Page 106 of What if It's Us

“AHHH!” Bodhi shrieks, tossing the pillow to the other side of the room much to the amusement of me and Ledger.

“Got ya, Pickle Pants,” Ledger says with a hearty laugh.

I look around at everyone here, the guys, Scarlett and Ella, chaotic and loud and exactly who Ledger has chosen as family.And my heart grows a few sizes as it makes room for the reality that now they’re a part of my family too.

Home isn’t just a place.

It’s a man who makes me laugh even when he drives me nuts, and a room full of sweaty, complaining, lovable hockey players…arguing over pillow fabric.

And I don’t think I would ever want to change a thing.

17 WEEKS

The arena rumbles with noise, the crowd on their feet as the team surges across the ice. This game has been high energy since the very first face off. I shift in my seat in the family section with Layken, Scarlett, and Corrigan. Balancing a tea in one hand, I wedge a tub of popcorn strategically between my knees. Ledger’s oversized hoodie warmly swaddling my ever-growing baby bump. It hasn’t been the most comfortable of days, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to stay home and miss watching my man play the game he loves so much.

Layken, draped in a foam finger and team beanie, sits beside me, vibrating with game-day energy. She glances over at me in all my pregnant glory and says, “Tell me again why you're here and not wrapped in a blanket at home binge-watchingQueer Eyeor something?”

“Well one, it’s my job to be here,” I answer.

“Yeah, but you have the night off so Sarah can learn the ropes. Someone has to be you while you’re on maternity leave. So, let’s give a better answer than that.”

“Okay, how about because the team’s left wing is the father of my crotch goblin and it’s my job to get him used to the sounds of hockey as early as possible.”

“Hmm,” Layken says, dipping a nacho chip into a bright yellow puddle of cheese before popping it into her mouth. “Okay, that’s better.” She shrugs. “And because I guilt-tripped you with snacks.”

“Yeah. You promised me a pretzel the size of my face along with emotional support.” I shrug this time and give her the best smirk I can muster. “I guess one out of two ain’t bad.”

She hands over a warm pretzel wrapped in foil with a smug flourish. “Never doubt me.”

We both laugh and watch on as the Stars fight for possession of the puck. I lean back in my seat, rubbing slow circles on my belly as I watch Ledger do his thing on the ice below.

“How have you been feeling?” Corrigan asks me. “No problems at all?”

I shake my head. “Other than ridiculous morning sickness for a while there, I’ve been okay. My stomach was hurting a bit this morning and this afternoon, but I get it. Growing pains and all.” I smile but it quickly falters when a stabbing pain hits right around my belly button. It’s fast and doesn’t last more than a second but damn. That hurt.

Is that the baby kicking me?

Is it supposed to hurt that much?

“You good?” Corrigan asks, her brows pinched.

“Yeah. That’s what I mean by stomachache. I think the baby’s just kicking me.” I laugh nervously as I rub my stomach. “Maybe he’s going to be a professional football player with the way he kicks.”

“You’re what, sixteen-ish weeks?” Scarlett wonders, listening in to our conversation.

I nod. “Seventeen weeks tomorrow.”

“The baby shouldn’t be kicking you so hard that it hurts yet,” Corrigan tells me.

The pain hits me again and I press my hand to my tummy, wincing. “Yeah. It’s just a little…tightness. Probably one of those fake contractions. Braxton Hicks or whatever. Or maybe I shouldn't have finished Layken’s chili dog.”

Concern etched on her face, Layken turns to me. “You atemy chili dog?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m pregnant, remember? I eat anything in front of me these days. And you know how I feel about chili dogs.”

The same sharp pain strikes again and I nearly jump out of my seat. “Fuck! Okay that hurts. What the hell?”

“You sure you're all right?” Layken wraps her hand gently around my forearm, concern etched across her brows.

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