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“Right?” Nixon chimes in readily. “We know you got hitched yesterday. We were there, remember? No need to look so smug about it.”
“Shut up, you two. This isn’t about the wedding.” Emmett glances down at his wife, his smile growing even bigger, and Kate isn’t much different.
“Okay, lovebirds, spill it. What’s the big news?”
Emmett pulls his gaze from his wife and turns to face the room. “We’re pregnant!”
For a split second, nobody says anything, but then all hell breaks loose. Somebody cheers loudly, and everybody starts talking at once. People jump out of their seats and go toward Emmett and Kate, pulling them into a big hug.
Even through all that cacophony, my eyes still find Rebecca easily. She, just like me, is still sitting in her chair, her eyes watching me intently.
“She’s pregnant.”
The words that set everything in motion last night comerushing back. But it’s not those words that have my heart beating wildly in my chest as the knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe.
I lost it.
I lost our baby.
Rebecca was right, after all.
Happiness for my friends fights with the jealousy brewing inside of me at the announcement, and I hate myself for feeling this way. Hate myself because no matter how much I want to, I can’t be happy for them wholeheartedly like they deserve.
Blinking, those hazel eyes come into focus.
All the unsaid things passed between us with that one glance.
It should have been us.
Maybe in another lifetime, it would have been.
But not now.
Looking away, I shift my gaze just as Emmett lets go of Nixon, his eyes meeting mine. Forcing a smile, I push from my chair and go to one of my oldest friends. Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I pull him in a one-sided hug. “Congrats, man. That’s amazing.”
“Thanks.” Emmett slaps me on the back, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You good?”
Shit, so much for pretending.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Plastering a smile on my lips, I let go of him and wrap Kate into my arms, quickly changing the subject. “Let’s just hope the baby takes after you and not his ugly mug.”
Kate starts giggling as Emmett slaps me over the head. “Who are you calling ugly?”
“I just call it as I see it, man. Kate is the one carrying the good genes around here.”
Just as I step back, an arm brushes against mine, and a zap of electricity goes through my body at the point of contact.
Rebecca.
I don’t even have to look down to know it’s her. She’s been the only woman who has ever been able to affect me this way.
Going back to my seat, I grab my glass. It’s not alcohol, but it’ll have to do.
“A toast,” I say as I take in the room, waiting for people to join me. The last person my eyes land on is Rebecca. Although a smile is plastered on her face, I can see the pain shining in those hazel depths as she watches me, so I look away. “To a new Santiago coming our way. Congratulations, you guys.”
People cheer in agreement, lifting their glasses. I take a sip of my drink, wishing it was something more potent. Something that could erase this pain growing inside my chest.
For the rest of the brunch, I immerse myself into a conversation with Hayden, who wants to know everything about my rookie year so he can prepare for what’s coming his way in a few short weeks. Thankful for the distraction, I immerse myself in talk about football, the only thing that has ever been a constant in my life.
