Page 89 of On Thin Ice

“I guess we should go in, then.” I linked my fingers with hers and squeezed.

She grinned back at me. “Yeah, before they get the rest of the guys out here to taunt you.”

I shook my head and opened my door. Maybe with a little extra force that had Sin jumping back. Served the bastard right.

“Watch it, Baby Daddy,” Sin said. “Can’t injure the star player.”

“I’m fine,” I said with a glare. Definitely not a fan of the new nickname he’d given me recently.

“Um, a little help?” Ally said.

“Shit. Sorry.” I moved to her side of the car to help her out. “You good?” I asked when she was on her feet and in my arms.

Fuck. I didn’t want to let her go.

She patted my chest. “All good. My center of gravity is just a bit off.”

“Looking great, Ally,” Sin said with a wink.

“Fuck off, man,” I retorted as Ally chuckled.

“Okay, okay. How about we go inside, and someone else can watch Sin?” Micah said. “And I’ll take that.” He grabbed the platter of little crescent roll appetizer things Ally and I made together.

“I don’t need watching,” Sin grumbled, but we ignored him, and I linked my fingers with Ally’s again as we headed up the front walk.

“Great. You’re here,” Brooke said when she opened the door. “Oh, Ally. Looking glowing and gorgeous.”

I didn’t miss Brooke’s gaze dropping down to my fingers intertwined with Ally’s. Then she looked back up at me with a beaming smile that I couldn’t help but return.

“I’m feeling less glowing and more sweaty. And tired,” Ally said.

Brooke put her hand on Ally’s shoulder. “I hear you. But it’s almost over, and then you’ll have a little diva.” She paused and grinned. “I mean, adorable bundle of joy.”

Ally laughed softly. “Violet is not a diva.”

“See, I’m not a diva,” Violet’s little voice piped up. “Hi, Ally. When’s my new friend getting here?”

“Honey, we talked about this. It’s going to take a while before Ally’s baby is ready to play with you. She’s going to be super little. Remember?”

“I know. Like my dolls. I can dress her up,” Violet said with a big smile.

“Not like a doll,” Brooke said, then she leaned into us. “You should see how she manhandles her dolls. Gentle isn’t in her vocabulary.”

“Well, we can all play dress-up together,” Ally said to the little girl.

Her smile took my breath away, and I couldn’t wait to see my girls playing together.

Fuck. I was so gone.

And trying to ignore the doubts that kept cropping up, especially after today’s class. But I was going to be strong for Ally. She needed that from me and she kept telling me that we would figure everything out. I just wish I was as optimistic as she was.

“Okay, let’s get everyone inside and let Ally sit down. She’s probably tired,” Brooke said, ushering us into the house.

“Yes. We had to do our birth class today because of the game schedule, so it’s been a long day already,” Ally said.

“Oh man. What the hell is that?” Sin asked from behind me.

“You learn about everything that’s going to happen when you give birth. It’s a lot, but women have been doing it since the beginning of time, and you’re going to be fine,” Brooke said.

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