The First Intermission Read online

  “Nice to meet you both,” I say, giving them both a head nod.

  “Let’s hit the ice,” Matt says to everyone.

  The three of them follow me out onto the ice. As soon as I hit the sheet, I head for the goalie crease and start my process of scraping up the crease, then tapping my stick against the pipes of the goal from side to side. Like most hockey players, I’m superstitious to my core and have a very strict routine on how I do things. I listen to the same playlist, in the same order, before every game all season long. I’ll occasionally mix it up, but that only happens once, maybe twice a season. I’ll never change things up if my team is on a winning streak.

  Matt runs me through a rigorous practice over the next hour or so. Having his kids here to help shoot on me has been beneficial. Had I only had him, I wouldn’t have gotten as good of a practice in. Not that he’s bad at it, just having the speed his sons bring to the ice is more the speed I’m used to seeing in games.

  “Nice job today. I got a good picture of where you’re at and what we need to work on over the next few weeks,” he tells me as we all grab water bottles off the boards and suck down some of the cool liquid. “Do you have a preference on morning or afternoon going forward?”

  “I’m easy, whatever works best for your schedule,” I tell him. I know this is his job, but I don’t want to be a pain in his ass.

  “Let’s plan on mid-morning time then. That way, we’re done by lunch most days, and we won’t need to worry about waking up super early, either. That gives you the afternoons to hit the weights or pick up a summer job if you need to.”

  “Works for me,” I tell him as I step off the ice and onto the bench so I can walk down the tunnel toward the locker room.

  Chapter Eight

  Reese

  “How you doing, babe?” Austin asks, handing me my water bottle.

  “Just trying to keep feet out of my lungs so I can breathe. What is it with babies and kicking the crap out of their mom’s lungs and bladders?” I ask as he rubs my baby bump, loving the fact he can feel the baby when he or she moves around.

  We decided to keep it a surprise and won’t find out if we’re having a boy or girl until he or she makes their grand appearance later this summer. The first time he got to feel the baby move was a pretty special day. He’d been so bummed he couldn’t feel the movement, but about six weeks ago, the movement finally started getting strong enough and it’s become his favorite thing to do every day.

  “Sorry you’re so uncomfortable, babe. Need me to rub anything for you?” he offers, so sweetly. From the moment we found out we were expecting, this man has bent over backwards taking care of me. Some days, it drives me crazy; others, it’s the best thing in the world.

  “I’m good for now, thanks. Just sit here with me and relax. Aren’t you tired after last night?”

  “Nah, I’m good. I didn’t stay out too late. I wanted to get home to you,” he tells me.

  “Aww, aren’t you the sweetest,” I coo at him. He leans over and drops a kiss on my lips.

  “Nope, I just wanted to get home and have you in my arms. It wasn’t the same without you with me celebrating.”

  “Sorry I wasn’t able to go out with you,” I apologize. “There was just no way I was going to be able to stay awake that late.”

  “It’s fine, Reese. I know you needed to get home and get your rest. You’ve got a baby to keep growing, that’s the most important thing right now,” he says, still resting his hand on my belly.

  “What do you want to do today? Do you need to go to the rink?”

  “Nope. We’re not expected in until tomorrow. I’m all yours today. We could work on the nursery if you wanted. I can finally put the crib together.”

  “That sounds like a perfect plan. But first, I’m ready for some lunch, or maybe just a second breakfast,” I tell him, resting my head on his shoulder.

  Laughing, he moves his hand along my belly as the baby shifts, causing my stomach to move all over the place. “What are you in the mood for? Want me to make you something? Order in takeout? Go out to eat? You tell me what you want, and I’ll make it happen.”

  “I don’t know,” I whine. “I can’t decide what exactly I want. What are you in the mood for?”

  “I’m easy, babe, you know that. We could swing over to the Mexican restaurant. They have those breakfast burritos you like, or grab some tacos since it’s getting close to lunchtime.”

  “Mmm…I could go for a large order of their guacamole.”

  “Mexican, it is then,” he says, dropping his hand to my leg. “Are you ready to go now?”

  “I just need to change. I’m not wearing my pj’s out of the house. I don’t need those images popping up in all the tabloids.”

  “Whatever you say, babe. You’re still the most beautiful woman, pj’s or not.”

  “You have to tell me that,” I retort back to him. “You married this hot mess and knocked me up.”

  “And I’d marry you all over again. I also plan on knocking you up a few more times, so get used to it.” He drops a kiss to my lips, then stands and pulls me up off the couch. “Go change, and we’ll get out of here.” He smacks my ass as I start to waddle away from him.

  “Hey, how’s it going?” Stacey asks as soon as I accept her FaceTime call.

  “It’s going. I’m in a food coma. We got home a little bit ago from lunch, and I think I ate my weight in guacamole and tacos. How are you?” I ask my best friend and one-half of my writing partners.

  “Crazy. Don’t be like me and have two kids under two, okay? You’ll never sleep again, and walk around with spit-up on your clothes all day and not realize it until you’ve been rocking them all day. I love these little people like crazy, but promise me you’ll give yourself more time before the next one.”

