The Langfield Brothers: Box Set

2. Sara

TWO

SARA

“Do we want spiked seltzers or should I just bring prosecco?” Lennox calls from the kitchen. I’m sitting with her and Aiden’s dog, Goose, trying to figure out how to tell her I’m pregnant when she walks in with a bottle of prosecco in one hand and two glasses in the other. “I decided for us.” She grins and shimmies her shoulders. “Mimosas before we go to the beach and then seltzers while we’re there.”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out and immediately blow out a relieved sigh. God, that wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Finally, someone other than Brooks knows.

My pink-haired bestie’s mouth falls open.

“So yeah, no mimosas for me. And honestly, the beach isn’t sounding so great. Can we just order food and sit on the couch, maybe watch a few episodes of Dawson’s Creek ?”

Lennox’s mouth snaps shut and she shakes her head. “Oh yeah, we’re not doing that. Rewind. Let’s do this again. You’re what now?” She places the glasses and champagne down on the coffee table and settles on the other side of Goose.

“I’m pregnant,” I say slowly. “Ya know, with baby.” I mime a big belly over my stomach.

Lennox’s chin dips and she glares at me. “I know what ‘I’m pregnant’ means. But seriously Sar, way to bury the lead. You don’t just say ‘I’m pregnant.’”

“You don’t?” I ask dubiously. I mean it’s my first time being pregnant, so maybe I got this wrong, but I kind of figured I couldn’t get this part wrong.

“ No .” She sounds completely exasperated. “Not when it comes to telling your best friend in the whole entire world. Your sister because of our misters! Come on, Sar, I need a chocolate bar that says ‘ you’re going to be an auntie ’ or maybe a hot pink t-shirt with ‘ Auntie Lennox ’ written on it, or?—”

I cough out a laugh. “Got it. I’ll make sure that when I tell the rest of the girls I do it with some fanfare.”

Lennox’s gaze narrows on me. “So now they get the fun announcement and I just get ‘ I’m pregnant ’?” She alters her voice as if she’s being me, and I only laugh harder. She’s so damn dramatic.

“You’re pregnant!” We both turn around to find Aiden dropping his gym bag on the floor and then rushing toward his wife. “Baby, are you really pregnant?” The smile on this guy’s face. Damn.

Lennox’s smile falls and she shakes her head. “No! Not me.” She lets out a loud sigh. “God, no. Can you even imagine?”

Aiden’s attention snaps to me and his mouth falls open. “ You’re pregnant?”

I suck in my lips. Brooks really should have been the one to tell his brothers. Honestly, I figured he already did. They don’t go ten minutes without texting one another. That Langfield brother chat is the stuff of legends.

But Aiden had also become my brother and one of my closest friends when he married my best friend, and I married his brother. The four of us are a unit. I can’t do anything but nod, a smile forming.

“Shit Sar, that’s incredible!” I’m lifted into the air and squeezed against his chest before I can even react. “Congratulations,” he says with a big smile before setting me down and turning to his wife again. “Ya hear that Lex? We’re going to be an auntie and uncle again!” He rushes toward his wife, giving her just as big of a hug. I can’t help but laugh. The two of them are so perfect for one another.

Aiden releases Lennox and shakes his head, a dopey expression on his face, like he still can’t believe what I’ve just told him. “Alright, I’m going to go shower. Are you girls still going to the beach today?”

I say no at the same time Lennox says yes.

With a confused look toward his wife, Aiden shrugs. “Okay. Well, if you are still here when I come out of the shower, I’ll see you then. If not, have a great time at the beach.” He kisses his wife and disappears upstairs. Goose hops off the couch without a glance in our direction and bounds up after him, his golden fluffy hair bouncing as he goes.

“That dog is about as obsessed with Aiden as Aiden is with you,” I tease.

Lennox lets out a content sigh, a happy smile plastered to her face. “Don’t I know it.” Then she eyes me, her smile falling. “So how come you aren’t jumping for joy over the pregnancy news?”

The way she knows me. Nerves bounce around in my stomach as I try to figure out how to explain all these emotions. Of course I’m excited to have a baby with Brooks. I always imagined that one day we would. So many of the guys on the team have had kids recently, so it’s not like it’s uncommon. And we were obviously having lots of sex, and I wasn’t on the pill, so it’s not all that surprising that I’m pregnant. Still, though, it’s different to think something is a possibility than to know it’s actually occurring. I’m going to be a mom. That’s…something I don’t think I really considered until those two lines appeared on the stick. I’ll be responsible for someone else. No longer will I be number one in Brooks and my life. Our baby will. As it should be. But still…it’s a lot to come to terms with.

