A bark of laughter leaves my mouth as Holden’s face contorts. “Yeah, that’s exactly what this is.” He deadpans.
Dawson shrugs. “Offer it to him. I bet he’d jump on it.”
Holden goes to say something, but then closes his mouth and shakes his head. “Never going to happen. Anyway, what we’re about to tell you is a secret. We don’t want anyone to know, yet.”
I watch for a reaction on his face, but all I see is confusion. He glances over at me before turning back to him. “Okay, no problem. What is it?”
Holden nods at me and I take a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
Dawson’s eyes widen dramatically. “Wow! I did not see that coming. Are you serious?”
I nod. “I found out on Monday, after you left.”
“You’ve known for a week and you haven’t told me?!”
“I’m telling you now.” I answer sweetly, making Holden chuckle.
Dawson shakes his head and smiles. “You’re the worst friend, ever.”
“You love me.”
He congratulates Holden and I, then lets out a long breath. “So, you weren’t cheating with Caleb after all?”
“No, you ass.” I grab the couch pillow closest to me and throw it at him. “You should know me better than that.”
He laughs softly, but then his expression changes. “Wait a minute. Are you saying you told him before me?!”
Holden snorts. “Don’t feel bad, Daws. He knew before me, too.”
I groan audibly. “He was here when I found out. He’s been really helpful.”
“Yeah, well. I broke his nose so I don’t really know how keen he will be on helping now.”
“You broke his nose?!” Dawson practically shouts.
Holden nods. “Yesterday, before I met up with you at the bar.”
His jaw drops. “Damn. I knew you hit him, but I didn’t think it was that hard.”
“Oh, trust me, it was.” I tell him. A shiver runs down my spine as the scene replays in my head. Poor Kermit.
LEAVING HOLDEN AT THE airport is ten times harder knowing about the baby. He holds me close and kisses my head. I don’t want to let go. I’m hormonal, and emotional, and I just don’t want him to leave.
“Are you calling the doctor tomorrow?”
I hum against his chest. “Yeah.”
“Okay. See if you can get an appointment for late Friday. I want to be there.”
Pulling my head away, I look up at him. “Are you going to be able to? You just came home this weekend.”
“Baby.” He breathes. “You come first – yesterday, today, tomorrow, and always. You’re out of your mind if you think anything can keep me from that appointment.”
I’m speechless, so I settle on stretching up to connect our lips in a sweet and loving kiss.
CALLING THE DOCTOR TO make my first appointment is probably one of the more nerve wracking things I’ve had to do lately. It could be because I’m afraid of being judged. I’m not even 22 years-old, and I’m pregnant. I guess that’s nothing surprising these days, but it was never something I planned on happening. Still, I don’t regret it.
“Dr. Medina’s office. How may I help you?”
My voice gets caught in my throat and I need to force it out. “H-hi. I need to make a new patient appointment.”
“Okay.” She answers happily, clicking something on her computer. “Is this for your yearly exam?”
“No. I’m pregnant.”
“Oh. Congratulations.”
I smile shyly even though she can’t see me. “Thank you.”
After a few more moments of silence while she clicks away, she starts asking me questions. “What’s your name?”
“Kayleigh Jacobs.”
“Birthday?”
“November 18, 1997.”
“Insurance?”
I need to grab my wallet and pull out the card to read her my insurance information.
“Okay and lastly, the date of your last period.”
I shift uncomfortably. “Uh, I think in August, but it was really light.”
“No problem. The doctor will just need to do an ultrasound to determine the gestational age.” After she’s finished inputting all my answers, she goes to make the appointment. “Did you have any preferred day or time?”
“Late Friday if that’s possible. My fiancé needs to fly in from Boston.”
“Does 6 PM work?”
I smile. “That’s perfect.”
She confirms my appointment date and time, and I thank her as I hang up the phone. As soon as the call ends, I compose a text message to Holden.
