Once Upon A Half-Time: A Secret Baby Romance (18 page)

“No.”

She frowned.

Fuck. Did I piss her off too? I didn’t have the energy or patience to explain how I felt. I just wanted to sleep it off and deal with the shit tomorrow.

“Not tonight.” I mussed Sebastian’s hair. He flinched away. Damn it. “Take him to my mom. We’ll talk in the morning.”

Even the Tinkerbell bag hurt my shoulders. I carried it gently, unwilling to let Elle or Bast see the pain.

Sebastian hadn’t mastered the art of the whisper. His voice echoed through the tunnel.

Heart-broken
.

“Did…did I make him mad?”

Elle softened her voice. “Oh no. He didn’t mean it. He had a really tough game. He’s just tired.”

“I thought he did awesome.”

“Me too. Let’s go find your momma.”

I made it out of the stadium and to the team bus without collapsing. It was a short ride to the practice facility, but I had to drag my ass to my car.

It wasn’t adrenaline that kept me moving.

It was fear.

I stared at my brand new Lexis. I’d bought two new cars, two houses, new phones and computers and everything else that would spoil me, Mom, and Sebastian.

But now, it worried me. I’d played my second exhibition game, and all I had to show for it was a handful of pissed off coaches, a traitorous media, and skeptical teammates.

My once-in-a-lifetime opportunity faded. Everything I worked for—almost gone.

It wasn’t my sacrifices that hurt the most. It was Mom’s. Everything she’d done to help me. The schools. The travel. The personal trainers.

Sebastian.

It didn’t matter what happened to me. I had to make sure they were taken care of. I had to put the family first.

All
of my family.

Including Elle.

I could see a future with her. Playing with Sebastian. Cuddling with me on the couch. Rock climbing in the spring. Sweaty sex every night.

She was so much fucking more than a mistaken elopement.

I knew I loved her, but admitting it to myself drove the air from my lungs like a hit from a linebacker. She was my everything now. A tease. A friend. A lover.

A
wife
.

This game wasn’t about me anymore. I’d work my ass off so I could provide for everyone I loved.

Mom. Sebastian.

And the woman I’d love for the rest of my life.

I
was out of time
.

The interns and videographers running around the office didn’t notice Peter’s fake smile.

He closed my laptop and summoned me with a curled finger.

“Elle, Coach Thompson and I wanted to speak with you. Got a minute?”

I was used to getting queasy now, but this wasn’t because the baby was using my stomach as an in-utero trampoline.

I picked up my camera. Peter shook his head.

“Don’t worry about that.” He stopped me before I reach for my cell phone. “This won’t take long. Leave your phone.”

He didn’t want me recording the conversation.

Damn it. That had been my contingency plan, especially since the only wire I had was the broken bit of my bra, poking me in the side.

I followed Peter to Coach Thompson’s office. The hall was quiet, most of the coaches and staff still working with the players on the field.

The door closed behind me. I sat in the chair opposite Coach Thompson’s desk.

The silence prickled every hair on the back of my neck.

Something was wrong.

Coach Thompson pulled a file from his desk drawer. I stayed silent as he pushed a glossy, 8x10 print towards me.

Just what I expected. The nude was a shade too fuzzy and a lot too nefarious to catch the cover of Sports Illustrated. I’d find it on TMZ instead.

I said nothing. I had no defense. The photos were clear, leaving no doubt that it was my naked tushy posing in the Rivets’ locker room.

“Do you know what this is, Elle?” Coach Thompson asked.

“Twenty-three years of good diet and exercise?”

“Proud of them?” He studied the images. “I would be.”

He wasn’t going to scare me.

“I look good in that particular lighting.”

“You’re right. Maybe you want
everyone
to see these pictures?”

“I don’t think it’d be much of a surprise anymore. Most of the team has seen the goods.”

“And what about people outside of the organization? Would you like to show the world too?”

“Do I have a choice?"

“Of course you do. And we hope you make the right one.”

So did I, but the right choice was starting to look like the wrong one.

I had been prepared to refuse whatever orders they gave me…then I got pregnant. Everything changed within the two-minute wait for the test to read positive.

