Beyond the Game: A Surprise Pregnancy Sports Romance (Chicago Red Tails Book 3)

Knock, knock, knock.

My brow furrows at the knock on my door. With my sister still on the phone I walk to the door and look through the peep hole.

Oh God.

It’s him.

“Uh, Tessa, I gotta go. I’ll call you back, alright?”

“Yeah. Everything good?”

“Uh yeah. Delivery guy.”

“Oooooh gotcha. Talk later. Bye Sis.”

“Bye.”

I lay my phone on the counter and step to the door, opening it wide to find a breathtakingly gorgeous man, albeit a melancholy one, standing on the other side. A white paper bag in hand that I could smell before I even opened the door.

Mmm Chinese.

“Hey,” he says softly.

“Hey.”

“Can I come in?”

“That depends.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “On?”

“On whether or not any of the following statements answers any of the things you came here to say to me.”

“Alright.”

I tick them off on my fingers one at a time. “Number one. Clearly, I’m keeping this baby with or without you so do not even consider asking me otherwise. Giving it up for adoption is not an option. Number two, I don’t want a fucking dime of your money. I make my own and will be just fine without you. Number three, I’m not moving away nor am I ignoring your sister and if you can’t live with that then fuck you very much and be on your way.”

He continues to stand in my doorway, one hand in his pocket. His steel gray eyes penetrate me as if he can see right through me. Right through my confidence and determination until he’s staring into my frightened, anxious, and emotional reality.

But he’s not moving.

“You’re still here.”

Without a change to his facial expression, he gestures inside with his chin. “Can I come in?”

Without verbally responding, I move aside and allow him to step into my apartment, closing the door behind him and turning to watch him as he looks around my place. I’m aware this apartment is laughable compared to the penthouse palace he lives in, but it’s clean, and it’s what I can afford on my own so close to the city and I won’t feel bad for that. As he glances around, I’m able to get a good look at the father of my child for the first time. A man I’ve only ever seen through lust-filled lenses.

He’s tall. Well, taller than my five foot five inches. He has at least a foot on me. He’s wearing a pair of jeans that show off his powerful legs and a black long-sleeved shirt that hugs his tight arms and hides the most beautifully sculpted chest I’ve ever seen. His hair is cleanly buzzed around the sides but messy on top. Enough to run his fingers through, which he’s done once or twice since he walked in. His stubbled square jaw clenches and he fidgets with the bag in his hand. I can tell he’s nervous, though he hasn’t said anything.

So, I guess I’m the captain of this ship now.

Rip off the Band-Aid.

“Why are you here, Dex?”

He turns and his sad eyes meet mine, making me feel all kinds of ways. Part of me is longing for him to wrap his arms around me and tell me how much he’s thought about me. How much he’s missed me so I can say the same and we can replay that night in Key West. I might be seven months pregnant but I’m horny as hell these days. But the practical part of me knows I can’t get involved with someone who so easily dismissed me without even giving us a chance to talk first.

“I think I owe you a big apology, Tatum.”

Well, that’s not at all what I expected him to say.

“You think you do?”

He sighs. “I know I do. Look, I’m not good at this, alright? And I don’t really know what to say other than I’m sorry.” When he raises his arms, he realizes he’s still holding onto a paper bag. “Oh, and I brought egg rolls from Wong’s. It’s the best Chinese in town and…well, Rory told me you’ve been craving egg rolls so…you know.” He offers me the bag and I hesitantly take it from him.

I’m drooling already.

“That’s very sweet of you. Thank you.” To hide my blush, I retreat to the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Uh, sure. Yeah. What have you got?”

I open the fridge and call out, “Orange juice, milk, water…Tequila.”

“A tequila screwdriver sounds great. That’ll work.”

I huff a soft chuckle to myself as I pour his requested drink, and then pour a straight OJ for myself.

“What’s so funny?” He’s watching me from the doorway of my kitchen, arms folded across his chest.

“You are. I didn’t take you for a fruity cocktail kind of guy.”

“Well, you didn’t offer whiskey or bourbon and I didn’t think asking for straight tequila would be a good idea, but alcohol is good for the nerves.”

“You’re nervous?”

“As fuck. You can’t tell?”

The corner of my lip stretches in a quick smile. “Maybe a little.”

I expect to see him smirking back at me but all I see when I glance his way is pain and fear in his eyes.

