“You were sleeping.”
“Yeah.”
“I figured.” She kisses my cheek, her hand reaching for one of mine. “It was awful. Just—so much blood.”
I squeeze her hand. “Don’t talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“I was scared. But my mom took care of me.” A shuddery exhale leaves her and her still shiny with tears eyes meet mine. “She’s a good mom.”
“The best.” I rest my palm against the side of her hair before I stroke it away from her face. “Just like you’re going to be someday.”
Her eyes fall closed and her lips tremble. “What if I can’t have any more? What if that was our—one—shot?”
“Don’t say that,” I say fiercely. “We’ll have a bunch. Six, remember? I want at least six.”
She laughs, but it sounds more like a sob. “I don’t know about that.”
“Whatever you want, I’ll do. It’s all for you, Princess.” I mean every fucking word.
“I’m going to be okay,” she says.
“You’re damn right.”
“We’re going to be okay?” She’s asking me. Needing the confirmation that we’re still going to stick together.
The relief I feel at hearing her say that nearly sends me to my knees.
“You’re damn right,” I repeat, leaning into her and brushing her mouth with mine. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispers. “I’m sorry it happened.”
“Oh my God, it’s not your fault. Don’t ever think it was.” I kiss her again. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“That’s not your fault either.” Another kiss. “You should know I’m not going to San Diego.”
My heart feels ready to fly right out of my chest at her words. “You staying here with me?”
She nods, her expression hesitant. “You’re going to get drafted, Eli. And I want to go where you’re going. If you’ll have me.”
“If I’ll have you?” I can’t help it. I start to chuckle. “Baby, I can’t do any of this without you. You’re coming with me, whether you like it or not.”
Ava rests her hands on my chest, brushing her nose against mine. “I love it.”
I crush her to me, trying to be careful. I don’t want to hurt her, but she plasters herself to me anyway. “I love you.”
I stay there all day, spending as much time with Ava as I can, before I finally head home. I skipped practice—I called Coach and explained what happened, and he was cool with me missing it. After that call, I confessed to Ava I told the guys about her being pregnant and she wasn’t mad, but she did say that’s why she warned me not to mention it yet.
Because of situations like ours.
I sent a group text to the boys letting them know what happened, and they were cool, of course. Full of sympathy, saying all the right things. Even Caleb. I couldn’t tell them something like that to their faces. I might’ve broken down.
So I took the easy route.
It’s early in the evening and I’m reluctantly leaving the Callahan house, exiting through the garage when I hear a familiar voice call my name. I pause and turn to find Drew standing there, watching me.
“Hey,” I tell him, shoving my hands in my front pockets. We’ve barely talked all day. He makes me nervous. Like he might want to kick my ass for putting his baby girl through so much trauma.
Slowly he approaches me, his steps careful, his expression serious. “How are you?”