Page 13 of The Accidental Puck

Jace stands up, looks in his closet and picks out an outfit. “I’ll be downstairs so you can get ready in peace.” He smiles.

I stand up, waddle over to the closet, and look for something sexy I can wear. It has been awhile since I’ve been on a date but I still want to look nice. I put on a lace bodysuit that fits over my pregnancy bump and reach for my favorite pair of ripped jeans. I don’t know where we are going but I assume someplace not too fancy. Just going out to dinner with Jace will be a nice change from cooking with him at home. I pull on my jeans but when I go to button then, they don’t close. I try sucking in my belly, but it’s no use. With baby in there it’s like trying to suck in a cement block. All I want to do is wear these jeans and look nice for Jace. I know he’s seen me in a multitude of sweats and pajamas, but I thought dressing up for once might be a nice change.

I feel the tears start to fall down my cheeks and I begin to sob. I can’t help it, my hormones are a wreck these days. I keep crying and sobbing, that Jace comes running up the stairs.

“Are you okay?” I’m sitting on the edge of the bed and he gets on his knees to look at me.

“I—My pants don’t fit,” I cry out.

“What?” He looks at me, confused.

“My pants don’t fit,” I say clearer.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.” He takes my hand in his and sits next to me on the bed. “Do you want to wear something else?”

“No.” I cry even harder. I don’t know why I am so upset over the loss of these jeans. It probably has nothing to do with the pants and more to do with this body I barely recognize anymore.

“I know this may not help, but you’re beautiful. Pants or not. You’re growing our baby and that means the world to me.” He takes my hand in his. I sob even harder and he wraps his arms around me.

“Okay, then why don’t we change into sweats, order in, and watch that new reality show you’ve been itching for me to watch with you,” he suggests.

“Really?” I look at him with watery eyes.

“Yes, I just want to spend time with you.”

“Okay.” I smile through the tears.

“Now come here.” He wipes my eyes with his thumb and brushes away the tears before pressing his lips to my forehead and giving me a soft kiss. It is like he takes away all the bad emotions with a simple gesture.

Chapter11

26 weeks…

It is week one and classes are already kicking my ass. I am in my last semester of college and I am determined to finish on a high, despite the pregnancy. I know I can do it, but the classes aren’t exactly electives and the homework is hard on top of growing a small human. Jace and I had been attached at the hip all winter break since I officially became his. But now that school and hockey are starting up again, it is hard to see him. Except for today. We carved out a few hours of time to go to the baby store near campus and register for stuff for the baby shower. Chelsea had insisted we have a baby shower and let her be the one to throw it after, and these were her words ‘she was denied the chance to throw a gender reveal party’.

“Do we need all this stuff?” Jace asks, picking up a toy bouncer seat.

“Yes. Babies need a lot of things for how small they are.” I sigh. It is a tad overwhelming but I am trying to ease into the reality that in fourteen short weeks, the baby will be here.

“What is this?” Jace picks up a pump and holds it up.

“A breast pump, which we will need so scan away.” I point to the nicer model than the one he has his hands on.

“Damn.” I know he’s looking at the prices and I do too. It is hard not to notice them.

“We can get the cheaper model if it’s too much,” I offer.

“No, you deserve the best one, I just feel like there’s so much I don’t know about babies.” He scratches his head.

“I feel that way too, I only know a little more from some of the books I’ve been reading.”

“I might have to pick those up then.”

“Jace!” I squeal, and his eyes widen as he sees what I see. A girls hockey jersey with socks that look like ice skates and a little hockey uniform.

“Oh my gosh. Please tell me we can buy that today. My baby girl is going to be the best dressed player out there,” he says proudly. “What size do we get?”

“Well, considering your size, it might be smart to get six to nine months. We don’t know how big she might be coming out,” I say truthfully. It has crossed my mind once or twice that having a hockey player’s baby does have its downfall.

---