Page 147 of Ruin The Friendship
We make plans for Dottie to meet us at the apartment tomorrow morning when we’re discharged, so she can stick around and help me out since Fletcher has to be back at the arena tomorrow for another game. Thankfully, he won’t miss any games, even though he’s offered to skip the next one no less than three times. I won’t let him. There’s no reason for it, especially since it’s the playoffs. His team needs him. Dottie will be with me, and I bet I could convince Grace, Zoey, and maybe even Hattie—depending on her work schedule—to come over too. We can have a low-key girls’ night.
When the Graffs leave, Fletcher snuggles in next to me on the bed, holding Thea on his chest. He’s been doing skin-to-skin any chance he can, and it makes my heart swell. He’s already such a wonderful dad.
“I thought of what I want her middle name to be.” I lean over to kiss his bare shoulder.
“Yeah?” he asks, running his hand over her soft curls. “What is it?”
“Sage.”
“I like it. Dorothea Sage Ward.”
“Dorothea Sage Graff. Sage, because of the color of her Dad’s eyes. They’re my favorite part of you, and I want her to have that piece of you, even if she doesn’t have any part of your DNA. I also want her to have the Graff name, so she knows she always has a family with the people who gave me a family.”
“Lydia.” Tears brim in his eyes, the ones I love so much. “Thank you. I won’t ever make you regret giving her my last name.”
I kiss him gently. “I know you won’t.”
“I’ll give it to you too, someday.” His eyes lock on mine, and I know he means it, just like I mean my next words.
“I know, and I can’t wait.”
63
GOOD LUCK COMES IN TWOS
FLETCHER
Leaving Lydia and Thea is actually physically painful. Every block I drive away from the apartment hurts my soul. How do the other guys do this? I want to stay home with them, cuddled up and there to help Lydia with everything she needs. My mom and Grace are there with her, but it still doesn’t feel right.
I’m leaving a piece of my heart behind.
How is it that less than forty-eight hours after Thea was born, I’m heading to play another game? The worst part is, we leave early tomorrow for the two-game away stretch of this series. I’ll be gone for three days. Who knows how much Thea will grow in that time? I hate that I’m missing this, that Lydia will be without me. Yes, my mom will be there, but I won’t be.
I get to the arena and head into the locker room to prep for warm-ups. I wave to Vivi as I walk through the tunnel, and she offers me a whispered congratulations. I nod, smiling.
Everyone on the team knows Lydia had the baby since I missed practice yesterday and this morning, but per Lydia’swishes, we are keeping her off social media. We’ve even asked that, at any family events, she either not be photographed or have her face covered. Admin was completely willing to abide by our request, and for that, I’m grateful. I want my daughter to watch me play and greet me at the plexiglass at warmups, but not if the team wasn’t going to grant our request for privacy.
I know fans will probably photograph her, and there’s only so much we can do about that, but we’re trying to control what we can, especially after Lydia’s mom sent private photos to the press.
When I walk into the locker room, a few of the guys are sitting around with their headphones in as they get their gear on, zoning in for the game. The playoffs are always a different kind of vibe in the locker room. Some guys are even more superstitious, but for me, I only need my good luck charm.
I sit on the bench and dial Lydia. She doesn’t answer, but she might not be by her phone. I give her a minute before I call again.
No answer.
Something may be wrong. Lydia could have a delayed postpartum hemorrhage. She could be bleeding out, and I’m stuck here at the arena. So much could be going wrong, and I’m not there. Unbridled fear sinks deep into my bones.
I call my mom.
She answers quickly, and her voice soothes the anxiety right away. “Hi, honey. What’s up?”
“Is Lydi okay?”
“Sleeping,” Mom answers, and I sigh in relief. “Why? Is everything okay?”
“I talk to her before every game.”
“You talked to her before you left.”
