College Jock's Secret Baby, page 25
I cried out, flinching and arching as the remainder of our water cascaded over me. It wasn’t the first time I’d been the recipient of the water jug, and I jogged into the locker room with my team. Everyone was fired up. They were shouting and talking as we showered and got dressed.
I was just putting on my shoes when I got a call from Nathan. “Hello?” I answered.
“It’s done,” he said.
I plugged one ear and walked away. “You got it?” I asked.
“I did. We’ll talk details tomorrow. Congratulations on the win.”
“Thanks, Nathan,” I said, and ended the call.
I grabbed my bag and left the locker room in search of Macy. She said she would be waiting for me. I spotted her leaning against a wall. She was wearing a big sweater, jeans, and boots that gave her a sexy flair. I knew the sweater was to conceal the growing bump. We weren’t telling anyone. Not yet. It was our little secret.
“Hey,” I said as I walked directly to her.
“Hi.” She greeted me with a kiss. “Congrats. You said you were going to win it all and you did it.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Let’s go to dinner to celebrate.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “You have to be tired.”
“I’m hungry and I promised you dinner.”
I took her hand. We walked to my truck. We were stopped along the way a few times by people congratulating me on the win. I always said the same thing. It wasn’t just me. It was the whole team. I drove us out to the diner we went to the first time. It was fairly busy, but with the big game in town, I wasn’t going to find anywhere quiet.
She reached out and touched my chin. “Is that a bruise?”
“It’s no big deal. Just a little one.”
“What about your back?” she asked. “You took some hard hits out there tonight.”
“I’m good. I’ll recover. Nothing is broken.”
She sighed and shook her head. “It is so hard to watch you get tossed around like a ragdoll out there. Those guy were especially vicious tonight.”
“They wanted the win,” I laughed. “We were all playing a little extra hard tonight.”
“I’m glad you won, and I’m glad the season is over. Your body needs to recover.”
“Thank you,” I said and took her hand. “I wanted to take you to dinner because there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What’s up?”
“I’m going into the draft,” I announced.
She looked at me with confusion. “I thought you said you didn’t want to do that?”
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it,” I corrected. “I was trying to figure out if I wanted to go pro.”
“And now you know?”
I nodded. “I’ve had some time to think about it. You helped me reach this decision. That trip to California opened my eyes to the possibility. I can play ball and have fun. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work. I know it and I’m ready for it.”
She quietly nodded. I could see the disappointment in her eyes. “I’m happy for you,” she said. “I know how much you love the game. Does your dad know?”
“Not yet,” I said. “I haven’t told him.”
“Congrats,” she said again.
“I’m entering the draft because not only is it a good choice for me, but it will make us financially independent,” I said.
“What do you mean?”
“I have a family to support and doing what I love is one way to support you and have fun.”
“You know I don’t need to be supported,” she said in a tight voice. “Don’t go into the draft because you think you have to in order to keep a roof over our heads. That isn’t the case.”
I laughed and squeezed her hand. “I want to play. I agreed to a deal under one condition.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m going to play for LA,” I announced. “Assuming everything goes as planned and nothing crazy happens between then and now, but Nathan is working on ironing out the details. California!”
She smiled at me once again. “Congratulations.”
“I want you to come with me,” I said. “You and the baby are my family. I want us to be together. I know how much you love California. I can buy us a nice home. You can transfer back to USC for your final year.”
“Calvin, but I just moved here,” she protested.
“And yet, you want to be there. I saw how happy you were in LA. You’re a California girl. You love the sun and the ocean. You come alive out there.”
“But my mom,” she said.
“You said she was thinking about moving back,” I said.
“Do you really want to go into the draft or are you just doing this because you think it’s what I want?” she questioned.
“Both. I’ve been leaning more towards the idea of playing pro ever since we went on our trip,” I explained. “I think I got a little stressed and I hated the idea of my dad making the decisions, but I’m better now. I want this. If you don’t think it’s a good idea, I’ll pull the plug. You and that kid are my first priority. If you hate the idea of me traveling or you really don’t want to live out there, we won’t. This is a team decision.”
“This is your dream,” she said with a smile.
“I want it to be your dream,” I said.
“Are you sure you won’t mind a couple of tagalongs?” she asked with a laugh.
“Do you want to do it?” I asked her. “This is a big deal.”
She nodded her head. “I do. I’m in.”
“Thank you,” I said. “We’re going to be happy.”
“I’m already happy,” she smiled. “This is not the way I expected my life to go. It’s the best surprise.”
“Let’s eat, and then I need to tell my dad,” I said. “I don’t want him to hear it through one of his many contacts.”
She groaned. “Is this the moment?”
“It has to happen sometime,” I said. “He’s going to be in a good mood. We won and I’m doing what he wanted. Not the team he hoped for, but he can’t have everything.”
