Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I hear that,” she agrees, pulling into the stadium.
Thankfully, we have a private VIP entrance, so we don’t have to shuffle in with the rest of the crowd. Not that I mind going through the main entrance, but with my baby bump, it’s a little harder to maneuver these days.
When we reach our suite, I’m surprised to see Corie there with Camden and his nanny, Mrs. Ward. “Hey,” Sloane and I say at the same time.
We wave to Mrs. Ward, who’s already sitting and bouncing a happy Camden on her knee. “I thought he was with his mom this week?” Sloane asks Corie, her voice quiet.
Corie rolls her eyes. “She’s on vacation, apparently.”
“Without her kid she rarely sees?” I ask, not bothering to hide my disdain.
“Yep,” Corie replies.
“Damn,” Sloane mutters. “That poor baby. She has no idea what she’s missing out on. He’s going to resent her for this once he gets older.”
Corie shrugs. “I don’t think she cares, to be honest.”
“I figured you’d be down there getting some pregame footage,” Sloane tells Corie.
“I did. Now it’s all in the hands of the photographers. I’m done for the night. The photographers will send me everything, and I can use that for my content. Besides, I don’t need to be down there bothering them when the guys are trying to get their heads in the game.”
Speaking of, my phone rings. Digging it out of my purse, I show them the screen with Reid’s face and step off to the side to answer the call. “Hello.”
“Hey, baby. Are you here?” Reid asks.
“I’m here. We’re in the suite. Corie’s with us, and Mrs. Ward is here with Camden.”
“Good. Yeah, Baker mentioned that Natasha was on vacation or something like that. Said she needed a break,” he says, and I can hear the disapproval in his tone. “How’re my girls?”
I smile. “Tired and happy,” I tell him honestly.
“Won’t be much longer,” he whispers. “I think tired and happy is about to be our life for a while.”
“You’re right, but it will be worth it.” I can’t believe this is where life has taken me, but the universe knew what it was doing when it dropped Reid into my life. He’s healed me in ways I never knew I needed.
“Do you need anything?”
“We have a suite all to ourselves. It’s just me, Corie, Sloane, and Mrs. Ward with Camden. There are tons of food and snacks. We’re all set,” I assure him.
“All right, Dream Girl. I’ll see you after the game.”
“I’ll be right here waiting.”
Someone yells, and he groans.
“Go. I’ll see you after.”
“Bye, babe,” he says, ending the call.
“Everything okay?” Corie asks when I rejoin them.
“Perfect,” I tell her, placing my hand on my belly. “Reid was just checking to make sure we made it here okay.”
Corie nods. “I rode with Knox, or I would have gotten the same kind of call.”
“Dada!” Camden calls out, pointing to the field, and we all turn our attention to him.
“Let me take him,” Corie offers to Mrs. Ward. “Have a break, and grab a snack.”
“Oh, he’s just fine,” she assures her.
“No, I insist. I need baby Cam snuggles.” She holds out her arms, and Camden reaches for her, too, as she settles him on her hip.
We all take our seats as the opening ceremonies begin. We’re playing the New York Tigers, and they get the ball first. On the first drive, Cody Martin, a defenseman, catches an interception and takes off down the field. He’s tackled at the thirty, but everyone in Rampage Stadium goes crazy. This team has fought hard all year, and they want this. They want another league championship with their name on it. If this is how this entire game is going to go, it’s going to be a nailbiter.
The game is back and forth. We’re holding strong, up by a touchdown, and we’ve all been on the edge of our seats the entire game. Well, not technically. I’ve been shifting this way and that, trying to find a comfortable position, and my head feels a little fuzzy. I’m sure it’s all the excitement and lack of sleep I’m getting these days.
Reid was right, though: tired and happy is about to be our new normal, and it’ll all be worth it when we get to hold our baby girl in our arms.
“Go!” Rowan cheers as she holds Camden’s arm in the air. His baby giggles fill the suite around us, and I grin. Next year, that will be me. Our daughter will be here with us, and Camden will have a friend to play with. It’s not lost on me that I ran, scared of this life, and now, I’ve fully embraced it. I have Reid to thank for that. He’s shown me time and time again that our daughter and I are first with him.