Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(40)

God, seeing her sick today, hunched over the toilet? I felt so helpless. I just wanted to fix it.

By the time I make it back inside, Ana’s sitting on the couch, facing away from me. Her shoulders rise with a deep breath, and when Hobbes barrels over to her, she murmurs something soft to him, ruffling his fur with her fingers.

My throat is bone dry. I take a step closer to the couch, then pause and run one hand along the stubble on my jaw. “So, uh, how are you feeling?”

She licks her lips and meets my eyes. “Maybe you’d better sit down.” Her eyes are red and look like she’s been crying.

My chest tightens.

Following her instructions, I sit in the chair across from her. “Everything okay?”

She nods and swallows hard. She’s hesitating. Like she’s afraid I’ll freak out at the news.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me. Whatever happens, I promise I can handle it.” My voice is soft, deep, and sincere.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Pregnant,” I repeat softly.

She nods again.

“How are you feeling?” I move closer to sit beside her on the couch.

She inhales and lifts one shoulder. “Still a little nauseated, but okay.”

“I meant about the news. That’s big, right?”

Ana and I have covered a lot of topics in the short time she’s been staying here, but she’s never mentioned if she wants children or not. She’d make an amazing mother, I’m sure of it, but I don’t know if this is what she saw in her future plans.

“A lot of things. It’s hard to put into words.”

I nod. “I’ll bet.”

She gives me a weak smile. “I feel . . . overwhelmed. In disbelief.” She exhales slowly. “And so incredibly embarrassed.”

“Why embarrassed?”

She twists her hands in her lap, and I can practically see the discomfort rolling off her in waves. “Well, because I don’t know if the baby is yours or Jason’s.”

My stomach tightens, and I release a slow exhale. “Yeah. I was wondering about that too.”

“I feel so stupid.” She drops her face into her hands and lets out a deep groan. “Or maybe slutty is a better word.”

“Hey.” Squeezing her shoulder, I move closer. “Don’t ever call yourself that.”

Ana scoffs. “Well, what kind of woman doesn’t know who the father of her baby is?”

With a soft touch to her cheek, I turn her face toward mine. “The kind who ended one relationship and moved on with her life. There’s nothing wrong with what we did, Ana.”

For the first time, I realize I actually believe those words. I felt guilty at first—because as a teammate’s ex, she should have been off-limits to me. But somewhere along the way, those feelings went away. Maybe because I’d have to respect Kress in order to feel guilty about sleeping with his girl. And I definitely don’t respect him.

“Then why did you say it couldn’t happen again?” she asks, pinning me with a serious stare.

Jesus. What does one say to that?

Because it would be so easy to fall for you? Because I would never be okay being your casual fuck buddy? Because you’re the kind of girl who makes a guy want it all—a white picket fence, kids in the backyard, a dog who’s a total pain in the ass but you love anyway.

I force my gaze to return to hers. “Because I didn’t think you’d be ready to jump into another relationship.”

She chews on her lower lip, still watching me. I’m wondering if she’s going to point out that people don’t have to be in a relationship to fuck, but she doesn’t. Thank God. She just stays quiet with an emotion I can’t read written all over her face.

I’m not the type who can separate sex from feelings. Maybe it’s because I’ve been alone for too long. Maybe because some part of me has already fallen for her. Who the hell knows?

When Ana doesn’t say anything else, I touch her hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

She looks uncertain. “Are you sure?”

“Very.”

If the baby’s mine, I have enough money and resources to make sure both her life, and our baby’s, is comfortable and safe. And even if the baby’s not mine, hell, that doesn’t change much in my eyes, because my number one priority now is ensuring that both Ana and the baby are safe.

“You can stay here as long as you like. I’ll do whatever I can to protect you both. And if it’s mine, well . . .”

She looks up, her delicate eyebrows arched, waiting for the next words out of my mouth.

“I’ve always wanted kids. A whole bunch of them.”

She smiles, her face relaxing. “But I’m guessing you didn’t imagine it would be like this.”

“I didn’t, but that doesn’t change anything. If the baby’s mine, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re both happy and healthy. And if it’s not, I’m still going to be here. This is your baby, Ana, and I’ll protect you both.”

“Grant . . .” Tears well in her eyes and she looks down at Hobbes, not wanting me to see her cry.

“We’ll just face one thing at a time.”

She shifts on the cushion, tucking her hair behind one ear. “Okay.” Her voice is small and raspy with emotion.