Finally, I meet my best friend’s eyes and just say what is at the base of all of my feelings. “I’m scared.”

Lennox’s expression softens. “Why?”

Why not? Is what I really want to say. How could anyone find out they're pregnant and not have some level of nervousness. But mine is deeper than that. “My father didn’t stay.”

“Brooks is not your father.”

Rationally, I know that’s true, but that doesn’t stop my heart from thumping wildly in my chest at just the thought of him leaving us. “It was hard enough to trust Brooks with my own heart but bringing a child into this?” I shake my head. “What if, one day, Brooks wakes up and realizes I’m too much? That he could do so much better than me? Sure, my craziness is quirky and adorable now, but years from now my constant craziness will tire him out. I’m going to be over the top, Len. When my kid takes their first steps, I’m probably going to throw a parade. If someone hurts my child, I’ll take out an ad in the paper to destroy that sucker’s life. Every moment, for the next few decades, I’m only going to get crazier, and that can be exhausting for even me. My husband? He’s as laid back as they come.” My throat grows tight. “What if he realizes that having someone more like him would be better? It’s not just me he’d be breaking, it’d be our child too.”

Lennox pushes closer and wraps her arms around me. “You are not too much. And Brooks doesn’t find your craziness exasperating–he loves it. And for the record, babe, I’ll be right there with you putting a hit out on anyone who hurts our little Langfield baby. Don’t forget those Langfield men are crazy protective when it comes to their women—Brooks attacked his uncle during a hockey game because he talked about you—I can’t even imagine how crazy he’ll be when it comes to your child. You’re going to be just fine and, for the moments you’re not, you can rest your sweet little head on my chest, and I’ll smother you with all my love.”

I laugh as she does just that, scooping me into her arms and pressing me tightly into her breasts. Though it’s hard to breathe, I enjoy every second of her loving on me. It’s exactly what I need. And I know she’s right. Brooks loves me. But still, the nerves stay. I wish I knew what it would take to just be happy and trust that it will all be alright.

“Knock knock.” Brooks’s voice startles me awake, but I look over to find only Goose on the couch beside me. Where’d Lennox disappear to? We had been watching Dawson’s Creek , and I guess I’d fallen asleep. That has been happening a lot lately. Probably another symptom of the pregnancy that’s taken me completely by surprise.

When Brooks spots me on the couch, curled up next to Goose, his face softens and his grin grows. “You look cuddly.”

I open my arms. “Then come cuddle me.”

Wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a bolts shirt, his hair tied back in his classic messy bun, he looks just as cozy. He bounds toward me, never having to be asked twice. I’m picked up and lying in his arms within seconds. “Did you have a good day with Lennox?”

I peer around the room again. Seriously, where did she go? “I did until she disappeared on me.”

He chuckles. “You were out cold but everyone went across the street to Beckett’s for Sunday dinner.”

I scramble to sit up. “Oh crap, I really took a nap, huh?”

Brooks’s grip on me tightens as he pulls me to his chest. “No rush, crazy girl.”

I eye him. “You know how Beckett is. He hates when people are late.”

The smile that spans my husband’s face has my stomach going all melty. “He told us to take our time. Besides, I have something I want to show you.”

“You do?”

Brooks lifts me up and starts to carry me toward the door. Goose bounds after us, barking. “Yup. What do you say, crazy girl, up for a little adventure?” He sets me down on my feet and waits for me to answer. Though his hands somehow tangle in my hair as he tugs my face up to look at him.

His warm brown eyes are home to me. I just love him so damn much. “Of course, Brooks. Where you go, I follow.”

He chuckles as he bends to press his lips to mine. But before kissing me he says, “You’ve got it all wrong, Sar. I’ve been following you around for years, and I plan to do it for the rest of my life.”

I hold onto his words as he brushes his lips against mine. We’re going to be fine. He loves me. He’s going to love our child. And we’re not going to be like our parents. We’re going to get this right. Brooks bends down by the door and grabs my flip-flops. When I go to reach for them he shakes his head and taps on my ankle. “Lift.”

“You don’t have to put my shoes on.”

From the floor, he looks up at me and his gorgeous golden-brown hair sways with his movement. “You’re carrying our baby, so for the next nine-ish months let me feel slightly useful by doing little things for you, please?”

I roll my eyes even as my lips tip up in a smile. “Fine.”

