Page 17 of Thrown Off Balance

“I wonder who you’re destined to be with.” Sophia quirks a brow at me. She doesn’t beat around the bush; she has no problem saying it like it is and calling you out on your crap. She’s so much like Jax in that way.

“Oh! Do you have a picture of the baby!” Charlie squeals, more than excited, as she turns her attention to Sophia.

“Yes! We had the ultrasound today! It was so exciting! The baby is finally looking like more than a little bean.” Sophia pulls her phone out of her back pocket and scrolls through some photos for Charlie to look at.

“I can’t believe you’re already twenty-weeks along! I swear I was twice your size when I was twenty-weeks with Carter.”

“Are you pregnant?” I blink at Sophia, more than surprised.

“Yes! Can you imagine how adorable this baby will be? I mean look at Peck, the man is gorgeous!”

“Did you find out if you’re having a boy or a girl?” Wyatt asks Peck.

“Do we know? No. But there’s an envelope at the bakery with the gender in it. Someone other than Sophia, Emma, or Bella will be making the cake and coating it in white icing so Sophia can decorate it. We’ll have a little gender reveal party on Sunday.” Peck shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t really care if it’s a boy or girl. I'm just thrilled to start our family.”

Peck stares at his wife with so much love in his eyes. I wish someone looked at me like he looks at her.

I know Jude and I haven’t been together for long, but I don’t think he loves me like that. Honestly, we haven’t even said those three little words even though we’ve been together for six months.

“Oh, Jax invited us to come for Sunday dinner,” Jude speaks up. “Is that an issue with you doing the gender reveal?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and wish I could make Jude go away. The man doesn’t realize we’re not going. He refuses to accept it no matter how many times I tell him. The jokes on him, he doesn’t know where Cody’s family lives and he won't be able to get there without me. From what Jax said, it sounds like they have a gate and only family can get on the street now.

“Oh my gosh! I’d love for you to be there, Sloan!” Sophia’s face lights up. “Please come!”

“Yes! Then you can meet Carter too!” Charlie claps like this is the greatest news ever.

“Wait… You climbed over the bleachers the other night when you were pregnant? Are you crazy?” The thought of her stepping over people and seats has my eyes widening.

“Oh, I'm fine. You worry too much!” Sophia waves me off as the horn goes off and the game begins.

The girls instantly take their seats and their eyes lock on the ice. Wyatt and Peck are leaning back in their chairs and watching the game while casually talking to each other, but Sophia and Charlie are sitting on the edges of their seats. The second something happens, Sophia jumps into the air and starts screaming at the players.

She pounds her fists on the glass and screams even louder when the ref does something she doesn’t agree with. I stare with wide eyes. She’s insane when it comes to her brothers playing.

Chapter 9

Cody

As soon as we exit the ice, I blow out a long breath. I'm dead on my skates. I swear since my eyes landed on Sloan at the last game, my head has been all over the place. I can’t seem to turn my brain off and relax.

It hasn’t impacted my performance on the ice yet, but it’s going to. Playing sports as a job takes so much out of your body. If I don’t have time to recover physically between games and practices, it will eventually catch up with me. And that’s something I don’t want happening.

Jax already has his gear off of him when I enter the locker room. He’s talking wildly with his hands as Griffin, Tanner, and Huxley chuckle at whatever he’s saying. Killian rolls his eyes as he strips his jersey off and begins taking off his pads.

Killian, Griffin, and I have always gotten along really well. They’re quieter and are happy to let the rest of the guys steal the spotlight when we go out. Killian especially reminds me so much of Dad with how he sits back and observes everyone.

Tanner, Huxley, and Jax love to be in the spotlight and receive attention from everyone. It’s almost comical to see them fight over fans and women.

“Oh, please! That girl wasn’t trying to give you her number.” Huxley rolls his eyes as Tanner howls with laughter.

Killian rolls his eyes and Griffin grins in my direction. Jax swears at least once a week that a woman is trying to give him her number when he’s on the ice. I'm not sure how anyone would think that makes sense. How would he write it down? Jax definitely wouldn’t remember it. He has the world’s worst memory.

“Jax, any woman mouthing her number to you isn’t someone you want to go after,” I sigh as I drop down onto the bench in front of my cubby.

“Why not? She could be my one true love!” Jax stands and stretches his back one way and then the other.

“Because she’s just after your money, man,” Killian mumbles as he heads towards the showers.