Sex, Vows & Babies: Cherry Picked (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Shots On Goal Book 3)

by Kristen Hope Mazzola

  I vigorously shook my head. “No way!” I yelled.

  Juliette leaned on the sink next to me so she could look into my eyes. “You know I got pregnant out of the blue with my little girl.”

  I glanced over at her, shocked. “No, I had no idea.” From the way Jules always talked about her husband and baby, I thought they had been together for years. It just goes to show that you can never jump to any type of conclusions.

  My mind started racing.

  I could be…

  No. No, I couldn’t.

  Could this be happening?

  Oh, holy hell!

  I started to shake and Lisa put her hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you head home and get some rest. I will call you in the morning to check on you. Don’t worry about missing today, your health is too important.”

  “Thank you,” I muttered, splashing a little more water onto my cheeks.

  Checking my phone as I made my way out of the studio and into the chilly fall New York air, I saw a text from Chase and my heart start racing.

  Chase: Hope you’re having a wonderful day, babe.

  Me: Not feeling that great actually. I am heading home to rest a bit.

  Chase: Oh no, baby. What’s wrong?

  Me: Just a little upset stomach. Nothing to worry about, love.

  Chase: You know I am going to worry. Keep me posted. I will check on you later. Feel better.

  Me: Thanks. Love you.

  Chase: And I love you.

  Sitting on the floor of the bathroom, I stared down at the two bright pink lines confirming my worst fear. How can this be happening?

  My career was over. Everything I had worked for my entire life would be thrown away because I broke my one rule, the only rule I had ever had—to stay away from guys. How could I have let myself get into this mess? How was I going to tell Chase?

  Crap! Chase!

  I hadn’t even thought about that conversation until that very second, sitting alone in his apartment’s bathroom like a fool. He was going to be home in the morning, and I needed more time than that to figure all of this out.

  How was he going to take the news?

  I jumped to my feet, staring at myself in the mirror. I took a few deep breaths and then stated out loud, “No matter what Chase wants, I am keeping my baby.” Wrapping my arms around my stomach, I knew that no matter what, I was going to have to make the best of this. I would figure it out. Dancers have families. It can be done, and it would be done. This little nugget inside me was going to change my life for the better, as long as that was how I pictured it.

  “My career does not have to be over,” I bellowed firmly. Maybe if I didn’t want to stay with the New York City Ballet, I could teach. That was a good option, probably with way more flexible hours and everything, which would make it easier when Chase was gone on away games.

  I started to make myself feel better with every passing thought. “I will be an amazing mother, just like my mother was.”

  That thought hit me like a ton of bricks. Telling Chase was one thing, but telling my mother was another. She was such an amazing single mom, but she wanted more for me and my dreams. I knew this news was going to be all too bittersweet for her.

  “That is going to have to wait until after I tell Chase,” I muttered to myself, then the lightbulb went off—I knew exactly how I was going to tell him.

  After popping a few more Tums to settle my stomach, I grabbed my jacket and keys and was out the door. I made my way to The Bookstop and was greeted unenthusiastically by the same girl who was there the first day Chase and I met.

  “Can I help you find something?” Staci asked, not even looking up from an old copy of Alice in Wonderland.

  “Actually, yes. I’m looking for something very specific.” The smell of coffee and books was the perfect aroma to take my mind off my predicament and my brand-new affinity for getting sick to my stomach from any stench.

  Her eyebrow rose as she set her book down. “And what is that?”

  “I need a first edition of And Then There Were None, if you have it.”

  With a huff and an eye roll, the ruder-than-life store clerk started typing on her computer. After a few minutes, she came around from the back of the counter. “We don’t have a first edition, but I do have a paperback of the 75th anniversary edition. Would that work?”

  “I will take what I can get.” I bounced on my heels. This was going to be the best ever. There would be no way Chase wouldn’t be excited about our baby.

  I paid for the book, got a green tea latte to go, and had started to head home when my phone started ringing in my pocket.

