Page 26 of While We Waited

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

I squeal. I can’t help it. I’ve wanted a baby ever since I can remember. Long before Mom got sick. Maybe even before Dad died.

I’ll deal with the other issues – being a single mom, telling Hudson he’s going to be a father – later. There’s nothing I can’t handle.

I let excitement rule.

No one’s raining on my parade today.

Not even the baby’s father.

Chapter 10

Two-minute warning – a warning Hudson’s avoidance of Nova is about to come to an end

Hudson

My feet pound the pavement as I run toward the resort. My ankle and Achilles’ tendon ache but I don’t stop. I may not be able to play professional football anymore, but I refuse to stop running, or lifting weights, or playing sports.

I am an athlete. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.

The doctors didn’t think I’d be able to run again after the defensive lineman broke my ankle and ruptured my tendon. I showed them. But the months of grueling physical training were for nothing. When I returned to the team, the team doc wouldn’t sign off on my return. My career was done.

I rub a hand over my chest as the familiar pain of failure hits me. The feeling keeps me awake at night.

Except for the night I spent with Nova. I didn’t have any problems sleeping after burying myself deep in her body and exploding with pleasure.

My cock twitches. It doesn’t understand why I refuse to give into the temptation of Nova again.

I ignore it and increase my speed until the sweat is rolling down my back and my muscles burn from the exertion. Maybe if I exhaust myself, I won’t be tempted to take my cock in my hand as I shower and imagine Nova’s lips around me. Nova on her knees before me. Nova with those exotic eyes staring up at me.

I sprint around the last bend to the resort and catch a glimpse of a police vehicle driving into the parking lot. Shit. What now? I hope it isn’t drunk guests again. I prefer to limit having my shoes thrown up on to once in a lifetime.

I manage to catch up to the vehicle as Lucas is getting out of the driver’s side.

“Lucas,” I call as I come to a halt next to the car.

I bend over and rest my hands on my knees as I catch my breath. My lungs burn from how hard I pushed myself the last quarter of a mile. I don’t mind. I enjoy the burn. It reminds me of what my body is capable of. Of the lengths I can push it to. Of how satisfying being an athlete can be.

“You’re up early for a run.”

I grunt. I’m always up early since sleeping is a luxury of my pre-injury past.

“Are you here to arrest someone?”

“He can arrest me,” a woman hollers as she steps out of the main resort building.

Lucas throws up his left hand. “Married.”

My brow wrinkles. His marriage is fake. He married Chloe to keep custody of his daughter. They’re playing happy family until his ex-wife loses her bid for custody.

“I’ll be your side piece. I don’t mind.” The woman isn’t giving up.

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