Page 37 of Slap Shot Surprise
“Yes. Thank you.” I uncapped it and took a few cold swallows, praying my nausea wouldn’t hit while I was here.
“Have a seat.” He grabbed a beer from the fridge andpopped the cap off. “Tell me how things are going at the Cherry Tree Harbor Historical Society.”
I went over to one of two navy blue couches that met in an L shape and perched on the edge of the cushion. “Pretty good.”
He dropped down next to me, leaning back with casual ease. It struck me how unsuspecting he was. He had no idea I was about to lob a grenade in his direction.
I quickly took another sip of water.
“I was glad to get your text,” he said.
Not for long he wasn’t.
He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “I had a lot of fun that night we hung out together.”
“Me too. That’s...” I dug my thumbnail beneath the label on the water bottle. “That’s kind of why I’m here.”
He chuckled. “You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“You don’t have to be nervous with me, Mabel.” He gave my shoulder a playful poke. “We don’t have to start all over again. I already put the puck in the net, remember?”
“That’s the thing,” I said. “The puck sort of—stayedin the net.”
He cocked his head but still wore a smile. “Huh?”
I set my water bottle on the coffee table and placed my hands on my stomach. “I’m pregnant, Joe. I got pregnant that night.”
NINE
joe
My face was immobile,like my smile had been set in cement. “Sorry, what?”
“I’m pregnant.”
I looked around, like this might all be an elaborate setup. A practical joke. Were my brothers about to jump out and laugh their asses off at me? I had to admit, this would be a good prank.
But the room remained silent.
“Is this—are you—sorry.” I shook my head and stared at Mabel’s stomach. “Did you saypregnant?”
“Yes.” She took a breath. “I know this is a shock.”
“From thatonenight?”
“Yes.”
“But it was just a scrimmage,” I insisted. “It wasn’t supposed to count.”
She laughed nervously. “I don’t think all the players got that message.”
I jumped off the couch and backed up, putting distance between us, although it was a little too late for that. “How did this happen? I wore condoms!”
“Yes, well... turns out, there were some elite athletes in the game that sort of breached the defensive line. And then one of them stayed to celebrate the victory.”
The victory? This wasn’t a victory. This was a nightmare!