“Tatum, I’m really sorry for earlier. I…” He pushes his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what came over me. I was an absolute dick, but that’s not who I am and I need you to know that.”

I step past him into my living room and curl onto the couch, my left leg tucked under me. He follows and sits opposite me, his sheer size taking up most of the couch.

“Shit. I forgot the egg rolls.”

I move to get up but he places a hand on my leg and jumps up. “I got it. You stay.”

Dex grabs the bag and hunts through my kitchen cabinets until he finds my plates, snagging two and bringing them along. He hands me a plate and I serve myself an egg roll, taking a bite out of it the moment it’s in my hand.

“MmmmGod, this is good,” I moan, letting my head fall back as I savor the taste I’ve been craving for days. “Thank you, Dex.”

He clears his throat and shifts in his seat watching me, his pupils slightly dilated and a lighter shade of gray than before. “You’re welcome.”

I take a minute to chew my food and then tell him what I wish I could’ve told him a few hours ago.

“I’m sorry for all this too. Had I known you lived in this area, I…” the heat in my cheeks returns and I hate that he can probably see it. “Who am I kidding? As soon as I found out who you were I knew I wouldn’t contact you. Not now anyway.”

“Why?”

“Several reasons. For starters, I didn’t want to bother you.”

“Bother me? What do you mean?”

I cock my head. “Come on, Dex. Look at you and look at me.”

“I’m looking…”

“You’re this celebrity hockey player and you live in a penthouse palace. I teach first grade and I live…well, here.” I throw out my arm and gesture around us. “We clearly come from two different worlds.”

His brows pinch and his lips separate as if he’s about to say something but I don’t give him the chance.

“But listen, I swear to God, I didn’t know I was pregnant right away and then when I found out, I had no idea who you were. I knew your name wasn’t Ben Dover so I had no way of trying to find you.”

“You really didn’t recognize me in Key West?”

“Uh, no. I’m sorry. It’s not that I never follow hockey, but it was always more my brothers’ thing. A few Detroit players’ names might ring a bell if I heard them, but other than that…” I shake my head. “That’s about as far as my hockey fandom goes.”

His shoulders fall a bit and I honestly can’t tell if he’s disappointed or relieved at my confession. His eyes fall to my stomach.

“And you’re certain it’s mine?”

I bow my head, closing my eyes and taking a reassuring breath because what I’m about to say to him might blow his mind.

“Dex, I’ve only ever had sex with one man in my entire life until the night I met you. And there’s been nobody since you, but if you want me to get a patern—”

“Are you shitting me right now?” His jaw drops.

I shake my head.

“Dear…God.” His hands are back in his hair and he stands up from the couch, pacing in my living room. “How old are you, Tatum?”

“Thirty-one. Why?”

He clasps his chest and releases his breath. “Oh, thank fuck.”

“How old did you think I was?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he tells me, his eyes wide. “I just needed to know you’re legal because fuck, Tatum, we…and then we did that…God it was so…shit. I didn’t mean to hurt you that night and if I did, I’m sorry.” He gestures to my body. “And now this. Fuck! You must think I’m some kind of monster!”

“What? No! Why would I think that?”

“Why would you…” He shakes his head. “Tatum, you’ve only ever slept with one man your whole life and then you gave yourself to me, the hornball hockey player who came on to you on vacation. And don’t get me started on all the shit we—”

“I liked it, Dex.”

He stops. “What?”

“I’m a grown ass woman who very much enjoyed every minute we spent together, so calm your tits for one damn second and sit down. You’re making me anxious.”

Baffled by my sudden burst in attitude he does what I ask of him but he keeps his head bowed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I loved that night with you, Dex, so if you’re over there thinking you took advantage of me, you can wipe that thought right out of your mind because if anybody took advantage of anybody, it was the other way around.”

His glassy eyes pierce mine but he remains speechless.

“I wanted you, Dex. I was lonely and I wanted someone to make me feel good and there you were offering yourself to me and so I took the chance and I have zero regrets.”

His eyes fall to my stomach. “None?”

“Not one. You gave me back to myself that night, Dex. Not once in my six years of marriage to Michael, did he ever treat me the way you did. He never touched me the way you did. Never spoke to me the way you did. You showed me what I’m worthy of. What I’m capable of. What I deserve. And I’m grateful for that. It was hands down the best sex of my life and I haven’t forgotten it. Not one minute of one day.”

He still doesn’t say anything but at least now he’s looking at me. Watching me.

