Page 74 of Code Violation

I was the confident one back then—or at least, I did a good job of giving that impression. It’s so much easier to mask in front of people you barely know.

“I’m so happy for you, babe.” She smirks. “Even if you aren’t quite ready to admit your feelings for him out loud, we all know you two are perfect for each other.”

“You’re a nightmare—you know that?” I jest, feeling my face grow hotter.

It’s interesting that when I started seeing Kane, I never felt an ounce of the excitement or butterflies I do when talking about just being with Silas. And while I might not have dated many guys, I’m not naive enough to believe that things will ever be platonic with Silas.

Not when his kisses are so addictive.

Drew waves a hand in the air, high on life, and I couldn’t be happier for her. “I know. Will is apparently rubbing off on me. Colton, my boss, says that I’m almost as annoying as my fiancé.”

I scrunch up my nose, laughing. “Nah. No one could ever be as irritating as Will.”

“Miss Stone, please take a seat.” Dr. Buendia points to a blue armchair to the left of her desk.

I’ve met with my OB-GYN a handful of times since I moved to Seattle, and those appointments were largely down to family planning reasons. She knows the struggle I’ve had to find a birth control that didn’t totally fuck up my life and leave me suffering with daily headaches and nausea.

“Oh.” Her eyes land on Silas as he follows me through the door and takes a seat next to me, pulling my right hand into his lap.

“Do you follow hockey?” Silas smiles at the doctor, pulling off his ball cap and resting it on his knee.

She nods her head, jaw agape. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that the humble man sitting beside me is a famous athlete.

“Is this …” She clears her throat. “Is Mr. Stanton your partner?”

I look at Silas, knowing that this room is a safe space away from eavesdroppers and my ex-boyfriend.

“Silas is the baby’s father. We are in a situationship of sorts right now.”

When Silas lifts my hand and sets a kiss across my knuckles, I swear Dr. Buendia melts into a puddle at her desk.

“I wanted to be here for Vesper, and I care about her very deeply,” Silas points out. “I also wanted to clarify that anything she needs that her insurance won’t cover, then that isn’t a problem. I want her to have the best of everything.”

The doctor’s eyes linger on Silas for a beat, but I don’t mind; I’d be the same if I were her. There’s something about a six-foot-five hockey defenseman, with disheveled hair and a black henley, promising the world to the woman carrying his baby.

“So, you report that you had a positive home pregnancy test. Is that right, Miss Stone?”

“Yes. I ended up taking multiple tests, just to be sure.”

Silas squeezes my hand a little tighter.

Dr. Buendia smiles warmly and types a couple of notes on her computer. “Trust me when I say that you aren’t the only one to have sat in that chair and said that. Taking a pregnancy test is both an anxious and an exciting time.” She turns to her paperwork and makes a couple of calculations.

“I have Vesper’s gestational period as four weeks and five days based on the date of her last period.” Silas speaks up, staring at the Notes app in his phone.

I didn’t see him take his cell out, and now I can’t look away from it, mouth wide open.

“Is that all research?” I say, pointing at his screen.

He just grins and hands me the device. “Yeah. I’ve been compiling a list of everything we need. From diapers to the best prenatal classes in Seattle.”

My thumb keeps scrolling through reams of information.

“You’re correct, Mr. Stanton. Right now, we have an estimated due date of July 28.”

Silas leans into me, his breath tickling the side of my face. I can feel his broad smile, even though I can’t see it.

“You hear that, Knockout? Our baby is due during the offseason. Could you be any more perfect?”