I really can’t help but laugh. “I like your thinking, but our baby needs to be in Mia’s stomach a little while longer.”
Stevie hums. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I pitch my voice slightly lower toward Jett. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to lose in the postseason so badly as I do now. If she goes into labor while I’m gone?—”
I stop the moment it hits me. Jett missed a lot with Stevie, and while it was a genuine accident and he’s made his peace with it, I don’t exactly want to try to force salt into a healed wound.
“It’ll be okay. She’s due the week after the World Series, right?”
“Yeah, and thankfully we finished at the top of the league so the playoffs are here, but there’s no telling where the championship will be and…”
“You just want to be home with her and enjoy it, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, I do.”
“I get it. You know, when everything happened with Stevie’s incident—Wyla’s dad told me I was never going to be able to make up for everything. I just had to show up in other ways. Obviously, being there for the birth of a child is a pretty clear nonnegotiable, but for these next weeks, just show up in other ways when you’re home… If I had to guess, being late today was one of those times.”
Yeah, I can’t say it’ll be a recurring thing, especially for games, but this morning it did feel a bit necessary.
“It was.” I catch the time on the clock and my jaw clenches. “I do really hate fucking being late, though.”
“Language!” Stevie yells.
Oh, how I’ve missed the curse word police.
Jett barks a laugh. “Yeah, but it was worth it.”
“Stevie, cover your ears… It fucking was.”
Stevie makes a littlehumph, and I look back to find her arms crossed with a very angry face. “I did not cover my ears and that was two very big bad words.”
“It was the same bad word. Doesn’t that only make it one?”
“No!” She shakes her head at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You can’t cuss around your baby, Uncle Adam, you need to practice now.”
Jett glances up at the mirror. “Well, sweetheart, he is late to practice today so…maybe he’s not the best at it.”
This asshole. I might not be able to get Will and Callie to teach her cuss words like they did with Miles, but there’re some new people Stevie can meet.
“Hey, when we get there, ask Miles to introduce you to Beck and Tripp. They have great games for you guys to play.”
Chapter 33
Mia
I don’t know why it took me until the third trimester to put a chair in my bathroom so I can sit while I get ready. This chair might never leave now, and with all the maneuvering it took to get up here, I can’t say Adam will argue.
Granted, he doesn’t argue much to begin with—well, that’s a bit of a lie. The first time he sat down in front of me, we technically argued. Deciding on a baby name took weeks…it’s the debate training in us, but damn, does he make it fun.
I feel slightly guilty being the reason he’s late today. I know it was most likely eating him up inside, but I’d probably still be lying in bed if he hadn’t stayed…and be a little grumpier.
When it officially gets two minutes past the standard Adam time, the texts come through rather fast and I can’t say I’m surprised.
The Family Lineup
Will
Adam, where are you at?
