Page 51 of Two Minutes for Holding

“I did. I noticed you didn’t play tonight,” I said, bunching the corner of my sheets in my hand as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“Nah, not tonight,” he muttered. “Doctor’s appointment went well?” he asked, changing the subject.

I frowned. I didn’t like that he hadn’t expanded on the reason he hadn’t played. Clay only ever stepped out of the game when injured or sick. I knew that much from my brother.

“Yeah, how did you feel about the news?”

I’d been worried about telling him how far along I’d been through a text message. I’d wanted to see his face when I told him the news. That way I could gauge his reaction myself, because I still feared somewhere inside, he wasn’t serious about being there for me.

“I’d planned to be there for you no matter what. Even if it wasn’t mine,” he said, going quiet for a few moments before clearing his throat. “What I’d like to know is how you see this going?”

“What do you mean?” I questioned, not sure what it was he wanted to know.

“Well, what do you want? Did you want to try to co-parent, or do you want to be together?”

I knew what I’d always wanted if I were to have children with someone, but I certainly didn’t want to force him to want the same things. However, I knew I needed to be honest with him instead of dancing around the subject or trying to hint or maybe never tell him what it was I wanted. This wasn’t just me I was messing with. I had someone else to think about now, which totally blew my mind when I thought about it.

“To be honest, I always thought that when I had kids, or was lucky enough to have them, I’d be with the father, in a solid relationship.”

I swallowed hard when the line went quiet. It stayed quiet for a few minutes.

“When are you coming back out here?” he asked. “Maybe we should try to settle things?”

“I’ll be out this coming weekend,” I answered.

“Okay, that sounds good.”

Once again, he went quiet. I wanted to see him, to see his expression.

“Clay, before I go to sleep, do you think we could video chat?” I asked.

Clay cleared his throat. “I don’t know if that is a good idea right now,” he said.

“Why?” I questioned, fear running through me. He hadn’t played tonight…now he didn’t want to video chat.

Then, as if he could read my mind, the line went dead, and my phone rang, a video chat invite popping up.

I pulled up the video call and then saw the reason Clay hadn’t wanted to be on video. The cut across the bridge of his nose was red and bloody, but the swollen shut black eye and bruising were horrific.

“What the hell happened to you?” I cried, horrified.

Clay chuckled a little. “Don’t freak out, but your brother happened.”

Tears came to my eyes first because of the damage Knox had caused, and then for another reason. “Why would he have done that?” I questioned; positive I knew the answer already.

“I told him,” Clay answered. “About us.”

“What?” I questioned, panic filling me.

“I told him today. I couldn’t keep it from him any longer. Like I told you, I was prepared to take what was coming my way.”

“God…I’m going to let him have it,” I said, anger rising in me.

“No, you aren’t. We are going to let him cool off, and then we are going to deal with him like the adults we are. He’ll come around. I am sure it was just a shock to him. Now, I’m going to get some ice on my face so I don’t miss any other games and get to bed. I want you to do the same, and I will see you on the weekend.”

“But, Clay, he can’t do this—”

“It’s done, Peyton. He did it and I expected it. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

---