Delayed Penalty (Empire State Hockey #5)

Chapter 24 – Harris

Chapter Twenty-Four

Harris

Mom

Hey, I know we mentioned dinner tomorrow, but we’re in town early.

See you soon!

Wait, what?

Really?

Mom

Yeah! Isn’t that cool?

“ W hat do you mean you haven’t watched Harry Potte r in years?” Avery snaps, her eyes wide, the shock evident and I almost laugh. She just looks so worked up and she’s so adorable.

“Nah, the last time I watched Harry Potter was the October of my senior year.”

With her. It was the last time I could stomach watching the movie because every time I saw a clip of it, or a book, I thought of her. Harry Potter has always reminded me of Avery, I mean it was the first movie we ever watched together.

Was it my favorite series when we were together? Absolutely. We watched every movie at least five times, spent more time than I care to admit figuring out what house we were, not to mention the fact that I read all the books when I was growing up, so I’m an OG fan.

Specifically, a Gryffindor.

“That’s absolutely bonkers, Harris. How dare you go years without watching this movie.”

“How dare you go years without talking to me,” I joke, and she hits me upside the head.

“Jerk. We both know we fucked that up by not just talking so don’t throw just me under the bus.”

“I guess I’m under that bus too, now aren’t I.”

“Yup. Now, focus,” she says as she presses play.

I’m immediately transported back to when we used to watch this, the cozy blanket on, candles lit and fire going in the fireplace that makes this so comfortable. Plus snacks, because you can’t watch a movie without snacks.

“So, remember how I told you that we were going to go meet my family for dinner and we could tell them our news together?” I ask, her head snapping in my direction

“Yes?”

“Well, yeah… about that, they’re kind of on their way.”

“ What?! ” Avery shouts, throwing her blanket off and quickly standing up. “They’re coming… now?”

“Yeah… my mom just texted me and said they decided to come early…”

Her eyes are wild, frantic, as she looks around like she is not sure what to do first.

“They can’t, though. The apartment is a mess, I’m a mess. And I haven’t had the next twenty-four hours to stress over meeting them and overanalyze every conversation possible until I feel even remotely prepared only to fuck it up in the end.”

“Deep breath, Ave,” I say, standing up and grabbing her hands, pulling her into me to wrap her in a hug. “My family will love you, they did in the past and they will now. They know how wonderful you were when we were together before. Plus, I never told them why we broke up, so they have no reason to not like you. “

“You never told them?” she asks, her big doe eyes staring up at me, the silver blue color reflecting the lights in the room—a sparkle I could get lost in for hours.

“Nope. They had no reason to dislike you just because we didn’t work out. I think I always knew I didn’t want that to be the end for us. My mom and my sisters are known for holding a bit of a grudge, so I didn’t want to have to overcome that if I did get another shot.”

Her jaw drops slightly, eyes widening at my words, whether surprised I held onto hope or annoyed, I’m not sure, regardless it was the best decision I ever made.

“Now that we’re sitting here, married and you carrying our baby, I’m glad I made that choice.”

“I—I… thank you,” she says, before turning around to look at the living room. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m a mess and this apartment is a mess.”

Looking around, I’m not sure what she’s so worried about. There’s a couple of pillows and blankets on the couch from us watching movies, a cup for each of us and some snacks on the coffee table. My apartment looks lived in, not messy.

As for Avery?

She looks fucking stunning, a big t shirt on, a baggy pair of sweats she stole from my closet and her hair thrown up in a bun. But she’s glowing. She has no need for even a drop of makeup, her cheeks are rosy and glowing and she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

“Would it make you feel better if you went and jumped in the shower? You look absolutely perfect right now, but if it would make you feel better, I’ll take care of the apartment while you go do that.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind helping,” she says, still pinned against my body, my arms wrapped around her, holding her close.

Looking down, I stare at our bodies together, her swollen belly pressed against me, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see this woman smile.

“Absolutely,” I say, turning her body around to face the bathroom, bringing my mouth down to her ear, goosebumps webbing down the column of her throat. “But you better hurry before I decide to come join you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the last time we were in a shower together.”

She blushes, a tiny smile playing on her lips and for a moment, I think she might actually invite me with her.

