Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

Elliot

Even after two orgasms, I'm still wound so tightly, I can hardly breathe.

I've thought up every single scenario for how things can go with Alex's mom. I'm prepared for the off chance this goes well—and the better chance of this going downhill quick. My biggest fear is that she'll talk him into not caring for me and not wanting to be with me. The rational part of me, which was just dressed by him and given the most fulfilling orgasms, tells me that I'm being nonsensical. That he already bought me a ring and told me nothing would change his mind.

But surely his mom can?

And then there is my past.

I glance over at him, and I almost word-vomit it all. Just so that when his mom decides to hate me, it'll be easier for him to do the same. The look on his face stops me. Alex drives with ease, no worry etching his features like how it etches mine. His body isn't taut. He isn't breathing funny… He's just driving.

And smiling.

Always smiling, like he doesn't have a care in the world.

Must be fucking nice.

"Stop thinking so hard, mami ." His words are soft but demanding. His eyes stay on the road, and that smile stays in place. He squeezes the hand he's been holding since we got in the car to head to his mom's.

"Maybe you should let me wear that ring so she won't be so mad," I suggest, and he doesn't even spare me a glance.

"Will you keep it on?"

"What?"

"Will you keep the ring on?" he asks, finally looking over at me.

"While we're here?—"

"No. Forever," he announces, like he's telling me the weather. I just gawk at him, unsure how to answer. "Exactly. Don't ask for things you're not ready for. And also, let me make it special when I ask, okay?" He scoffs. "Impatient ass."

My eyes narrow. "I'm trying to make this easy for you."

"It's already easy," he says with a shrug. "‘Mom, this is my future wife, and hey, she's pregnant. Isn't she gorgeous as fuck?'"

"Please don't say that."

He chuckles. "That's how I've planned it."

"Oh my God," I groan as he turns into a neighborhood. I look out the window, taking in the manicured lawns and beautiful all-brick homes. "Did you grow up here?"

He shakes his head. "No, I bought this house for her when I signed with the Assassins."

"She lives alone?"

"Yup," he says as he turns onto another street. "My brothers live about ten minutes away in different directions."

"Your brothers are Santiago, Mario, then Hugo?" I ask out loud, just to be sure.

He nods happily. "You'll meet them at the game tomorrow with their wives. Santiago's wife is Venessa, and they have one girl, Mila. Hugo is married to Ise with two girls, Kallie and Elaine, and then Mario is married to Alma, no kids yet."

I say the names over and over, and then I realize something. "Our baby will be the first boy."

Alex smiles proudly. "He will."

I feel my smile burst over my face. "Maybe lead with that to butter her up."

He chuckles. "I don't need to butter her up," he says, pulling into the driveway of a white brick ranch-style home with black shutters and door. When he puts the car in park, he leans over, kissing my lips. "She's gonna see how I look at you and know you're it."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Please give me an ounce of your confidence."

His lips curve sinfully. He kisses me again, running his tongue along my lips, and I open eagerly for him. His kiss is deep, thorough, and searing as he draws a soft moan from me when he pulls away. "There you go. Have all my confidence."

I wish it were that easy.

I grin, though, unable not to. His smile is infectious, sweet, and so damn hot. He gets out, coming around to let me out just as I notice the front door open, and a beautiful woman in her fifties steps out of the house. She is my height, plump, with dark black hair and darker eyes. Her face is weathered, lined with wrinkles that I'm sure are from raising four boys by herself. Still, though, she's beautiful, and Alex favors hers fully. I'm breathless at the sight, or maybe it's from how happy her eyes are when they fall on her son.

Her love is bright, beautiful, and I know I'll love my son the same.

I already do.

I see the instant she notices me.

Her brows draw together tightly as confusion pulls her mouth down from the big smile to a frown. At that moment, I wish I were surrounded by bubble wrap to protect me from whatever is coming. Alex is oblivious as he shuts the car door and wraps his arm around my middle, splaying his hand across my stomach.

This man has no self-preservation, I swear.

When I look up at him, though, all I see is pride.

Hell, if it doesn't stir something deep inside me.

And just like that, I fall a little bit more for him.

