“What are you doing, Hurricane?” I ask. Setting my bag down, I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her middle, taking the weight of her belly in my hands.
She sags against my chest with a sigh of relief.
“God, that feels so good.”
I kiss the side of her head. “Oh yeah? Should we just stay like this until the baby comes out? I'm not complaining if it means I get to hold you twenty-four hours a day.”
She laughs. “Might be kinda hard to pitch.”
“I’d make it work,” I joke.
I lean over her shoulder and peer into the pot she’s stirring. It looks like melted butter, but it’s turning a darker golden colour.
“Seriously, what have you been making?”
“Mexican street corn dip is in the fridge. And this will eventually be brown butter rice crispy treats.”
I rear back in surprise. I had no idea she was planning to do this. “Sage, you didn't have to make all that.”
She turns in my arms, looking up at me. “I know, but you said it was a potluck, and I wanted to contribute.”
I kiss her forehead. “Well, thank you. I'm sure it'll be a hell of a lot better than the store-made spinach dip I was planning on buying.”
Sage giggles and rests her cheek against my chest. “I hope so.” She leans back and wrinkles her nose. “Okay, you kind of smell, go take a shower while I finish this up.”
She pushes me away, but I sneak in another kiss before I head toward the bedroom. Pausing at the doorway, I look back.
I'm in love with her.
With every moment we spend together, I'm falling deeper and deeper. She’s not ready to hear that yet, so I'll keep it to myself. But watching her, seeing her wearing my clothes, carrying my baby, and fitting seamlessly into my life only makes me more determined to never let her go.
We pull up to Luca and Isla’s house, where there are already cars parked in the driveway and along the street. As soon as we get out, the sound of voices and laughter carries from the backyard. I take the bag with the food Sage made earlier in one hand and her hand in my other. Together, we walk up to the front door, only for it to open right as we get to the porch.
“Hi!” Isla exclaims with a big smile. “You must be Sage.” She gestures for the two of us to come inside. “I’m Isla, and we are so glad you could come today.”
“Thank you, I’m looking forward to meeting Brady's teammates,” Sage replies with a smile of her own.
Ahead of us, Isla looks over her shoulder with a laugh. “You say that now but just wait. They've been dying to meet you in person, too.”
I groan. “Shit. Let me apologize now for whatever you're about to walk into.”
Isla pivots, walking back to Sage’s side and tucking her arm in the crook of Sage’s elbow. “Don't worry, Dixie. I’ll take care of your girl.”
I trail after them as Isla leads us through the house and into the backyard. As soon as she steps outside, she raises her voice. “Dixie and Sage are here.”
Heads turn as my friends and teammates stop whatever they were doing and make their way over. Cal reaches us first, and to my surprise and probably Sage’s as well, he pulls her into a hug.
“It's about damn time,” he says, grinning. “Good to finally meet the woman who's made our Dixie boy all weak in the knees.”
I roll my eyes, even as I fight a smile. But as I move forward to join them, I hear Luca call my name. Turning, I walk over to him instead and take the beer he offers.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. So, how are things going?” He nods toward Sage.
I swallow a sip of beer before answering. “Really good,” I admit.
“Glad to hear it. I guess you coming to play for the Thunder was meant to be, in more ways than one.”
