Long: A Secret Baby Sports Romance(44)

“I know,” I said. “I got myself together.”

“You did. The second half you were a completely different person.” He frowned at me. “Listen, if you ever need to talk about anything, and I mean absolutely anything, you come to me. Okay? You come talk to me.”

“I’m good, Coach,” I said.

“I know you are. But if you ever need help with something, I can help you. Understand?”

“I understand,” I said.

He nodded and then turned on the game tape for next week.

I tried to pay attention, but I was so damn distracted the whole time. I kept thinking about how I had let my team down by throwing that first half and how fucking dangerous it had been. I’d risked everything just for a few thousand dollars to help Avery and my child out. I didn’t regret it, but I knew it had been stupid.

And the mob still wanted me to throw an entire game. I couldn’t imagine doing that, but the money they were offering was so damn good. It would be enough to take care of Avery and my kid until after the draft. It would be more than enough to make everything right.

But if Coach noticed these things in just one bad half, what would he say about an entire game? If I screwed up too badly, he might actually pull me and I could never start again. I might throw away my entire career, all for one game.

Eventually the game study session ended and I had the rest of the afternoon off. I wandered over to Dom’s with Hynes and Drinkwater to grab something to eat, but I couldn’t pay attention to their usual bullshit.

I was just too distracted. I had the mob taking over one half of my mind and Avery taking over the other. I was worried about making the wrong decision with the mafia and was stuck thinking about Avery’s body working mine. Not to mention all her measurements and her study project shit. I felt like I was juggling a thousand balls at once, and at any moment I could drop them all, ruining everything.

Things were moving faster and faster. I needed to be on top of my shit, or else I was going to lose, and I never fucking lost anything in my life.

I wasn’t about to start now.





20





Avery





I was nervous as I walked into the student health center, but I didn’t need to be. It was Monday morning, and I had skipped all my classes to make this appointment.

The nurses were beyond nice. They set me up in a room, got me dressed in a gown, and set me up for the doctor. When the doctor came in, I felt incredibly relieved that it was a woman, about my mom’s age.

We went over my medical history, did a pelvic exam, breast exam, pap smear, took some blood, and finally I peed into a cup. All throughout, the doctor talked to me about my pregnancy and went over as many lifestyle changes as she could think of.

By the end, I felt exhausted, although it had probably only been an hour.

“Any questions?” Doctor Green asked.

“No,” I said. “I don’t think so.”

She laughed. “You will have plenty sooner or later. The nurses will give you a bunch of pamphlets and websites to check out, and my card will be with all that stuff. Feel free to call me anytime you have a question, day or night. Okay?”

“Wow,” I said. “Thank you. Do you offer that sort of thing to everyone?”

She smiled. “Just the young pregnant mothers. Remember, you’re not just living for yourself anymore. You have a baby to think about.”

“Thanks, doctor,” I said.

“Fortunately, you look like you’re in great health. We’ll get the blood work, urine work, and the pap smear back soon, so expect a call within the next few days.”

“Okay, I will.”

She stood up. “Okay, Avery, good luck. Make sure you come back soon, and don’t hesitate to call.”

“Thanks again.”

She smiled and left, and I felt like I had a handle on this thing for the first time.

I was eight weeks pregnant and things were just getting started, but Doctor Green had walked me through it all and told me all about what I should expect. Before I had just had a bunch of opinions of various women on blogs and websites, but now I finally was able to talk to an actual doctor about this stuff.

I left the health center feeling better than I had in days, with the exception of that night with Gibson.

I could hardly believe what had happened as we walked away from the statue that night. He walked me back to my apartment and even kissed me good night. I was floating on a cloud all that night and the next day.

I saw him Sunday morning, and again Sunday afternoon, but he had practice and tutoring and another team meeting later that night. I suggested we meet up later, but he had passed out asleep at around eight that night, or at least that was what he texted me the next morning.