“Uh?”
“We’re done. I can get dressed now.”
He helps me off the table and holds me in front of him. He lifts my gown, inspecting my belly.
“How the fuck are there two babies in there?”
“Um…well, you see what happens—”
He shakes his head. “No, I know what happens. I remember sex ed and all that shit. You’re fucking tiny, Ainsley. We have to fatten you up.”
“No, I think I’m fine.” I sigh and move past him, grabbing my clothes so I can change.
“Babe, I don’t mean it badly. I’m just saying that…fuck, I don’t know, but we’re having twins—well, you are—I just put them there, and we don’t have any space. So get dressed because we need to go to the jewelers, get you your ring, plus we need to house hunt.”
“House hunt?”
Cooper steps to me, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. “We need a house for our family or a really nice condo that has a yard like Ethan and Daisy’s. And I’m not buying it without you, so hurry your sweet ass up because we have a lot of shit to do today.” He swats my rear and claps his hands together. I change as quickly as possible and follow him out of the room, stopping to check out. The whole way back to the car he has me pulled as close to him as possible, kissing me every few steps.
“You know what?” he says, leaning me up against his car.
“What?”
“This morning, when I was asking you to marry me, I forgot one very important thing.”
“What’s that, Mr. Bailey?”
He pushes my hair behind my ear and kisses along my neck, my cheek, and finally my lips. “I love you, Ainsley,” he tells me while looking into my eyes. “I love you, and these two babies that you’re giving me.”
Chapter 35
Cooper
As soon as I step off of the shuttle bus, the blazing heat causes sweat to pebble everywhere. It’s fucking hotter than Hades in San Diego, and we have to play in this shit. I look at the other guys, Davenport, Singleton, and Sinclair, as they step out behind me, and their faces morph into this “what the fuck are we doing here” look, in obvious agreement with my assessment. Once I have my luggage in my hands, I haul ass into the lobby where the air conditioner feels like I’ve just stepped into the beer cooler at the local grocery store.
Pulling my phone out, I text Ainsley to make sure she’s at the hotel. She and Daisy, along with Davenport’s family, flew in early. Wes Wilson is here as well, even though he’s not the coach of the American League All-Star team. He’s actually here to be a dad to Ainsley, since their time in Boston is somewhat limited. Wes is a regular at our place for dinner when we’re not playing, and he’s been helping us look at houses, threatening us that he might live next door if there are two for sale in the same neighborhood.
When he saw Ainsley’s ring, he was confused until I reminded him of my late-night—or early-morning, depending on how you look at things—visit when I asked him for his permission. He said he remembered, but he thought he had been dreaming or that I was drunk, so he didn’t take me seriously.
I am dead serious about marrying her, and it’s not because she’s pregnant with my children, it’s because I love her and can’t imagine my life making any kind of sense without her. It doesn’t matter that I only knew her for a few weeks. In the time we were apart, nothing else made sense except for baseball. Having her and baseball completes my world. The twins are just an added bonus.
I found out I made the All-Star team after we found out about the twins. I was still on this euphoric high of hearing their heartbeats and mesmerized by the ultrasound when Wilson called me into his office. He told me he had news, and I won’t lie, I set the picture of the twins down on his desk to soften the blow. He smiled and said that he couldn’t wait to be a grandfather and asked if I had manned up yet. I just shrugged and asked him what he needed me for, and that’s when he said I was heading to San Diego. Of course, I was elated, but deep down, I had hoped that I’d have those four days off to spend with Ainsley. Thankfully, Daisy offered to fly with her and keep her company while I worked.
Ainsley tells me she’s here, but out at the pool with the Davenports, and sends me a picture of Ethan’s niece touching her belly. A slight pang of jealously h
its me because Shea is spending time with her when I can’t. I shake off the thoughts that I’m jealous of a toddler. If that’s the case, I can’t imagine what I’m going to be like when the twins get here.
After we’re checked in, I change and head down to the pool. There seems to be a lively party going on with a few of the players from the other teams. We all shake hands and put aside any animosity that we have toward one another. Wives and girlfriends are introduced, and a rousing game of water volleyball gets underway. As the night wears on, things get rowdy. Some of the guys start drinking, but I refrain. I need a clear head for tomorrow’s festivities, and I know that jetlag eventually is going to kick my ass.
“Are you ready to head up?” I ask Ainsley, who looks exhausted. I know she’s only stayed down here because I was, which meant we got to spend more time together. She nods and curls into my side as much as she can since the chaise lounges aren’t that accommodating.
“Hey, Davenport, we’re heading up.” He nods, and Daisy signals that they’re coming, too. With Ainsley’s hand in mine, and the Davenports next to us, we make the trek back up to the rooms. Unfortunately, because the team is paying for my hotel, Ainsley can’t stay with me, but she’ll be with Daisy. Maybe Ethan and I can cuddle instead.
As soon as we step off the elevator, we come face-to-face with my dad. Everything inside of me turns to stone as my hand tightens around Ainsley’s. I haven’t really spoken to my dad since the day Ainsley told me she was pregnant, because I had nothing to say to him.
“What’s this?”
My tongue is thick, and there’s a lump in my throat that makes it hard to swallow. I follow his gaze down to Ainsley’s hand, which is resting on my bicep, the hand that I placed a diamond solitaire on weeks ago.