Page 18 of Body Check

nine

. . .

Amelia

The boys are in a good mood as we pile into the seedy dive bar they selected for the night. This is my fourth road trip with the team, and whenever we have a night off, the guys inevitably end up in a bar.

The Grizzlies tend to prefer casual bars and pubs versus the swanky clubs the Colorado boys liked. I didn’t travel enough with the Aces as an intern to get a pulse on what they were into.

Robby and I are seated at a table with Patrice, the social media guru, and Vanessa, the logistics coordinator. Zac, Derek, and Trevor are shooting pool, but after spending all day with them, I don’t see the need to be attached at the hip during our down time.

Joaquin, the team’s videographer, approaches with a pitcher of beer and a stack of cups. “First round’s on Larsson,” he announces, and Vanessa goes red.

Sven’s her fiancé. They’re absolutely adorable together.

“I’m surprised you two aren’t canoodling in a corner,” Patrice teases her.

“There’s still time, don’t count her out yet,” Robby grins. He pours a beer for her, but she waves him off. “You’re not drinking?”

She shakes her head. “Not tonight.”

Patrice’s eyes narrow in thought. “You didn’t drink during the last road trip, either.”

“I’m pregnant,” Vanessa says, with a shrug.

Robby’s jaw drops. “You’re pregnant?”

She tenses. “Yes?”

To all of our surprise, he launches around the table and pulls her into a hug.

“Nessie! I’m so happy for you!” His eyes are squeezed shut, but I notice a tear slipping free. “You’re really doing it. You’re making your own family.”

“Yeah. Well…” Vanessa clears her throat. “I told Jacky, but not the rest of the guys yet. Sven doesn’t want a big announcement.”

“Okay, but what do you want?” Joaquin asks. “We could do a gender reveal and each of the guys hit a puck with pink or blue powder inside. I could put it on the team’s social media.”

“Have you thought about endorsements? I can see Sven pushing a high-end stroller,” Patrice adds.

Vanessa shakes her head. “I’m not ready to think of all that. I have six more months before I have to worry about it.”

“Those months pass by quicker than you think,” I warn her. “One minute, you’re worried about starting to show, and then two minutes later, you can’t zip your jeans anymore.”

“You have kids?” Joaquin asks.

“I was a surrogate for my brother and his husband.” Taking a sip of my beer, I shrug. “If you need advice or just want to talk about being pregnant, I’m happy to chat. I’m here for you.”

“Thanks, Amelia,” Vanessa says, her eyes bright. “I appreciate that. None of my friends have kids or even thought about it, and I don’t have any family. I’m a little out of my element.”

“We all are, at first.” I reach out and squeeze her hand. “You’re going to rock being a mom.”

Robby, still standing, comes around and hugs me, too. “I’m so fucking proud of you,” he murmurs in my ear.

We spent a lot of time together during the eighteen months he dated my brother, but after the break-up, we all went our separate ways. Then, he started working for the Grizzlies two seasons ago, and I saw him when our teams played each other. We grabbed coffee or had dinner when we were in the same city once or twice a year. He’s a good guy, and just because things fizzled out with my brother doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Especially now that we work together.

There’s a strict divide between players and staff. Even now, the guys are separate from the rest of us. A few of them are chatting up women, but the majority of them cluster together, chatting and drinking. This isn’t an official team event, so attendance isn’t required. Still, seventeen of the twenty-three players on this road trip are here at the bar, and most of the support staff is, too.

McKittrick is at a table with Larsson, Logan, and Gonzo, but his attention is on his whiskey. Even from across the room, I can tell he’s had a few.