Page 154 of Through the Storm

I laugh under my breath and reach out, brushing the baby’s foot with careful fingers. He stirs. “That’s my guy,” I murmur.

Ella sniffles loudly, and I give her a look. “What? I’m not crying.”

“Yes, you are. Stop it,” I hiss.

I barely have time to register Katy stepping closer to me before a small herd of large men from the opposing team, Katy’s former college, starts drifting in her direction.

“Katy!” Logan calls out. “Is that the mini dude?”

Matt leans in, helmet under his arm. “That’s him, right? That’s the baby?”

Katy laughs, instinctively angling the carrier so they can see. “Yep.”

“Bro.” Jason shakes his head in awe. “He’s tiny.”

“He was inside a person,” Ella adds helpfully. “That’s how that works.”

The guys grin, crowding a little closer.

“Hey, little man.” Ethan leans in. “What’s up?”

Logan nods at Katy. “Congrats. Seriously.”

I watch it all. And I don’t feel defensive or jealous at all. If anything, I’m grateful to this group of idiots processing adulthood with me in real time. They were never jerks to Katy, and they were never jerks about the situation we found ourselves in.

Then a voice from behind them snaps, “Why are you all over here? Get back to your side.”

Ethan straightens immediately. “Sorry, Coach!” He gestures vaguely at the baby. “This is my almost child. I needed to say hi.”

I blink.

Katy lets out a startled laugh. “Oh my God, you guys!”

Logan winces. “We really need to stop saying that.”

I clear my throat, and every head turns toward me.

I smile, tight and unmistakably serious.

“Yeah.” I hold his gaze. “You guys really need to stop saying that.”

Ethan holds up his hands. “Okay, okay. Retired phrase.”

“Fully retired,” I snap. “Like… permanently.”

Katy looks up at me, eyes bright, clearly fighting a smile.

“Sorry.” Logan rubs the back of his neck. “He jokes to cope.”

“It’s fine.”

The baby shifts and lets out a tiny sound.

“Fine,” Matt whispers. “Even he agrees.”

Katy laughs, and I feel it settle. Whatever had tried to spark in my chest is gone.

Someone yells again from across the field. “MOVE.”