Page 138 of Puck Around and Find Out
“You can’t tell anyone,” I say quickly, panic filling every nerve ending.
She pats my thigh. “Hey, I’m not telling anyone. But you need to schedule an appointment at the clinic so we can make sure you stay healthy.”
“I know.”
“Your pack doesn’t know?” she asks, her eyes sympathetic.
“Ethan does, the others don’t.”
“Sloane.” She sighs my name.
“They’re just now getting along, Piper. They finally don’t hate each other, and I’m about to drop this piece of information that’sgoing to change our lives, and I just don’t want them fighting over who the father is. Bram mentioned he doesn’t want kids for a while, and I feel like I trapped Max into this entire relationship and he’s going to resent me for adding another thing he didn’t ask for in the mix. Not to mention what fucked-up things they’re going to say about me getting pregnant before we were bonded.” I say it all like a run-on sentence.
“Sloane,” she says my name sharply.
“What?” I say, wiping my face.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice I gave to Charlotte so many years ago. If they aren’t willing to make it work, then they aren’t worthy of you.”
“I can’t lose them,” I say, and Piper gives me a small smile.
“You’re not going to. I’ve seen the way those two look at you. The news might be shocking to them at first, but they love you, and they’re going to love this baby. You need to get this off your chest. Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
“You’re right, I know you’re right. I’m just scared.”
She nods sympathetically, and I’m thankful she doesn’t push me anymore.
“I’m here for whatever you need, and if I don’t see you on the schedule within a week, you’re going to be in deep shit.”
I laugh and nod my head. I’ll tell Bram and Max, schedule an appointment, and get all the answers we need to move forward. I just hope they aren’t pissed at me for holding this in for so long. I focus back on the game where Max gets knocked over by a Jets player. I’m on my feet and watch as Bram gets into an altercation with the opposing team.
I’m not new to watching Bram fight. But I’ve never seen him fight so hard on a goalie’s behalf, let alone Max’s.
I wince as Bram gets hit on his left side and bite my nails. I’m holding my breath until they get pulled apart and sigh withrelief. They show him grinning with his bloody teeth, and I have to laugh and shake my head.
That man is one of my child’s fathers. I rub my stomach.
What the fuck am I doing? What am I so scared of? Hasn’t Bram chosen me repeatedly? Hasn’t Max stayed enthusiastically after finding out I’m his scent match?
It’s clearer than ever that the incident on the bridge has given me more anxiety than I can handle on my own. I can’t keep living in fear, and I surely can’t keep this secret to myself for another moment. This weight that I’ve been carrying around, this pain, this fear, has to go.
Tonight, I’m going to tell them tonight.
I cheer as the team wins the game, Finnegan the Fox heading out on the ice shooting T-shirts out of a cannon as the men hug and celebrate their win.
I almost can’t believe what I’m seeing when Max and Bram embrace, kissing each other. I nearly have another emotional breakdown, but instead, I smile so hard my cheeks hurt. Camera flashes go wild, and I can only imagine how people are going to spin the narrative that they still hate each other.
When’s the last time I felt this good?
The two men that I’ve fallen for are choosing each other, they’re choosing our pack, and all I did was doubt how they would handle the news. Maybe it’s because I’m doubting myself, doubting the pack. I need to have more faith in myself and the men I’ve chosen.
It’s time to start actually living and not living in fear of what I can’t control.
This time next year, I’ll be holding a baby as we watch all three daddies on ice. I smile again. Maybe my life is clicking into place after all.
CHAPTER 40
He kissed me.
