Chapter 58 Desiree Dixon

Good Thing He’s Got You

I wake before he does in our new bed in our new home together. I’m snuggled into his side, and his arm is tossed around my waist.

I can’t wait to wake up every morning exactly like this…especially if we get to have the kind of night that knocks us both out the way last night did after we got here and had sex in our new bed for the first time.

None of my stuff is here, so I can’t take a shower, brush my teeth, apply makeup, or change my clothes, but soon enough, I’ll be able to do all those things. The thought sends a thrill of excitement through me.

It’s crazy how quickly priorities can change. I went from wanting to find a friend with benefits in Vegas to moving in with a football player whose baby I’m having.

I snuggle more closely into him as he sleeps quietly beside me, and I listen to his breathing as I watch the rise and fall of his chest. It’s as I lay here, still in the quiet of morning, that I feel something in my stomach. It’s a flutter—barely a whisper—but it’s something, and it fills my heart in a way I wasn’t expecting.

I’ve been sick, and I’ve been tired and moody and achy. But this is the first time I’ve felt movement in there. I may have seen the baby on the screen at my ultrasound appointment, but this is different. It’s a signal to me that there really is a baby, and I move my hand down protectively over my stomach to let her know I’m right here.

I don’t feel that same movement with my hand. Just inside. But soon enough, she’ll be kicking, and I’ll wake Asher to press his hand there to feel it, too. And he’ll look at me and smile warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners with the pure joy that we’re both feeling these days.

I can’t wait for those sweet little moments with him.

This wasn’t something I was ever sure I wanted, but now that I’m on the path toward it, it’s something I don’t think I could ever live without.

Eventually he wakes, and he leans over and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Morning,” he grunts.

“Good morning. I need to go home and shower, but do you want to go out for breakfast?” I ask.

“I would love nothing more. Except, you know, not having to leave here and just having breakfast downstairs.”

I chuckle. “Okay, then let’s order in.”

He grabs his phone and places an order, and we lay together in bed while we wait for it to arrive. We eat at the brand-new kitchen table that was just delivered a couple days ago. We agree to move in over the next few days, but no matter what items we have or don’t have here, we agree we’ll sleep together here going forward.

Asher has to get to the Complex for his exit interview this morning, and I’m curious what will go on in that interview. I know my dad will be there, and I wish Asher some extra luck before we part ways.

And then I wait nervously to hear from him. I’m nervous about dinner with his dad, nervous about moving, nervous about the baby…nervous about life in general right now, I guess, so I dig into work.

I pack my essentials into a suitcase and haul it down to my car, and then I pack a few boxes worth of clothes. My mom is out at a spa day, and I’m careful not to lift anything that might be heavy.

After all that, I check on the auction items for the charity ball, and I make some final arrangements for Asher’s 5K. We’ve chosen a date in mid-April, so I have three months to finalize plans and another two months before the charity ball.

I think I’m in good shape, and I realize it’s nearly time for dinner by the time I get a text from Asher.

Asher: Can I pick you up in an hour for dinner?

I check the clock and realize I’ve worked most of the day away. My stomach seems to awaken at the thought, too, with a loud growl.

Me: Yes, I’ll be ready.

I change clothes and brace myself for dinner with Eddie Nash.

On the way there, Asher says, “Ellie booked me an appearance at a nightclub tonight if you want to come.”

I have a feeling dinner is going to take a lot out of me, and my feet feel swollen and tired after standing and packing for a few hours this afternoon. “Let’s see how I feel after dinner,” I say. I don’t want him to have to go alone, especially if he doesn’t like doing them, but I also have to put my own health and that of the baby first.

We get to the restaurant, some steakhouse Eddie chose, and he’s already sitting at a table when we arrive. The hostess brings us to his table, where he’s enjoying a glass of what appears to be whiskey.

He holds it up as Asher slides out the chair across from his father for me and takes one in between us.

Asher immediately stares down at the menu, and his father is eyeing me.

