Page 87 of Body Check

thirty-one

. . .

Jason

It’s lonely being on my own. This isn’t the first time I’ve been on the Injured Reserve list, but it is the first time no other players are injured at the same time.

Doc scheduled me in with a urologist. I have a consult with him next week, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to Amelia about my decision. When she gets back from the road trip, I’ll do it. I’m totally not avoiding the conversation, not at all.

There’s a knock on my door, and I crutch over to let Tyler in. He’s carrying a tote bag in each hand, Ainsley strapped to his chest in a pink carrier.

“Thanks for coming by,” I tell him.

He goes straight to the kitchen, unloading the bags. “Thanks for being flexible with timing.”

Tomorrow is opening day for baseball season, and the Bulldogs are playing at home. I don’t blame him for wanting to be with his husband rather than slaving over a hot stove all day.

Even if he does have staff to help put together the meals, he’s still involved. And he deserves a day off. Amelia mentioned he does meal prep for sixteen hockey players and twelve guys on the baseball team, plus other clients.

Tyler puts all the meals in the fridge, which is empty aside from a few apples, a six-pack of beer, and a bottle of Amelia’s favorite wine. I’m not much of a moscato drinker, but she likes the occasional glass while she soaks in my tub, so I buy it for her.

He blinks at the label on the bottle, but doesn’t otherwise comment.

“How’s the ankle?” he asks.

Ainsley squawks in her carrier, kicking her chubby little legs, and he runs a hand over her belly.

“She’s so big.” I avoid the question.

“Eight months,” Tyler agrees. “Meeting all her milestones like a pro.”

“Have you thought about more?”

“More kids?”

I nod.

“Yeah, but it’s up to Amelia and her timeline. We’re not rushing her,” he says. “And if she decides she doesn’t want to do it again, we’ll find another surrogate. We already have embryos stored.”

“It’s incredible that she donated her eggs. That she carried Ainsley.”

“Biology sucks sometimes, but it can also be really great,” he says. “I couldn’t give Brandon a baby, so she donated our family gene pool. She donated her body to us. I can never repay her for the gift she gave me.”

“Amelia and I are seeing each other,” I blurt out. “We’re together.”

Tyler laughs. “Yeah, I know.”

I blink. “You do?”

“You started closing your blinds around the same time she started seeing you. She’s always happy when she looks out the window at your place. Talks about you as Jason and not McKittrick, like the rest of the players.” He shakes his head. “It didn’t take long to put it together.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you.”

“You don’t have to take responsibility for her decisions. Because I’m fairly certain it was her decision, not yours.” Tyler laughs again. “She didn’t want to lie to us, and she didn’t want to ask us to keep her secret. We would have, though. No questions asked. We both know what it’s like to hide a part of yourself, and not being sure how other people will take the news.”

“I’m crazy about her,” I admit.

“And would it bother you? Her being pregnant with our baby?”