Chapter 39

Amber

The next few weeks pass in a blur of exams, holidays, and hockey games. Before I know it, it's the end of February. My due date is quickly approaching, and I am so ready to get this little peanut out of me. I'm as big as a barn, my ankles are always swollen, and I have to pee at least four hundred times a day and night. Rico has been so good to take care of me, but he's also been in an intense hockey season. I'll be honest—I'm ready for the season to be over as much as I'm ready to have this baby.

Don't get me wrong. It's been an amazing season! I've been at every home game and have watched my goalie play every away game on tv. They've had a great season, and everybody is saying that this is their year to go all the way. I'm super excited for them, but I'm also ready to just be done. I hear the front door open, and a smile crosses my face. I spend more time in his home than I do my own these days. Rico comes into the kitchen a few seconds later. "Hey, Baby." He wraps me in his strong arms and kisses me until I can't breathe. "I missed you," he breathes out in between kisses.

"I missed you too."

And then, as has become his ritual, he drops his hands to my stomach. "Hey, Little One. I missed you too." She rewards him with a swift kick, as she always does. His eyes round in wonder; it never ceases to amaze him. "How are you feeling?" he asks, dropping another kiss on my forehead.

"Huge," He smiles but doesn't laugh. He might have learned that the hard way when he laughed once, and I burst into tears. These pregnancy hormones are no joke.

"You look beautiful." He tells me that at least once a day. I lean my head on his strong chest and let him hold my weight. After a bit, he leads me over to a chair. "You sit; I'll finish up."

"I can do it; you have to be exhausted from your trip."

"I'm not carrying a baby," he says, pointedly looking at my stomach. He leans over and tastes the sauce I made for the chicken. "Mmm, this is good." A few minutes later, we're eating together at the table in his kitchen. "I know I tell you this every time, but I miss this so much when I'm on the road." I smile and take another bite. "Did you do dinner with my mom and yours on Tuesday?"

I nod. We've continued on with his tradition of having dinner with his mom on Tuesdays. Now, if he's at an away game, she and I still get together. More often than not, my mom joins us too.

"Good. I'm so glad they're friends."

I take another bite. "Your sister came too."

His fork pauses halfway to his mouth. "Was she nice?"

I shrug. "As she can be."

He shakes his head. "I'll talk to her again."

"No, she's fine." The truth is, she's been hard on me from day one. But she should have been; she's been looking out for Rico. I think she thinks it's her job to make sure I stay faithful now, not that anything else is an option for me. But I get it; I really do. I'd probably act the same way to Aiden if he'd pulled on Bri what I did to Rico. I push those negative thoughts aside. "How was the trip home? Your last game was a nailbiter."

He grins. "That was a fun one. We walked away with that win by the skin of our teeth." I let him eat a little more before I broach the subject I've been wanting to talk to him about.

"So, you play Adam's team tomorrow night."

He pauses a moment before he continues eating. "We do."

The last time the two teams met, Adam was out with an injury. I still find that oddly coincidental. "I'm worried about the game."

His eyes meet mine. "There's nothing to worry about. Besides, he hasn't caused any problems, not since your brother talked to him. Right?"

"You don't think he'll do anything, right?"

"Nah." He stands up from the table to go get some more food. Something about the way he says it so nonchalantly has me narrowing my eyes.

"Rico, there's nothing to worry about for this game, right?"

"He's going to be fine," he reassures me.

"No, I mean from you guys." He doesn't say anything as he comes back to the table. "Rico."

"It will be fine."

"Somehow, that doesn't feel reassuring. I don't want you guys to do anything to get into trouble."

He grins. "We play hockey, Love."

I roll my eyes. "I am aware of that, yes. I just don't want you guys to get into trouble or anything."

He studies my face a moment. "You might want to sit this one out."

That bad feeling in my stomach worsens. "Rico."

"Baby, the love of my life went through hell with that man. If you think there's not going to be payback, then you're sorely mistaken. I've let him be for months, but now it's time to let him know what happens when he messes or hurts what's mine." I close my eyes. "And your brother-in-law might sort of be out for blood too." My eyes pop open. "And our team captain and Sebastian. Oh, and probably Zac."

I stare at him. "Why?"

"Well, Aiden's your brother-in-law, so I don't feel like that needs an explanation."

"Why Gunner?" I demand.

"He could have lost his career over that dude, so he's not happy with him. He also knows how much you mean to me."

"And Sebastian?"

"You're like a sister to Stephanie, which makes you..."

"I get it," I interrupt and then frown. "Why Zac?"

"Oh, he just loves fighting."

I sit back in my chair. This is going to be terrible.

Rico looks at my face and laughs. "It's going to be fine, Love. He's had it coming. He somehow got out of it the first time around. He won't this time."

I put a hand on my belly, and his eyes track the movement. "Sit this one out, Love."

I shake my head. "No, I need to be there."

"Why?"

"I need to make sure you're safe."

He bites back a smile. "Uhhh, how exactly are you going to do that?"

"I don't know," I snap. "I just need to be there to make sure all you guys don't get hurt." His lips twitch. "And yes, I know there's not a single thing I can do at nine months pregnant to help you guys out."

