Page 76 of Triplet Babies for Pucking Christmas

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The smell of coffee and bagels hits me before I’m even fully awake. I shuffle into the kitchen, rubbing my eyes. Jared’s standing by the counter, unpacking a bag that’s clearly from the café down the street. Jamie’s already at the table, nursing a cup of coffee like it’s the only thing keeping him alive. Troy leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

“Morning,” Jared says without looking up, pulling out what looks like half the bakery. “Figured we could all use some breakfast to get a little break from…you know, the chaos.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, sliding into a chair. My stomach twists, not from nausea this time, but from everything hanging unsaid between us.

Jamie hands me a cup of tea. “Figured coffee might not be your thing this morning,” he says with a small smile.

“Thanks.”

We eat mostly in silence for the first few minutes, the quiet only broken by the occasional clink of silverware. Jared clears his throat, breaking the tension.

“Okay, so…I need to tell you something,” he starts, his voice low. “But this can’t leave this room. Like, seriously, it can’t. It could cost me my job.”

All eyes snap to him. Even Troy stops pretending to stare at the window.

“Shit,” Jamie mutters. “What is it?”

Jared hesitates, then leans forward. “The team is discussing selling some players.”

The words land like a punch to the gut. My fork freezes halfway to my mouth. Troy stiffens. Jamie’s eyes narrow.

“What the hell does that mean?” Troy asks, his voice sharp.

“It means,” Jared says slowly, “there’s a chance some of you could get traded to different teams. I don’t know who yet, and I probably won’t know until the end of the month. But it’s on the table.”

My heart sinks. “So, this Christmas, I might be having this baby alone?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. My hands tremble as I set down my fork. “What if you guys get traded to different corners of the country? What then?”

Jamie reaches over and grabs my hand, his grip firm and steady. “Sav, come on. We’d never let you deal with this alone. No matter where we are.”

Troy nods, but his jaw is tight. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s not panic yet.”

Jared leans back in his chair, his expression softening. “And for what it’s worth, I’ll be wherever the team is. Chicago is the home base. That doesn’t change.”

I nod slowly, but the knot in my chest doesn’t loosen. “You don’t get it,” I say quietly. “My dad was a sports agent. He was obsessed with work—gone all the time. My mom tried to make it work, but eventually, it was too much. She divorced him, and even after that, I barely saw him. He missed everything—birthdays, holidays, milestones.”

The words come tumbling out before I can stop them. I glance up, and they’re all staring at me.

“My mom…she passed away a while back,” I add, my voice cracking. “And I’ve wanted stability ever since. I’m not saying this to guilt-trip anyone. I just…I need you to know where I’m coming from.”

The room goes quiet again. Jamie clears his throat, sitting up straighter. “So…stability. Marriage, then?”

I blink at him. “What?”

He shrugs, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “I mean, I could marry you right now. Problem solved.”

Troy chokes on his coffee. Jared mutters something under his breath, shaking his head. But Jamie? He just keeps looking at me like he’s completely serious.

“Jamie,” I start, unsure how to even respond.

“I mean it,” he says, his tone soft but steady. “I care about you, Sav. We all do. This doesn’t have to be as complicated as we’re making it.”

Tears prick at my eyes again, but I force them back. “You guys…” I take a deep breath. “I know you care. I know we’re all scared and overwhelmed, but let’s just…let’s take it one step at a time, okay? We don’t have to figure out the next twenty years today.”

Jared nods, his voice calm. “She’s right. Let’s just focus on getting through this month. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Troy finally speaks, his voice softer than before. “You’re not alone in this, Sav. I know I’ve been…quiet. But I’m not going anywhere.”

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