Page 72 of Playboy

“I probably shouldn’t say horny?”

Ava blushes, and Millie folds her lips in.

Lennox, of course, squeals. Decked out in head-to-toe pink—including her hair—she bounces in her seat, a huge grin splitting her face. “Why shouldn’t you say that? Is it true that pregnancy sex is better than normal sex? I read that all the blood is centered down there, so it’s supposed to be incredible.”

I peek over at Millie. Typically, I have no shame, but I worry about making her uncomfortable. I guess I want her to like me for her brother. It’s odd. I know. I’m not with her brother. But I’m her future niece or nephew’s mom, so rather than overshare, I just shrug.

“Don’t be shy on my account,” Millie says quickly. “I know my brother.”

“Speaking of her brother,” Sara says, her tone full of mischief. “What’s going on with you two?”

I shake my head and swallow down the lump in my throat. “What do you mean?”

“He hasn’t shut up about the baby since he told us. Right, Mills?” Sara looks at her sister-in-law for confirmation.

Millie nods. “He’s very excited.”

My cheeks heat. I know he is. At last week’s OB appointment, Daniel made sure we got a good fifteen images of the baby for the baby album. He framed his favorite and set it on the bookshelf in my living room next to the first. I imagine he’s done the same at his apartment, but I can’t confirm, since I’ve never been there.

“He’s been nothing but helpful since we found out.”

Lennox scrunches her nose. “Helpful? Toothbrushes are helpful. Tell us the good stuff. Are you guys a couple? What are you going to do when the baby is born?”

Sara nudges her roughly in the ribs. “Shush.”

Though a hint of unease swirls in my stomach, I laugh. “It’s fine. Honestly, we barely know one another. I like him. He’s a great guy.” I turn to Millie. “He’s going to be a great father.”

She nods, though her smile is forced. She knows as well as I do that Daniel doesn’t do relationships, and that if I weren’t pregnant with his kid, he’d likely be doing a different woman every night during his offseason.

And if I weren’t pregnant, I’d be sleeping with a different man in every city while traveling with the team.

Like two peas stuck in the same pod for the rest of our lives.

“Anyway,” I say lightly, returning to Lennox’s sex question. That’s what I’m good at, after all. “My nipples are oversensitive, and you’re right—the orgasms are out of this world.”

“I knew it!” Lennox hoots, and the girls all dissolve into giggles. The focus turns to Ava, who’s bright red, as they press her for confirmation.

Though Millie’s gaze quickly wanders back to me. And I have to wonder, what is Daniel saying in response to these questions? Is anyone asking him what his intentions are? Should I?

TWENTY-FIVE

DANIEL

But crossingoff this particular item got me to thinking: as I get older and am forced to be more responsible, will I have a chance to tick off the rest of the items on my bucket list? Does growing up mean giving up the fun things in life?

For the last two weeks,the final lines of her column have been beating like a drum in my head. Just the thought of crossing that item off her bucket list has my heart pumping. It makes me irrationally happy. It’s stupid, really. Especially since she just texted, canceling on me for dinner tonight. She’s exhausted. I understand that. Obviously I told her it was fine and to rest.

She promised she was taking care of herself on the road and made sure to remind me that our next OB appointment isn’t until the end of August—when we can find out the sex of the baby if we want.

She doesn’t expect to not see me again until then, does she?

I miss her. Not the woman having my child, but Hannah herself. I miss her, and every time I think we’re taking a step inthe right direction, she leaves the damn state, and it feels like we’re starting back at the beginning again.

To top that all off, Camden’s trade is official. He left for Vegas last week. It hasn’t sunken in. Not until tonight. Gavin is hosting a team dinner for the guys who are in town, and for as long as we’ve played together, Camden has always been here for these.

I survey the guys in attendance. Brooks, Aiden, and Gavin are gushing over Vivi, while War and Noah are in deep conversation about god only knows what. Keegan and I have been shooting the shit, but even that kid has a girlfriend, so when his phone rang a few minutes ago, he stepped out into the hall to talk to her.

With another look at Hannah’s text, I consider begging her to let me bring her something. Anything. But that’s pathetic. If the woman wanted to see me, she’d tell me. She never has difficulty telling me what she wants.

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