Page 36 of The Curveball
I look up at her after shutting off my phone. “He’s coming to my midwife appointment on Monday.”
“Good. I’m proud of you.” Her tone has grown serious. “Just remember, everything he’s said and done up till now has been positive. Right?”
At my nod, she continues.
“Trust that. Trust your gut. Give him a chance to continue to show up, and who knows, maybe everything will work out even better than you think.”
Her statement is loaded with unspoken meaning, and I shift in my seat, not wanting to acknowledge it.
I’m only just wrapping my head around the idea ofbeinga single mom. I’m nowhere near ready to consider the possibility ofnotbeing a single mom.
15
BRADY
I getto hear my baby’s heartbeat today.
The feeling I had when I woke up was the same nervous anticipation I felt back in high school, waking up on game day when I knew there would be college scouts watching. Confident that I deserve to be here, excited to show what I can do, but terrified I’ll somehow fuck up and ruin my chances.
It started raining again overnight, and Sage isn’t responding to my text messages offering to pick her up. I don’t know if I should just show up at the hotel or meet her at the appointment. But as soon as I turn on my car my subconscious mind decides for me, and I turn left down the street toward her hotel, instead of right to go directly to the midwife’s clinic. When I pull up out front, I leave the engine running and send her yet another text.
BRADY: Don’t know if you’ve left already, but I’m out front if you want a ride.
I scroll back up for the third time to check that Ididn’t mess up and get the date wrong. No, she said this Monday. Today.
Maybe she changed her mind about having me there? Fuck, I hope that’s not it. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if she decided I couldn’t come to the appointment. It feels like that would be a bad omen for the future, and for my role in my kid’s life.
I hit my head on the headrest a couple times.
Stop thinking of the worst-case scenario. Jesus.
Just then, a bright red umbrella catches my attention from the corner of my eye, and I look out the passenger window to see a familiar body moving hesitantly toward my car. I can’t make out her expression because of the rain, so I lean over and push open the door. “Get in,” I call out, and her pace quickens.
“What are you doing here?” she says as she pulls the door shut, setting her wet umbrella at her feet.
Her hair is in a braid over her left shoulder today, and a few wisps have come free and are framing her face. Her cheeks are flushed and I guess she must be wearing some kind of makeup because her lips are darker than normal, a rich pink colour that looks far too kissable. And when my gaze dips down, I see the slight swell of her stomach pressing against her sweater.
“Brady?”
When she says my name, I suddenly remember she asked me a question. “Oh. Sorry. You didn’t get my texts?”
Sage winces. “I worked a night shift last night and was the exhausted idiot who left my phone in my lockerat the hospital when I went home this morning. I was going to stop and pick it up before the appointment.”
I exhale. “Well, that beats me thinking you were ignoring me or changed your mind about me coming today,” I blurt out.
Sage puts her hand on my arm that’s resting on the center console between us. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Brady. I promise.” She pulls her hand away and I immediately wish she hadn’t. “What were you texting me about?”
I give her a quick grin. “Offering you a ride, obviously.”
Thankfully, she smiles back. “Well, thank you. I’m glad you’re here.” She glances out the window and crinkles her nose. “It’s seriously gross out there.”
“Yeah, we had to cancel our game tomorrow, since the rain isn’t meant to let up.” I shake my head. “The guys are saying they’ve never seen this much rain in May before.” I change lanes and head toward the hospital.
“Oh, the clinic is over that way. If you turn left, not right, it’ll be faster,” Sage says, pointing in the opposite direction of where I’m headed.
“Yeah, but you wanted to grab your phone, right?”
I feel her staring at me, but I have to watch the road until I come to a stop at a light and I can look over at her.
