Page 139 of Coach Me
Dex stands up abruptly. “Wait right here.”
“Wait? What? Dex!”
He’s through the sliding door in an instant. I watch as he walks into the living room, grabs something from his duffle bag, and walks right back out.
“Dex, what?—”
Dex sits back down, grabs my face, and cuts me off with a deep, deep kiss. My breath is lost, it’s consumed by this moment. My fears subside, and every part of my body relaxes at the demanding love I feel in this kiss.
“Lucie, baby. I love you so fucking much, but you’re one-upping my move.” Dex pulls out a velvet box. “I wanted to bring you out here tonight and ask you to make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife. I thought I’d put it off until tomorrow since you’re sick, but—” Dex chuckles for a moment, then opens the box, revealing a gold-plated marquise diamond engagement ring.
“Lucie Anderson, you may have fallen in love with my son first, but I fell in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you. I didn’t want to admit it—I couldn’t understand it—but in that moment I felt it. I’ve continued to fall in love with you every single day. You and all your damn evidence has piled up.”
A tear streams down my cheek as a laugh forces its wayout. “I love you too, Dex. I love Miles, and I love this baby. I just know this wasn’t planned.”
Dex’s thumb glides across my cheek. “I’m so happy you’re pregnant, Luce. I don’t give a single fuck about a plan. You’re already an incredible mother to Miles. I’m about to be so fucking annoying catering to you while you’re pregnant. But I’m going to be selfish for one last time. Luce, please have my baby with my ring on your finger. Marry me?”
I let my happy tears fall. “Can I be selfish and say I need my husband to promise to still sign his contract?”
Dex’s laugh fuels my soul. “Only if you say yes.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Dex Larsen.” My smile grows as his thumb wipes at my cheeks. “I never imagined I’d marry my favorite player, let alone have his baby.”
Dex hauls me to him. His forehead rests against mine. “I never imagined anything until you, Luce.”
Epilogue — Lucie
Seven months later
“Okay, Miles, when you’re done writing your vocabulary words of the week, we’re done for today.”
“Okie, Mommy.” Miles picks up his pencil and scribbles away.
My heart grows a little every time Miles calls me “Mommy.” It started soon after Dex and I had a very small wedding in the offseason. We really didn’t want to do much of anything other than get married, but Miles had other ideas. Many compromises were made, but I have to admit—it was nice having everyone together to celebrate.
I watch Miles make every turn of his pencil when a loud bang comes from the other side of our house. Miles looks up to me. “What are they doing now?”
I shake my head. “I have no idea, want to go check it out?”
Miles jumps up from his seat. “Yes!”
He races down the hall, with a shout for me to follow, but there’s no way I’m moving that fast. Imagine mine and Dex’s surprise when we just had our shotgun wedding, thengo to our first ultrasound to find out that we’re having fraternal twins. I should have known when Miles said he wanted a brother and a sister, but I really didn’t think I’d give him both at the same time.
There were a lot of emotions when we found that out. Dex tried saying that he’d just coach again and, for the third time, I cussed telling himno fucking way. I’m growing two babies—my man can throw some balls.
As I get closer, I can hear the bickering of men and then the squeal of Miles. I reach what used to be the office. After painting the alphabet and shapes all over the classroom, Dex started Emma on this room. One side is painted with a golden sunrise, and the other with a burnt orange sunset.
It’s truly breathtaking every time I look at it, but right now, all I really see are pieces of wood on the floor and four men standing around them, staring.
“Okay, what’s happening here?”
My brother points a piece of something at Dex. “Your husband bought the most complicated cribs I’ve ever seen. And we have two of them to put together.”
Dex looks at Beck. “I’m not the one who unboxed both of them at the same time then threw away the boxes with the fucking instructions.”
My dad covers Miles’s ears. It’s been a slow road for Will to come to terms with, but our dad continues to make an effort to make amends. He loves Miles, calls him specifically at least three times a week.
Beck continues to stare at the pile. “Okay, well, your father-in-law is in construction, so I’m pretty sure we can figure this out just fine.”
