| |
Maverick
LILY HAD BEEN puking for almost two days straight, and I was beside myself. She refused to go to the hospital or see a doctor, so I decided the mountain was gonna come to Muhammad.
A knock at the door brought Macey (and Payton), and I let them in. “She’s in bed.”
Macey nodded and headed into the room. A few minutes later, Lily walked out and scowled. “Really?”
“Don’t make this a thing, Lil,” I ordered.
She scoffed and closed herself into the bathroom.
“Fuck, she’s sick again?” I ground out, and started for the door.
Lily walked out before I reached her. “I’m fine.”
“Babe.”
She didn’t respond as she headed back into the bedroom, and I faced Payton. Lily’s mom smiled and waved to the sofa. “Relax, Mav. Macey’s got it covered.”
“Why are you so calm?” I ground out.
Payton smiled. “I’m not. I’m just faking it better than you are.”
I dragged my hands through my hair. “I hate this.”
“Me too, honey.”
Macey opened the door, and I shot to my feet. She gave me a sad smile. “You can go on in.”
My heart raced as I rushed inside and found Lily sitting up on the bed. “You okay?”
She nodded, lifting tear-filled eyes to smile at me.
I forced my own down and took her hands. “Whatever it is, baby, we’ll figure it out, okay?”
She sighed. “We need to move the wedding up.”
I felt sick. “How bad?”
“It’s pretty bad, honey. My dad’s going to kill you.”
“Sorry?”
“I’m pregnant.”
It took a minute for her words to register, and I stared at her in disbelief. “Sorry?”
“We’re going to have a baby.” Lily giggled. “I’m guessing a shotgun wedding is in our future.”
“So you’re not sick?”
“No, honey, not in the fatal sense. I’m going to be hormonal and eat weird things, and I’ll probably get really fat, but I’m not dying.”
I was still having a tough time processing her words, but when Lily grabbed my face and made me meet her eyes, I blinked and finally registered what she was saying. “We’re going to have a baby?” I asked.
She stroked my cheeks and nodded. “You have bionic sperm, Möosh. It broke through my pill. We’re going to have a baby,” she repeated.
I gathered her in my arms, pulling her onto my lap, and kissed her. “Fuck, I was freaked.”
“I know, honey. I told you it was okay.”
“But did you even think pregnant?”
“No... not really.” She grinned. “I’ve been on the Pill for years, so it wasn’t really on my radar. Luckily, Macey brought a pregnancy test with her.”
“Some nurse you are,” I deadpanned. Lily smacked my arm, and I laughed. “I love you, Lil. I can’t believe I’m gonna have a little you running around.”
“I really hope we have a girl,” she admitted. “There’s enough testosterone in this club. I need some backup.”
I kissed her again. “I’m really glad you’re not dying.”
“What a coincidence,” she droned.
“Shall we go let your mom off the hook?”
“I told Macey she could tell her.”
“I think she’s still going to want to see you, Lil.”
Lily nodded then studied me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, baby, I’m great.”
“Are you sure?”
I chuckled, lifting her off the bed and setting her on her feet. “I’m great, but don’t be surprised if I get a little more protective.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
I patted her bottom, and we headed into the living room where Payton squealed like a banshee and pulled Lily in for a hug. “Ohmigod, I’m too young to be a grandma!”
Lily laughed. “Isn’t that what Gran said?”
“Well, she was too young too.” Payton cupped Lily’s cheeks. “I can’t believe my baby girl’s having a baby.”
“Dad’s going to freak,” Lily said.
“No, he won’t,” Mom promised.
“We’ll need to move up the wedding,” Lily said, her tone hopeful.
Payton smiled. “Nice try.”
“I’m going to be huge.”
“The wedding’s less than a month away,” I said.
“Challenge accepted,” Lily retorted.
Payton giggled. “Dinner at six. We can tell everyone then.”
“Wait, how many people are going to be at this dinner?” Lily asked.
“Just a few.”
“We should tell my parents first,” I said, and Lily agreed.
“Let me just lie down for a little while.”
“We’ll leave you,” Payton said.
“I brought some prenatals just in case,” Macey said and set a bottle on the kitchen counter.
“How do you always know?” Lily asked.
“She’s a witch,” Payton retorted.
Lily burst out laughing. “Ohmigod, Mom, you’re ridiculous.”
“Congratulations, you two.” Macey hugged Lily then me.
Payton followed suit, and then they left me and Lily alone. I pulled Lily into my arms and kissed her gently. “So proud of you, baby.”
“You might want to wait on that sentiment.”
“How come?”
“’Cause I might be a horrible pregnant lady.”
“I can take it.”
“I’m counting on it.” She hugged me tight with a yawn. “Can we go back to bed for a little while?”
“Yeah, baby.”
I took her back to bed, and she fell asleep almost immediately. I didn’t, but I took the time to hold her even if she didn’t know I was doing it. The fact our child was growing in her belly humbled me. It was mind-blowing.
I kissed her temple gently and pulled her closer, staying that way until I finally lost my battle with sleep.
* * *
Lily
Nausea ripped me from the most awesome dream on the planet and forced me to make a run for the bathroom. I felt my hair being pulled away from my face and smiled up at Maverick. “Sorry.”
He stroked my cheek. “Don’t be sorry, baby doll. We’ll get you in this week and see if the doc can give you something for the nausea. Until then, you just be you.”
“What am I going to do about work?” I said my fear out loud, and it made it all suddenly real.
“You have two more days off, Lil. You’ve got time to get some answers,” he said. “I’m gonna talk to Aidan and see if I can switch my schedule around.”
