Page 81 of Dirty Groom (Slayers Hockey 7)

This is the last time I’ll be here. I spend a few minutes on the thinking couch, and then have a glass of water at the island. I run my fingers along the dining room table that spent half its time doubling as my office.

But I don’t let myself go near the bed.

I’ve shed enough tears.

I’m on the last box of clothes, guiltily fingering the T-shirt Liam loaned me while I try to decide if I should keep it when Misty calls.

“What’s up?”

“Don’t you eventhinkabout lying to me,” she fires at me.

I blink, adding the shirt into the box and crouching to get a pair of slingback heels. “Excuse me?”

“Mary told me you’repregnant.”

“I’mpregnant,” I repeat through a choked cough, falling back on my butt.

Oh shit.That’swhat the look was about.

“You are?” she screeches, sounding both pissed and elated. But thankfully this time, I haven’t earned the repercussions of either.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t tell you?”

She sighs. “These are crazy times. And with you and Liam calling it quits, maybe you wouldn’t want to say anything. I don’t know! I mean, it wouldn’t be the only bombshell you guys have dropped.”

“Well, there’s nothing to drop. But note to self, don’t mention a queasy stomach in front of Mary.” I bite my lip. “Did you tell Noel?”

“Not yet. Our girl’s not the most reliable source. And even if it was true— But it’s not. You’re not. So, no big deal. Right.”

“Right. But. Umm. Would you mind asking him not to tell Liam?” That’s all he needs with everything else going on.

“Right, of course.” Her voice is gentle, and I wish I’d taken her up on her offer to help, after all. “So, you gonna break the news to Mom and Dad before they start planning a new infant line?”

I manage a short laugh.

They would too. I can see the excitement on their faces. And then that crappy self-destructive part of my brain conjures an image of Liam, so big and strong, with a tiny, dark-haired infant in his arms.

Damn it, I know better, but my throat gets tight regardless. Because that would be a beautiful sight.

God, talk about not being on the same page.

* * *

Liam

I just wantedto see her, offer a hand packing even though watching her go a second time will hurt twice as bad as the first. So, when Stormy texted, I traded with Whalen for the Youth Hockey event and raced home to catch her.

Inside the apartment, I followed the muffled sound of my wife’s voice down the hall, planning to knock and let her know I was there.

Except then I heard it.

And now, I can’t move. My feet are cemented to the hall floor, my hand mounted to the doorframe holding me up. The air in my lungs lodged behind the greeting I never got out.

My heart though?Fuck. It’s slamming like a jackhammer, beating itself black and blue. Beating withso much fucking joy it hurts.

Because those two muffled words filtering from the back of our closet change everything.

“I’m pregnant.”

---