Lennon and I read the headlines in bed.
“I can’t believe this.” She scrolled through her tablet. “There’s not a single mention of an AFA investigation. Why aren’t they looking into it?”
I smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “I told you we had nothing to worry about.”
“Not really the point.”
“Can’t you be happy we’re not being interrogated? It’s going to be old news.”
I knew she was still mad I hadn’t done the honorable thing. And now that I was going to be a father, that would have to change. I wasn’t going to let my son or daughter grow up the way I did.
I wouldn’t be the kind of father who pushed them regardless of the rules. That meant I was going to have to start following them.
My hand snaked under the covers to Lennon’s flat belly. In a few months, her body would be different. I was going to love every second of it. The ice cream runs. The trips to the doctor. All of it. Normal dad stuff that other guys did.
“You know you could still come forward. You don’t have to wait to get caught.”
“I know that’s what you want me to do, but I’m not putting you through that stress. And before you say anything, that’s not just an excuse.” I stared at her hard. “You’d be interviewed. They’ll check all your previous prescriptions. Investigate your case histories. It could go on for months. You don’t deserve that. You did everything right, Doc.
And you’re carrying our baby. So I need to know… can you live with this lie? Can you be with me, knowing what I did?”
She closed her eyes. “I don’t want to say yes, but I can’t say no to you. But I have a condition.”
“Name it.”
“If you ever get hurt again. Ever. You heal like a man. You let your body work and heal for you. No substances. No broken rules. No lies to me or the AFA.”
“See, this is why I need you.” I cupped my palm over her navel, feeling her quickly inhale at my touch.
“What do you mean?”
“To help me be a better man. To be a good father.”
I saw the softness sweep over her. “Wes, you’re going to be an amazing father. I know it.”
“You know, this baby is going to be here at the beginning of the season.” I eyed her.
“Don’t look at me. You’re the one who knocked me up.”
“True.” I rolled her on top of me and she giggled. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Not sick yet.” She smiled.
“Don’t move,” I ordered. I scooted to the end of the bed until I was between her legs. My favorite place to be. She spread her thighs for me and tilted so my tongue could slide inside her.
“Oh God, Wes.” She buried her face in the pillow while I sucked and lapped at her. I could make her come all day. As the vibrations slowed, I rolled out from under her, tilted her hips up, and eased myself into her wet heat. I loved taking her like this. Looking down at the roundness of her ass, while her tits rubbed against the sheets.
“Tell me,” I commanded.
“Fuck me until I’m yours,” she whimpered.
“You are mine, Lennon. God, you’re mine.”
She panted and wiggled as I pumped in and out of her. We both knew things were different. The sex was still fucking hot. But there was love between us now. And that love had made a baby.
I didn’t know what was going to happen in two days at the Super Bowl, but I realized Lennon’s one mission had finally been accomplished. As I held her in my arms, I realized there was more to life than winning a game. There was more than adding points to the scoreboard. There was more than being carried off the field as a hero. Because in my arms, I already knew I had won everything.
Epilogue