"But we appreciate the offer," he says, barely keeping back a laugh.

I shake my head, and he takes my hand in his. "We'll be fine, Love. I promise."

"Well, at least after Friday, it will be all over," I say on a sigh.

"For this season," he adds so helpfully. We finish eating, and he sits back in his chair. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about. I've been thinking about this for a while."

"Uh, oh," I interject.

He smiles. "It's all good. I love you."

"I love you too."

His smile widens. "I want you to be able to come home from the hospital and be here, where I can take care of you and the baby."

I take in his words. "Okay."

My jaw drops as he gets down on one knee next to me. "Amber Nicole, you own every piece of my heart. It's been yours since the first moment I met you. Will you make me the happiest guy on earth and marry me?"

I stare at him in shock as my brain scrambles to catch up. "You want to marry me?"

He nods. "Very much."

I put my hand on my belly. "But it's not just me."

He tries to hide his grin and fails. "Yes, Sweetheart. I am aware. I want both of you in my life. Forever."

The tears start, and I'm helpless to stop them with these hormones. I can't believe it.

" Uh, Sweetheart, do you think you could answer the question?"

"Oh. Yes. Yes!"

He smiles the biggest smile I've ever seen and takes my hand. "Then, this is for you." He slides a ring onto my finger, and I stare at it. It's not big and flashy, thank goodness.

"Rico, it's gorgeous."

He runs a hand over his chest. "I might have had some help picking it out." I look up at him. "Bri," he admits, and I smile.

"It's perfect." And it is. It's rose gold, which I love. There's a center diamond and several small diamonds spread out on the thin band. It's so beautiful and delicate. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"For the most beautiful woman in the world," he says, leaning forward and kissing me. "You said yes," he says against my lips.

"I did."

"You're going to be my wife."

"I am," I say with a smile.

"I'm the luckiest man in the world." He kisses me then, and I forget my own name. He pulls back and tucks my hair behind my ear. "I was going to do something flashy for the proposal, but then I thought you'd rather have something like this."

"You know me too well."

"So..."

When he doesn't say anything more, I raise my eyebrows. "Yes?"

"The baby is coming soon, and I want you both here after the delivery. So how about a wedding on Saturday?"

I stare at him. "What?"

"I want to get married on Saturday."

"This. Saturday." I stare at him like he's lost his mind because he obviously has.

"Yes."

"Rico, it's Thursday."

He doesn't look at all flustered. "I am aware. Listen, I didn't want you to have another thing on your plate, so I didn't say anything about it. But," he pauses and looks a little uncertain. "Bri and Stephanie have been helping me. We have a cake ordered and a restaurant reserved for the reception and a small chapel for the ceremony and a pastor. It's just going to be small. Our families and close friends. I think the count is like less than twenty."

I stare at him, unable to form any words. "What about a dress?"

"Bri is taking you tomorrow to try on the one we ordered."

My eyes widen impossibly. "With this belly?"

He smiles. "We took that into account."

"Rico," I shake my head. "This is too much. I can't..." I sit back, feeling completely overwhelmed.

"Talk to me."

I shake my head. "It's so much. I don't know."

He takes my hand and pulls me out into the living room and down onto his lap on the couch. "Listen my love. If this is too much, then we pull it. I have no problem doing that. But," he continues. "I do want you to come home with me after the hospital. I want to take care of you. But more than that, I'm tired of living away from each other. I want you in my home, in my bed every night." I shift on his lap. "And I thought that if we just did this, if we took all the pressure away, you could just show up and enjoy it. You're so busy; you have so much on your plate, I didn't want to add any more stress."

I listen to him, really listen and think about his words. I'm not one of those girls that dreamed of her wedding day, growing up. Honestly, I've never given it much thought. The idea of trying to plan one stresses me out just thinking about it. I'm too much of a control freak; I would become that bride. The idea of just showing up, not having to worry about any of the planning...And the idea of finally being Rico's completely. "I love the idea of being able to come here after the baby," I tell him softly.

"Yeah?"

I nod. "And just getting to show up to my own wedding? Not having to do any planning?" I pause and lean forward and kiss him softly on the lips. "I think you know me better than I know myself."

He returns my kiss and then pulls back. "So, Saturday?"

"Saturday."

I can't help the smile that crosses my face. I'm getting married to the man of my dreams in two days.

" So, would this be a good time to show you the nursery?"

I stare at him. "What?"

He looks a little sheepish. "I was hoping you'd say yes." He puts his hand out. "Want to see it?"

"Yes."

He leads me to a closed door. "It's not finished yet." He opens the door slowly, and I suck in a breath.

"Rico." I put my hand over my heart as I take in the room. There's a beautiful white crib with a matching changing table. There's a soft overstuffed chair next to the crib and a small white table with a lamp. There are several pieces of artwork on the wall. One says, Though she may be little, she is fierce. I stare at it as Rico wraps his arms around me from behind. "I thought since she's got you for a mama, that this will be fitting."

I laugh as I lay my head back against his chest. "Rico, this is beautiful. I can't believe I didn't know you were working on this."

He kisses the top of my forehead. "I've kept this door locked so you didn't see before now."

"I can't believe she's going to be here soon."

"She's going to be perfect," he says softly.