Page 34 of Sweet Thing

“Looks like you’ll be pumping out more of Nyquist’s spawn soon. Knocked up and so in lurve.”

“Like I said, just doing the guy a favor.” I prayed my blush wouldn’t be obvious.

I didn’t need such intrusive thoughts entering my head. I couldn’t afford to think of Lars that way, not when everything was so complicated. The last thing he needed was for me to fawn all over him. He’d barely reacted when we discussed my crush. Probably heard it all the time.

Rosie helped herself to a Revolution IPA from the fridge. “Is the gang all here?”

We were playing host to the WAGs and fams for tonight’s game in New York. The Kershaw house was the unofficial seat of team fandom for away game viewings, and while I wouldn’t have minded a quiet night in, it was nice to see everyone.

“Yeah, Violet arrived a few minutes ago. She said you haven’t gone around to see her yet.”

Rosie rolled her eyes. “What a liar! I ran into her at the coffee shop with Devon yesterday. He’s obsessed with my new ink.”

Devon was Rosie’s fourteen-year-old half-brother and absolutely adored his sister. The feeling was mutual.

My mom put her head around the door. “Rosie, finally! Your mom’s been asking where you were.” She called back. “She’s here!”

Violet Vasquez-St. James came thundering into the kitchen. “My beautiful girl, where have you been?”

Rosie laughed as her mother hugged her. Though Violet didn’t raise her daughter, they still had an incredibly close relationship. As surrogate for Cade and Dante, Rosie’s dads, she had remained an integral part of her daughter’s life. Both dark-eyed and curvy, with glorious ink adorning their skin, they could easily pass as sisters.

“Mom, why are you telling everyone I haven’t been to see you?”

“Well, not officially. Bren thought you’d come over and see us yesterday, and if I hadn’t run into you at the coffee shop, I’m wondering if you would have bothered! Also, Harper can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

Rosie caught my eye. Her aunt Harper, the Rebels CEO, had offered her an internship with the team, but my friend had confided in me that she didn’t really see herself in that corporate structure.

“Can’t wait to see her,” Rosie said diplomatically.

Violet waved a hand at me. “And what do you think of all this? Nyquist’s love child?”

My mom kissed my cheek. “I think my daughter is very kind to step up.”

“She’s a saint.” Violet smiled at me, though the way she said it,saintrhymed withsucker. “And is he sure she’s his?”

“Theo just texted. Lars heard from his lawyer and it’s a yes.”

Oh. It felt odd to hear this information from anyone other than Lars. I wondered how he was doing, though knowing my dad, he was in good hands. The media were already all over it, especially given Lars’s family history; now that it was official, they would be like sharks to blood.

Everyone was chattering about the situation, who the mom was, why she’d done what she did, what came next.

“What’s the PR plan?” I asked.

“I’m sure the Rebels have it under control,” my mom said.

“I haven’t seen anything on the Rebels website or socials. No statement, no mention of it. I’d think they’d want to get ahead of it.”

Rosie shrugged. “What can they say? “‘Don’t worry, Lars Nyquist isnotlike his dad. He’s one of the good ones.’”

I must have scowled at her because she raised her eyebrows and mouthed, “What?” They couldn’t help being gossipy old hens, but I didn’t have to like it. These were real people, not tawdry tabloid fodder.

“Mom, could you …” I held the baby out to her. “I need to pee.”

“Of course. I’ve been dying for some snuggle time with this little one.”

I went to the upstairs bathroom for privacy. Maybe I should leave it alone. Lars would be prepping for the game and didn’t need to hear from me. But I could send a message, and he’d see it afterward?

Hey. Just heard the tidings of great joy.

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