“I’m pregnant, not dying.”
“You’re funny. I’ll get you a Sprite.”
“Thanks, baby.” I brushed my teeth and headed out to the living room, flopping onto the sofa and stretching out.
Maverick sat by my feet and patted my bottom. “Sit up, Lil. Eat some saltines.”
I nodded and leaned my back against the armrest. He handed me a cracker and the pop, and I smiled. “Thanks, Möosh.”
“When you feel better, do you wanna head next door?”
“Definitely.”
It didn’t take long before I felt normal again, so I freshened up, and we walked to his parents’ home. Ace and Cassidy were in the family room playing Monopoly with Tillie and Liam.
Cassidy jumped up and rushed to hug us. “Well, this is a nice surprise.”
Ace studied us in his disconcerting way. I swear he knew what was coming. I gripped Maverick’s hand and decided to let him do the talking. For whatever reason, I was nervous. Maybe because he was their son, and I was the little hussy who let him knock her up... I don’t know; it was irrational but true.
“Are you guys okay?” Cassidy asked.
I nodded but couldn’t seem to find my voice.
“We have some news,” Maverick said.
Cassidy sat on the back of the sofa. She smiled, but it was a tentative one.
“We’re pregnant,” Maverick said.
Cassidy slapped her hand across her chest and let out a deep breath. “Oh, my word! I thought it was something bad!” She dragged me in for a hug then Maverick. When she pulled away, tears were sliding down her face. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma. I’m too young to be a grandma.”
I smiled, relief coursing through me. “That’s exactly what my mom said.”
Ace rose to his feet, his face a little more difficult to read, and made his way to us. He hugged me, then Maverick, but didn’t say anything.
I was back to being nervous.
“I’m gonna steal Mav for a bit,” Ace said.
“Come play his turn, Lily,” Cassidy said and pulled me over to the board.
I craned my neck to give Maverick a nervous smile and then sat and studied the board. Cassidy squeezed my knee. “It’s all good, honey.”
I bit my lip and nodded.
* * *
Maverick
Dad pulled me into the den and closed the door, crossing his arms and leaning against the sofa. “You good?”
“Yeah, Dad, we’re good.”
“Extra pressure.”
“Only in the sense that she’s carrying our kid. I’m still gonna watch her like a hawk... as will Hawk.”
Dad smiled. “Right answer, bud.”
“I think Lily might think you’re pissed.”
“About her being pregnant?”
“Yeah. We’re kinda doin’ things a little backward.”
Dad chuckled. “I’ll make sure she understands that’s not the case.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Okay, let’s grab a couple of beers and head back out. I’m gonna get another recruit on her if you don’t have a problem with that.”
“Don’t have a problem with that, Dad.”
“Right answer again.”
I laughed. “What if I’d objected?”
Dad shrugged. “Woulda done it anyway. She is carrying my grandchild.”
“Right answer, Dad.”
He pulled me in for a hug. “Proud of you, bud.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
We grabbed our drinks and then joined the rest of the family. I sat next to Lily and smiled when my dad walked over to her, bent down, and gently cupped her face. “Really proud of you, Lil. You’re gonna be a kickass mom.” He kissed her forehead and then sat next to Cassidy.
Lily turned tear-filled eyes toward me, and I smiled, kissing her gently. “Love you.”
Lily nodded but couldn’t seem to speak, so I focused on the Monopoly board and my siblings. “Ten bucks to whoever can bring Dad down,” I challenged.
“I’m in,” Tillie avowed.
“We can never bring Dad down,” Liam said.
Tillie frowned. “Well, for ten bucks, I’m going to try a little harder.”
“There’s the spirit,” I said.
In the end, Tillie won, but I was pretty sure Dad threw the game, so I’d be out ten bucks. It was well worth it, though. Tillie was floating on air by the time I took Lily home.
“I thought your dad was going to kill me,” Lily said as we climbed into bed.
“Why?”
“I don’t know... Maybe because I’m the little hussy who let his son knock her up.”
I frowned. “Baby, don’t ever think of yourself like that. Dad wanted to make sure we were okay and get my opinion on putting another recruit on you. My parents love you, and need I remind you, Mom had me when she was a teenager. No one’s thinking of you as a hussy... except maybe me, but I’m forever grateful for that part. They always say to marry a woman who’s a maiden in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom.”
Lily giggled. “I’m not quite at the maiden in the kitchen status, but I’m glad I’m your whore in the bedroom. You’re a damn good gigolo, I must say.”
I pulled her against my chest and kissed her temple. “I’ve worked hard to get there, so it’s nice you notice my effort.”
“Are you sure they’re okay with this?”
“Yes, Lil, I’m sure. But if they weren’t, it wouldn’t make a difference. I’m all in, baby doll. You’re it for me.”
She sighed and gave me a gentle squeeze. “Me too.”
“Stop worrying, honey. It’s a total Lily love fest. Liverick is back at the top of the charts in regards to the ‘it’ couple.”
Lily smiled. “Okay, I’m done.”
“Wanna do it?”
“O.M.G., like, I totally wanna do it,” she retorted in a total Valley Girl accent.
I laughed as I kissed her, and then I spent time gently making love to her before she snuggled up to me and fell asleep. It took me longer to fully relax, choosing to hold my woman a while longer. I knew it was going to take me a minute not to worry. I needed the fucking threat to be annihilated. Until that happened, however, I wouldn’t stop my diligence. Tucking Lily tighter to my body, I kissed her gently and hoped we’d have some sort of resolution soon.
