Page 31 of Curve Ball
“You know,” I say, pulling Adriana to my side as we walk to the car. “I knew you were something special the moment I saw you, Mama. But this... this is just incredible.”
She leans her head on my shoulder, her voice soft and dreamy. “I can’t believe we’re going to have two little boys, Gael. I know one baby was a lot to take in, but two? You sure this is what you want? I know you’ve got baseball and I wouldn’t be upset if this is all too much for you.”
Esta mujer está loca si cree que simplemente me voy a ir y los dejaré a ella y a mis hijos.
I don’t respond; instead, I open the car door for her, helping her inside before rounding the hood and getting in myself. As I start the engine, I look over at her, my heart full to bursting.
“I want you. I want our boys. Fuck baseball, Adriana. You three are the most important things in my life now. My career is an afterthought. Let’s go home and start planning for our future, Mama. Actually, do you think we can go tell my mom? She is going to freak.”
The color drains from Adriana’s face.
“In a good way, Mama.Mierda, soy un idiota. Ella va a amarte y a nuestros hijos.”
She gives me a guilty look. “Can we do it tomorrow? I kinda just want today to be about me and you.”
“Of course. Do you want to stop by your apartment to get anything?” I ask, turning the car on and pulling out of the parking lot.
“Might be a good idea if you’re gonna to keep me at your apartment.”
I chuckle. “Mama, it’sourapartment now. We’re gonnahave to clear out the spare room and get the room ready for the boys.”
For our sons.
The drive home from her apartment is a blur of excitement and planning. We talk about names, about nursery ideas, and about the challenges that we will no doubt face raising twins. The gratitude that fills my heart for the life I’ve been given, for the woman sitting beside me, and for the two little boys growing inside her is unreal. Now I just need to make this woman my wife.
My wife.
It’s funny to think that I was terrified and put off marrying Natalia, stalling every chance I could.
It was like something out there knew I needed to wait just a little bit longer to find Adriana. And now she’s pregnant with my children and I’m sitting here trying to figure out how to make her my wife. There is no hesitation, no waiting to push it off. No fear.
Like it was meant to be.
Pulling into my spot next to her car in the garage, I turn to her, trying to hold back the tears that want to come out. “I love you, Adriana. Thank you for giving me this incredible gift. Thank you for trusting me. I promise you and our boys that I’m going to be the best father and hopefully someday husband I can be.”
She leans over and kisses me softly, her eyes filled with love. “I love you too, Gael. I believe you,amor. I’m lucky I get to do this with you.”
I look down at Adriana’s belly, a sense of wonder and awe washing over me. Twins.We’re having twins.
15
ADRIANA
“So let me get this straight,” Gael turns into the parking lot of Marisol Taqueria and puts the car in park. “Your ex was a piece of shit, and me praising you in bed triggered a fight-or-flight response because you were worried I was going to flip and be an asshole?’
This is not the conversation I thought we were going to have when he said, Let’s go have an early lunch before he has to go to a team meeting.
Not at all.
I feel guilty as he sits there, not angry, more hurt than anything. “It’s hard trusting people after what he put me through. I was just trying to protect myself.”
“What’s his name, Mama?”
“Why?” I narrow my eyes. “You wanna talk to him?”
“Nah,” he chuckles. “I wanna beat the shit out of him. Then when I’m done, and I’m fucking you right in front of him, showing him he lost out on the most amazing woman,” he leans over and whispers in my ear so softly that the hairs on my arms stand up. “I’ll have you coming on my cock, having you moan my name while you take all of my cum.”
My cheeks flush and I seriously do not need to be turned on while I meet his family for the first time. “We need to have a rule about you not turning me on right before meeting family.”