Before the baby, I could stand by my principles, but good intentions and strong morals didn’t feed a family. Even though the baby was Lachlan’s, I wouldn’t depend on him. No matter my feelings, our relationship was built on an adrenaline rush. I’d do everything I could to prevent a crash, but my priority had to be taking care of my child.

Which made refusing the coach’s order just as foolish as obeying it.

Peter played the good guy, but I didn’t believe it. “We know you were the one who tampered with the office. You took the SD card from my computer.”

I shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“We have the security footage. It’s grainy, but the video shows a black woman with red streaks in her hair saving our first-round draft choice from a speeding car. You were at the practice facility. You called off sick
after
you’d stolen the card. You ran away, thinking you wouldn’t get caught.”

“That’s some imagination you have there, Peter.”

“This is very simple, Elle.” He had the decency not to glance at the nudes. “We’re asking for you to be a team player. We wouldn’t want these to fall into the wrong hands.”

The photos didn’t intimidate me. “Do what you have to do. Nine months from now it’ll be nice to see how I used to look.”

Peter hesitated. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yep.” It was the first time I said it aloud. “And you’re blackmailing an expectant mother. Pretty sure you’ll go straight to hell for that. They’ll save you a seat next to the puppy-kickers and the jerks who steal coworkers’ lunches from the break room.”

Coach Thompson sighed. “Think of your reputation. The scandal. Knocked-up by a member of the team? How unprofessional.”

“I’m having a baby with my
husband
. We’re as conventional as it gets.”

“You got married
drunk
in Vegas. This won’t look good for you or him.”

“I think it makes me look
very
good. In fact, I bet both of you have your own personal copies of these pictures at home.”

Peter refused to admit it. “Elle, you’re going to travel to the Atwood Monarch’s practice fields and provide us with pictures that will assist the team for the season opener. You will take as many photographs as you can, and you’ll capture as much of their game plan as possible. Bring the information back, keep quiet, and we’ll enter the regular season as one big happy family.”

I shook my head. “Just release the nudes. I won’t do it. I won’t endanger this team by doing something so damn reckless.”

Coach Thompson didn’t blink. “Refuse and you’re fired.”

“That will suck.”

“Yes. It will.”

“But not as much as compromising my integrity,” I said. “Don’t you see what you’re doing? Once the league finds out, the team will be ruined. This mistake will cost us future draft choices, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and probably suspensions, if not
expulsions
, from the league. President Bennett flips shit when a player is caught
partying
. He was going to expel Jack Carson for being a trouble-maker. What do you think will happen when he learns the entire Rivets’ organization has been
cheating
for years?”

“He’s not going to find out,” Coach Thompson said.

“You think I won’t go directly to Frank Bennett?”

“You won’t.”

“Try to stop me.”

“You will do as we ask, without complaint.”

I held my ground. “I refuse.”

He stared at me, his voice hard. “You will take the pictures…or we cut Lachlan Reed.”

I heaved, but nothing came out. Damn it. The
one
time I might have wielded morning sickness as a weapon. Even Lachlan’s baby tried to defend his father.

“You’d
cut
Lachlan?” I whispered.

“And for good reasons. He’s not performing. He can’t adjust to the demands of the league. He’s overwhelmed. Probably over-rated as well.”

“That’s not true.”

“But these pictures will
help
him,” Peter said. “Do this, and the coaches can guide Lachlan. They’ll better prepare him for the season opener. If we know the Monarch’s defensive schemes, we can create a game plan which will let Lachlan exploit weaknesses in their secondary. He’ll be a damn hero.”

“But—”

“
Every
team does this,” he said. “Football is played half on the field, and half in the espionage between clubhouses. Don’t you want Lachlan to be prepared for the most important game of his life?”

Coach Thompson shrugged. “Or I can just cut him now and find a replacement. It’s your choice, Elle. Both of you can stay…or both of you can go.”

I gritted my teeth. “You really are an asshole.”

“I’m giving you the opportunity to save his career and build one of your own.”

“I don’t need to
cheat
to advance my career.”

