Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

JENSEN

I made it to light conditioning with five minutes to spare.

But it was totally worth spending the entire night in my girl's bed. Christ, she's amazing.

Pounding the treadmill, I increase the gradient and switch the setting to interval training. I'm full of energy despite zero sleep.

Zach comes to stand next to me and side-eyes me, setting his pace to a slow walk. "All good, man?"

"Yeah. I just have energy, you know." I keep looking straight ahead, grab my drink, and take a gulp before setting it back in the holder.

"Yeah, well, pass me some. I'm fucking spent."

My treadmill automatically slows as it hits the next stage in the interval program, which gives me time to look at Zach.

"What's eating you?"

He scratches the back of his neck. "The Captaincy. Becoming a dad. All the responsibility looming this year."

"Well, we can freak out together since I'm going to be a dad, twice. But you know I got you, right? I'll always be there to support you and the team."

He nods. "You know if the rules allowed, I'd have you as my AC any day. You mean everything to this team." He pauses and blows out a long breath. We don't say anything for a few seconds as I let his words sink in; they mean a lot to me.

He breaks the silence first. "How's Kate?"

"Already starting to show. Sickness has stopped, though, thank fuck."

He nods. "I'm putting our place up for sale and finding a house with a yard and a pool for Luna. She's really missing the ocean."

Catching my breath a bit more, I swipe at the sweat on my forehead with my towel. "I don't blame you. The city isn't really the place for bringing up children. If you can get a yard, then why not?"

"How are things going with Kate? I'm assuming better with the way that photo leaked online looked."

"They're…going. At this point, we're just friends."

With insane benefits that I want to turn into a whole heap more .

I don't know how much he knows from Jon or Felicity, but if I get my way with Kate, he'll know everything soon enough.

He nods, but I think he's worked out we're at least sleeping together. I'd tell him everything if I wasn't unsure of where Kate's head was. "Luna said you're getting along better."

"Yeah, we're making progress. I'm back at my place now, though."

"Alright, ladies." Jessie joins us on the other side, setting his treadmill to a bare walk.

Zach looks at him, only wearing his athletic shorts and sneakers. "Are shirts now illegal?"

"Why hide this incredible physique?" He waves a hand up and down his body. "Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Captain."

"I'm never going to get used to that," Zach murmurs before bringing his treadmill to a complete stop and grabbing his drink. "I'm heading to the bench press; I've got some strengthening exercises I need to work on."

Once out of earshot, Jessie turns to me. "Are you with baby and girlfriend yet or just baby?"

"Still the babies, but I'm making progress."

"Progress...how?"

"Progress, as in I came straight from her bed to the gym this morning."

"Oooh, that kind of progress," he chuckles. "I thought you looked a bit flushed."

"Yeah, well, I was beginning to break through, and now that the season's started, I'll barely get to see her. I've gone from hated to tolerated to sort of liked to now being given half a chance, and guess what? I'll be gone a lot."

"Ask her to move in with you."

I look at him like he's from another planet. "Did you hit your head on the Olympic bar?"

My best friend shrugs. "I've been thinking about it. You're having babies together, and her place is fucking tiny compared to yours. Just ask her to move in with you."

Lightly jogging, I consider asking Kate to shift her life across town and move to mine. Logistically, it would make a lot of sense; emotionally, she'd freak the fuck out for sure.

Jessie speaks again. "You're having twins. That's a whole lot more than just one baby. Double of everything. I don't think co-parenting from the other side of the city is going to work, personally." He clicks his tongue. "But what do I know? I might be talking shit."

Would Kate go for that? Fuck that would be awesome, having her in my apartment. Driving back from games or the airport and finding all her stuff in my place. Hell, I'd even take all her houseplants and chipped mugs.

"I think a lot of this hinges on how you deliver it to her. If you say, ‘Hey babe, how about you move in with me this week and get married the next?' you might have an issue."

I snort a laugh. It's like he just said out loud my ultimate fantasy.

"But if you sell it as a practical solution, I think you'll have a better shot. It's easier to woo her from the same apartment."

I quirk a brow. "I'm having no issues there. Last night was fucking awesome. It's just her fear of commitment. Not believing she's loveable."

I stop the treadmill and check my stats. "I told her about Lauren last night."

"No shit. Only your family and I know about that. Good for you, man."

"And now Kate Monroe," I add.

"What did she say?"

"I think she was pretty shocked. I wasn't planning to tell her, but whenever we're together, I just, I dunno, my guard comes down, and so does hers. It used to be the complete opposite between us, but everything's shifted. She's starting to let me see her in some way, so I wanted to show her a piece of me, you know?"

He nods. "I do. I'm also even more convinced that you need to talk to her about moving into your place."

"I'm just worried I'm going too fast, and she'll slam the door in my face."

"Dude. You're in love with her. Where you're concerned, there is no ‘too fast.'"

