A Different Christmas (University Park #5) (10 page)

“Relax. Everything is fine. The doctor will go over that with you.”

“Okay.” My shoulders dropped, feeling a bit relieved.

Lexi latched on to my hand. “Just like last time. Nothing new.”

I nodded, recalling the last appointment I’d attended with her. “I guess I’m a little excited.” If I was feeling this apprehensive, I could only imagine what Lexi was feeling. Knowing I hadn’t been here for her like she needed me to made me sick to my stomach.

The medical assistant laughed. “You better save all that nervous energy for the field and home. With two, you’re going to need it.”

Lexi and I laughed. “You’re right about that.”

Chapter 7

Lexi

“What’s wrong, baby? Everything is going to be okay.” Raven wrapped his arm around me as we walked out of the doctor’s office.

“I know.” I leaned in closer to him. “I’ve never had surgery before. For anything.”

“Relax. I’ll be there with you the entire time. And you heard what the doctor said, you’ll be awake throughout the procedure. They just numb you from the waist down.”

I cringed thinking about being cut open while I was awake. “I hope I don’t feel the knife going into me.”

“Lexi,” Raven let out a slight laugh, “they’ll make sure you’re numb before they start cutting.”

“They’d better,” I hit the unlock button on the remote, “or I’ll be screaming my head off.” Raven opened the car door for me and I got in. “I still want to see if I can have the babies vaginally, with an epidural of course.”

He leaned inside of the driver’s side, staring at me like I was some kind of crazy woman. “I’m not going to discourage you or not support your decision to have the babies naturally. My concern is your health, and the babies’, of course. Again, you heard what the doctor said. It’s riskier with twins and she doesn’t want you going past thirty-nine weeks. Right now, both babies are breach and they may not turn in time.”

“I know. I just didn’t want to be cut into.” I slumped against the steering wheel, feeling like I had no control over the birth of my children. “They say you heal quicker with a vaginal delivery than with a C-section.”

“Probably so, but at what risk? The doctor is also concerned about the size of the babies.”

I nodded. “I know, but I’m certain I can do it.”

“I don’t doubt your ability or willpower, but you can’t handle things out of your control. No one can, except God.”

“True. I guess I just have to put it in his hands and stopping worrying about it.”

“Exactly.” Raven rubbed my back. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go buy a tree and put it up?”

I pushed myself off the steering wheel. With Thanksgiving over, we could decorate for Christmas. “Sounds like a good idea, but don’t you need to get back to the training facility?”

“No.” Raven shook his head. “I’m done for the day.” He tucked the strands of my hair behind my ear. “Besides, I want to spend some time with you.”

“I’d like that.” I smiled, feeling excited about spending some much needed quality time with Raven. It would be fun decorating our house for the holidays. I couldn’t believe we’d been together for almost a year now. Time had flown by. “And I bought all the decorations last time I went shopping with your mom.”

“Good. Then all we need is a tree.” Raven pulled the valet ticket from his pant pocket. “I know the perfect place, so just follow me.”

“Okay.” I started my car and he shut the door. Once the valet retrieved our SUV, I followed him out of the parking lot of the hospital. Raven stopped at a local hardware store with a live tree lot not too far from our house. I parked next to him and we got out of our cars. It didn’t take us long to find the perfect tree. A nine-foot soft-needle Fraser Fir, unflocked. We agreed it sucked to get stuck with sharp pine needles and a fresh green tree was better than one covered with fake snow. Raven even bought two small spiral ones for the front porch.

“It’s going to look so beautiful,” I commented as the store attendant pulled it out to the front. “Ow.” I bowed, feeling a sharp pain hit my stomach.

“Are you okay?” Raven asked, reaching for me.

I grabbed his hand and placed it on my stomach. “These Braxton-Hicks are becoming more frequent and starting to hurt.”

“Damn, why does your stomach get so hard?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but it sucks.”

“Let me walk you to the car and then I’ll go pay.”

“Okay.” I didn’t protest. Raven informed the clerk and then helped me to the car.

“Wait here, I shouldn’t be too long.”

The pain subsided and my stomach relaxed. I took a deep breath and exhaled, releasing the tension that had me coiled like a tight spring. “I think I’ll go home and lay down. By the time you get there, I’ll be relaxed and ready to decorate.”

He eyed me for a moment. “Are you sure you can drive?”

“Yes, those Braxton-Hicks don’t last long. And besides, they’re only practice contractions,” I started the car, “not real ones.”

“If you say so.” He hesitated for a moment before stepping back. “If you have another one, you better pull over and call me.”

“I will. Don’t worry.” I motioned for him to close the door. “It’s a short drive to the house.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

Raven closed the door and I headed home. I didn’t have any more contractions as I drove, but my stomach hardened as soon as I walked inside of the house. Recalling what the doctor had told me, I poured myself a big glass of water and went straight to the recliner. After a few minutes, my body relaxed and I closed my eyes.

“Lexi? Are you feeling okay?” Raven asked, taking the glass of water from my hand.

I blinked at him and smiled. “Yes...I guess I fell asleep.”

“No more contractions?”

“None so far.” I sat upright and yawned.

“We can put the tree up later if you want.” He handed me the glass of water when I motioned for him to give it back to me.

I took a huge drink and lowered the glass. “I’d rather do it now, if that’s okay.”

“As long as you’re feeling okay.”

“I promise you, I’m good.”

It didn’t long for Raven to set up the tree in our living room. We agreed to place it in front of the windows, which happened to be two sets of narrow French doors on each side of the front door. Those doors sold us on the house the minute we saw them. It gave it that French provincial flair, which was classic to New Orleans.