“This is a good opportunity,” Coach Thompson said. “Do this, and you’ll both succeed. Refuse, and Lachlan gets cut and never finds work in the league again. You’ll be disgraced and scandalized in the media, and nothing you say will be taken seriously by the reporters or Frank Bennett.” He snorted. “And your relationship? I don’t think a baby can hold together your
rock-solid
marriage.”

Peter agreed. “Especially if Lachlan realizes you could have saved his position with a few harmless pictures.”

“Are you really that selfish, Elle?” Coach Thompson asked. “Think of Lachlan. Think of the team. Think of your
baby
.”

“Don’t you dare.” I covered my belly with a hand. “I can’t believe you’d do this.”

“Can we take that as a
yes
?” Peter asked.

Damn it.

Maybe I’d never look my child in the eye, maybe I’d forever be ashamed of my actions, but I’d do whatever I could to make sure my baby had food on the table, a house over her head, and all the opportunities and
love
I never had growing up.

I’d be a fool to destroy a chance for my child to have such a stable, happy, and healthy life.

“I’ll do it,” I said, softly.

I reached for the nudes.

Coach Thompson pulled the photographs away. “I think I’ll keep these for myself.”

Sleaze.

Peter handed me a plane ticket, destination Atwood. “You’ll leave in ten days. Get as many pictures as you can. We’ll handle the analysis, and you’ll travel to the next city and team we play to start the reconnaissance.”

“For how long?”

“Cross your fingers,” Coach Thompson said. “With your help, we might reach the championship game again this year.”

“And you’ll keep Lachlan on the team?”

“That part is up to you, Elle.”

Yeah. It was.

And I’d do it to protect the man I loved…and the child he didn’t know we’d created.

L
achlan’s
third date required an overnight bag, my slinkiest lingerie, and safety goggles.

But I hadn’t packed anything yet, and I wouldn’t.

I wasn’t leaving my apartment until I told Lachlan the truth—if not about the Rivets’ cheating, then at least about the baby. And even then…I wasn’t sure either of us were prepared for the trouble to come.

Lachlan didn’t knock. He conducted a drum solo against my door. I might have regretted letting him inside if he hadn’t spun me in his arms, kissed me, and grinned with those sweetheart dimples.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he said. “Wanna stay married to me?”

“We’ll see how you feel after today, Charming.”

“Nothing’s gonna change my mind.”

“Here’s hoping.”

It was the first time he had genuinely smiled in a week. The day off helped, especially after a tough exhibition game. He’d played better and looked more comfortable, but he looked happier getting off the field than stepping on it.

That was the real problem.

And that was why he planned the date. It was an excuse to do something wild, crazy, and fun for the adrenaline rush he craved.

Well…I’d give him a decent shock, and I’d do it without leaving the apartment.

Efficiency was a crucial component to a successful marriage.

“Mrs. Reed…” Lachlan nipped my bottom lip. “I hope you’re ready for the most perfect, unbelievable, exciting date of your life.”

I gave a nervous laugh. “Right back at ya.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“I’m guessing mine’s bigger.”

Lachlan kissed me, summoning a devilish heat. I shouldn’t have tightened my grip on him. The secret was already suffocating me, and I lost my last gasp of air groaning against his lips.

I had to do it quick. First a kiss. Then
the
talk.

I’d spill the surprise and blow his mind. I could blow his cock, too, if he needed some reassurance after I blitzed him with the truth.

“Are you ready for today?” Lachlan’s grin turned mischievous. That was my first warning.

“We’re not breaking any laws, are we?”

“We might have to consult some local municipal statutes for what I plan later…” His eyebrows waggled. “But as far as I can tell, this is nothing but fun.”

“Okay?”

“I found the
ultimate
wilderness experience.”

Uh-oh, that didn’t sound good.

“It’s a three-hour zip-lining tour through the mountains—”

No way. “Lachlan…”

“It has the
fastest
zip-lines on the east coast.”

“Whoa, wait.”

“We’ll be swinging through the trees, right? And then we’ll blast into a freaking
canyon
. We’ll fly across the gorge, careening about two hundred feet in the air
above a
river
.”

