Liam let his injured foot rest lightly on the floor. "It's only a minor sprain, Ray. Probably only sets me back by a week. Training has been going really well. I'll be able to pick up where I left off." He had no idea if that was true, but he'd say whatever he needed to convince Ray.
"I hope that's all it is. We can only do the current set-up with Fin and Fiona for so long. We don't want the fans to tire of the bit."
Tire of it? Ray was crazy. The fans loved it. "I don't think they're tiring of it. The weekly videos are doing well. Attendance is up for those games because people want to see the next episode of Fin and Fiona before it airs on the web. It's exactly what you hoped would happen."
"Even so, we'll need to see a more mobile Fin out there soon. Andy said you might be ready by mid-August. If not, we'll need to discuss our options."
Liam's blood burned and his heart sank at the veiled threat. If he couldn't do the job, they'd find someone else who could. Or, they'd only keep Claire, either as Fiona, or as a smaller version of Fin. He wasn't sure how their relationship would change if he lost his job to her. Could he handle it, or would resentment build and fester like an infected wound?
As if Ray could read his mind, he asked, "Where is Claire?"
"On her way in. We're filming the videos that will be playing during All-Star weekend."
Ray arched a brow at Liam's crutches and bandaged ankle. "Sure you're up to that?"
"No problem at all. You know I'm always about putting the job first." Despite the throbbing pain. "Going back to my recovery, I've been doing great and progressing well with the therapy three times a week, and at home, I'm doing the stretches and exercises three times a day. I'll be ready before mid-August, Ray. You can count on it."
"All right, Liam. Keep me posted." With a brief wave, Ray walked away.
Liam locked the door, then leaned against it, surveying the room. He couldn't lose this. Not to Claire. Not to anyone.
CLAIRE
CLAIRE PLACED THE TWO pregnancy tests on the bathroom sink and then set the timer in her phone. She walked through her apartment, picking up and setting down books and pillows and rearranging the roses that Liam had given her a few days earlier.
Her period was never late.
Never.
Yet, over a week had passed and she still hadn't gotten it. And maybe the past few days of vomiting wasn't due to a stomach bug.
She couldn't be pregnant. Maybe stress was making her period late. Maybe the stomach virus had thrown her body off.
When she'd suggested that to Savanna, her friend had gently suggested she take a test, just to see.
A series of beeps rang from her phone.
Her heart rate ratcheted faster. The moment of truth. She silenced the alarm and shoved her phone into her pocket. Mouth gone dry, she peered at the results.
Two pink lines on the first test. The word pregnant across the display on the second test she'd bought for confirmation.
Her blood froze and her heart struggled to beat. All her muscles turned limp and she began to tremble. She sank onto the toilet lid and covered her face with her hands.
No. No. No. Not now. Not yet.
After being the caregiver for so many years, for keeping her sisters in line and out of harm's way, she deserved a chance to be just Claire.
In an instant, she felt her recently acquired freedom slip away and resentment slid in once more. She and Liam had always been careful and always used a condom, so how had this happened?
Of course, she wanted to have kids someday, but after she'd finally had some time to herself. Caring for her sisters had been hard enough. The heavy weight of responsibility would triple with her own child.
Life wasn't fair and she wasn't ready.
Her phone rang, vibrating in her pocket and jolting her off her feet. She scrabbled for it. Lauren's number. Calling again. If she'd hurt herself again...
She'd better answer.
"What's up?"
"Can you drive me to gymnastics? I need to be there in an hour."
Huffing a sigh, she dragged her hands over her face. So not what she needed right now. "Fine. But be ready to leave when I arrive. I have to go to work right after that and can't be late."
Great. Just great.
She swept the tests into the trash.
Queasiness interfered with her concentration on the road. When she pulled up in front of the family home, she blinked at the number of cars in the driveway—Amanda's Escalade, Jen's Jeep, Krissy's Fiat, Ginger's Corvette, and Dad's Range Rover.
Lauren dashed out the front door with her gym bag thrown over her shoulder and a bright smile on her face. She tugged the passenger door open. "Hi."
"Hold up. Why did you call me? Everyone is home."
Her sister shrugged. "What's the big deal? When you lived here, you used to drive me all the time."
Damn it. Annoyance sizzling through her muscles, Claire squeezed the steering wheel. "Yeah. When I lived here. I don't anymore. I haven't for a few months. You have five people who are capable of driving you. There was no reason to call me."
"We should get going. Coach doesn't like it when we're late." Lauren climbed into the seat and turned on the radio.
Claire switched it off. "Does everyone else know that you called me?"
"Not Dad. He's still asleep. He got home pretty late last night."
"Did you ask the others to drive you before calling me?"
"They were arguing about who was supposed to do it, so I said I'd call you and they stopped."
Claire turned off the engine. "Let's go. We're having a family meeting."
"But