Me: Made the appointment. Friday at 6.
His response is practically immediate. I consider calling him, but he’s probably going into practice and I need to get ready for class.
Holden: Ok baby. I’ll be there.
I miss you and the baby so much.
I swoon at his words. It’s almost comical to me how nervous I was to tell him, when this is how he ended up taking it. I probably put myself through so much anxiety and worry all for nothing.
Me: We miss you, too. Good luck at practice.
Holden: Thanks. Love you. ��
Me: Love you more.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I take one of the few anti-nausea pills I have left and grab my books. Caleb will be here any minute to drive me to campus.
FRIDAY COMES QUICKLY, AND I’m thankful for it because it means I get to see Holden. The appointment has me a nervous wreck, but as long as he’s by my side, I know I’ll be okay. I’ve basically been tucked away in my apartment, only leaving for school and work. The nausea is still intense, but I’ve also been avoiding Skylar and Bree. One look at me and they’ll know something is up. For now, we’ve still been telling people it’s stomach issues and stress.
Holden’s flight lands a half hour before the appointment. I get ready and then drive to the airport to pick him up. He smiles as soon as he sees me, and gives me a kiss as I walk from the driver’s side of the car to the passenger’s. Once we’re buckled, he pulls away in route of the doctor’s office.
We get there just in time, and the receptionist hands me a clipboard of paperwork to fill out. It asks all kinds of in-depth questions such as my medical history and family medical history. I cringe at the question asking if I’ve ever done recreational drugs. Holden senses my discomfort and glances over to see what I’m looking at.
“Just lie.”
“What? You can’t do that.”
He shrugs. “Why not? You don’t do it anymore. You’ve been clean for over a year, babe.”
Maybe he’s right. There’s no need to subject myself to judgmental looks if it isn’t relevant anymore. Besides, my age is enough for them to be skeptical of.
Once I’m done filling out the paperwork, I hand it back to the secretary and the nurse takes Holden and I back into a room. She has me pee in a cup, which is always one of the most awkward things ever, but she needs to run a pregnancy test. Holden watches as the stick turns blue and smiles.
“No doubt about it. You’re definitely pregnant.” She tells us, then she takes my blood pressure and other vitals. “The doctor will be in shortly.”
We both thank her and watch the door close. My fiancé reaches over and holds my hand, squeezing it for comfort. I’ll never understand how he can calm me down with the simplest touch.
A knock at the door has us both looking up before it opens.
“Kayleigh Jacobs?” Dr. Medina asks and I nod. “It’s nice to meet you.” She turns to Holden. “And you are?”
“Holden Rivers, her fiancé.”
“Ah, the university hockey prodigy. I thought you looked familiar.”
My fiancé smiles politely, then winks at me as soon as she turns away.
“Okay.” The doctor begins. “Well, the test we ran is definitely positive, so congratulations. Do you know when your last period was?”
I repeat the same thing I told the receptionist. “I
think it was in August, but I remember it being really light, so I’m not sure.”
She hums. “Could have been implantation bleeding. I’m going to give you an exam, and then we’ll go do an ultrasound.”
The pap-smear is uncomfortable, but nothing I’m not used to. Holden sits patiently and rubs his thumb over my hand when I wince. After she’s done, I clean myself up and we follow Dr. Medina to a very small and dark room. The screen from the ultrasound machine is the only thing providing any light.
“Alright, Kayleigh. Just lie down here and lift up your shirt.” I do as she says, and Holden stands next to the bed. “I’m going to try with this one, but if we can’t see anything, we’ll have to switch to an internal ultrasound.”
“That sounds pleasant.” I quip, and both the doctor and my fiancé chuckle.
The gel is cold on my stomach, but as soon as she places the transponder on me the breath is sucked out of my lungs. On the screen is the tiniest little thing. You can just make out the shape of a baby. A little white flicker appears closer to the middle of the figure.
