Page 78 of Press Your Luck

"All right, onto the ice. We've got some work to do."

Everyone exited onto the ice except for Big Ed. He reached down and picked up a coat that was on the bench. He handed it to me. “In case you get cold."

For a moment I was afraid he was patronizing me, but as I looked closely, I think he really thought he was caring for me.

I tried not to think too much about Big Ed going from a bully to a softy. I took the coat. "Thank you, Ed."

He gave a little grunt in response and then headed to the ice. I was feeling really good about my talk with Todd and the team, and when I got home, I hoped that maybe Pierce would be ready to come around as well.

As I made myself some dinner, I took out my phone and dialed his number. My hands shook and my heart thundered in my chest, wondering if he was still going to be angry. The phone rang and rang and rang. His voicemail finally picked up.

I sighed. "Hey, Pierce. I just wanted to remind you of the doctor’s appointment coming up. And I also want to let you know that I told Todd and my team about the pregnancy, but I didn't mention your name. It seemed like something we needed to talk about before it gets to the media. I'd like to talk to you. Please call me back."

Several hours later when I went to bed and checked my phone for the final time, there was still no response from Pierce.

35

Pierce

Atorrent of emotions raged inside me as I entered the doctor’s office. All the misery and anger were my own fault. I'd let my libido get the best of me. Because of the lust I had for a younger woman, I was not only looking like a fool for having fallen for her, but also an idiot for not using protection. I was having a hard enough time raising Porter. I wasn't sure how I would be able to deal with three more children, but I would. The truth was that the most challenging part of my life going forward would be having to continue to see Naomi. Staying away from her had never caused her to leave my mind, but at least it protected me from being a fool. But now I couldn’t stay away. From now on and for the rest of our children's lives, our lives would be intertwined. This torture was going to be part of my existence.

Yes, it was my own fault that I was here, but it was easier to blame Naomi. Considering she hadn't wanted to be with me, why couldn't she have been stronger in resisting our attraction? Why hadn't she told me she wasn't on birth control? That was the part that really didn't make sense. She was driven to succeed in a world that would be difficult for a woman but even harder for a single mother.

As I stepped into the waiting room and scanned the area, I saw Naomi sitting in a chair. She looked up from her phone, her eyes staring at me with a mixture of emotion. Sure enough, my heart lurched in my chest and yearning rose. But I used my anger to push it away. I wasn't going to be made a fool anymore.

I sucked in a deep breath to guard myself from her allure and started toward her. Another door in the doctor's office opened and a nurse stepped out calling Naomi's name. I was filled with relief that I wasn't going to have to make small talk with Naomi as we waited to be called.

Naomi stood and headed toward the nurse, and I joined her there.

"I'm glad you could make it,” she said to me.

I gave her a nod. "Of course." My tone lacked affect, and it was quite possible I was being an asshole. But my heart was already tattered and bruised, and as I already mentioned, it would continue to be tattered and bruised for as long as we raised these kids together. Or, if God took mercy on me, he would end the torment by killing the love I had for her.

I followed Naomi and the nurse down the hall, with the nurse asking a variety of questions. When we entered the room, Naomi sat on the exam table while the nurse took her blood pressure and continued to ask her questions.

I stood in the corner and listened intently, focusing on her health, knowing it was important to the baby. Babies, plural. Jesus Christ, how did something like triplets even happen?

"Dr. Lyman will be in in a moment." The nurse left, and I started to panic. I wasn't ready to talk to Naomi. I wasn't ready to hear her excuses.

The room filled with nearly unbearable silence.

Naomi let out a shuddering breath. "I texted you this, but I'm not sure if you read it or listened to my message. But I've let Todd and the team know about the pregnancy."

I crossed my arms over my chest to guard against the way her voice reached out and tried to wrap around me. "I’m surprised Todd isn’t spreading it all over the gossip rags. It will be a great draw for the fans."

She flinched and looked away. Yes, I was being an asshole, but how else could I protect myself?

She blew out a breath. "You'll notice that it hasn't leaked anywhere. I figured you should be involved in how that was done."

I gave her another curt nod, but I didn't respond because I didn't know how the hell to make an announcement about the situation. As it was, I hadn’t told Reed or Bo. Maybe I was in denial. Maybe I was hoping the babies belonged to somebody else. But as that thought occurred to me, my heart skipped a beat, and I knew that it was a lie. If the babies weren’t mine, the heartache would be even worse. It would be proof positive that I was just another fuck to Naomi.

A smart man would insist on a paternity test, but I hadn't done it with Porter, and I wouldn't do it with Naomi. These kids were mine. I knew it in my heart, deep in my soul.

The door opened and Dr. Lyman walked in. "Coach Withers, how are you doing today?" He held out his hand toward Naomi and shook.

"I'm tired a lot, but other than that, I'm fine."

Dr. Lyman turned as if he had just noticed I was in the corner. He extended his hand. "I'm Dr. Lyman."

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