Chapter 29

JAX

I freezeup for a second because I don’t know much about Willow.

That’s a nice gut punch.

She’s pregnant with my baby and I don’t know how she prefers to vomit.

And you know everyone has a preference when they throw up.

Some people get scared and just want to be alone.

Some people throw their arms out and want to attack anyone within a mile radius.

Some need to have someone touching their back just to know they are not alone.

Getting sick is an awful thing.

I’m not dumb either. I know Willow throwing up has to do with the baby. I’m not sure why it’s happening nor am I going to ask.

Willow holds her hair back with her left hand and uses her right hand to turn on the water.

I slowly move toward a small countertop and place the coffee and donuts down.

“What can I do for you?” I softly ask.

Willow shakes her head.

I’m not sure if that means nothing or go away.

I’m not going to go away though. I’m standing here until she tells me with words to go away. And even then, go away means go into my bedroom and wait for me.

Willow takes a few seconds for herself. Rightfully so.

She then reaches back with her right hand and begins to wiggle her fingers at me.

All I can do is assume that means she wants me to come closer to her.

For the record, the only time I’ve seen a female vomit… was because of too much drinking. I’m far out of anything that resembles my normal element.

I get closer to Willow and offer my hand to her.

As soon as our hands touch… damn.

Willow has this way about her. I don’t know what it is.

Even hovering over a sink, throwing up… she still is just… beautiful to me.

I hold her right hand tight and stand next to her.

She’s taking slow breaths.

I touch her back with my left hand.

I don’t try to rub or scratch anything. I just touch her.

Willow turns her head and looks up at me. “Good morning, huh?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Morning sickness. Came out of nowhere. Not a fan of it.”

“I can’t imagine you would be.”

“Don’t judge me for this.”

“Judge you? For throwing up?” I smile.

“Can you hand me some paper towels?”

I tear off a few pieces of paper towel and Willow wets it and gently dabs her lips and around her mouth.

She turns the water off.

“This is really embarrassing right now, Knox,” she says. “I thought you left. I had this intense dream and then…”

“I snuck out earlier to get coffee and donuts. Wanted to surprise you.”

“Knox. That’s really sweet. I mean it. I’m actually really hungry. And I definitely need some coffee.”

“So you’re not…”

“I don’t think I’m going to throw up all morning or all day, but we’ll see.”

I’m not grossed out at all. I just feel bad for her.

I can’t imagine being physically hungry and then having a chance of throwing it up.

Another thing I notice about Willow right now?

Her cheeks are red.

She’s blushing and can’t stop.

It’s creating this sense of tension between us. Not a bad tension. Just this sense of embarrassment on her end.

I don’t think twice as I close in on her and touch her face.

She’s surprised by that move.

I drop my lips down to hers.

I kiss her.

“Good morning, baby,” I whisper.

She gasps and slinks back.

I lower my right hand to her stomach. “I guess I have to say good morning to the actual baby too, huh?”

Willow’s eyes swoon at me.

It’s dangerous.

We’re dangerous together in a sense.

But nothing else can really happen here.

She’s pregnant.

I think that’s as extreme as we can get.

“Coffee and donuts in bed?” I ask.

“That sounds like heaven,” she says. “Far away from my normal though, Knox.”

“Mine too.”

“You don’t do coffee and donuts after a one-night stand?”

“It’s not really a one-night stand if I come back, is it?”

“I’m not sure.”

“To be fair, we already had the one-night stand,” I say. “I was good with that. Done with it. I moved on. You’re the one who got pregnant.”

“I’m going to assume you’re messing with me…”

“Of course I am,” I say. “Have to smile a little.”

“Yeah, sure. Then I can puke in the sink again. Look at me… how sexy…”

“You bent over a sink? Works for me.”

Willow shakes her head.

“Maybe next time you should do it naked.”

“You can stop talking now, Knox.”

I turn and grab the coffee and donuts.

If I’m being honest… I’ve never done this before. To just sit in bed in the morning and have coffee? Eat donuts? No. No thanks. That does not work for me at all.

In reality though, I just want to watch Willow.

I see the way she makes her coffee.

Instantly, I memorize it.

As soon as I flip open the lid on the donuts, her eyes light up when she sees the chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles.

She grabs one and takes a big bite.

Then she looks at me staring at her, chocolate on her top lip. A stray sprinkle clinging to her bottom lip.

“What?” Willow asks with her mouth full.

“Nothing. Just making sure I get it right next time.”

Color floods her cheeks.

Look, I can be flirty and fun and can say all the right things to make one night amazing. But all this extra stuff… this isn’t me.

Yet all I can think about is that for the next nine months Willow’s body is going to be hijacked by the baby she and I created.

It seems the least I can do is know how she like her coffee. And what kind of donut is her favorite.

I’m not even suggesting she and I end up together.

That’s not even something on the table.

Whatever happens though, I want to be the guy that brings her coffee and donuts.

I almost feel like I’m going to pass out again.

I sip some coffee and start thinking about life as a hockey player and life as a father.

“Knox, are you okay?” Willow asks. “You’re kind of jittery. Like you’re nervous.”

I look at Willow.

She still has that sprinkle stuck to her bottom lip.

I smile.

Then I lean in and nibble the sprinkle off her lip.