Page 84 of One Timer With A Wingman

“Aaron what are you doing? Put me down,” I insist.

“Murray men are protective of their women,” Catherine explains like it’s no big deal that her grown son is carrying me like a child.

“Just humor me so I don’t worry,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

Aaron carries me all the way to his Bronco parked outside on the front driveway. He’s also huffing and puffing because it was quite a trek.

“I don’t think it was all that necessary,” I say as he places me in the passenger seat.

“Taking care of you and the baby is completely necessary. You can’t walk on that ankle.”

He closes my car door. We drive to a hospital close to his house. They do an ultrasound and tell me the baby is perfectly fine. They send me for an X-ray. Turns out I have a hairline fracture and need to wear a boot for the next three weeks.

We head back to his parents’ house. Everyone gushes over me when I walk through the door.

“I’m sorry, Briar,” Daniella says.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” I assure her.

“But I pulled you down that hill,” she says.

“That’s not why my ankle rolled. I’ve become clumsy since I got pregnant,” I assure. “How did we do with the egg hunt?” I ask to move away from the subject.

“We came in second. Davis and Jordy came in first.” She frowns. “But we still won a pinata filled with candy. We can share.”

“I want you to have it,” I say to her. Her face lights up and she runs off to tell her parents.

“Come on, let’s get you seated,” Aaron says, guiding me to the family room where there is a large beige sectional. It’s so plush and soft I sink right into it. Aaron makes me elevate my leg.

His family pours in one by one to check on me and say goodnight.

With everyone upstairs or in one of the guest rooms in the basement, Aaron asks, “Should we watch a movie?”

“Sure,” I reply.

Aaron and I cuddle into each other on the couch.

His parents walk into the room. “Ah,Princess Bride,” Catherine says. “A solid choice.”

“I kept calling her Buttercup in Punta Cana.” Aaron shrugs.

“I definitely see the resemblance,” his mom says. “You kids have a good night.”

“Thanks, you too, Mrs. Murray.”

“Please, call me Catherine,” she says.

“Okay, Catherine. Good night.”

“Night, Mom, love you,” Aaron says.

My ovaries burst. There’s something about a big handsome guy like Aaron, who is also a jock, not being shy to tell his mom he loves her.

We get back to our movie. Aaron has his arm around me as I lean into his side. He places his hand over my belly protectively.

“Wesley always loved Buttercup; it just takes her time to come around,” he whispers to me.

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