  I laugh at her statement as I hear her boys screeching in the background. “I’ll take it under advisement. For now, I’m just going to focus on this little one who can’t keep its feet out of my lungs,” I tell her, pointing down to my belly.

  “So, did you guys go out celebrating last night? Tell me all about it. We were so excited for y’all! You should have seen the guys all shouting at the screen last night when the final seconds ticked down and the final buzzer sounded.”

  “I celebrated at the arena but headed home from there. Austin went out with his teammates for a little while. I just couldn’t keep up with them that late. We had a good time at the arena though. Laura’s water broke when she was out on the ice! Just after they presented her and the team with the cup! I haven’t heard if the baby has been born yet, but I’m sure she has by now.”

  “Aww, how sweet! A cup win and a new baby, all in the same night,” Stacey says as she steps out onto her porch and takes a seat in the swing Peyton installed for her. “Now, that’s better, I escaped all the noise of the house.”

  “Yeah, I’m excited for them.”

  “Lee and I had a song idea that we wanted to run by you sometime soon. We think it might go well with the new album. Great potential for a single. I’ll email the files over to you in just a little bit.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll keep an eye out for the email and let you know my thoughts on it.”

  “Are you still wanting to put an album out this fall, or are you thinking of pushing it back?”

  “I’d like to get it out this fall, but if I can’t get back into the studio and comfortably record, then it will have to wait. No reason to rush the album and risk it flopping. I’d rather wait and put out the best we can.”

  “I agree, and it isn’t like you haven’t earned some time off, lady. You’ve been working basically nonstop for the past four or five years. You deserve to take off a year, if that’s what you want to do.”

  “I know, and I’m enjoying my time off, even if some of it was bed rest ordered by my doctor. Being off bed rest these past couple of days has really helped. I was going stir-crazy not being able to be up and around.”

  “I completely underst
and your pain. Bed rest isn’t easy at all. Thankfully, when I was on it with Evan, it was at the end of my pregnancy, and only for a week. I don’t know what I would have done if it was earlier in my pregnancy and for a few months. So, basically, you’re a rock star is what I’m trying to tell you.”

  “Thanks,” I say on a laugh. “I wish I felt like one.”

  “Hi!” Evan says all of a sudden, his face filling the screen on my phone.

  “Hi, buddy. Are you having fun?” I ask him.

  “Truck!” he says, holding up one of his toys.

  “That’s a cool truck you’ve got there,” I tell him as he slides off of Stacey’s lap and out of the camera shot.

  “Sorry about that. He came out here out of nowhere. I must not have shut the door all the way.”

  “It’s no big deal. You know I love seeing the kids. They’re both going to be huge by the next time I get to see them in person.”

  “I know. Maybe we’ll have to come out and see you guys. Are you still staying in Indy all summer?”

  “Yeah. Not worth going somewhere else and having to transfer my care for the duration of my pregnancy. With all the complications I’ve had, it makes it a daunting few months.”

  “What’s Austin got planned for the summer?”

  “Nothing big, just working with a conditioning coach and playing some pick-up games with the other guys who stay around all summer. He didn’t want to commit too much with the baby coming. If my doctor approves of me traveling, I think we’re going to get away for a week or so next month, for a babymoon.”

  “That sounds like fun! Where are you thinking of going?” Stacey asks.

  “Not sure yet. Maybe New Orleans or down to Destin, Florida and hit up the beach for a few days. I just want something relaxing. If we drive, we’ll probably stop in and see my parents and Nana for a day or two, as well.”

  “Sounds fun! I hope your doctor approves for you to do so. If she doesn’t, maybe y’all can have a staycation and find a B&B close by to go to, or something else fun in the Indy area.”

  “That’s my back-up plan.”

  “Have you gotten the nursery all put together yet?”

  “Nope, but I think we’re going to work on it today. Austin isn’t required to go in today and offered to work on getting the crib and changing table put together. The rocking chair and ottoman don’t require any assembly, so once the two pieces of furniture are built, it will just be the finishing touches. We already had the room painted, and I’ve been picking up some small decorations to hang up on the walls. Nothing too drastic, as I want it simple and gender-neutral.”

  “I’m calling it now that you’re having a girl,” Stacey tells me.

  “You think so?” I ask. My own intuition keeps flip-flopping back and forth.

  “I do. I’ve thought that since you told me. Just my gut feeling.”

  “I ordered the two cutest little outfits that have our boy and girl names stitched onto them, for once the baby is born and we announce that he or she is here. I can’t wait for them to arrive. Hopefully, later this week.”

  “Eek! You’re getting so close! I’m so excited for you guys.”

  “Don’t rush it!” I say on a laugh. “I’ve still got eight weeks left until my due date.”

  “And those weeks will fly by. Trust me,” she says, laughing as well.

  “I know. This entire pregnancy has flown by, but I’m excited to hold a baby in my arms, even if it does come with sleepless nights, shower-less days, and spit-up-covered clothes.”

