That night, when I collapse in bed with a bag of ice on a crappy dorm-room mattress, I wish I could curl up with Maggie. As much as I love football, she and our babies are more important, and I need to kick ass this season so I can secure our future.
42
MAGGIE
It’s so stinking hot, I don’t want to budge, but I promised Kayla I’d make her baby shower invites. I have a sneaking suspicion her parents had her call me to feel out where things were with me and her brother. It stings to think his family is so down on me right now.
Five days into camp and I’m finally getting used to the empty house. At first, I kept looking around for Olly. He and I talk every night, but he sounds so worn out that I try not to keep him on long.
I’ll be honest—it sucks to be alone again. I miss seeing Olly camped out on the couch with his textbooks or working out upstairs. Coming out from the weight room sweaty and flushed. Making eyes at me like I’m a tasty morsel.
I rub my belly and stare at the ultrasound on the fridge that was taken this morning. I sent the pic to Olly, but he hasn’t responded yet. The guys don’t have their phones with them during the day, so I’m not bent out of shape over it. I know he wishes he could’ve come with me.
Baby A and Baby B are getting big. It’s starting to freak me out that I’ve gotten this far without telling my mom what’s going on. I keep practicing what I want to say, but it never sounds right. Everything went downhill with Olly’s parents so quickly that now I’m panicked about telling my family anything.
I know Mom’s going to grill me about how I’ll handle my classes while nursing two babies. I have no freaking idea how I’ll juggle everything. In addition to finishing his last semester, Olly will be prepping for the spring combine and the draft. Can I expect any help from him? Will I have to beat him over the head with a dumbbell to make him pitch in, or will he find a way to carve out time for us?
I grab my old laptop and wait for it to turn on, which gives me time to grab a glass of ice water and change into something cooler. Since the guys are at camp, I’m all alone, so I pick a paper-thin tank top and shorts. There’s no one here to judge my baby belly and extra weight.
The design is fun, but how can you not enjoy storks and baby rattles? I’m sure Kayla will invite me to the party, but I’m not sure I’m ready to face her parents again so soon.
I’m almost done with the design when the doorbell rings. It’s probably a delivery. I ordered a bigger bra because I’m busting out of everything I own.
But when I open the door, I freeze.
“Mija.” My mom and sister are standing on the doorstep. “Surprise! Frannie and I were missing you something fierce, and we decided…” Mom stops to gape at me. “What’s going on? Why are you…” She points at my stomach.
“Pregnant?” This is not how I wanted to unleash this news on my mom.
“I was going to say swollen.” Her eyes widen. “Dios mío.”
Once the news settles, my sister starts jumping up and down. “You’re having a baby! Yay!”
At least someone is excited. I hug them both and settle them in the living room while I get us something to drink. Frannie is twirling around from corner to corner when I return.
“Niña, siéntate.” My mom points at the couch until my sister sits and then she turns to me. “Magnolia, are you going to tell me how this happened?”
“Mom, you have three kids. I’m pretty sure you know how this happened.”
“Don’t be a smartass. You know what I’m asking you.” My mother never curses. Once she leaves here, she’ll beat herself up about it.
Frannie bounces on the couch cushion. “Mommy, you said ass!”
I sit next to my sister and hand her a fidget toy. “It’s green. Your favorite color.”
Her eyes widen. “Can I play with it?”
“Yuppers. If you promise to stay seated.”
“I can do that.”
“I know you can.” I squeeze her in a hug. “Missed you, bugaboo.”
My mother presses her glass of ice water to her forehead. “This is why you haven’t come to visit this summer.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you. I was overwhelmed.”
She clears her throat and whispers, “Do we know who the father is?” as though Frannie can’t hear her.
