Hothead (Irresistible 4)

But just before its release, I felt a little twitch that I knew wasn’t butterflies in my stomach.

It was the first little kick in my belly.

My mouth fell open just as Drew launched an absolute rocket to home plate. I saw the big, healthy swing just as I heard the ball hitting leather.

And for a second, time stood still.

It slowed before me as I stood there, savoring every aspect of this one incredible moment. The roar of the stadium. My hand in Aly’s. Drew’s pumping fist.

And our baby kicking once more to celebrate the win.

“Oh my God – yesss!”

Aly and Emmett’s raucous cheers brought me back to Earth, and before I knew it, I was laughing, crying and screaming my face off with them as well as everyone around us.

Because Drew Maddox and the New York Empires were World Champions.

It was absolute chaos, but in the best possible way, and just when I thought I was out of tears, the mob of Empires finally started climbing off of Drew.

And by the time I spotted him in the crowd of white jerseys, he was already headed my way.

The second our frantic, wet eyes locked he mouthed I love you, and the next thing I knew, I was in his arms, his cap flipped backwards as he kissed me so deeply my knees went weak.

“I love you,” I whispered back between his kisses, too far over the moon to care about all the cameramen and big, crazy-looking cameras surrounding us.

I was so in love with the man holding me in his strong arms, and I was so overjoyed for his joy. I felt it welling inside him as he held me tight, kissing me so sweetly as I brought his palm down to my belly.

“He kicked right before your last pitch,” I whispered excitedly once we’d caught our breaths enough to speak.

Well, I certainly did. It took another second for Drew, especially after processing the words that I said. Cupping my face, he gazed down at my belly before looking into my eyes.

“He?” he repeated breathlessly, his eyes crinkling as he smiled wide. “You know something I don’t know?”

“I found out today,” I grinned, laughing with surprise as Drew scaled the fence into the front row seats and knelt right down before my stomach. With the crowd roaring around us, I couldn’t hear the smiling words he spoke to our son, but I didn’t need to. I chalked it up as their first father-son pep talk, and I couldn’t think of a better time for it.

The cameras flashed like crazy as Drew knelt before my little bump, and I giggled with Aly, especially as Drew bumped fists with Emmett before giving our little one the last word and rising again to his feet.

“Listen, Evie,” he murmured close to me, thousands of eyes upon us.

“Yeah?” I giggled.

“There are a lot of people watching us right now.”

“Yes. More than ever. Cameras too.”

“Yeah. Thought so,” Drew smirked close to my lips. “Should probably wait till later to ask this but fuck it,” he murmured, taking my left hand in both of his and kissing me softly as he wiggled the ring off my finger.

I wasn’t fully sure what was happening, but I looked down, a stunning new diamond had replaced the one I’d worn since the summer. It was a similar size to the first – just princess cut this time around – but somehow it was so many million times more beautiful, and it snatched my breath straight away.

Because this time, I knew the man I loved had chosen it.

“Will you marry me, Evie?” Drew whispered his question with a wicked little on his lips.

Fresh tears sprung to my eyes as I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him again, giving him the answer he’d already known for awhile now.

“Baby, you know I will.”

The End