  Sighing, Stacey gives me a dreamy look. “I know, girl. And they’re so worth it. And when you see your husband hold your little baby for the first time, be ready for your heart to melt and you’ll fall in love with him all over again. Just something about daddies and their babies that will have you swooning. Make him do some skin-to-skin those first few days, and you’ll be a melted puddle next to him.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to see Austin with the baby. He’s going to be a goner. He’s been so cute at each of my appointments. Even with the season, he never missed one appointment. It was important to him to make all of them.”

  “You got yourself a good one. We both did,” she says.

  “That we did. Speaking of husbands, how’s yours? Has he decided yet if he’s re-enlisting or leaving the military?”

  “I’ve told him the entire time that I would support him one hundred percent, and that the decision was completely his. I know he struggles with uprooting our lives, as staying in would almost guarantee us being moved to a different base. He’s lucky he’s been at this base so long already. But in the end, he’s decided to stay in one more enlistment because that would bring him to twenty years and qualify him for a full retirement. Doesn’t make sense to get out now when he’s so close to that benefit.”

  “That makes sense. Does he have any ideas on what he’s going to do once he’s out?”

  “Not really. I think that’s what pushed him to stay in for another four years. Gives him time to figure out what he wants to do once out. I joked with him that he can just become the stay-at-home dad once he retires. Take care of the kids while I work. It isn’t like we can’t afford for that to happen.”

  “I just can’t see that.” I giggle, thinking of Peyton with the kids all the time. The man would be running them through basic training-type drills every morning before school. “Could you imagine? You’d have some little soldiers running around your house.”

  “Oh, trust me, we’re already there. They are his freaking shadows. Want to do everything Daddy does. I’m sure the apples won’t fall far from the tree once they are grown up.”

  “Well, at least you know they’ll grow up to be good men, with the example they have at home.”

  “Yep. He’s already talking about adding another one to the mix. I swear, they just want to keep adding kids because of the fun part of making them. They forget we get all the uncomfortable and painful parts of childbirth.”

  “Tell me about it. Austin commented again today that he plans to knock me up a few more times. I told him to back off and let me finish baking the first one.”

  “Men. Can’t live with them, can’t live without.”

  “Amen,” I tell her. “And on that note, I’m being summoned.”

  “I should probably go, as well. Go make sure my house hasn’t been torn apart while I’ve been out here talking to you.”

  “I’ll let you know what I think about that song.”

  “Sounds good, I’ll email it over shortly. Take it easy and call me later!”

  “Will do! Talk to you later. Bye,” I tell her before ending the FaceTime call.

  “I’ve got the crib assembled. Do you want to come tell me where you want it in the room?” Austin asks as I work on getting off the couch. He walks over and gives me a hand, pulling me right up and into his arms.

  “That was fast,” I tell him. “I figured it would take longer to build.”

  “Nope, went together pretty easy, surprisingly.” He drops a kiss to my lips before following me into the nursery.

  “I was thinking of having the crib centered along this wall, the changing table over here,” I say, pointing to the opposite wall. “And the rocking chair and ottoman in the corner there by the window.”

  “Sounds good. Did you want anything hung on the walls?”

  “I have a few things in the closet, but I want to make sure I like the furniture layout first.”

  “Okay, let me get things moved and then we can figure out the walls.”

  “I also have a few things still coming that I ordered online this past week. A small toy box, and I also found the hamper that matches the crib and changing table, so I ordered that.”

  “Sounds good, babe. You make this room whatever you want it to be.” He kisses my cheek before moving the furniture into place.

  I look around once he’s done, and love the layout. The room is a good size, so nothing feels cramped or on top of anything else. “I love it
,” I tell him, taking a seat on the rocking chair.

  “I’m glad,” he says, rubbing my belly once again.

  “Do you think we can go look at closet organizers? I was thinking of installing one of those systems to better use the space in this closet.”

  “Sure, or do you want to just call one of the companies that specializes in them?”

  “We can do that, too. Maybe have them look at more than just the baby’s closet. Maybe they can re-do our master one, as well.”

  “Whatever you want, babe.”

  “Feel this!” I tell him, having just been kicked hard. I grab his hand and place it back on my stomach just as the baby rolls over or whatever it’s doing in there.

  Austin places both of his hands on my belly as the baby moves all around, stretching and moving. The elation on his face is worth every kick to my lungs and bladder, and the many weeks I spent on bed rest.

  Chapter Nine

  Scott

  “Scott, do you have a few minutes?” the head coach, Jacob Martin, asks after walking into the locker room. All the guys are here cleaning out their stuff and packing things up for the summer. Some of them, like me, will never return to this locker room as a player of the Eagles team. Some, like me, will be hanging up their skates in retirement, while others will be traded over the summer months.

  “Sure, Coach,” I reply, setting down the items I have in my hand. I follow him out of the locker room and down the hall to his office, where I find the GM, Daniel Johnson, waiting.

  “Scott, I know we’ve already approached you about taking on an assistant coaching position, and that offer still stands, but it’s also changed just a little in the last twenty-four hours. Jeff Peterson has turned in his resignation and will be leaving the team. That leaves our second-in-command coaching position open and we’d like to amend our original offer and offer you his position. It comes with a larger salary, not quite the level of your players contract, but larger than the other assistant positions.”