29. Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

MIA

" Y ou told him?!" Amanda is all giggles, her eyes wide and eager to hear more.

"It felt like I had no choice," I say, grabbing energy drinks from the fridge for the athletes. "He got angry thinking that I was going to tell Ryan before him. In the end, they both found out at the same time."

"When Ryan showed up saying you needed to talk to him, I assumed you were going to tell him too. I was so confused why you would do that, but it makes sense it was just a misunderstanding," she says, placing cups on the tray. "I found it daring that you told me first!"

"Oh no, I needed to tell you." I look at Amanda with wide eyes, "You're my friend, and you told him about a pregnancy before. I needed to know what to expect, and it had to be from you!"

She pinches my cheek and gives me a glance that says, ‘You can trust me.'

"What are you going to do now?" The food trays start to arrive, and Amanda is one step away from taking one and offering it around herself.

"Book a different hotel room and wait until I can face Ethan again," I say it quickly, trying to act like my heart isn't pounding out of my chest.

"Don't run away." Amanda leans against the kitchen counter. "He's not the boogeyman. He's responsible, and you two can work this out together."

"That's what I'm afraid of." I cover my mouth with one hand. "I really like Ethan, Amanda. I don't want him to break up with me and just…"

"Just share custody of your child like we do with Senna?" she puts a hand on her waist.

I feel bad for insinuating that, but it's the truth.

"I'm sorry, but…"

"Don't be!"

"But—" I interject. "It's just when I thought about being a mother one day, I imagined having the father around. Can that even be possible with a hockey player?"

"Well…" Amanda starts to lead me outside the kitchen as more staff come through, her voice thoughtful. "It got complicated for us even before Senna started school. Ethan was traveling so much for games."

I nod, absorbing her words. "It must be tough, managing everything."

Amanda shrugs, a knowing smile on her face. "Yeah, and Ethan's focus is so divided. He tries his best, but it's definitely a challenge."

"Did Senna miss him growing up?" I ask.

"I missed him too," she shrugs. "He was my husband. I was completely oblivious that I wasn't giving him any attention in the end. For me, being a mother was enough."

"Do you still miss him?" I raise an eyebrow.

She just shakes her head with a sad smile. "Not in that way. And I have someone new now."

"That dashing beau I saw with you at the park?" I finally manage a genuine smile.

Amanda turns bright red, but her eyes gleam with hope. "His name is James." She says it like a teenager making a confession. "Listen, why don't you spend the night in my room, and I tell you all about it, huh?"

I smile again, feeling grateful for our friendship. Amanda's presence is comforting, especially with the news I just shared with Ethan.

We talk while keeping an eye on Senna, who eventually falls asleep on a couch in the wives' room.

In the end, we book a ride back to the hotel. Amanda enlists my help putting Senna to bed, and we cap off the evening by ordering a tub of ice cream from room service and turning on a soap opera rerun.

We talk about James until the first light of dawn. He's a big shot at a publicity agency, loosely related to Ryan's company but not enough for them to know each other by name. Amanda describes him as kind, and she loves that he gets along with Senna.

I'm half-asleep when I murmur, "I wish you all the good things, Amanda," from the couch. After that, I notice her taking a blanket and draping it over me. With the sun already up, I reach for my phone to check the time, only to find it dead. My charger is in Ethan's room.

Despite my attempt to focus on James and Amanda, thoughts of Ethan nag at me. I wonder if he'll reach out soon, and if he's already made up his mind about everything.

Today is a day off for everyone. We'll be moving to another town in a few days. I try to push thoughts of Ethan to the back of my mind. Otherwise, or I know I won't be able to sleep. Soon, I'm dozing off again.

Until I hear his voice at the door.

"Let me in, Amanda." Ethan tries to sound menacing but only sounds desperate. "I know she's here."

"She's asleep, Ethan," Amanda says softly. "And so is Senna."

I tense up under the blanket, my heart pounding. I hear Ethan sigh heavily. Yesterday he did say, ‘We are going to deal with it.' Though his tone wasn't ideal, it gave me enough hope to get through the night. I desperately want us to work it out, but now that he's here, I feel frozen.

"Please, Amanda. I need to talk to her," Ethan's voice cracks with urgency.

Amanda hesitates for a moment, then turns to me, her eyes questioning. "Mia, can he come in?"

I take a deep breath and nod, pushing the blanket aside. I can't keep hiding. I need to know what he's thinking. Amanda steps aside, and Ethan walks in, looking exhausted and worried.

Ethan stands there, looking miserable as if he hasn't slept at all. When Amanda opens the door all the way, he comes in, hands in his pockets.

Amanda smiles softly from the doorway. "I'll give you two some privacy. I'll be back with breakfast for Senna."

He stands there for a moment, hands in his pockets, as if he's unsure of what to say. He clears his throat, "I'm sorry for barging in here like this, but I couldn't reach you on your phone..."

He takes a deep breath and continues, his voice barely above a whisper, "Mia, I've been thinking about everything. I want to be there for you and the baby. I want to figure this out together."

His words are a relief, but I still need to hear more. "Do you really mean that, Ethan?"

Ethan steps closer, taking my hands in his. "I mean it, Mia. I want to be with you. I don't have all the answers yet, but I know I want us to be a family."

Tears well up in my eyes, and I pull him into a hug. "Thank you, Ethan. That's all I needed to hear. I'm sorry I had such a hard time telling you. I was just so scared."

Tears fall from my face. He leans in to wipe them away and then leans down to kiss me.

After several moment, I ask, "Who are we telling?"

Ethan then looks towards Senna, still fast asleep in bed.

"Hey, Senna!" he calls loudly and then whistles with two fingers in his mouth.

Senna jolts awake, then stretches, yawning widely.

"Good morning, Daddy," he says. Noticing I'm there as well, he adds, "Good morning, Aunt Mia."

"Good morning, bud!" Ethan replies. "Now come here. We have something to tell you."

Senna blinks, then tosses the blankets away and comes running to sit in between us. He looks up at me and his father, eagerly waiting.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asks, and his eyes fill me with guilt.

"No of course not," I assure him then turn to Ethan. "Come on, don't leave him hanging!" I'm the one begging now.

"Okay, okay!" Ethan says, raising his hands and asking for calm. "We have something big to tell you." Ethan turns to me, "Would you like to do the honors?"

I start to giggle and then embrace Senna, who leans into it.

"Remember when you talked to me about maybe having a little brother or sister one day?" I ask.

Understanding dawns on Senna's face, and he perks up, looking at me, then at his father.

"Mia is going to have a baby?!" he asks, still not sure whom to look at.

"Yeah, buddy!" Ethan says, opening his arms for a hug.

But it's to me that Senna comes, holding me tight and kissing my belly.

"Can it be a baby boy?" he asks Ethan.

"There's a fifty percent chance, Senna. We'll have to wait and see!" he grins, ruffling the little boy's hair.

"I say those are good odds," I smile.

Senna starts dancing around the room excitedly, causing us all to laugh.

Amanda comes back with fragrant pancakes and hot cocoa.

"Mom!" Senna jumps up and stands on the couch. "I'm going to get a baby brother!"

"Really, Senna?" Amanda feigns surprise. "Come tell me all about it over pancakes! You two as well. I brought enough for everybody!"

Ethan and I look at each other and then eagerly join Amanda and Senna at the table.

As we settle in and I take my first bite of the delicious pancakes, a sense of immense relief washes over me. Ethan's support fills me with hope for our future together, and I feel a newfound optimism about the life we're building.

Ethan reaches over and squeezes my hand, sending a wave of warmth through me. I quickly reach for another pancake to avoid crying in front of everyone.