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I exhale, feeling slightly relieved. “Oh, I would never. I stopped as soon as I found out.”
She grins and zooms in on the flickering white spot. “Do you want to hear your baby’s heartbeat?”
We both nod enthusiastically. She presses a few things on the machine and something starts to echo throughout the room. It almost sounds like a horse gallop, fast and steady. It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard – Holden’s voice being a very close second. He wipes a tear that leaks from his eye and grabs my hand. Suddenly, looking at him now, he’s not just my fiancé. He’s so much more.
Chapter 19
The rest of the weekend after the appointment is spent in ecstasy. Holden keeps a copy of the ultrasound picture in his wallet and looks at it at least five times a day. It’s heartwarming to see how excited he is. Our next appointment isn’t for another two weeks, but he already can’t wait.
Sunday comes sooner than I’d prefer, and it’s almost time for me to bring him to the airport. The thought of being apart while we’re this happy makes me want to cry. Perhaps it’s the hormones raging through my body.
“Ugh.” He groans. “I don’t want to go back.”
I snuggle deeper into him, rubbing my hand up and down his arm. “I don’t want you to go either, but you know you love it.”
“Hockey, yes. Being away from you, not even a little.” He bends down and places a kiss in my hair. “Our first regular season game is on Tuesday. I’m nervous.”
“This Tuesday?” I ask, and he nods. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs. “We’ve been a little distracted lately. It must have slipped my mind.”
A short while later, Holden gets up and goes into the shower. As soon as the door closes, I spring to action. I grab my suitcase from the closet, toss some clothes into it, and run it out to the car so he won’t notice. When I get back inside, I sit on the couch and take out my phone. The flight number from Holden’s itinerary is useful in telling me which one I need to book. Thankfully, there are still a couple seats available. Just as I hit confirm, he comes out of the bathroom – his torso is dripping wet and his lower half is only covered by a towel.
“Are you trying to torture me?”
He chuckles and leans against the doorframe. “Maybe a little.”
I leave my phone on the couch and run into his arms, not fighting for a second when he carries me over to the bed and climbs on top of me.
DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT, Holden is completely clueless of my plans. He pouts the entire way there, partly because he’s leaving but also because I’ve been on my phone for the past hour. I feel bad, though I know as soon as he figures out why, he won’t mind.
He pulls into the parking spot and gets out, handing me the keys when we get to the back of the car. I smile and press the button to open the trunk.
“What are you doing?” He questions.
I don’t answer. Instead, I pull out the suitcase and place it on the ground – closing the trunk after I’m done. Holden’s eyes widen as he looks from me to the suitcase and back again.
“Is that the rest of my stuff? Are you kicking me out?” His amused tone tells me he’s not serious.
I roll my eyes playfully. “If you wear size 4 women’s jeans, then sure.”
His smile widens. “You’re coming with me?”
“You’re about to play your first official NHL game. Every step of the way, remember?”
“Not going anywhere.” He completes the saying that has grown to mean so much. His arms wrap around me and squeeze tightly.
WE SPEND THE FLIGHT pressed against each other’s side and watching a short movie on my laptop. It’s not even a two-hour plane ride, but it can still get boring if you have nothing to distract you.
Arriving at the hotel, he pulls me to the reception desk and tells them he needs another key to his room. It only takes a few minutes, and then we’re getting into the elevator. He hands me the new key card.
“It’s yours. That way, if you ever want to come here, you can just let yourself in.” The butterflies erupt in my stomach. “Oh, and I want to go to the bank tomorrow.”
“What? Why?”
“To add you to my account.” He says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Holden.” I deadpan.