I ordered the normal, two cheeseburgers loaded with everything. This time, she came much closer to finishing the damn thing. I loved watching her growing, because it meant our child was growing. We’d been to her first doctor appointment and been reassured the baby was healthy, along with mama. Everything was going so well. It was almost scary because it felt too good to be true.
“Are you ready for this?” I asked as we sat outside my parents’ house later that evening.
“If you ask me that again, I’m going to say no,” she said. “Let’s just get it over with.”
I walked up to the front door and rang the bell. It was my mother who answered. “Calvin! I didn’t know you were coming by! I thought you would be out celebrating.”
“I am,” I said. “I’m celebrating with the one person who matters.”
Mom’s eyes drifted to Macy. “You’re the woman in the stands.”
Macy grinned. “That’s me.”
“I wasn’t aware my son liked public displays of affection.”
“I don’t,” I said. “Is Dad home?”
“He’s in the den watching the highlights as usual,” she said.
“Good. I’d like to talk to both of you.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked with concern.
“Fine, Mom. Everything is fine.”
I led Macy into the den with Mom walking behind us. “Dad,” I announced our presence.
He looked just as surprised as Mom. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you guys,” I said. I sat down on the couch with Macy. “Guys, this is Macy.”
“Hello,” they both said.
“Macy and I are having a baby,” I announced.
They both stared at me before they started talking at once. “Calvin!” my father boomed. “Have I not warned you about this kind of thing?”
“Macy and I are together and we’re going to be moving out to California after I graduate,” I continued.
It was just a little too fun to watch my father’s face turn as red as a tomato. He was pissed. All of his hopes and dreams were going up in smoke. “You’re throwing away everything?” he hissed. “This is a rookie move.”
“Actually, we’re moving there because, assuming everything goes according to plan, I’ll be playing for LA.”
That quieted them both. Then my dad jumped up. “You’re going pro?”
“That’s the plan,” I said. “Nathan’s been doing his thing and working out a deal for me.”
His face beamed. “I knew you’d make the right decision. Congratulations, son.”
Mom looked at Macy and extended her hand. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “Please forgive our rudeness.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Macy said. “I wasn’t aware he was going to tell you quite like that.” She shot me a dirty look.
I grinned and shrugged. “I wanted to see their faces.”
“Are you really pregnant?” Mom asked Macy.
Macy smiled and nodded. “I really am.”
“I’m going to be a grandmother!”
“Yes, Mom you are.”
“What made you decide on LA?” Dad asked.
I looked at Macy and squeezed her hand. “It was the best decision for our family.”
Dad pulled me off the couch and gave me a bear hug. “I hope you know I was only hard on you because I wanted what was best for you. I’ve always known you were destined for greatness. I knew you’d go all the way.”
“Thanks, Dad, I’ll try not to disappoint you.”
“Son, you could never disappoint me,” he said, and it sounded like he actually meant it. “I’m proud to call you mine.”
“Thanks.”
We stayed for a little while to let them get to know Macy a little before we left and headed back to my place. That night, we laid in bed holding hands. “It’s crazy this is all happening so fast,” she said. “My life feels like it is on a runaway train. I have zero control. It’s just a wild ride that keeps getting better and better.”
“I’m glad I get to be on that train with you,” I said. “We’re going to be happy.”
“I am happy,” she said.
“What about your dad?” I asked. “He’s the last one we need to tell.” I’d met her mom not long after Macy told me about the baby. I was given the same speech about not breaking her heart or else my balls were going to be cut off. I reassured her that wasn’t going to happen, and it felt like we knew where each other stood. I liked that about her. She didn’t hold back.
“I know, I just need to figure out that next step,” she said with a sigh.
“We’ve got time. I’ll support you no matter what you decide. Right now, we only have to worry about keeping you and the baby healthy. No football. No practice. It’s just the two of us.”
“And school,” she laughed. “I can’t let my grades slip now, especially if I want to try and get back into school. They are going to think I’m crazy, bouncing back and forth.”
“Pretend it was a foreign exchange program,” I laughed. “You went to a foreign land for a year and now you’re back to finish things up.”
“I’m not sure they are going to buy the idea that Nebraska is a foreign land.”
Epilogue
Macy
“Mom, come on,” I said. “We’re going to be late.”
“I need to get Harley’s bottle,” she said, and dashed into the kitchen.
I grabbed the extra diapers and tried to think if there was anything else we would need. Going anywhere with a three-month-old was a job. I missed the days I could grab my purse and hop in the car. Now it was a choreographed production.
“Got it,” she said.
I picked up the baby carrier with our infant daughter and followed Mom out the door of the rented house we were living in temporarily. Mom had decided to keep the house in Nebraska and rent it out. She wanted to spend as much time with her granddaughter as possible. Lucky for us that meant we had a fulltime babysitter. She drove us to the stadium, and we were escorted to the box where the other team wives sat.