  “Hey babe.” Chase’s voice was low.

  “Hi!” I exclaimed. “I was just thinking about you.”

  I could hear Chase smiling as he whispered, “I am hiding in the locker room bathroom, just wanted to hear your voice before I hit the ice for warmups.”

  “I love you baby and thanks for calling. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.”

  “I love you too, and don’t forget we have that party at Gavin Hayes’ place tomorrow night for the start of season.”

  I had totally forgotten in light of recent circumstances. “How could I forget?” I lied through my teeth.

  “I can’t wait to show you off to my teammates babe. I’ll call you later.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Chapter 12

  Chase

  Hearing Nikki’s voice was the fuel I needed to put a fire in my belly. The team was getting riled up in the locker room when I made my way back to them.

  “What are we going to do tonight, boys?” Coach yelled over the loud room.

  “Go for the net!” we called back.

  “Crosby, what are you going to do?” Gavin screamed into our goalie’s face.

  “Keep my fucking glove up!” he hollered back.

  “What are we going to do tonight, boys?” Coach howled again.

  “Give ‘em hell!” We roared.

  “Fuck, yeah, we are!” Gavin yelled before starting to lead us out of the locker room.

  The life force that was emanating from the hyped nucleus of our team was intoxicating.

  Brayden came up next to me. “Preseason is a lot of fun, Harding. Enjoy yourself out there tonight.”

  “Thanks man.” We bumped sticks and it was time to head out into enemy territory.

  We made our way into the barn, and the roar of the fans as they leapt to their feet was deafening. This was it, and I was shitting bricks. I needed to put my game face on, but I was intimidated as all hell. The roaring fans, the blaring horns, the cold air, the flashing lights, the opposing team—it all swallowed me whole.

  I shook my head a few times before leaping out onto the ice to follow my guys into the rink. As we skated around, taking a few shots on the goal, I started to feel more and more in my element.

  Once the first period was almost over, Coach called for a change and it was my time to jump into the action. There was no time to think—it was fucking show time.

  I skated backward, protecting our goal from an enforcer, a short stocky motherfucker who looked like he wanted to eat my face off. He grunted and tried to shoot past me to get to the net, but I threw my shoulder into his chest and he flew toward the boards. Right as his body connected to the glass of the boards, it shattered around him, and glass flew everywhere. I had never seen anything like it. The defender was on the ground gasping for air as a ref rushed to his side.

  “Holy shit, rookie!” Crosby yelled over at me. “Remind me to never get on your fucking bad side.”

  I skated over to the penalty box as Gavin started to talk to the other ref. I could barely hear him as he asked, “Why is my man getting penalized for shoddy craftsmanship? That was a clean check.”

  The whistle blew and I was fine with taking my two minutes in timeout. Even though I was impressed with myself, I was worried the other player had been seriously hurt. He skated off the ice and everything seemed to be fine, and I was able
to breathe a sigh of relief.

  “And tonight’s holy fuck moment goes to Harding! Who knew our rookie was such a beast!” Brayden yelled over the celebration we were having in the locker room after our first win. Even though it was preseason, a win felt good as fuck.

  Coach slapped my shoulder quickly. “I sure as shit didn’t think you had that kind of fight in you. We might need to rethink your positioning.”

  I glanced over at my all-time hero and then beamed up at Coach Hayes. “I’ll gladly go wherever you need me.”

  “I think that is a first in this team’s history. I can’t say that any of my players have ever accidently broken the boards by simply defending the goalie.”

  “There’s a first time for everything,” Gavin chimed in.

  Finally back in my hotel room, icing down my ankle, I was able to call Nikki.

  “Oh my goodness, Chase!” she yelled right when she picked up the phone after only one ring.

  “You watched the game?” I chuckled a bit.

  “Every second of it. Was that guy okay?”

  Of course Nikki was more concerned about if I had injured someone than the fact that we won. “He’s fine, promise.”