He slips on my shoes and then he’s wrapping his big hand around mine and guiding me out the door. When he passes his car out front and keeps walking us down the street, I glance at him funny. “Where are we going?”

Brooks’s grin only grows wider as he side-eyes me. “Home.”

“I thought we were going to have dinner at Beckett’s.”

“After we go home.”

I tug on Brooks’s hand to get him to stop. “Stop talking in riddles, you aren’t making any sense. If we need to go home, we need to go back that way to get your car.” I point toward his Bolts blue pick-up truck that he’s famous for.

He shakes his head and that secret smile of his grows wider. “No. We just need to go here.” Both of his hands land on my shoulders, and he turns me toward the brownstone that sits right next to Lennox and Aiden’s.

“Brooks, what did you do?” I say slowly, even as the excitement starts to take over.

“Nothing yet. But say the word and it’s done.”

My eyes ping-pong between my husband and the brick house. Living on this street has always been kind of a dream of mine. Liv and all her friends have homes here and watching the way they are able to help one another out, and also just experience life together, is something I think most little girls dream about. And the idea that I could have that with my best friend and my child’s aunt, well, that makes it so much better. “What are we waiting for?” I ask excitedly.

Brooks lets out a loud laugh, his head falling back and his chest shaking. He’s all man, my husband. His throat is thick, his neck corded as his Adam’s apple bobs with his laughter. The sound of it fills the summer air. Beautiful and melodic. I’m so caught up in it, I’m not prepared when he swoops in and grabs my legs, pulling me into his chest like you’d carry a baby, rushing toward the brick steps like he can’t wait to start this next adventure.

Not surprisingly, he twists the door open without issue, obviously having already arranged for us to be able to go into the house. It’s empty and I have to wonder how long it’s been sitting on the market. I’ve never even seen a sign outside for it, and I’m over at Lennox’s or Liv’s houses pretty often. When I’m not here, I’m either traveling with the team, or hanging with Millie and Vivi. We spend an insane amount of time together because Gavin drags her to as many away games as he can, knowing that once Vivi enters preschool next year, they won’t be able to come to them as often. I still can’t believe our little Vivi is going to be four. Feels like only yesterday I was standing in the hallway with Gavin and Brooks, looking down at her sweet face, and trying to figure out what a baby was doing sitting outside his door.

“Are you going to put me down so I can look around?” I tease as he points out one thing after another in the room. There’s a large fireplace in the corner. “We can put the Christmas tree right next to it with a stocking for you, me, and the blueberry.”

“The blueberry?”

Brooks’s cheeks go rosy. “I looked up how big our baby is right now. According to the internet, our baby is the size of a blueberry.”

“I don’t even know how far along I am.”

My giant of a husband appears sheepish. “I logged into your phone and checked the dates of your last period and then did the math based on the last time I got really deep.”

I snort. “You sound ridiculous. You realize that, right? Also, logged into my phone! What are you, Aiden?”

He shrinks in even more on himself, but when I laugh, he realizes I don’t mind his crazy. It makes me feel a little better about my own.

“Got really deep?”

Brooks sighs and shakes his head. “You’re distracting me and making me hard.”

“By talking about when you inseminated me?”

“I didn’t inseminate you. I—” He struggles to find a word that means exactly what I said.

“Got really deep and filled me with your seed?”

“ Sara. ”

“Painted my insides with your cum?”

“Where the hell do you come up with this stuff? Stop reading Lennox’s books.”

I laugh. “I can’t. They’re just too good. And you’re the one who doesn’t like the word inseminate.”

“I put a baby in you,” he growls, and fuck does it do something to me. Suddenly, I get the whole breeding kink, and I’m kind of annoyed we didn’t actually get to try to get pregnant. It just happened. And yet, I want months of him growling how he wants to put a baby in me.

Of course, that only reminds me of how hard Millie and Gavin have been trying, and immediately I feel guilty for my thoughts.

“Okay, show me the rest of the house. Blueberry and I are excited to see what else you have in store for us.”

The annoyance melts off Brooks’s face and he smiles. “Well, over there I thought we could set up one of those cozy oversized chairs you love so you can read all your crazy books.” There’s a wall of built-in shelves beside it, and already I can imagine books and pictures of our wedding and our future child lining those shelves.

My cheeks hurt from how much I’m smiling now. He carries me up the stairs and guides me to the last bedroom. When he opens it, I see it’s painted the palest of grays, and there’s a rocking chair by the window.

