- CHAPTER ELEVEN -
Miles
I signed my first professional contract when I was fourteen. To this day, I’ve always said that was the happiest day of my life. It trumped skating on the Viking Arena for the first time. It beat my debut for the Vikings. MVPs… Stanley Cup victories.
Becoming a pro hockey player was my greatest achievement.
Until now.
“Baby!” I wrap Ellie in my arms and spin her around. “We’re having a baby!”
Ellie’s laugh fills the bathroom. It sounds like a songbird singing softly in the forest and relief floods through me. I was worried I had fucked this all up. Ellie dashed off without me, all the talk of me moving cities had become too much and she was done.
Instead, this. This!
“Miles! Miles!” Ellie shrieks as I spin her around again. “Put me down or I might throw up again! And I think you might be squeezing the baby!”
I drop Ellie to her feet and instantly fall to my knees. My hands clasp her belly and I’m kissing Ellie’s stomach through the fabric of her dress.
“Oh, sorry, bubba… Daddy’s sorry…”
I feel Ellie’s fingers threading my hair and, in this moment, I’ve never been happier.
Who would have thought a dingy, run down ladies bathroom could be the host of the happiest moment of your life?
With a firm kiss to her stomach, I rise to my feet and pull Ellie in for another kiss. I can barely control my emotions. Happiness. Excitement. Jubilation. All taking over and sending adrenaline rushing through my veins.
I want to climb a fucking mountain and shout out at the world. I want to bang my chest like a god damned cave man. I’m going to be a father. Holy shit!
“You beautiful, beautiful girl,” I say, smothering Ellie’s mouth with another kiss. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Ellie’s eyes pop and they’re the most stunning set of eyes I’ve ever seen. I hope my child has their mother’s eyes. I hope they’re every bit like their mother, their looks, personality, the works. She’s the best damn human being in the world.
“Stop, Miles!” Ellie cackles, pushing me back. I force myself to let go, and beam like a goof at her. “Come on, let’s get out of here. The smell of this bathroom is making me want to hurl again.”
I link my hand in Ellie’s and lead her out of the bathroom. In amongst the excitement of the past few minutes, I had completely forgotten about the event taking place on the other side of the wall.
The music is still pumping, and guests of the event are in the groove, dancing and jiving with each other on the dancefloor. I lead Ellie across the room with a new skip in my step. I keep her close so I can protect her body from drunken footballers or their dolled-up girlfriends.
“I just have to say goodbye to the guys, and I can meet you out the front?” I say, turning to Ellie who is busy watching Parker Phillips dance with his new roommate.
“No, I’ll stay with you.”
I grab Ellie by the hand and wave to a few of the guys on the dancefloor. When I glance over to the table, Noah is the only person left sitting there. He’s chatting with Jeff, and they look deep in conversation. Ellie notices the man, and I see her expression drop at the sight of the newest agent trying to get me to sign up for his team.
I grip her hand firmly and steam across to slap Noah on the shoulder.
“We’re getting out of here,” I say, ignoring Jeff’s popping eyes.
Noah looks Ellie up and down, and then glances at me. His brows crease and fuck me if that whole twin-mind-reading thing isn’t real. Noah’s face scrunches and a sinking feeling pulls me down.
“Is everything ok, Ellie?” Noah growls, side eyeing me.
Parker Phillips flies behind us, followed by his roommate who’s giggling wildly. A loud cheer screams from the dancefloor and I just want to get the hell out of here.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Ellie says, clutching my shoulder. “Everything is absolutely perfect.”
Noah grunts and his scowl isn’t fading. “You’re weird tonight, you know that?”
Noah pins Ellie with a look that only she would understand. Ellie shrugs and yanks on my arm so I’m left flapping a distant wave to Jeff.
After a few minutes of waiting, we flop into the limo. Ellie stares out of the window and I’m left gaping across at the majestic beauty of this woman. A few short hours ago, I was just excited to spend the night with her.
Now, knowing she’s growing my baby inside of her, I’m excited to spend the rest of my life, not only with her, but with my child, too.
“Ellie, sweetheart…” I grip her thigh and she threads her fingers between mine and flashes a smile. “I want you to know… I’ll be here for everything.”
She smiles, but it’s a smile that tells me she already knows what I’m about to say. At least, she thinks she does.
“I know, babe…” Ellie says, but when I slide down the seat so I’m on my knees below her, her attention is caught in a way it wasn’t before. “Wh- what are you doing?”
My body starts to shake. I haven’t planned this. Heck, I haven’t planned any of this.
Never in a million years did I think I would wind up dating Ellie Edwards. In my head, she was never going to be interested in me. Not once did I think I would get to sleep with her. Even after that, the issue of her being Noah’s sister? That was an obstacle I was sure I would never get over.