Cocky Striker - Evan Grace Page 0,56

away from me.”

“Son, I know you’re upset, but do not speak like that in front of your mother.” My dad gives me a stern glare that has me apologizing immediately.

Mom comes around the counter to stand in front of me. “Honey, I know how it sounded. Please listen to me because she misunderstood what I was trying to say … what we were trying to say. We’re just worried because it’s not just you and Laken who could be hurt if things go bad; it could be that little girl too.”

“We love Laken, and we love her for you.” Mom’s eyes shine bright like she’s about to cry. “I hate to think she feels like she’s not good enough.”

Dad hugs her tighter and kisses her temple, whispering words quietly into her ear.

“I’ll be back,” Mom says before disappearing out of the kitchen.

“I didn’t mean for her to cry,” I tell my dad as I stare blindly out of the patio doors.

He moves around the counter to stand next to me. “I know you didn’t. You and Laken seem so serious, and that night during pictures the three of you looked like a little family. You’re both young, and Ava is already attached to you. It just worried us.”

“She’s the one, Dad. I know we’re young, but when I think about my future, I always see her and Ava in it.”

Dad places his hand on my shoulder. “If that is truly how you feel, then you fight for her—for them.”

Mom comes out and I open my arms, letting her walk right into them. I wrap them around her and hug her tight. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

“You have no reason to be sorry. Thank you for loving me and worrying about me, about us.”

I leave my parents, feeling a better about the situation. I've been calling Laken, but she won't answer my calls. I wish I could go over to her place, but by the time I’m home it’ll be too late. I get home and climb out of my car then let myself in the building.

I reach my floor and find my key and then use it to let myself in. I shut and lock the door behind me, ready to crawl into bed and slip into oblivion. I freeze when I find Laken curled up in the middle of my bed.

I practically run across the room until I reach the bed. I quickly kick off my tennis shoes and crawl onto the bed. I fit myself against her back and rest my hand on her stomach.

I can just imagine a few years down the road lying next to her like this, but with my baby in her belly … wait, what? See, I’m hooked. She can’t ever leave me; we belong together.

“Chance?” Laken places her hand on mine. “I…”

“Shh … baby. Let’s sleep, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

I hold her tight until I know she’s asleep. I’m in desperate need of a shower, so I ease out of bed and step into the bathroom where I take a quick shower. Once I’m done, I brush my teeth and then grab some clean boxer briefs out of my dresser and slip them on.

When I slide back into bed with Laken, she rolls over in her sleep and shoves one leg in between mine and rests her head on my shoulder, her warm breath tickling my chest.

In no time at all I feel myself fading.

***

Laken

The sun is shining right in my face, but I don’t care. Chance’s arms are around me, and I don’t want to move.

I was surprised last night when Aubrey called me. I was even more surprised when she began to cry and explained what I overheard. It made me feel better that they thought I was perfect for their son, but they were worried about all three of us because they didn’t want any of us getting hurt if things didn’t work out.

Aubrey then told me that Chance was there, and he was upset and mad at them, which was the last thing that I wanted. She made me promise that the two of us would go for a girls’ day of fun to get to know each other better.

Once we hung up I felt somewhat lighter, but then there is still the story of Ava’s biological father that I need to tell Chance. That scares me because what if he thinks bad of me. That’s why I was here when he got home. Thankfully I