I was sick just thinking about it. “I don’t think—”

“They call it
Gravity
.”

“Is that a name or a
warning
?”

“Once we reach the bottom, the same organization hosts one of the largest paintball arenas in the country. Acres of sprawling wilderness with forts and caves and sniping points.”

The doctor said I wasn’t supposed to have caffeine while pregnant. Paintball tournaments were right out.

I held my hand up. “As romantic as that sounds…”

He anticipated my resistance. “
After
our day, I’ve reserved our own private chalet, deep in the mountains. We can sit in a hot tub under the stars—just you, me, and very little clothing.”

“Oh.”

“Did you hear about the meteor shower tonight?” He pulled me close. “Supposed to be spectacular. You and I are gonna cuddle, have a little wine, and watch the show from the darkest spot in the state.”

Damn it.

That did sound romantic.

I bit my lip. “About that
just you and me
part…”

“Grab your bags. I got this whole day planned, Red. I hope you’re ready to fall in love with me.”

Been there. Dealing with that.

I slipped away from his hold. “It sounds so romantic, but I don’t think we should do it. At least, not the zip-line or paintball.”

“Come on. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Well, I’m pretty adventured out at the moment.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I can give you proof...” In the form an ultrasound image tucked away in my pocket.

“Elle, I’ve planned this day down to the
minute
. Trust me.”

I sighed. “I do…but we need to talk. It’s important.”

“Are we finally picking out the china?” He smiled and checked his phone. “You have about five minutes before we hit the road.”

“We might need more than five minutes for this.”

“I can spare ten.”

“This is something that will impact the rest of our lives.”

“Twelve. And not a minute more.”

I’d work with it.

Now how was I going to do this without him spontaneously combusting? He had to take it sitting down. I couldn’t risk Lachlan passing out and denting his head on my countertops.

He sat on the couch, drumming his hands on his knees. For the first time, I fidgeted more than him.

I could do this. No long-winded build-ups. No flowery, fruity talk of blessings or miracles. He was a fun-loving, carefree guy. If I was going to break life-altering news to him, I needed to keep the conversation…light.

I knew one way to handle it. I grabbed my camera and hoped for the best.

“Lachlan, do you remember that day in the locker room? When you told me we were married?”

He grinned. “Yeah. Any man can propose. The real challenge is telling your woman you’re already married.”

“Sure.” I faked a smile. “And…remember how you said you would’ve loved to have a picture taken at that moment, so you could have shown me how shocked I was?”

“I’d have paid a shit-ton money for that shot, Red.”

“That’s a good sign.” I settled next to him on the couch, holding the camera at arm’s length for our selfie. “We’re going to take a picture now.”

“Clothes on?”

Enough of my nudes were already in the world. “Yep. Are you ready?”

He wrapped an arm around me, leaning close to get centered in the frame. “Will this go on the Lachlan shelf?”

“Most likely.” I took a breath. “Okay, say…
We accidentally got pregnant during our date at the river, and I didn’t know how to tell you that I’m carrying your baby
.”

Click
.

Flash
.

Silence.

I checked the image. It was a good photo. I smiled beautifully, but Lachlan…

Was about how I expected him.

This news tamed the puppy dog. His wiggles and drumming and grinning and teasing stopped.

Hell, I wasn’t sure he was even breathing.

He didn’t move.

Whoops. I broke him.

“Admittedly…” I cleared my throat. “That wasn’t the best way to tell you.”

He nodded, fast.

“I’m sorry, Lachlan,” I said. “I wanted you to know. I tried to tell you when I had laryngitis. Remember when we played charades? But you were so upset about the team. I planned to wait until it got better for you, but if you planned this big, amazing date for us...” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I needed a good excuse to skip the zip-lining.”

His voice hollowed. “Yeah.”

“Are you okay?”

He nodded, but his head wasn’t exactly bobbing up and down. I hurried to bring him a bottle of water. He took it. Didn’t open it. He gripped the plastic a little too hard, and the bottle crinkled in his hand.

“Careful.” I braved a smile. “No one’s water needs to break for a while.”

The bottle fell from his hand.

He wasn’t ready for jokes.

