Twin Babies for my Pucking Defenders (Chicago Icebreakers #2)

38. Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Axel

I glance over at Carter sitting next to me in the car. He’s been quiet for the last few minutes, staring out the window like he’s trying to map out every twist and turn of the road to Millie’s house. Can’t blame the guy. His whole life’s changed in the blink of an eye.

“She doesn’t know, right?” Carter asks, turning to look at me.

I shake my head. “Nope. She still thinks it’s just a regular dinner with Finn, Declan, and Chase. We’ve got this thing locked down tight.”

Carter lets out a long breath, his fingers tapping nervously on his knee. “I’m not nervous or anything,” he mutters, but there’s a tightness in his voice that gives him away. “But it’s a little wild, you know? I just joined the team, and now...twins. Feels like a lot, man.”

I laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. “Yeah, tell me about it. Welcome to the club. I was there too, right at the start. Hell, Coach was, too. You’ll be fine, man.”

Carter chuckles softly, shaking his head. “It’s just...a lot.”

“It is,” I agree, shifting in my seat, “but look at it this way—none of us knew what the fuck we were doing either when we first found out. And now, here we are. Life’s crazy like that.”

He smirks, leaning back in his seat.

“I just remember thinking when Millie said she was in a harem, there’s no way in hell I’d be down for sharing. I was too fucking selfish for that shit. And now? I’m heading to a baby shower for the woman I’m sharing with my best friends.”

We both laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Life definitely has a twisted sense of humor.

“Where’s she at now?” Carter asks, breaking the brief silence.

“Nate said they just left the house. Should be pulling up soon,” I answer.

Carter nods, and we sit in comfortable silence for a bit, the car rolling smoothly through the quiet streets until we reach Millie’s place. The house looks great—decorated as hell, balloons everywhere, like a damn Pinterest dream. They went all out for this one.

We get out of the car, and I catch sight of Millie through the window, laughing with Chase and Declan. The moment we step through the door, she’s rushing toward us, throwing her arms around me first.

“Axel!” she squeals, hugging me tight.

“Hey, trouble,” I laugh, hugging her back before pulling away. “Where’s the babies?”

“With my dad,” she says, grinning. “I get a few hours of peace.”

“Good for you,” I say, chuckling. “How are his chickens doing?”

“Better than okay,” she laughs. “You know him. Those chickens are his pride and joy.”

I shake my head, amused as hell. Her dad’s obsession with those damn chickens is legendary. “Well, I hope they’re not causing you more stress.”

She waves me off, and I gesture toward Carter, who’s standing awkwardly behind me. “Hey, you remember Carter, right? You’ve met, but officially...”

Millie gives him a warm smile and nods. “Of course! Welcome to the chaos, Carter.”

He smiles back, shaking her hand. “Thanks, Millie. It’s...good to be here.”

I notice the dog, Peanut, charging at me from across the room. That little gremlin has endless energy.

“Hey, Peanut,” I grin, leaning down to scratch her neck. “Missed you.”

Chase comes over, already holding a glass of wine, and hands one to Carter while he clinks his own glass against mine. “So, how’re you two holding up with the babies on the way?”

Carter looks at me, then back at Chase. “Honestly? Fucking terrified,” he admits with a grin.

“Excited as hell,” I add, taking a sip of my drink.

Before we can say more, the doorbell rings, and we all stop for a moment, glancing at each other. I can practically see the excitement bubbling in the room. Carter’s shifting on his feet, trying to keep calm, but he’s just as anxious as the rest of us.

“She’s here,” I say, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Showtime.”

Millie opens the door, and there she is—Jade, looking absolutely stunning. She’s dressed in this simple but elegant navy dress that hugs her curves just right, her hair falling around her shoulders in loose waves. Nate’s right behind her, and they both take in the scene—the decorations, the balloons, the faces staring at them—and then Jade just loses it.

Tears spill from her eyes as she bursts out laughing, crying at the same time. “I can’t believe you guys...you actually pulled off a baby shower for me?”

I step forward, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing her forehead. “Of course we did, babe. You deserve it.”

Nate wraps his arms around her from behind, kissing her temple. “We all wanted to do something special for you.”

Millie comes over, hugging Jade tightly. “You deserve all of this and more.”

Jade wipes her eyes, sniffling. “You guys are amazing. I can’t...I don’t even know what to say.”

“No need to say anything,” I tell her, pulling her close again. “We love you. That’s all that matters.”

She laughs, wiping her eyes again. “Okay, but seriously...thank you. I had no idea.”

Millie grins, bouncing on her toes. “Wait until you see the gifts.”

“Oh no,” Jade groans playfully, “what have you guys done?”

We all laugh, and Chase pours her a glass of sparkling water, making a toast to the babies.

Carter’s the first to present his gift. “Here,” he says, handing Jade a small box. “It’s not much, but I wanted to get you something special.”

Jade opens it and gasps, her eyes going wide as she pulls out the diamond-encrusted watch. “Carter...this is beautiful. You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to,” he says, smiling shyly. “You’ve been amazing, and I thought you deserved something nice.”

Jade hugs him tightly. “Thank you, Carter. It’s perfect.”

Nate steps forward next, handing her an envelope. “My turn.”

Jade opens it and her jaw drops. “A...a house? Nate, what the hell?”

He laughs, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Well, you needed more space for the twins, and I figured...why not? Plus, we need a bigger bathroom. You know that.”

Jade smacks his chest playfully. “You’re insane.”

“Just a little,” he grins.

And then it’s my turn. I hand her a set of keys, smirking. “I got you something too.”

Jade takes the keys, staring at them. “What’s this?”

“A Porsche,” I say casually, like it’s no big deal.

She laughs, shaking her head. “You guys are ridiculous.”