“And so, I got pregnant.” I shrug. “We could spend all night talking about the should-a, could-a, would-a, but it won’t change anything. I’m growing a human inside of me and that’s something I had to come to terms with. And I have. I’m perfectly capable of raising this baby on my own. My intention wasn’t to steamroll you with this information. You are under no obligation to do anything here. I’m not asking you for a thing.”

“I want to do something.”

“O-Okay.”

“I can’t just let you go through this alone, Tatum.”

“It’s not like I haven’t gone through the last seven months—”

“I know. And I feel terrible about that. I’m not a totally immoral man, Tatum. It might take me a hot minute to wrap my head around this whole situation, but I want to do the right thing. I want to be here for the baby. And for you.”

“Dex, you can be as involved or as uninvolved as you want. I know your hockey comes first. Your schedule is going to be busy. I get th—”

“I’m all in, Tatum.” He turns his body to face me, his warm hand sliding over mine. “One hundred and ten percent. I’m in. I want to be in.”

I tilt my head noting the sincerity in his voice and in his eyes. “You’re sure? Please don’t feel like you have to do th—”

“I want to.” He squeezes my hand. “Look, I know the season is going to take me away and I’m going to hate it when I have to miss something. I already feel extremely guilty that you’ve had to do so much on your own, so please, let me do this with you. Whatever you need. I want to be there. I’ll be there. And you’re not paying a dime.”

I cock my head, ready for a fight, but he stops me. “I’m sorry, Tatum, but I can’t agree to all your terms. I need you to give me this one.”

My shoulders fall. “Dex.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Sorry. This is the one time I’m going to pull salary rank. I can more than afford your prenatal care, Tatum. Please allow me to take care of whatever is left. If you have medical bills from past visits, I’ll pay them. Please. I promise I won’t overstep. This is the very least I can do. Please let me take this responsibility.”

“You know you can’t just throw money at this and make it go away?”

“I promise you, that’s not what I’m trying to do, but you and I both know I make a shit ton more money than you do. And I don’t want this to go away. I mean, that’s not to say I’m not sorry for putting you in this predicament in the first place. Knocking you up certainly wasn’t my intention, but you’re here now and I don’t want you to go. I’m glad you’re here. I want you here, Tatum. I…I want this baby.” He sighs. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’ll figure it out with your help. I want our baby.” He squeezes my hand once more. “So, save your money. Save it for…whatever. Get pedicures every day or treat yourself to whatever you want, just let me do this one thing. I can’t carry this baby for you but I can damn well pay for whatever you both need. Please let me spend my money on something good.”

 I’m not sure what to say to him. This feels like I’m just using him for his money and I hate that feeling, but he seems sincere in his words. I would like to think if he was as upset about this pregnancy news as he was a couple hours ago, he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be offering anything.

He would be trying to get rid of me.

But he’s not.

He’s here.

Whatever that means for us.

He’s here.

“Alright.” I nod. “Thank you, Dex.”

He brings my hands to his lips and kisses the back of each one. “Thank you, Tatum.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“How are really feeling about all this?” He’s pensive for a moment and then gives me the faintest of smiles.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared out of my fucking mind.”

“Is that all?”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “Besides being pissed at myself for being a dick to you earlier? Yeah. Scared. Nervous. Anxious. Whatever synonym you’ve got for scared. That’s how I’m feeling.” His gaze slips from mine and he swallows hard. “I don’t know how to be a good dad, Tatum.”

My heart flips in my chest at his confession and tears well in my eyes.

“I didn’t have the best role model growing up.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I just don’t want to mess this up. I don’t want to be a failure.”

“I had wonderful parents growing up. I still have wonderful parents, but that doesn’t make me any less scared of completely failing this kid.” I take his hand in mine. “Maybe it’s a new parent thing, I don’t know. But it’s a little nicer knowing I’m not alone.”

“I’m sorry in advance, okay? In case I do something stupid or I lose my balance and stumble along the way. I’m sorry, Tatum, but I’m going to try. I’ll try like hell.”

“We’ll get through this together.”

He nods quietly, thinking to himself before he nervously glances at me and asks, “Do you think I could get your number?”

Seeing puppy dog eyes on a big man like Dex makes me laugh. His personality is a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree change from the man I met in Key West. But I like this man. Confident when he wants to be, and humble enough to allow himself to be vulnerable. “Yes, I think that can be arranged.”