I was a little nervous to be there. I wasn’t a wife, but then again, half of the women there weren’t quite to wife status yet. The wives stuck together on one side, while the girlfriends stuck to the other. I wasn’t worried about being a second-class citizen. I didn’t need their approval. I was there for Calvin.
“She’s adorable!” one of the ladies said. “I’m Trina. I’m Reggie’s wife.”
I was surprised a wife was introducing herself. “I’m Macy.”
“We all know who you are,” she said. “You’re the wife of our new QB.”
“Not the wife,” I said.
“You’re the baby mama.” She winked. “Close enough.”
I laughed. “I suppose so.”
“I’m the mom,” my mother said.
“Is this your first game?” Trina asked.
I nodded. “It is.”
“Have you guys ever been to LA?” she asked.
Me and Mom exchanged a look. “We’re actually from here,” I said. “I went out to Nebraska for a year and that’s where I met Calvin.”
“Oh shoot, you’re California girls! You could show us around.”
“We could,” I said. “How long have you been out here?”
“I’m a newbie,” she said. “We got into town last month, but we still have our house in Texas. That’s where we’re from. I’m not sure I’m ready to move here full time.”
I nodded and listened to the wives talk about their homes and second homes. It was a whole new world I had stepped into. Mom took care of the baby while I chatted with the other ladies. Most of them were nice and welcoming.
“They’re coming out,” Mom squealed. “Look down there, there’s Daddy!”
We knew Calvin wouldn’t get a lot of playing time, but this was still a big deal. I stood near the corner to watch. I was too excited to sit down. The other wives and girlfriends had done this all before. They sat back and enjoyed the catering and talked while I watched the game. I found myself jumping up and down when Calvin stepped onto the field. I knew he was nervous about his first game. His parents had flown out and were somewhere in the stands. He was no longer the big fish in the little pond. He was the little fish in the big pond. All I could do was support and encourage him.
After the game, Mom and I stalled and waited around for Calvin. It was almost an hour later when he showed up in the box. Everyone else had cleared out. He dropped his bag and walked towards us.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Good,” he said. “Not tired, which is strange after a game. I guess that’s because I barely played.”
“But the time you did play, you kicked ass,” I said.
“How’s my little pumpkin?” he asked.
“She was amazing,” Mom said. “She’s going to be a real fan.”
“Come with me,” he said.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Follow me,” he said.
Mom carried the baby as he led us downstairs. “Are we supposed to be down here?” I whispered.
“Yes. I want you to see what I see.”
He took my hand and led me onto the field. It was pretty amazing to see the massive stadium from his point of view. I slowly turned and stared up at the empty seats. “This is incredible,” I said. “I can see the box! Can you see us up there when you’re down here?”
I turned around and he was gone. “Calvin?”
Then I spotted him on one knee. “Calvin?” I said again. Mom was standing on the sidelines with our baby in her arms. “What are you doing?”
He pointed to the big screen behind him. Huge gold letters danced across the screen. “I had to get a little help,” he said. “I wanted to do this big.”
“Calvin!” I exclaimed as I read the question.
I looked down at him again and he was holding out a ring. “I want you to be official,” he said. “I want you to be my wife. You make me happier than I could ever imagine. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the planet?”
I covered my mouth with my hands. I was suddenly emotional. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Yes!”
He got to his feet and slipped the ring onto my finger. “I swear I’m going to make you the happiest woman.”
“I already am,” I told him. “You’ve made me crazy happy.”
He pulled me in and gave me a huge kiss. My heart swelled and my mind whirred with possibility. The sound of our daughter crying brought me back down to earth. “Looks like little miss has something to say about it as well,” Calvin laughed.
Mom walked out to join us. Calvin took the baby and she hugged me. “Congratulations,” she said. “I’m so happy for you. You did this right. You are one lucky woman. You got a good one.”
I looked at my future husband holding our daughter and showering her with kisses. “Yes, I did.”
“You guys go on,” she said. “I’ve got her.”
“What?”
Calvin handed Mom the baby and grinned at me. “We’ve got a hot date at a very nice hotel.”
“What?” I repeated.
“Go,” Mom said. “You guys deserve a night alone. Go celebrate.”
“Your mom is staying with the baby,” he said.
“You guys arranged this?” I asked.
They both smiled. “You deserve a little pampering.”
We kissed our daughter goodbye. Calvin had a limo waiting for us. We were whisked downtown to one of the best hotels. He had reserved a suite for us. There were rose petals on the bed and a bottle of champagne chilling in the kitchenette.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” I said.
“You’ve had a wild year,” he said. “I know you’ve been terrified to leave her alone, but your mom has her. She’s perfectly safe.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m excited to be alone with you. It feels like it has been forever.”
“It’s been a while,” he said, and opened the bottle of champagne.
We carried our full glasses to the hot tub and sank into the water. “I have to pinch myself,” I said as I looked at the ring on my hand. “I can’t believe this is my life.”
