Page 32 of Wrapped Around My Heart
“It’s mine?” The words come out in a hopeful whisper. My heart kicks off as if I’d just chugged four energy drinks.
Her head moves up and down as she watches me.
“Yes,” she whispers. “I’ve only been with you for the past two years, so…”
Her statement makes me smirk and momentary pride swells through my veins. Ari coughs, lurching forward to the toilet and reminding me there are more pressing matters to focus on. After a few seconds with nothing but coughs, Ari sits back once more.
Arianna is pregnant withmybaby.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. Watching her closely, I search for any clue as to how she’s feeling about this. “Are you okay? I mean, aside from…” I motion between her and the toilet.
She shrugs and I finally let my hands fall from her face, but I don’t stop touching her. I grab her hand in mine and rub soothing circles with my thumb.
“Honestly, I don’t know. It feels like I wake up and go through every emotion before lunch, then I nap and cycle through them all again.” Her gaze drops from mine, and she stares at our joined hands. “I’m tired of being sick all the damn time. But I’m also nervous and scared.”
She pauses and I wait for her, letting her think over what she wants to share with me.
“I think I’m happy. We’ve never even talked about what’s going on between us or anything, but I know for a fact I want thisbaby. I promise that I wasn’t trying to keep this from you. My plan was to wait until I had it confirmed with an ultrasound or bloodwork and let you decide what you want to do from there. I won’t force you to be involved if you don’t want to be. Or if?—”
“Arianna.” I cut her off, refusing to let her spiral any further. I open my mouth to say something, but all I can do is smile at her. Hearing that she’s happy, that this is something she wants, is all it took to break the floodgates. As I stare at the woman in front of me, it feels like my heart launches from my chest from the level of happiness that’s building. A level I’ve never felt before.
“Goddamn, woman. You truly have no idea just how deep you’ve got your hooks in me. I’ve been enamored by you since the day I met you.” Leaning forward, careful not to jostle Arianna, I press my lips to her forehead before resting mine against hers. “You’re right, we’ve never talked about us. I had plans to. The night you left the game early, I was going to.”
Her breath hitches and I pull away in case she’s not reacting to my words and she actually needs space to get to the toilet. I keep her hand in mine, though.
“You’re not…I don’t know, angry? Scared? Want absolutely nothing to do with me now?”
“Fuck no, Freckles.” I wait until she meets my gaze again before continuing. “Sure, I’m scared. Isn’t that normal for first-time parents, though? I mean, I don’t even think I’ve ever held a baby. So I’m definitely gonna need to learn that. But angry? Furthest thing from it. Want nothing to do with you?” I scoff at the thought. “Baby, I don’t think that will ever be possible.”
Arianna’s shoulders shake and this time, she’s the one who moves. She flings herself at me and I barely react in time to catch her. I wrap my arms around her, falling to my butt while holding her to me. She buries her face in the crook of my neck and in thismoment, everything feels perfect. Like we are exactly where we belong.
“When’s the appointment?” I start rubbing a hand up and down her back.
“Next week, the second of January. With the holidays, they couldn’t get me in any sooner.”
“Can I come?” I ask and hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
She pushes back, and my hands fall to her hips as she sits straight up in my lap and peers down at me through watery lashes.
“You want to go?”
I stare at her, noting the disbelief and fear lining her features. Smiling softly, I brush a stray curl from her face.
“I want to be there for everything, Freckles.”
No truer words have ever left my lips, and I know I mean them in every single possible way. I want to be there for everything with the baby, yes. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
More than that, though, I want to be there for everything…for her. Not just this surprise chapter, but for every single one that comes next.
CHAPTER 13
Dean
My heart has been beatinga mile a minute ever since I left practice. Sure, consuming two cans of my favorite energy drink in less than six hours probably wasn’t the brightest decision. I fully intended to only drink the first one, to help make up for the fact that I barely slept last night. It was the much-needed caffeine boost before practice. Then, by the time we were finished, I was in such a rush to get home and shower before dropping Cora off with Lilly for the afternoon that I completely forgot about my first can, so I chugged another.
Now both drinks are working overtime in my system, mixing with my nerves to make a neurotic cocktail that is leaving me on edge.
Just as I pull into Arianna’s driveway, my phone vibrates in the cupholder. After putting the car in park, I quickly open the picture Lilly sent of Cora sprawled out on her balcony. The image is enough to finally make me smile and helps soothesomeof the anxiety that has been building up.