His eyes flash down to me, that grin unstoppable, and my heart can't take it. I almost tell him. I almost whisper those words, but before I can, his mom calls out in Spanish, "My fat boy, you didn't tell me you were bringing someone home." Alex just chuckles, and I don't miss the moment she sees my stomach. Her eyes widen even more before she looks up at her son in disbelief. "Alejandro Benito, what in the world?"

My body stiffens as I lean into Alex for support. He tightens his grip on me, but that grin doesn't waver. "Mom, this is my future wife, Elliot Bea McDavid. And right here," he says, rubbing my belly, "is your grandson, no name yet. We want to meet him first, but I'm leaning toward Alejandro Benito Cruz Jr."

If I weren't so riddled with anxiety, I would laugh. I told him I wasn't a fan of the junior thing, but I don't know another name that would fit a child of his.

His mom looks me over and blinks as Alex goes on. " Mami , this is my mom, Gladys."

I swallow as I force myself to smile. "It's so wonderful to meet you," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "I know this is a lot to take in at once, and I truly apologize from the bottom of my heart that you weren't told earlier. He was insistent that you meet me first before he told you."

Her eyes move to Alex's, and I can't read her. I don't know if she's pissed or excited or a bit of both. Her eyes hold her son's. "No warning?" she asks in Spanish. "You told me you weren't seeing anyone. Who is she? Where did she come from? And how far along is she?"

Alex isn't affected by her line of questioning. "How about we head in?—"

I cut him off, and, in Spanish, I answer her back. "I am sorry again. We were dating last year for a bit, and then he went off to play for the Assassins. I found out I was pregnant on Christmas Day, and I couldn't bring myself to distract him while he was with the Assassins. He was doing so well, and I didn't want him to come back to me just because I was pregnant. We weren't… Well, I wasn't serious about him, but when he came back to Knoxville, he didn't give me much of a choice. And everything changed." Tears spill over, trailing along my cheeks, and Alex cuddles me closer. "I deceived him. I lied to him and hid the pregnancy for six months, and somehow he has forgiven me?—"

"Elliot," he says quietly, but I shake my head, pressing my hand to his chest.

"Please."

His eyes search mine, and I know that he wants me to shut up, that I'm digging my own grave. But I need to get this out. He nods, and I look back at his stunned mom's face.

"I never meant to hurt him. Time got away from me, and I was too scared to tell him. I didn't want him to want me only because of the baby. You raised a stand-up guy, a good man, and I didn't want him to be stuck with me because of our child. It's been so complicated and overwhelming, but he doesn't let up. I know this isn't how you wanted to find out or meet me, but I hope you'll give me a chance to prove I'm more than the choices I've made."

Her eyes cut to Alex's before coming back to me. And, of course, I don't know when to shut up.

"I swear I didn't trap him."

Alex chuckles beside me. "Jesus Christ, are you done?"

I glance up at him, and his eyes sparkle with love. "Yes."

"Good," he says, kissing my lips softly. He pulls back, and when he looks at his mom, I do the same. She's watching us, her face still unmoving in the way I've seen Alex's freeze when he's on the ice.

A flutter starts in my chest, and she looks me over. Her eyes move down my body, pausing at my stomach before looking at Alex. "Are you not feeding her? She's skinny."

Alex grins. "I think she was born that way, because I feed her all the time."

I giggle. "He does."

She nods. "Are you hungry?"

I wasn't prepared for that question. "Yes."

"Then come on. I'll put some weight on you, and I need time to get to know my new daughter before everyone shows up."

My jaw actually falls open as she takes my hand in hers, squeezing it. I see so much kindness and eagerness in her gaze as she stares at me. My tears fall faster, and she reaches up, wiping them away like I'm just a normal girl, not the hussy who got knocked up by her son and hid it from him. "Come now, sweet girl. No crying. You're safe with me. He loves you, I love you."

My chest cracks at that, and my heart spills out. I was on such high alert to prepare for her to hate me, to think I was the dirt on her shoes, but once again, I was wrong. There is only love in her eyes. As she pulls me toward the door, Alex chuckles behind me.

When I glance back, he's smiling smugly. "Told you."

I fall even deeper in love with him.