KATE

Easton

So I just got off a call with Mom, and then I picked myself up off the floor. She just told me you're pregnant with Jensen Jones' twins and that he came over to the house and insulted their integrity.

Fuck!

This is not how I wanted my brother to find out. I've had my head so far up my ass I didn't think about my mom spilling everything to him.

Think again, Kate.

Sitting at my desk, I hit dial on his international number and head for the kitchenette.

"Hi." His tone is clipped.

"Hey. Look, I'm really sorry you found out this way. I wanted to wait until after I hit twelve weeks, and I needed to figure out what I was going to say. Then she goes and blurts it all out anyway," I rush out in a panic.

"How did Mom and Dad find out? Did you tell them?"

"There was a picture posted online. It didn't get far. Jensen's agent had it taken down quickly. We were getting close, and his hand was over my stomach. It was questionable at best. Next thing I know, I've got a barrage of texts from Violet telling me my career is over and I'm ‘cheap.' Jensen was pissed and had it out with them."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"Was this planned? I saw you only weeks before, and you didn't talk about him."

I lean back against the kitchen counter. Propping my phone between my ear and shoulder, I undo the button on my pants using both hands and instantly feel the relief. I'm going to need new clothes.

"No," I laugh. "Back in June, I hated him. It was a one-night-to-see-what-happens kind of thing." I do not need to tell my brother it was also hate sex.

"Yeah," he drawls. "Mom would love that." There's no judgment to his voice, but he totally gets why she'd go crazy.

"I thought he'd run, but I misjudged him, East. He's…" My body tingles as I recall last night. "He's nothing like I thought he was."

"So you guys are dating?"

"No. We're just friends. He wants more. I know he does, but I don't think I can give anyone that." He's wearing me down, though; I know he is.

Silence.

"East?"

"Yeah, I'm still here."

"Oh, okay," I chuckle. "I thought the call had been cut."

"How much does he know about our home life, you know, about when we were kids?"

"He's met our parents, so I'd say a pretty good idea."

"Did you tell him about the lock on your door?"

An ice-cold trickle runs down my spine. "No."

"Kate, do you like this guy?" he asks, his voice soft.

My stomach knots. "Yes, I do. But you know how much I struggle."

He sighs. "For once, just let him in and talk to him. Give him a chance. He sounds like he's good for you."

I scoff. "How do you know that? Just because he's the goalie for the Scorpions."

"You just told me that he sat in our parents' house and took them on. From the way Mom was fuming, I'd also say he put both of them in their place. He's clearly fucking crazy about you. To walk into the snake's pit and do that."

"I'm trying," I whisper.

"You trust me?"

"More than anyone."

"Well, I'm telling you. Let him in, tell him what you went through, and give him a shot. You can't close yourself off forever, Kate."

Jensen might see straight through me and know the real Kate of today, but my brother knows my past. He knows what made me this way and why I closed off to those around me.

Standing in the tiny kitchenette and thousands of miles from my brother, I feel a lone tear trickle down my cheek. "I'm already scared I won't be able to do this—to be a mom, East. Everything is spinning out of control and changing so rapidly. My life, my emotions, even my body."

"Are you kidding me? You're going to be the greatest mom there is. They'll never take any shit, that's for sure."

"I wish you were here." My voice cracks just as Felicity walks into the kitchenette and stops in her tracks at the sight of me crying in the office. I don't think she's ever seen me upset like this before, let alone at work. She's seen me puke on myself but never cry.

"I know. Look, I have to go, but all I'm saying is, I've never met this guy, but a man who defends my sister like that is a man I want around her."

"Yeah, he's a good person."

"Let him in, Kate. Talk soon. Love you lots."

The call ends, and I look up to see my best friend hovering over me. "Was that Easton?"

Hearing his name and her concerned look is the final act that sends the walls of my dam tumbling. I lean into her, my head on her shoulder, as she takes my phone from my hand and sets it on the counter, wrapping her arms around me.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. It's all okay."

"Why is this so hard? No one ever told me this would be so hard," I sob, knowing co-workers can probably hear me in the office.

"Being a mum is hard, babe, and from the moment you conceive, it feels like every day is a new challenge. But the way you've taken all this in stride, you should be so proud of yourself."

"I hope I can be half the mom you are."

"Oh, trust me; you'll smash this whole thing out of the park."

I pull back and look at her, mascara no doubt smeared around my eyes. "I really like him. But I'm scared. I have real feelings."

Felicity strokes my hair and wipes under my eye. "I know you do; you have for a very long time, but you're now only seeing them, and that's okay. He's waited for you. But it's time to explore them."

"How do I do that?"

"With how strong he feels, I don't think you need to do much. Let him take control."

I half scoff, half sob. "Ha, yeah, not sure I can do that."

"This isn't a legal case, babe. You can't file it away. This is your heart, and it won't relent until you give it what it wants."

"And you think that's JJ?"

"Yeah, it really is."