Fast and Loaded: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (32 page)

* * *

E
very single last
one of the tests say the same stupid shit:
pregnant
. This can’t be right. Dev and I had slipped up a couple of times, but I took my pills faithfully. Except for after the fire. I had to refill the prescription. I cancel lunch with Devlin through our assistants and head to the medical office of a friend of Brian’s for an emergency visit.

Dr. Isaiah Graham is a handsome man with chiseled features and an athletic build, but my guy is sexier. Damn. Sex is what had gotten me into this mess in the first place. Dr. Graham decides to walk with me outside once I become a blubbering mess in his office. He had confirmed the same thing that the store bought tests had. Pregnant.

“Do you have anyone that you can call?” he asks.

I nod my head yes. The thought of telling Devlin about a baby frightens me. We don’t really discuss children, hadn’t discussed marriage. We are just enjoying each other, but I had promised to let him into my life, so I will have to let him know about the new life we created.

“It’s perfectly normal to be emotional,” the doctor continues. “I would feel much better if someone drove you home.”

The doctor hands me a tissue and pats my shoulder.

E
pilogue-Devlin

I made it clear to everyone that if Dr. Ayron Winters calls, put everything else on hold. Her last name should be Masters, she should be my wife, but she is strong and stubborn. Getting her to marry me will be a battle, so I’m giving her time to adjust to the idea of us living together. I still can’t get her to take money from me, and she insists on paying the water bill since she found out how much my mortgage and electricity bills run. Sharing my business with her is all a part of my master plan to ease her into being Mrs. Ayron Masters.

I was worried when Monique called. I avoid contact with the abrasive woman as much as possible, but we have an understanding: if there’s something about Ayron, don’t hesitate to call me. I was concerned when Ayron said she loved me, out loud, outside of our home. That was new. I became worried when she canceled our lunch through Gloria. We always talk about it over the phone if our schedules conflict. I became desperate when I found she had left for the day and didn’t let me know.

“Are you all right?” I ask, sliding my hand across my face and leaning back into my office chair.

“No. I’m not,” she says wearily. She sounds like she has been crying. “I need you to come home.” I hear a sniffle.

“I’ll be right there. Do you need me to stay on the phone?”

“No, just come home.”

* * *

I
make
it home in record time, unsure why I need to be there. I want to call Monique and get some insight. I have a feeling that she already knows what is going on, but obviously Ayron needs to tell me. Did Agnes die? That can’t be it. Ayron would have been hysterical. Is she having an affair? Doubt that. We have been together every minute, for the most part. I even went with her to the Rhonda Raven Show, especially once I found out Brian would be there. Damn.

When I walk into the home, I find Ayron in the kitchen, crying over a bag of hotdog buns and a jar of Prego spaghetti sauce. Is she hungry?

“What’s going on honey?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her.

She sniffles and turns to face me.

“Do you love me?” she asks.

“With all my heart,” I answer, feeling a thump there, as I’m not sure where this train of questioning is leading.

She sighs.

“I wanted it to be all cute and memorable for you, and I can’t. It’s not turning out right,” she babbles, picking up the bag of hotdog buns and then placing them in the oven.

One hundred…ninety-nine…ninety-eight…ninety-seven…I count in my head. Why can’t she just tell me what’s wrong?

“See, I’m making you angry,” she sobs. “What am I going to do with a baby?”

I freeze at her words. The one word that I wasn’t expecting. Baby. Then it all starts to come together, buns in the oven, Prego sauce.

“You’re pregnant?” I gasp.

“Yes. The doctor told me today.”

I hug her as close to me as humanly possible and kiss her face.

“That’s awesome,” I exclaim. “No need to cry. We got this.”

I kiss her cheeks and mouth.

“Why are you so upset?” I ask. “Is something wrong already? I’ll get you the best medical team.”

This makes her smile a little.

“No, everything looks fine so far. I just don’t want to be a baby momma. What’s the baby’s last name going to be? Where do I fit into all of this?”

I scratch the side of my face.

“You know that you’re my everything. You’ve given me purpose, direction, strength. You are my wife, whether we’ve signed papers yet or not. The baby will be a Masters, no doubt…just like you.”

“I was so worried. That’s why Monique called you. She was trying to get me to take a test. I skipped our lunch to go to the doctor.”

“Well, no more appointments without me.”

She nods.

“I want to be there for you every step of the way.”

“Thank you,” she sighs, falling into my arms again.

“And promise me, for baby number two, I’ll be the first to know besides you,” I tell her.

“I promise,” she replies with a smile.

I can’t wait for our future together.