Page 48 of Make Your Play

“Okay,” I agree, a smile pulling on my lips as I open my phone and go through my emails. I find the one with the delivery info, take a screenshot, and send it to Nash. “I just sent it to you.”

“Perfect,” he says with a smile of satisfaction as he looks at me once more. He goes to move and stops himself, the anticipation hanging in the air between us. It almost looks like he’s conflicted and then it abruptly washes away from his face as he steps closer to me.

His hand finds my chin, tilting my head back as his face drops down to mine. His lips swiftly meet my own, kissing me sweetly before he pulls away. “See you later, love.”

My heart is in my throat and it takes me a second to get the word out. “Bye.”

Contentment floods me as I watch Nash head out the door. Just the fact that I know I’ll see him later brings me the sense of peace I need.

He makes everything easier, while at the same time making everything complicated. My heart knows what it wants and it wants him.

***

Nova was expecting me when I got to her house and she didn’t pay any attention to the bags of random shit I brought her from the store. She simply thanked me, put it on the counter, and ushered me out the door, claiming we were going to be late if we didn’t leave immediately.

We were going to be late because of the wild-goose chase she sent me on, looking for a bunch of ingredients that aren’t needed in one recipe.

When we pull up to the old historical mansion, the breath leaves my lungs in a rush. It’s a beautiful manor built of stone with ivy sweeping up the sides of the building. I’ve heard of Greendale Estate before, but this is the first time I’m seeing it in person.

It’s tucked down a long lane, surrounded by the most beautiful gardens. Nova walks with me as we make our way to the front door. The small parking lot is already filled with cars and when we walk inside, I’m blown away by the delicate flowers and pastel colors decorating the inside.

Nonna and Posey are in the foyer area, Posey running over to me to give my stomach a kiss before her small hand slips into mine and she pulls me with her. We walk into the main room and I see the familiar faces of all our friends and family.

Bethany waves at me from where she’s fixing an arrangement on one of the tables. At the table next to her, I see Mia Landry, Nash’s coach’s daughter, Quinn, the team’s physical therapist, and a few of the other players’ wives and girlfriends.

At another table are some of Nash and Nova’s family that I’ve known for many years, and at another are a few of my cousins and my mother. I’m surprised to see her and I walk right to her as she stands up and pulls me in for a hug.

“You are glowing, baby,” my mother says as she cups the sides of my face. “How are you feeling?”

Even though she lives farther away, she’s been checking in with me periodically throughout my pregnancy. It’s not the same as having her nearby, but I got used to being separated from my family long ago. We’ve never had a close relationship and although it’s something I wish we had, it’s something I accepted years ago.

“I’m good. Everything is going pretty well now,” I tell her, a smile on my lips. “Thank you for coming.”

“You know I wouldn’t have missed it.”

The smile on my face feels a little more forced and I nod at her. It’s such a lie and she’s most likely here because of the guilt, but it’s fine. This is how my mother operates. When I told her the news of being pregnant and that I wasn’t with the father, she wasless than thrilled. She came around to it and has been supportive since, but only from afar and only when it suits her.

Leaving my mother with my cousins, I turn around, spotting a table with a few faces I didn’t expect to see. The Ford brothers, Rowan, Hayes, and Lincoln are all sitting together. A confused smile pulls on my lips as I walk over to the guys. Some of their significant others aren’t here, but the guys weren’t supposed to come from what Nova told me.

They were all supposed to be at a team-bonding activity.

“What are you guys doing here?”

They all take turns pulling me in for a hug, the last being Carson as he leaves his arm wrapped around me. “It was only for some of the guys,” he tells me. “We all had different activities we were doing and we finished early. Nash should be here in a little bit.”

Disappointment washes over me and what he says seems a little strange, but I don’t question him on it. I don’t fully know everything the team does together, so, in a way, it kind of makes sense. Although, it’s a little weird that these five ended up together and Nash wasn’t with any of them.

“Come on,” Nova says, linking her arm through mine. “We need you at the front of the room.” She turns to the entire room. “Food is in the kitchen if everyone wants to help themselves.”

Nova leads me into the massive kitchen, ushering me along the line as I fill my plate with some food. After I get everything I need, she takes me back into the main room, taking me toward the fireplace where there’s a balloon arch over the small couch in the center. I take my seat and Nova leaves me to eat as she goes to find Posey.

Everyone files back into the room, taking their seats as they start to eat. I look around the room, watching everyone as they fall into their own comfortable conversations and suddenly, Ifeel completely alone in a room full of people. Sadness consumes me, my chest growing tighter as I set my fork down on my plate.

I don’t want to burden anyone with my feelings or my thoughts, but goddamn, this is increasingly becoming uncomfortable. Nova is with Posey. Nonna is with the boys. Everyone is at their table, talking and laughing, and then there’s me.

I swallow roughly, pushing back the emotion that threatens to consume me, no thanks to the pregnancy hormones, when I hear the front door quietly opening. Turning my head to look, I stare at the doorway, relief flooding me as he steps past the threshold. His eyes find mine in an instant, his face lighting up as soon as he sees me.

He doesn’t stop to say anything to anyone. Instead, he walks directly to me, not stopping until he’s standing directly in front of me. “Hey you,” he murmurs, his words only meant for me. “Sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

---