“How…” He swallowed. “
How
…”

“I think you know
how
.” I teased him. “Only one way for that sort of thing to happen. A very fun way, but, uh…nothing we had planned, obviously.”

“No, uh…” He looked up, but his eyes were hazed, a dulled green masked in shock. “How did…”

“I was on the pill. But I guess there can be accidents. I didn’t realize—”

“No. It’s not your fault.”

“I really wanted to tell you.”

“How…long have you known?”

I took a breath. “I’ve known for a month.”

He opened his mouth. No sound came out.

“Yeah, that was kinda my reaction,” I said. “It took me a while to process it.”

“I bet.”

“I just want you to know…you can be as involved as you want.”

He blinked, staring at me. His voice hardened. “You think I wouldn’t want to be
involved
?”

“There’s no pressure.”

“We’re
married
,” he said.

“Kinda? I mean, sure. We eloped, but I didn’t know if what we had was…”

“Was what?”

My stomach turned. The question was too hopeful. I revealed too much and too little. “I don’t know if what we have is
real
.”

Lachlan stood, frustrated. “I might be crazy, Red, or just crazy for
you
, but I planned to see how this marriage plays out.”

“And I want this to be a magical fairy-tale too. If you knew how…” How I felt about him. The truth knotted in the queasiness in my tummy. One wasn’t coming up without the other. “This isn’t like the time we cooked for Sebastian. We aren’t just playing house. This is
real
.”

“I know what it means to have a child, Elle.”

“I’m not trying to fight.”

I wasn’t sure he believed me.

Lachlan rubbed his face. “You didn’t tell me.”

“I know.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

I hadn’t meant to hurt him. “Of course I do. But I was trying to…help. I didn’t want to cause you any more stress.”

“I can handle the stress, and the team, and the games.” Lachlan’s jaw tensed. “Just like I can handle this. For Christ’s sake, Elle. You’re…
pregnant
.”

He sunk onto the couch again, head in his hands.

The shock returned.

I sat on the coffee table, knocking a snow globe, candle stick, and my seagull figurine out of the way. Lachlan’s hands were cold. I held them close, forcing him to look at me.

“I want you to know that I don’t expect anything from you,” I said.

“Fuck me. Thanks.”

Damn it. “That’s not what I meant. We can either do this together, or we can make an arrangement. I can raise the baby by myself—”

“Like hell! You’re not going to be alone in this. I’ll be with you, every step of the way.” His voice hardened. “I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“Our marriage was kinda sudden and probably a little foolish…” Maybe a
lot
foolish. “This is a
baby
. I’m scared, but this feels like it could be a really
good
thing.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t have a family growing up—I had a prison. Now it’s my chance to experience what you have with your mom and Bast. I’m going to give this baby a beautiful, loving home.”

“Absolutely.”

“And I bet, if we do this together…we could raise a pretty awesome kid.”

“I know.”

His voice strained. He looked away. Scared? Probably. Hell, I was terrified. At least I had nine months to get over the shock.

Well. Eight months now.

“Lachlan, I’ve seen you with Sebastian. You’re a natural with kids.”

“Elle—”

“I know we can do this. We can handle it. If we’ve managed the marriage so far, and we’ve gotten so…
close
. I’ve been feeling…a lot of things for you. And maybe it’s time—”

“Wait. I should tell you something.”

I shook my head. If I didn’t say it now, I wouldn’t say it at all. “You are a wonderful man. A little crazy sometimes. And maybe you should come with a shock collar. But it’s all part of your charm.”

“Red…”

“I hadn’t planned on starting a family yet, but now when I close my eyes, you’re the only man I can imagine in my life. It’s scary. It’s fast. It’s absolutely insane. But I know you’re going to make a
great
father—”

“I am a father, Elle.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply…the baby’s not born, but of course you’re a father.”

“Elle, listen to me.” Lachlan’s voice lowered. I’d never heard him so serious before. “I
am
a father. I already have a child.”

I pulled my hands away. “What are you talking about?”

“I kept it secret, even from you. No one knows.”

“Knows
what
?”

“Sebastian is my son.”