I look down. It’s true. And this distance between us is making me lose my mind. I can’t let us go on like this.
Maggie is too independent to reach out to me when she needs help. I know she hates feeling vulnerable. And really, who enjoys that feeling? But if we’re going to make it through the season and her senior year, through a pregnancy and twins, I’m gonna have to work harder to prove to her we can be a team. To show her she can rely on me, which means I can’t miss doctor appointments or mess up on the rare occasion she asks something of me.
“I’m going to bed. Can y’all make sure I’m up before you leave? I’m setting an alarm, but I’m paranoid.”
Cam holds up his fist for me to bump. “Psyched to have you back tomorrow.”
“Thanks, man. Night.”
Maggie’s room is dark. I try not to make any noise as I set down my bag, undress down to my boxer briefs, and slide in behind her.
When I wrap my arm around her, she wiggles backward until she’s nestled in against me. My hand automatically settles on her round belly. Someone thumps my palm, and I smile. Maybe one of my sons will be a kicker.
Maggie’s warm and smells so good. We haven’t had sex in ages because of those weird contractions, but all I care about is that she’s healthy. Sex can wait.
“What are you doing home?” she whispers.
“Sorry to wake you.” I kiss the back of her neck. “Couldn’t sleep. Needed to snuggle you.”
She turns to look at me, her sleepy, disheveled look making me hard. I can’t explain why she’s my catnip, but she is. “It’s nice to see you. Even if it’s only in the middle of the night.”
“Back at ya, beautiful.”
“You’re not worried about the guys?”
“If they can’t lock shit down the night before a game, we have bigger issues than what I can address. I’m not their father. Although I made sure to threaten them about what I’ll do if they fuck up while I’m away.”
She rolls over so she’s facing me and runs her palm down my cheek. “Miss you. I’m sorry I’m never awake when you get home.”
“Babe, you’re doing awesome. You’re juggling school and a part-time job. Congrats on your promotion, by the way.”
“Thanks. My boss said I might actually be able to do more now than just make coffee and take notes.”
“So proud of you.” I tug her close, and she slides her thigh between mine. She groans when she rubs up against my erection. “Sorry about that.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” she whispers.
I move back so my hips aren’t pressing against her. “I can’t help it when I’m around you.”
“Where are you going? Come here.”
“We don’t have to do anything. I didn’t drive over here to get laid.”
“I know you didn’t. It’s just… it’s been so awkward between us since everything happened with my brother. And I thought… I hoped this would help.”
“I’m sorry, baby. That weekend was all my fault. If I had just come home, taken an Uber or something, I could’ve been here to stop things from getting out of hand. I could’ve explained in time to keep Bash from losing his marbles.”
Her brother’s been texting me almost daily for updates. I know he feels like shit for what happened. I’m still pissed at him, but I get it. If Maggie were my sister, and I saw the things he had, I’m not sure I would’ve reacted differently.
“I don’t want to talk about my brother.”
“Have you spoken to him yet?”
“No.”
I rub my nose against her. “Bash flipped out because he loves you.”
She sighs. “I wish he believed in me enough to trust my instincts. I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need him to beat up my boyfriends or scare anyone away.”
