Page 49 of Make Your Play

Solace sweeps across me. “It’s okay.” I smile up at him, scooting over. Nash doesn’t hesitate to sit down next to me, his arm instinctively resting on the top of the couch along my shoulders. “You’re here now.”

He hands me a small box.

“What’s this?”

“I’m appalled that you expected me to show up empty-handed to your baby shower.” He lifts his hand to his chest. “You wound me, Riley.” Then he winks at me. “Open it.”

My gaze drops down to the small box and I pull the ribbon before tearing the paper away. Our surroundings fade away and it’s just the two of us as I lift the lid. A gasp escapes me, emotion building in my chest as I see the world’s smallest Aston Archers jersey.

“Oh my god, look at this,” I murmur, lifting it from the box as my eyes scan the front of the infant-sized jersey. I didn’t even know they made ones this small. “This is so adorable.”

“Flip it over,” he says softly, his eyes gently probing mine.

My breath catches in my throat as I flip it over. Instead of a last name, it says BABY across the back of the jersey. My vision blurs as I see the number on the back.

17.

Nash’s number.

“I wasn’t sure if you decided on a name yet, so I figured ‘baby’ was the safest bet,” he explains with a nervousness as a ghost of a smile plays across his lips.

“It’s perfect,” I tell him, my gaze burning directly into his soul as my heart swells inside my chest.

You’re perfect.

***

“Riley, we’re home.”

My eyelids slowly lift and I move to sit up straighter in my seat as I look out the window. Nash parks the car in my driveway and kills the engine as he turns to look at me. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“It’s okay,” he says softly with the gentlest smile. “You had a long and exhausting day, so it’s only natural to be tired. Let’s get you inside so you can get comfortable.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, letting out a yawn. “I want to help carry some of the baby’s things inside.”

Nash narrows his eyes on me. “You can carry a shirt or a book. I get to decide what is or isn’t too heavy for you.”

A soft laugh slips from my lips and I roll my eyes at him. “Yes, sir.”

“I like that.” A heated look grows in his eyes. “Maybe I need to order you around more often.”

“Yeah, because I’m not going to argue with you or anything,” I say with sarcasm heavy in my tone.

A smirk drifts across his lips. “It turns me on even more when you do that shit.”

A rush of warmth goes straight to my center and I quickly get out of the enclosed space before this ends up turning into something in the front seat of his car. I meet Nash at the back of the car and he hands me two gift bags that barely weigh anything. He instructs me to go open the door and I do as he says, unlocking the front door and holding it open for him as he carries in a few boxes.

He leaves them at the top of the stairs then heads back out to get another load. I head over to the nursery, letting myself into the baby’s room. As I step inside, I stop in my tracks, the air leaving my lungs in a rush. Somehow the same crib, changing table, and dresser I ordered are all inside the nursery perfectly constructed and arranged.

I glance around the room, tears springing to my eyes as I take it all in. There’s a rug by the crib and curtains hung by the windows. Everything I ordered and thought was missing is here.

His footsteps are light as he walks into the room, setting down a few boxes as I turn around to face him. Nash’s eyes meet mine.

“Where did you get these things?” I question him, attempting to blink away the tears. “This is everything I ordered. Everything that was missing.”

A smile lifts Nash’s lips as his eyes probe mine. “They were never missing, Ry.” A soft chuckle escapes him as he closes the distance between us. “I hid them yesterday afternoon.”

“Is this where you were earlier today?”

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