Page 80 of Keeping Score

“Of course. Which is why I have accepted the guys and Nova’s applications and set a date for you all to meet with her.”

Part Two

Leah

Darius has been acting weird for a couple of weeks now. I’ve tried asking him what’s wrong but he just keeps brushing me off and now I’m scared. I know this pregnancy has been rough on us both, but I’m starting to worry that he’s resenting me for wanting this little miracle so badly. I know my halfback would do anything for me, but I just hope this baby wasn’t something he gave me to keep me happy at the expense of his own happiness.

“Lee?” I smile at the sound of Beck’s voice.

“In the kitchen!” I call back, and my best friend saunters in and smiles at me. I try to hide my emotions, but the instant the smile falls from his face, I know I failed, and tears begin to fallon their own accord. Beck rushes toward me and wraps me in his embrace. I break down and start sobbing.

“Baby girl, what’s wrong?” His tone is laced with worry.

“I think…Darius…doesn’t want our baby.” Beck gasps and pushes me back, resting his hands on the tops of my shoulders, then bends down until we are at eye level.

“Why the fuck would you think that?”

My bottom lip trembles. “He won’t even touch me, he leaves the room every time I walk in, and he’s been avoiding me at all costs.”

Beck’s eyes darken, and his features pull taut. “I’ll kill the spineless fuck.” He growls.

“Becky, I can’t lose him.” I choke out.

He sighs, cups my face between his hands, and brushes away my tears with his thumbs. “Lee, he is a fucking idiot but everyone can see how crazy in love with you he is. Darius is a cold fuck, and the only person I have ever seen him be tender towards is you. Do you really think your brother would have agreed to let him marry you if he thought Darius was gonna break your heart?”

“No,” I whisper.

Becky smiles lovingly. “Exactly. Whatever is going on with him will pass. You just need to let him deal with his shit. Becoming a parent isn’t easy for him considering everything he went through as a kid.” Guilt churns inside me at the reminder of what my husband had to endure as a child.

“He isn’t his parents, and I know he’ll love our baby?—.”

“Exactly. You just said it yourself. He may be a hardhead and act a fool most of the time, but he will burn the world to the ground for you, Leah. Never doubt how much he loves you, D will come around. Just give him time.”

“Maybe…I just need to get out of here for a while and give him some space.”

Becky jerks back and shakes his head. “No. If you leave, he will destroy everything in this house, Lee.”

“Becky, please, I just need…time.”

Beck groans and spins away from me as he starts pacing my kitchen. I can tell he is torn between being my best friend and a loyal brother to my husband. “Fuck.” He snaps as he turns to me and tugs on the strands of his head.

“Please,” I beg.

His eyes soften and a groan of frustration escapes him. “You have eight hours, after that I’m telling him you left.”

“I love you, Becky.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you better love me after your husband breaks my fucking nose for not stopping you.” He mutters.

***

I sit outside on the loveseat and watch the snowfall. This cabin has many happy and bitter memories, this cabin has become the place we all escape to so we can forget our daily lives and live in the moment with the people we love most.

When I feel my baby kick, I gasp and cover my bump, smiling. “I love you, bug,” I whisper. It tears me apart inside to think about Darius not wanting this baby. I love that man with everything I have, but if it becomes a choice between him and our baby, I will choose my little bug. I pull the blanket tighter around me to ward off the chill. I should be inside in front of the fire, but I can’t find the strength to stand and face the empty cabin. “God, I wish he was here,” I mumble.

“Then next time, invite me along for the ride, Goldie.” I close my eyes at the sound of his voice, and I don’t bother turning around in my chair because I know he’ll come to me. He always does. I blink my eyes open when I feel the chair dip. Darius sitsthere looking at me with so much uncertainty and fear in his eyes that it robs me of air. “Why’d you leave me, baby?” He whispers.

Tears gather in my eyes, and I’m powerless to stop them from falling. “I don’t want to choose between you both.” I sob, his brows furrow in confusion.

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