I look over at Holden to see him staring at the screen, tearing up. He makes eye contact with me and smiles, bending down to kiss my forehead. The doctor clicks a few things, taking measurements.
“It looks like you’re approximately ten weeks along.” She tells me and I start to panic.
“T-ten weeks? I’ve only known for two.” My actions over that time play through my head. The Bahamas, Dawson’s wedding, the Kappa party – I didn’t know. “I’ve had alcohol within the last ten weeks.”
“That’s okay. As long as it wasn’t anything excessive you should be fine, but no more.”
I exhale, feeling slightly relieved. “Oh, I would never. I stopped as soon as I found out.”
She grins and zooms in on the flickering white spot. “Do you want to hear your baby’s heartbeat?”
We both nod enthusiastically. She presses a few things on the machine and something starts to echo throughout the room. It almost sounds like a horse gallop, fast and steady. It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard – Holden’s voice being a very close second. He wipes a tear that leaks from his eye and grabs my hand. Suddenly, looking at him now, he’s not just my fiancé. He’s so much more.
Chapter 19
The rest of the weekend after the appointment is spent in ecstasy. Holden keeps a copy of the ultrasound picture in his wallet and looks at it at least five times a day. It’s heartwarming to see how excited he is. Our next appointment isn’t for another two weeks, but he already can’t wait.
Sunday comes sooner than I’d prefer, and it’s almost time for me to bring him to the airport. The thought of being apart while we’re this happy makes me want to cry. Perhaps it’s the hormones raging through my body.
“Ugh.” He groans. “I don’t want to go back.”
I snuggle deeper into him, rubbing my hand up and down his arm. “I don’t want you to go either, but you know you love it.”
“Hockey, yes. Being away from you, not even a little.” He bends down and places a kiss in my hair. “Our first regular season game is on Tuesday. I’m nervous.”
“This Tuesday?” I ask, and he nods. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs. “We’ve been a little distracted lately. It must have slipped my mind.”
A short while later, Holden gets up and goes into the shower. As soon as the door closes, I spring to action. I grab my suitcase from the closet, toss some clothes into it, and run it out to the car so he won’t notice. When I get back inside, I sit on the couch and take out my phone. The flight number from Holden’s itinerary is useful in telling me which one I need to book. Thankfully, there are still a couple seats available. Just as I hit confirm, he comes out of the bathroom – his torso is dripping wet and his lower half is only covered by a towel.
“Are you trying to torture me?”
He chuckles and leans against the doorframe. “Maybe a little.”
I leave my phone on the couch and run into his arms, not fighting for a second when he carries me over to the bed and climbs on top of me.
DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT, Holden is completely clueless of my plans. He pouts the entire way there, partly because he’s leaving but also because I’ve been on my phone for the past hour. I feel bad, though I know as soon as he figures out why, he won’t mind.
He pulls into the parking spot and gets out, handing me the keys when we get to the back of the car. I smile and press the button to open the trunk.
“What are you doing?” He questions.
I don’t answer. Instead, I pull out the suitcase and place it on the ground – closing the trunk after I’m done. Holden’s eyes widen as he looks from me to the suitcase and back again.
“Is that the rest of my stuff? Are you kicking me out?” His amused tone tells me he’s not serious.
I roll my eyes playfully. “If you wear size 4 women’s jeans, then sure.”
His smile widens. “You’re coming with me?”
“You’re about to play your first official NHL game. Every step of the way, remember?”
“Not going anywhere.” He completes the saying that has grown to mean so much. His arms wrap around me and squeeze tightly.
WE SPEND THE FLIGHT pressed against each other’s side and watching a short movie on my laptop. It’s not even a two-hour plane ride, but it can still get boring if you have nothing to distract you.
Arriving at the hotel, he pulls me to the reception desk and tells them he needs another key to his room. It only takes a few minutes, and then we’re getting into the elevator. He hands me the new key card.
