A Kiss for a Kiss (All In 4)

“Just wondering. You know, you’re always welcome to come back here if you don’t want to miss out on my legendary spooning skills.”

She grins. “That’s a kind and generous offer, Jake, but my night will probably end a lot earlier than yours, so I think the safer bet is to stay in my own bed.”

“If you change your mind, the invitation is always open.”

Hanna sets her laptop on the table beside her and stretches, exposing a couple inches of rounded belly. “I’m thinking about taking a cat nap so I’m not passing out on the girls before nine. Are you interested in joining me?”

“Definitely.” I roll my chair back and round the desk, extending a hand and helping her out of the chair. She’s twenty-four weeks now, which means she feels like she can relax a little. Her fears and worries are real and understandable. For me, it’s been much different than the first time I went through this.

Kimmie had never been excited about the baby—she’d cried over stretch marks. She’d been emotional and angry a lot of the time. I’d spent the majority of her pregnancy reassuring her that once Queenie was born she’d feel better. That it would get easier when she had her body back.

But with Hanna, it’s clear she’s in love with this baby, and it makes it easy for me to fall in love in the same way. We’re both all about JJ, and it’s such a shift from what I experienced last time around. Reaching the point where the baby has a chance of surviving even if Hanna goes into labor early feels like a weight has been lifted and gives us both the room we need to breathe and be excited together.

Obviously, we want him to stay put for as long as possible. All the test results have come back clear, including the amniocentesis and neural tube defects. We have another ultrasound scheduled for early next week, between exhibition games. Every time I see our baby bouncing around inside her belly, I’m reminded of how real this is going to get in a few more months. I’m a hybrid of nervous, realistic, and excited.

As for my relationship with Hanna, my goal is to make her as comfortable as possible at my place, so by the time the baby finally arrives, she’ll be ready to give up her house and move in here. Based on the number of sleepovers we have every week, I’m going to say I’m well on my way to making that happen.

_______________

QUEENIE PICKS HANNA up at five, and the guys are supposed to start arriving at six. I head out to the pool house where the food and poker table have been set up. That way the smell of wings, burps, and beer isn’t the predominant and unpleasant odor in the house, should Hanna change her mind about coming back here tonight.

A group of us gets together once a month for a card night. I stay up way too late, drink too much beer, and usually sleep until noon the next day. It’s been a thing since I moved to Seattle and took the GM position.

In that group are some of my buddies who work in NHL upper management, Bill, the team physician, and Alex. Occasionally, Rook joins us, and tonight happens to be one of those nights. He’s also bringing along Bishop, who’s decided to grace us with his presence. Bishop has never attended poker night before, so this should be interesting, if nothing else.

Alex, Rook, and Bishop show up first, which isn’t unexpected. Alex brings a bottle of scotch, and he cracks it open while I pull lowball glasses from the cupboard.

Rook holds out his hand to stop me from pouring three fingers into the third glass. “You mind if I make myself a coffee first? Otherwise I’m going to be passed out before the game even starts.”

Bishop makes a noise that sounds like a snort and a scoff. “Nice opening line, dude. If you spend the night bitching about how much your wife wants to fondle your crown jewels, I’m switching your body wash for Nair.”

Alex laughs. “This sounds like a story I want to hear.”

Rook gives Bishop the side-eye. “Lainey’s ovulating, so I’m basically her personal joystick for the next few days.”

“Rough life.” Alex snickers into his glass.

“He’s trying to lowkey brag about all the sex he’s having.” Bishop rolls his eyes.

“I’m not bragging, asshole. I’m more than happy to take care of my wife’s needs, but she’s a little hardcore right now about it because it took more than half a decade to give Kody a sister and she’s determined to make sure Aspen isn’t out of diapers before we have the next one.”

“Makes sense to me,” Alex says.

“Same.” Rook nods. “But being married to a woman with three master’s degrees and a PhD, one of them in mammal reproduction, means she can get a little intense about the timing. I took care of her before bed, and she went and set her alarm for three in the morning because that was apparently the optimal time. Which is fine. But Kody was up at five wanting to shoot the puck around and then Aspen was up half an hour later.”