“Don’t be. They’ll love you.”
“Liar,” I accuse and she laughs.
“Yeah, I don’t know what is going to happen, but at least we are doing it together, right?” she says hopefully and I nod.
“Yup, let’s go,” I say, kissing her lips before getting out and going around to get her. When we turn, a couple is coming toward us and I assume they are Avery’s parents. They are both smiling. The lady looks a lot like my wife, the same frame and long dark hair like Avery’s. The guy is Benedict Haverbrooke, a very tall man with thinning hair and bushy eyebrows. Avery has his eyes, though. But his sons favor him while Avery does her mother.
Swallowing hard, Avery squeezes my hand as Benedict breathes, “Avery.”
Her mom’s eyes fill with tears as she holds out her arms. “Look at your little belly.”
Avery lets go of me, going into her mother’s arms. I suck in a breath as she kisses Avery’s cheeks, pressing her hand on my daughter’s home. Benedict presses his lips to Avery’s forehead before looking her over. “You look good.”
“I am,” she answers. “I’m really good.”
Her mom takes hold of her, clutching her by her arms. “Before anything else happens, I need to apologize for that phone call. I was shocked, and I was wrong for what I said. I’m so sorry.”
Avery’s eyes cloud with tears as she stares into her mother’s eyes. “We both are,” her dad adds. “We wanted to do this in person.”
Avery doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I can see the relief, the joy on her face as she nods. “Thank you.”
Looking over at me, Benedict smiles. “And this is Jace Sinclair, my new son-in-law?”
Avery turns to me, a smile on her face as I hold my hand out, taking Benedict’s. “Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he says sincerely, shaking my hand hard. “Hate that it has taken so long.”
“Agreed.”
Letting go of my hand, he looks back at Avery and smiles. “She’s in one piece.”
I grin as I nod. “She is.”
“This is her mother, my wife, Thea.” Avery’s m
om comes to me, her eyes scrutinizing me as she glares. Swallowing loudly, I hold out my hand, taking hers as I flash her a grin. Usually, my grin works on women, but apparently, not this one.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My mouth quirks. “Good things, I hope?”
Her eyes narrow. “My son, Avery’s twin, used to play with you.”
“He did, good player.”
“He is. He’s going into the draft this year, too.”
I nod. “Yeah, I heard they are saying he’ll be top three.”
“Or first,” she says but I grin.
“No disrespect, but that’s my spot,” I say with a wink, but she still doesn’t smile. Thinking fast, I grin as Avery comes into my side, and I say, “Gotta go big so I can take care of my wife and daughter.”
“It’s a girl?” Thea gushes and Benedict’s face breaks into a huge smile.
“Yeah, we are so excited,” Avery says, holding me tight.
“How sweet. Oh, all the things we can buy,” Thea says, pulling Avery from me and into her side. Avery looks back at me, but I shake my head, smiling as her mother gushes over her. She needs this and they are trying, I feel. The moment I think they aren’t, though, we are out.