We decorated the tree, talking and laughing with each ornament we hung. It reminded me of old times, when we would talk for hours about whatever. Learning more about each other and falling deeper in love. But those days were gone and we were on to bigger adventures — like careers, bills, and babies.

“I like these decorations,” Raven said, holding up an ornament as it sparkled in the sunlight beaming through the transparent sheers.

“I like them, too. They’re different. Eclectic and probably nothing I would’ve picked, but your mom kept eyeing them and the more I looked at the display, the more I wanted them.”

“They are unique, but nothing beats our little
Star Wars
tree we bought last year.”

“Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about our first tree.” I stopped, recalling the tabletop Christmas tree we bought at the comic book store. It was a week I’d never forget. Raven and I spent nearly seven days together, making love and losing ourselves in each other’s arms. “What happened to it?”

He pointed to a black trash bag located behind a stack of plastic storage bins. “It’s right there.”

“You saved it?” I walked to the bag and knelt next to it.

“I sure did. I paid seventy-five bucks for that thing. I wasn’t about to toss it in the dumpster. Besides, those ornaments are going to be worth something, especially with the next movie coming out soon.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” I stood the tree up and pulled down the plastic cover, dusting my hands. “We should display this somewhere, like our office.”

“Really?” Raven’s voice elevated with excitement. “You don’t mind?”

“Of course I don’t mind. Did you forget I’m a
Star Wars
fan, too?”

“You’re too awesome, Lexi.” Raven extended his hand and helped me stand. “How did I get so lucky?” he asked, gathering me in his embrace.

“I think the question is, how did we,” I pointed to him and then myself, “get so lucky.”

“We’re two incredibly blessed people.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips.

“We sure are, babe. Thank you for going to the doctor with me today and helping me decorate the tree. It means a lot to me.”

“I wanted to, so you don’t have to thank me. And I’m going to spend the rest of the day with you. What do you want to do?”

Happiness bubbled within me. Although I didn’t have anything planned, spending time with Raven would be fine with me. “I thought I’d watch TV and be lazy.”

“That sounds great to me.”

“So, if I turn it to the Hallmark channel and want to watch some girly Christmas flicks, you’re cool with that?”

His nose scrunched, but he said, “Yeah, as long as I’m with you, I’ll watch whatever you want.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“Seriously, if that’s what you want to do, we’ll do it.”

“I have a better idea.”

“Oh, yeah?” His voice lilted.

“How about we watch
Star Wars
, episodes one, two, and three?”

“Oh.” His voice shifted and the disappointment was evident. “Yeah, we can do that.”

“You sound so disappointed.” I led him to the couch and pushed him down.

“I was kind of hoping you were going to say let’s go get naked and stay in bed, making love ‘til the sun comes up.”

A flash of heat hit my checks, recalling his enticing touch and addicting kisses. “Sounds like something we’ve done before, but last year.”

He pulled me on top of him and I straddled him, my huge belly preventing us from getting close. “That’s why we should do it again.”

“I’d love to, but I’m not sure I can.” I ran my hands over my stomach. “I’ll be lucky to do it once before falling over tired.”

He laughed. “If I tell you I have people coming over tomorrow to hang lights outside will that earn me any brownie points?”

“Nope.” I slid off the couch to the floor. “But it will get you a blowjob.”

His eyes lit up like I’d said something magical. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” I ran my hands up his shirt, reveling in the contours of his well-sculpted stomach before hooking my thumbs under the elastic of his athletic pants. I ease them down, while licking my lips.

“Damn, baby, I love you.” His hand dove into my hair as I slid his pants over his hips and gave Raven what he needed, and what I wanted to do for him.

***

Raven

“Damn it!” I stomped into the visitor’s locker room and chucked my helmet across the room. I blew it. Lost the game by throwing an interception in the last forty-five seconds. The one chance we had to win the game, and I screwed it up. Coach had already warned me he’d put in Rich O’Riley if I didn’t perform. And if that happened, I knew what else could happen: being cut from the team. I sat on the bench in front of my locker, head hanging low.

“C’mon on, man. It happens.” Terrance placed a hand on my shoulder as he continued to give me words of encouragement. “We’ve all messed up before.”

“True, but I don’t have room to screw up.”

“No one does, but you can’t sit there and dwell on it. You gotta move on.” He removed his hand, clenching his fist. “Rise up, learn from it, and don’t look back.”

“I know.” I gave a half shrug, not in the mood to hear it. “But that guy was right on top of you and I shouldn’t have thrown the pass. I know better.”

“And I should’ve tried harder to catch it.”

Terrance did what he could, but there was no excuse for my mishap. Just plain carelessness and lack of focus. There was nothing else to blame. The entire game, my focus had been off. All I could think about was Lexi. How she was doing and feeling. I hated being away from her and prayed she wouldn’t go in to labor while I was over seven hundred miles away.

“You played well.” Richon held up his fist, waiting for me to meet it.

I gave him a lazy bump. “Not well enough.”

“It was a close game. You did your best and we did what we could.” Richon might have been right, but deep down, I didn’t do my best.

“I could’ve done better. My focus was off…” I broke my eye contact and stared at the floor. “I play better than that.”

“We all do,” Richon added before walking off.

A few other players tried to lift my spirits, where others mumbled and complained, keeping their heads low. The mood was bleak and I hated that I’d disappointed my teammates. What sucked was the fact that I’d busted ass for four days, studying film, learning the plays, working out with the trainers, and mentally preparing myself against Carolina. But they were number two in the conference and were favored to win. I let that stat mess with my head, instead of giving it my best effort.