An hour later, Avery is showered and ready for my family to get here and I’ve made the apartment even more clean than the day I moved in, but it’s worth it to have Avery more relaxed and excited to meet everyone.

I’m actually nervous, but it’s not because I’m afraid of their reaction, I’m nervous my mom is going to try to move in with us once she knows she’s about to be a grandma. The knock on the door snaps me out of it, as Avery’s eyes fall on the door from her spot at my island, and I smile.

“You ready for crazy town?” I smirk as I walk to the door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she says, and with that, I open the door.

I’m immediately thrown into a hug by my mom, my sisters stealing me next, before finally I get to see my dad who pulls me into a big bear hug I missed more than I realized. I didn’t know how much I needed my family and wanted to be around them now that I’m about to be a dad, but having them here feels like everything.

“I missed you so much, son,” my dad says as he releases me, taking a step into my apartment. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, but come on in, I have someone I want you to meet,” I say, turning around the corner to head into the kitchen.

“Oh?” my mom questions with a smile as she turns the corner, her eyes widening with excitement when she sees Avery. Her gaze bouncing between Avery and I, each time her smile getting wider and her eyes welling with tears. “Avery?”

Standing up, Avery goes to give my mom a hug, stopping and hugging each of my sisters and dad right after. They may have only met one time one Christmas, but they hit it off so well they hated me for nearly a year after we broke up, but that’s just because I told them I broke up with her.

As soon as they are done hugging, I see my mom’s eyes fall onto Avery’s stomach, where her left hand is resting gently. Her swollen belly so petite, but so obviously holding a baby inside. Then, my mom’s gaze shifts to Avery’s finger, wearing my grandmother's ring.

Looking back at me, pure love and adoration in her eyes, and I know without saying a word that she knows exactly what she just walked into.

Not only is she going to be a grandma, but she also has a brand-new daughter-in-law, one she has always dreamed of having.

“Is there something you want to share?” she asks, her eyes never leaving Avery.

My sisters’ and dad’s eyes bounce to me, to my mom, then finally landing on Avery until they all realize it at once, based on the immediate wide eyes on each of their faces.

Wrapping my arm around her, I pull Avery toward me, unable to stop myself from smiling. “What should we start with first? Uh, you guys remember Avery, right?”

“Harris, we aren’t stupid. Of course, we remember Avery,” Lyla says.

“Can you skip to the actual news?” my mom asks, her hands rubbing together with excitement.

“Well, uh, we got married a couple of weeks ago… and as you can see, she’s pregnant.”

My sisters and mom immediately turn into drunk woo girls, their cheers of excitement at once turning into hugs, while jumping up and down, and my dad pulls me into a hug telling me how proud he is to be my dad.

“ Harris !” my mom says when she pulls me into a hug. “You know, we would have been more than happy to help you plan a wedding, right?”

“Obviously, Mama,” I say, looking down at my mom who has so much hope and excitement in her eyes, something I promised Avery we would see because at the end of the day, my parents love their family. “There’s a lot of information you’re missing, and we will definitely tell you everything, but just know we did what we felt was necessary to make sure everyone’s protected.”

Her eyes narrow but she just nods. “Why don’t I go in the kitchen and start whipping up some dinner and you can fill us in on what we missed. If you don’t make me mad at you, I’ll make brownies after.”

“You piss her off and I’ll blame you for not getting dessert.” Emmie smirks as she takes a seat at the island.

“Me too. I need all the carbs for this dang gremlin inside of me,” Avery says.

“Well, you two can have some, regardless. Harrison has to earn it.”

“You mean to tell me that your ex is trying to ruin your life?” my mom asks as she mixes the Parmesan cheese into Alfredo sauce.

All it took was Avery mentioning her need for all the carbs for my mom to decide to make homemade Alfredo and garlic bread. She definitely didn’t make it for me—her son who is obsessed with Alfredo—but truthfully, I’m happy she’s making it for Avery.

Avery, the woman carrying my child. The woman wearing my grandmother’s ring.

But most importantly?

The woman who stole my heart six years ago, my best friend, and the love of my life.

Holy fuck.

I’m still in love with Avery.