Her heart fluttered at the prospect but burned with fear; she couldn’t get her hopes up. What if she wasn’t? She was going to be so disappointed.
Madi realized Sky was still waiting on an answer and she nodded.
“Ohhhh,” Val squealed, delighted. “I’m so excited.”
“Don’t jump the gun so quick, Valeria. We don’t know yet. I—”
“Girl, you’re late and you puked for no reason. You’re as pregnant as pregnant can be.”
“Shh…” Madi scolded as she saw the GM, Josh O’Connell, and her father coming through the door. “Keep your voices down. Sky, text Brooke and tell her to meet us in the hall bathroom when she gets here.”
Sky did as she asked and Madi popped up, planting a smile on her face as her father and Josh greeted her. They talked briefly before Sky was pulling Madi away. She excused herself and walked numbly down the hall to the bathroom where Brooke had three pregnancy tests set up.
“Do all three at once, no doubting, no retaking. The moment has come, sis.”
Madi rolled her eyes at her overdramatic sister and took all three tests into a stall with her.
She did the deed, brought the tests out, and washed her hands. All the while, she prayed that they were positive, although she couldn’t say why. Brett was going to freak on her, she just knew it. They’d only been together a short time, they weren’t married, and they hadn’t even talked about their future, yet here Madi was painting a bright little nursery in her head.
When the timer on Brooke’s phone beeped, Madi didn’t look down, she simply said, “What’s the verdict?”
“Well,” Sky began, “I hope you’ve prepared a speech for Zeus cause, honey, you’re pregnant.”
“What? Really?” Madi finally looked down at the strips showing the evidence. “Oh, my God. I’m pregnant? I’m pregnant.” Madi looked up into the overjoyed faces of her best girlfriends in shock. She couldn’t believe it, but three positive tests didn’t lie. Thank God Brooke had been smart enough to have her do them all three at once instead of one back to back which would have drawn the suspense out even more.
Val was the first to pull her in for a hug. “Welcome to motherhood, Mama.” She placed her hand on Madi’s lower belly. “Hi there, little one! Aunt Valley is so excited to meet you.”
Madi teared up and pulled Val in for another hug. This was all she’d ever wanted, and it was happening. Holy crap!
Brooke came next with tears in her eyes. “Oh, big sis. I’m so happy for you. This is amazing. I can’t believe I’ll have a niece or nephew in eight months.”
Holy crap!
Sky came next. “So, I uh, I might have something to share too.” Her plump lips pulled in, in apprehension.
Madi’s mouth dropped even as Sky nodded and tears fell down her cheeks.
“We’re due in March. Travis is over the moon. He can’t wait. Oh, Mad, we should do double baby showers.”
Madi nodded vigorously and pulled Sky into her arms for a hug. This was surreal. More than she’d ever dreamed of. Holy crap!
But the nagging at the back of her heart was becoming a pounding ache in her chest. What the hell was Brett going to say, what would he think, and would he be excited? She didn’t want to tell him before the game, but she wasn’t sure she could wait for hours on end either.
She felt like she might puke again.
“There’s my gorgeous goddess,” Brett said and pulled Madi into his arms. She held him for a long time, and he soaked up the peace she always made him feel—the serenity, the feeling that he was home, complete when he was with her. He pulled back finally because he sensed something wasn’t right. Her cheeks were red, as if she’d been crying, but she also looked a little green around the gills. “Baby, what’s the matter?”
Madi blew it off with a fake smile and shook her head. “Nothing. I guess Mexican and tequila didn’t sit well last night.”
Brett’s brows drew. He’d known Madison Thomas way too long to not know when she was fibbing, but she quickly started talking with the other guys, throwing him off.
“Listen,” Madi fumbled when the others were distracted, “um, I don’t know what you had planned for after the game, but…”
“Well, I had you planned, Hera. Post-victory sex, right?” He whispered and winked. They’d been joking about it all week, trying to decide which place got defiled next—like they hadn’t tore the sheets up just this morning.
“Umm, right. But I, uh, I want you to myself just for a little while. We…uh…we need to talk.”
And just like that, Brett’s heart raced. That wasn’t good; he knew what that meant. When women said, “We need to talk,” it usually meant something bad. Was she breaking up with him?
He gulped down the fear and nodded, trying to rationalize what could possibly have her looking like she was going to cry. Had someone upset her? He felt angry all of a sudden but tried to hold it in; he had a pre-season game to get through.
Madison reached up on her tip-toes, and Brett pulled her back into his arms as he kissed her with all his might, forcing her to feel how much he cared for her, forcing away whatever this was that was upsetting her. He pulled back slowly and looked into her seafoam green-blue eyes. “I love you Madison Hope Thomas. You know that, right?”
Madi’s lips curled in; she was holding back tears. What the hell wasn’t she saying? “I love you too, Cap—so, so much.”
When Coach Cavanaugh started calling for them to warm up, Brett was reluctant to let her go, even though they would both be taking the podium at half-time to say some inspiring words regarding Hunter and this year’s team.
Brett kissed her forehead as he released her and gave her a big smile; a smile that he hoped conveyed whatever she needed in that