I glance through the menu and decide on a chicken dish, and I set it down and glance up at Eddie.

“So how did you meet my son?” he asks.

“We met at the charity ball,” Asher says absently.

His brows shoot up. “You’ve known her since last June?”

I nod. “And now I’m planning this year’s event. Funny how it comes full circle.” I offer a tight smile.

“You’re planning it?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m an event planner, and the Aces have contracted me for their charity event. I’m also working on the first annual 5K for Asher’s new charity.”

“What’s this?” Eddie asks.

“It’s the Make a DIFFerence with Asher Nash Foundation,” Asher says. “We’re hosting a charity run to promote the fight against drug abuse, specifically in adolescents.” He clears his throat. “I’m doing it for Fitz.”

Eddie seems to soften a bit at that. “That’s great, Asher. I’m proud of you.”

Asher sits up a bit at his words, and I get the sense he doesn’t say that too often. But from Asher’s account, Eddie was the one who picked Asher up after he lost his friend.

“Thanks,” he mumbles.

“How was your exit interview?” Eddie asks. “Any word on next year?”

Asher shrugs. “It was fine.”

“You don’t want to talk about it?” Eddie presses.

Asher glances at me and twists his lips. “We went over this year’s accomplishments on the field and off. We talked about the 5K.”

“Did they mention a contract?” he asks.

Asher shakes his head. “Not yet.”

“You’ll hear something before free agency. Linc won’t make you go through that,” he says.

Asher nods, and he glances at his watch as he reads a text that just came through. “Can you excuse me a minute?” He stands and leaves me alone with his dad, and my eyes edge over to him as that nervousness from earlier is back in full force.

“Good thing he’s got you,” Eddie says, jamming his thumb in my direction as he nods toward his son’s retreating figure. He shakes his head a little.

“Me?” I ask.

“Sure. He doesn’t have to worry about that big money contract.”

I clear my throat uncomfortably. “He’s never…I mean, we haven’t really talked finances.”

“You should. You’re having his baby,” he points out, and I want to believe he’s just trying to be sensible, but my gut tells me he’s insinuating something far more sinister. “But it’s always easier for the haves not to be concerned about it. I’ve been both—a have and a have not —and I remember the good old days well. It’s what I want for my sons, anyway.”

I snag my top lip between my teeth as a means not to cry. I hate that he’s making it seem like the only reason Asher is with me is for my money.

He didn’t know who I was when we got together, but I also don’t know how to handle myself around his father.

I clear my throat and take a sip of water to keep myself busy. Where the hell did Asher run off to? Why did he think leaving me alone with his father was a solid plan?

I’m hurt by his dad’s words, but I refuse to let him see that. Instead, I rush to Asher’s defense. “He’s a hard worker who would never rely on someone else’s means.”

“Then I fear I didn’t teach him a damn thing,” he mutters.

The server comes by with a basket of bread, and I set my focus on that while I wait for Asher’s return. But I feel awkward through the rest of the meal. My answers are short and stilted, and Asher picks up the check at the end even though his father invited us to this meal.

The man is something else, that’s for sure.

“I hate to eat and run, but I have an appearance to get to,” Asher says. “Are you coming with me?”

“I think I’ll just head home,” I say quietly. He gives me a long look to ensure I’m okay, but I’m not.

I sort of wish he’d duck out on his appearance. I know that’s silly. He made a commitment, and he needs to follow through on it.

But it marks the first time I feel like he’s prioritizing something else over me. I know he will when it comes to football, and I know that’s what my dad didn’t want for me.

He had his exit interview today, and we haven’t even talked about it. We haven’t talked about the possibility of him moving into free agency, where he could be picked up by any team in the league. We haven’t talked about how many more years he wants to play before he retires.

We haven’t talked about an awful lot of important stuff, yet I’m having his baby. These are things I need to know, but they’re things I won’t get the answers to tonight since he’s off to make a few extra bucks to prove his dad wrong.