“Our baby’s room,” I whisper.

“Blueberry’s room,” he says as he finally sets me down so I can walk around the room. My fingers strum against the walls as I take in the space, my other hand on my stomach. I’m not sure if there is a science behind any of it, but as soon as I do, I feel at peace. Like she approves of the room. I also know there is no science to tell me this baby is a girl just yet, but in my heart I know she is.

Tears coat my lashes as I spin around and focus on Brooks. “This is the best damn surprise. The best gift. Thank you.”

Brooks shakes his head as he stalks toward me. “No. Thank you. God, Sar, the idea of you, sitting here with our child,” he motions to the rocking chair, and his eyes well with emotion. “It’s the best damn gift of my lifetime.” He steps closer, and his hand goes to my cheek, stroking it as his green eyes stare into mine. “You’re the greatest gift of my lifetime.”

“But what if I’m too much?” The words escape without thought. All my worries come tumbling out in my typical word vomit. “What if, once you’re no longer playing hockey and we’re stuck in this house together, you get sick of me? What if I drive you nuts with all my what ifs? Or I go crazy protective over our child and become one of those women who doesn’t let our kid leave the house? Or who takes out a hit on preschoolers who even look at Blueberry? Then what?”

Brooks’s brows pull together. “You don’t really think that’s a possibility do you?”

I know he’s not asking about my overprotectiveness because we both know that’s a possibility. No, Brooks knows me so well, and he’s honing in on the real question at the heart of it: What if he gets sick of me? What if he leaves me?

My eyes dip and I focus on his chest, unable to face him as I admit my deepest fear. “I’ve seen pictures of my mom and my biological father before I was born. He loved my mom and then…”

With a finger, Brooks tips my chin up so I’m looking at him. “I’m not saying your concerns aren’t real and your feelings aren’t valid, Sar, because of course they are. Neither of us had great dads. Mine was too busy to pay attention, and yours was too stupid and too much of a coward to stick around. But I’m not a stupid man, and I’ll fight every demon of yours and prove to you day in and day out that not only am I not scared of this life, I want it. I want the late-night feedings. I want the loud, happy moments. I want you to wake me up in the middle of the night when you have a craving and when our baby does something crazy, like smile because she just took a huge shit.”

I giggle as tears stream down my face. “Ew.”

He chuckles. “None of it is ‘ew’ to me, Sar. That’s my point. When it comes to you and our Blueberry–” His palm lands on my stomach, and he glances down at it like he can actually feel her. “When it comes to the two of you and however many more we choose to have, I will always show up. I will always feel lucky and I will always be by your side.”

I suck in a breath and nod. “Okay.”

Brooks is still studying me. Unsure. “Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay. I believe you. Okay, let's buy this house.”

Before I can say okay to anything else, Brooks’s lips are on mine, and he’s kissing the life out of me. His tongue licks at the seam of my lips, seeking entrance. Then his fingers are tangling in my hair as he tries to get a better angle. I relax into him, knowing that he’s got me. No matter what happens in life, this man will continue to want me. That’s what this kiss says. He pulls back, peppering smaller kisses to the side of my lips, to my chin, and I know if I don’t press a hand to his chest and stop him, the man will take me right here. And while the idea of that sounds amazing, I do know there is a house full of people waiting for us.

At the reminder of family dinner, another thought pops into my head. “Who’s the owner by the way? I don’t remember anyone living here in all the years we’ve been over at Beckett’s.”

My husband chuckles. “Pretty sure my brother bought every house on this street years ago and has been saving them for each one of us.”

“Oh my god.” A laugh bursts out of me. “That is so Beckett.”

Brooks nods and cups my face. “Yeah. So, you ready to go over to dinner and tell him that we’re saying yes to the house?”

“Am I ready to tell Beckett another one of his crazy plans worked?” I muse.

Brooks laughs. “Yeah, that too.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess so. Are you ready to tell everyone about the baby?”

Brooks shrugs. “It’s totally up to you. But everyone is there. Even Sienna.”

That makes me happy. Sienna moved back a few months ago, and though I know she’s not thrilled by the circumstances that forced her back to the states, it’s been really nice having her around and getting to know my sister-in-law better.

“Yeah, let’s go tell our family that we’re having our own little family.”

“I love you,” my husband says as he presses another gentle kiss to my lips. Then he hunches down into his typical goalie pose, one leg going out wide, and then folds his body forward so he can press a kiss to my stomach. “And I love you too, Blueberry.”