  “I am so proud of you, babe.” I could hear how much she meant those words in her tone.

  “Thanks baby. How are you feeling?”

  She paused for a second. “Better. Just needed some Tums.”

  “Are you just saying that so I don’t worry?”

  “No. I promise I was just tired and had a stomachache. Nothing to worry about.”

  I shifted, getting more comfortable. Through a yawn, I muttered, “That’s good.”

  “Get some rest, love. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  Chapter 13

  Nikki

  I hadn’t ever been this excited to be finishing up with a rehearsal. Right as I was taking off my pointe shoes, butterflies started to do a tango in my stomach. I had planned to tell Chase right when I got home, as soon as I saw him, but with the party at his teammate’s place that night, I knew it was better to wait. Nevertheless, I was over the moon to see him again.

  “Babe!” I yelled, throwing my backpack and keys down.

  Within seconds I was being picked up into Chase’s strong arms while his stubbly jawline nestled into my shoulder. As he took a deep breath in, he whispered, “I wasn’t prepared for how much I was going to miss you, Nik.”

  I squeezed tighter with my arms and legs. “I could say the exact same thing.”

  Chase marched to the bedroom, kicked the door open with one foot, and threw me onto the bed. He yanked sharply at the thin fabric of my leotard and leggings and I heard the fabric give way for him to have easy access. I should have been pissed at him for ruining my clothes, but desire to feel him won out as the muscles in my body tensed. With my legs hanging off the bed, Chase dropped to his knees in front of me.

  His tongue and lips played with and devoured my clit while electricity shot through my body.

  “Oh, Chase.” I moaned, arching my back to help him get to the perfect spot.

  As a finger slowly started to explore my wetness, Chase’s hot breath danced along my inner thigh. “Baby, you taste incredible. I craved nothing else while I was gone.”

  He sucked on my tender flesh while picking up the pace inside me. My climax built up and crashed hard as I shook in Chase’s arms.

  Grabbing his shoulder, I started to pull him up toward me. “My turn to play with you.”

  He shook his head. “We need to get ready for the party. We will have plenty of time to play later.”

  “That’s not fair to you.” I pouted, still consumed by my ecstasy and hunger for my hot hockey player.

  He helped me up from the bed. “My only desire is to please you. I can always wait for my turn.”

  My jaw dropped when we entered the penthouse of Gavin Hayes’ and his wife, Myla. “I had no idea this was where we were going to be. I feel so underdressed,” I whispered to Chase, gripping his hand firmer in mine.

  He tucked me into his side, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. “You are stunning and once you meet everyone, you’ll feel right at home.”

  “Rookie!” One of the guys came barreling at us with a beer bottle in hand. “You made it.”

  “Crosby, good to see you man.” They shook hands and Chase turned to me. “This is my girl, Nikki. Nikki, this is our goalie, Will Crosby.”

  “I have heard so much about you. It is an absolute pleasure.” I smiled. Even though I felt completely out of my league, I was so thrilled to see Chase so excited for me to meet his teammates.

  “Harding didn’t tell me how beautiful you are. It’s great to meet you too. The bar is over there.” He pointed to a short, jubilant woman with black hair in a pixie cut. “Jordan is the best bartender in the city, she’ll make you whatever you want. See you guys around. I have to make my rounds.”

  Chase led me over to the beaming bartender as she put a few napkins down on the granite counter. “What’ll it be?” she asked.

  “I’ll take a beer,” Chase said. Even though he was barely twenty-one, he hardly took advantage of being able to legally drink. It wasn’t that he was against it or anything, he just didn’t typically care to imbibe.

  “Just a club soda with a lime for me please.” I was nineteen and probably could have drank easily in the private home of one of the players—it would have totally calmed my nerves, which would have been nice—but the baby added a whole new layer to my decision-making.

  “Coming right up,” Jordan said before glancing to the woman on the other side of Chase. “My, another?”

