How are you, Curves? You doing alright?” Moments ago, I had a million things to say to her. But now that she’s here beside me, I just want to hold her and take a few minutes to breathe the air around her. She smells amazing, and I trail a finger down her wrist.

“I’m doing good.” She nods a little too eagerly, a bit of tension still showing in her shoulders. “I’m so glad Aunt Sharon is in the clear, so this is really a day of celebration for so many reasons. I wasn’t expecting to see you today. It’s such a surprise, a great surprise.”

I smile as I take her hand in mine and then relax back into my chair. She’s clearly nervous about seeing me, but I’m not going anywhere. Oh, yeah. We’ve got an important conversation, Curves, and you’re not ducking out of it.

For the next hour we do a funny dance. I watch her. She babbles. I offer her a drink. She stammers as she asks for water. I invite her to the dance floor, and she makes a dash for the bathroom, always holding something to her belly, always hiding what I can now see is clearly a baby bump.

When we finish our meal Everly announces she wants to speak with the bride, so I stand and snag her hand.

“I’ll go with you.” I stare down at her as she sinks quickly back into her chair and uses her free hand to adjust that damned cardigan over her stomach for the hundredth time this evening, and that’s when I decide that I can’t take it anymore. Reaching out with my other hand I still her motions, pinning her fingers lightly to her abdomen.

“Everly, I came here tonight because I didn’t want to spend another night apart from you.”

Her already big eyes widen, and I see worry creasing her brow. Without thinking, I place my thumb there in an effort to smooth the small worry lines as I lower my voice and let her see my heart in my eyes.

“You’re my girl, Ev. All I want is to be near you…Will you let me do that?” Something akin to shame washes over her features, and the next thing I know she’s crying. Leaning in close, I wipe gently at her cheeks. She turns her face into my palm, and I watch as her expression crumples.

With a worried glance across the room, I catch Rachel’s eye and see the thunder on her face when her eyes fall on Everly. She scurries closer to us as fast as her heels will allow and then hisses in my ear, “There’s a door to the lawn right over there.” I stand and hug Everly to me, turning to shelter her as much as possible as we walk carefully in the direction Rachel indicated. Just as we step outside, Rachel snags my arm and hisses in my ear.

“Ryder, I love you to death, but you fix this right now or I swear to God I will make you pay!” And with that, the door slams shut and we’re alone.

28

Everly

Standing outside with tears streaming down my face, I sob for the third time in just over twenty-four hours. It’s got to be the hormones, because seriously, when will it end?!

Staring up at Ryder’s warm eyes, I feel my heart breaking.

“Ryder, I—, “ Somehow I manage to hiccup before I can get more words out, and then I sob even harder. I’ve never done this in front of him. We’ve been vulnerable in bed, but not in other parts of life. He pulls me into his arms, and we stay there swaying gently for several moments until I can find a way to speak, although a fair amount of my words come out in emotional squeaks.

“I’m sorry. This is supposed to be a happy event, and you flew all the way to see me, and it’s the sweetest thing ever. I just feel like such a jerk. Ryder, I’m so sorry.” I raise sorrowful eyes to him, but I feel ashamed of myself and immediately drop them to the grass when I force myself to continue.

“I’ve got something to tell you. I should have told you weeks ago, but I was so scared, and I don’t even know how to say it.” I sputter and feel the panic rising again, so I rush the last of it.

“Ryder, I’m pregnant.”

My voice cracks and I raise my eyes with that last statement, terrified but desperate to know his reaction. He stares down at me with a perplexed look on his face and for a minute doesn’t answer. He just stays there with me, gently pulling loose strands of my hair away from my face and smoothing his fingers down my nape and shoulders. Meanwhile, consternation wells up inside of me. He’s studying my face as much as I’m studying his, and I must have lost my mind, because I repeat the scariest words I’ve ever said in my life.

“Ryder, did you hear me? I said I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant with your baby.”

Still, he stays silent, gently running his hands down my arms, until he nods his head and finally answers in a soft voice.

“Yeah, I know.”

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