“It’s yours. That way, if you ever want to come here, you can just let yourself in.” The butterflies erupt in my stomach. “Oh, and I want to go to the bank tomorrow.”
“What? Why?”
“To add you to my account.” He says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Holden.” I deadpan.
“Kayleigh.”
“Is that really necessary?”
The elevator dings for our floor and we step out, walking down the hallway to his room. As soon as we step inside, he sits on the bed and reaches for me. I go willingly, allowing him to pull me onto his lap. He slides one hand onto my lower stomach, right where the baby is.
“I’m not trying to bribe you into staying with me.” He tells me. “I know you would be with me if I was a millionaire or if I was dirt poor. That’s not what this is.”
“Then why add me to your newly inflated bank account?”
He lightly rubs his thumb back and forth. “Because you’re pregnant with my child. What’s the point in waiting until April to do it? I want you to feel as financially comfortable as I do. I know you, and I know that you’ll never ask me for money. This just makes it so you don’t have to. Besides, what if there is an emergency and you can’t get ahold of me?”
“I have a job and money of my own.”
“You have a job that constantly makes you nauseous.”
My eyes narrow. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
A smirk appears on his face. “Well, I haven’t been, but we can try that if you want.”
“Holden!”
“What? You brought it up.” He chuckles, then spins us so I’m lying on the bed and he’s hovering above me. “Please don’t fight me on this. It will make me feel better.”
I raise my hand and run my fingers through his silky hair. “Okay, but don’t expect me to use it unless it’s an emergency.”
He grins triumphantly. “Thank you, now back to the pain in your ass topic…”
“That’s not happening.”
“Is that a firm no or can that be negotiated, too?”
Rolling my eyes, I pull him down by the back of his neck – connecting our mouths to shut him up. It works.
MONDAY NIGHT, WE’RE CUDDLED up in bed, barely paying attention to what’s playing on the TV screen. Holden claims he’s just exhausted from practice, but I can tell
he’s nervous for the game tomorrow. My phone vibrates on the nightstand at the perfect time. I sit up, taking it into my hands and reading the text.
Here.
Smiling widely, I text back the room number and wait. Holden watches me suspiciously, but doesn’t say anything. Within a few minutes, there’s a knock at the door. I jump off the bed and run over to open it.
“Did you order room service?” He asks from the bed.
I put one finger up to my lips and lead Brandon and Emily inside. It takes me fake coughing to get Holden to look up and towards the door. As soon as he sees his best friend, his whole mood lightens.
“Hey superstar.” Brandon greets him.
“What the hell are you doing here?!” He grins, getting up and coming over to hug them hello.
Brandon laughs. “H, your first game is tomorrow. Why are you the only one who doesn’t find it a big deal?”
“He does.” I point out. “He’s just trying to downplay it.”
Holden looks at me and bites his lip. “You did this?” I nod. “I thought surprises of best friends was my thing.”
“Yeah, I stole it. You’ll get over it.”
He bends down and kisses my lips. “Thank you.”
The four of us spend the rest of the night hanging out in Holden’s suite. We considered going out, but we decided it’s probably not the best idea for him to have a hangover tomorrow. He needs to be in the best shape he can be.
THE ARENA IS HUGE, much bigger than the one I’m used to. It can probably fit double the amount of people and every seat is filled. We still get to sit in the front row, but not right next to the bench like we have been.
As they’re introduced and come skating into the rink, the energy in this place reaches immeasurable levels. The lights are dimmed but spot lights move all over the ice as the crowd cheers for their favorite team. There aren’t nearly as many signs for Holden at this one, but I figure it’s only a matter of time before that happens. He’s still new.
The first opportunity he gets, my fiancé skates past us – smiling like a little kid on Christmas morning. Suddenly, someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around to see one of the workers of the arena, holding a jersey in his hands.
Seamless Forever (Sleepless November Saga Book 3) Page 13