  Chase spun on his heels. “Myla?” he asked.

  After she nodded to Jordan, the adorable blonde looked over to Chase. “Who’s asking?” she said playfully.

  “I’m Chase Harding, and this is my girlfriend Nikki. It’s so awesome to finally meet you.”

  She put her hand on his shoulder. “Oh, man, the rookie I have heard so much about. My brother is pretty impressed by you.”

  Chase’s face blared red as he stammered out, “Wow. Thank you.”

  She locked eyes with me. “Nikki, I love your dress.”

  I was wearing a dark blue high-low dress with simple pink flowers on it that I had gotten years before at Target—nothing special, to say the least. “Thanks.”

  “Does it have pockets?” Myla asked.

  Jordan started to eye the dress as I shoved my hands right into the slits. “It sure does.”

  Myla’s smile got wider. “I am a sucker for a dress with pockets. Love it.”

  Jordan agreed while handing Myla her beverage. “I think every dress should be required to have them.”

  Chase was surrounded by girls chatting about stuff he couldn’t care less about. He slowly backed away and said, “I am going to try to find Gavin and Brayden.”

  “Oh, my boys should be on the balcony smoking cigars with some of the other players. There are extra stogies in the humidor on the coffee table. Feel free to help yourself.” Myla pointed over to where Chase needed to go and he was off.

  “He’s adorable,” Jordan said, sipping on her own drink.

  I blushed a little. “He’s something else for sure. I am pretty lucky.”

  Myla patted the barstool next to her. “Hang out with us girls while the men smoke those nasty things and talk too much about last night’s game.”

  Jordan looked over at Myla. “Where’s Karla?”

  Myla’s face was awash with joy as a smile broke free. “She decided to stay home for this one.”

  “She let Brayden out into the wild without her? She isn’t again, is she?”

  “I cannot confirm or deny that accusation.” Myla bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder. “All I know is that Karla called out of work this morning and kept the baby home from daycare. Brayden is doing a good job at keeping it a secret if she is pregnant again.”

  “That must be so exciting when players have babies. The whole team
must be like one big family,” I said quietly, unknowingly grabbing my stomach.

  Myla was scanning the room of her guests while nodding. “It is pretty incredible how much this team feels like family.”

  Jordan chimed in, “It helps that your brother is Brayden Cox and your husband is Gavin Hayes.”

  Myla glanced over her shoulder. “But don’t you feel like part of this family too?”

  Jordan smirked. “That is very true.”

  Looking down at me, Myla’s eyes got wide. “Does he know?” she asked out of the blue, pointing to my hand on my belly.

  I gasped. “How’d you know?”

  She smiled. “I have a good eye for it I guess. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. Welcome to the family, Nikki.”

  Crosby came up next to the bar, putting his empty beer bottle down. “Bar temptress, another.”

  Jordan’s face turned every shade of red as she dove into the cooler to grab him another brown bottle. “You know I hate that, right?” she asked.

  He winked. “Blame Gavin, he started it.”

  “Oh I know,” she hissed. “You’d think being a guy’s best friend from high school would garner me a little more respect.”

  Crosby took his drink. “Think of it as a term of endearment—at least when I say it,” he added before heading out to join the guys on the terrace.

  “When are you two just going to get over your shyness and date?” Myla exclaimed.

  Jordan bit her bottom lip. “Gah, I don’t know.” She threw a bar towel at Myla. “These things take time, Myla.”

  “I think you should tell him how you feel and save all of us the headache of watching the two of you get all tongue-tied and goo-goo eyed at each other.” She put her hand on my leg before hopping off the stool. “Come, I want you to meet my hubby.”

  Following her out onto the balcony, I was captivated by the breathtaking view of Central Park. The cool fall air wrapped around me as Chase grabbed my hand.

  “Gavin, this is Nikki, the rookie’s girl,” Myla said to her husband, who was holding her from behind with one arm.