Millie chimes in, grinning. “Well, we figured you might need a more practical option for when the twins arrive, so...we got you a minivan.”

Jade throws her head back, laughing loudly. “Oh my God. You guys are killing me! What am I supposed to do with two cars?”

The room erupts into laughter, and Jade just stands there, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t even know how to thank you all. This is...this is insane. But thank you.”

We all surround her, hugging her, kissing her, telling her how much we love her. She’s glowing, and I can tell she’s overwhelmed in the best way possible. This is what it’s all about—family, love, and celebrating the crazy, beautiful mess we’ve all gotten ourselves into.

“Well,” I say, raising my glass, “here’s to the twins and the chaos that’s about to come.”

Everyone cheers, and we spend the rest of the evening eating, laughing, and enjoying the moment. Jade keeps shaking her head, unable to stop smiling.

Carter leans over, nudging me. “You ever think you’d be here? Doing...this?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Not in a million fucking years, man. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

And honestly? That’s the truth.

***

We’re walking out of the home Millie shares with her husbands, stomachs full, laughing about something Carter said. Jade leans into me, her breath hot against my ear. “I know the best way to celebrate,” she whispers, her voice dripping with something wicked.

Carter turns, smirking. “Better be saying naked.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

We all start heading toward the cars when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, glance at the screen, and immediately feel that sinking sensation in my gut. Jared’s name flashes across the screen. Fuck.

“What’s wrong?” Jade asks, noticing my expression.

I hold up a finger, signaling for her to wait, then swipe to answer. “Hey.”

“Axel, how’s it going?” Jared’s voice sounds casual, but there’s an edge to it. Like he’s holding something back. He’s been working with my agent, traveling to nail down some big sneaker and endorsement deals. We haven’t talked much since he left for London.

“I’m good. What’s up?” I try to sound normal, but something’s off, and I can feel it.

He pauses, then drops the bomb. “I need to ask you something, and I want you to be straight with me.”

“Who’s that babe ?” Jade asks, leaning closer, trying to see the screen.

“Babe?” Jared asks, picking up on the word. “Who’s with you?”

I swallow hard, ignoring his question. “What do you want to ask?”

Jared’s voice tightens. “I got a lead from the paparazzi. There’s a story dropping tomorrow morning, and I need to know if it’s true.”

My stomach twists. This can’t be good. “What story?”

“About Jade. That she’s pregnant. And not just that—apparently, she’s with Coach Nate, too. Is it true?”

My brain freezes. Fuck. I don’t know what to say.

Jared continues, his voice picking up speed. “Is it true? Axel, don’t bullshit me, man. I don’t want to freak out, but I need to know.”

“Give me a second.” I put him on hold and turn to the others, my face must be pale as hell because they’re all staring at me.

“Jared knows,” I say, my voice tight. “About Jade. The story’s gonna drop tomorrow.”

Jade’s eyes widen. “Shit. Jared’s gonna kill us.”

Carter shrugs, looking way too calm for the situation. “It’s about time he found out. Let’s just rip the band-aid off.”

Nate nods in agreement. “We can’t hide this forever. Might as well tell him now.”

Jade looks nervous but determined. “Let me talk to him.”

I hesitate for a second, then hand her the phone. She puts it on speaker, her hands trembling just a little. “Hey, Jared,” she says, her voice firm.

“What are you doing with Axel’s phone?” Jared snaps, his voice sounding more confused than angry.

She glances at Nate, who gives her a reassuring nod, then takes a deep breath. “Jared, I need to tell you the truth. I’m not just dating Nate. I’m with Carter too. And...Axel.”

There’s silence on the other end for a beat, then Jared’s voice, low and cold. “You’re a fucking slut.”

“Hey!” I grab the phone back, anger flaring hot in my chest. “Watch your fucking language, man.”

There’s a pause, and when Jared speaks again, his voice is softer, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, I just...I don’t understand what’s going on.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Look, it’s complicated, okay? But we’re all happy. Jade’s happy.”

“Is it true? About the pregnancy?” Jared asks, his voice cracking slightly.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice quieter now. “We’re all expecting twins.”

More silence. Then Jared sighs. “Fuck. I’m coming back from London. I don’t know what to do with this, but I’ll be there soon.”

“Good,” I say. “And bring gifts.”

I hang up before he can say anything else, turning to the group. Jade’s looking a little pale, her hands fidgeting nervously.

Carter steps up, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s gonna be fine. He’ll come around. He’s just shocked.”

Nate nods, pulling her into his arms. “We’ve got your back, Jade. Don’t worry.”

I stand there for a second, watching them. Jade’s head rests against Nate’s chest, her body visibly relaxing as she breathes out slowly. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come, from hiding everything to this.

“Hey,” I say, stepping closer. “We’re in this together. No matter what happens.”

Jade looks up at me, her eyes a little wet but shining with determination. “Thanks, Axel. I just hope Jared understands.”

“He will,” I assure her, though I’m not entirely sure. “Eventually.”

Carter lets out a low whistle, trying to break the tension. “So, how are we celebrating? Still thinking naked?”

Jade laughs, the tension easing as she leans into Nate. “We’ll see.”

By the time we’re ready to leave, the atmosphere has shifted. It’s no longer weighed down by the secrets we’ve been keeping. We’re in this together, and no amount of paparazzi bullshit or Jared’s freakout is going to change that.

Jade pulls me aside, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “Thanks for standing up for me back there.”

I shrug. “It’s nothing. Jared’s my best friend, but that doesn’t mean he gets to talk to you like that.”

She smiles, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “You’re a good man, Axel.”

I give her a crooked grin. “Don’t let that get out. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

She laughs, then turns back to the others. I watch her for a second, feeling that familiar rush of affection for her and the crazy, messy family we’ve somehow created together.

It’s gonna be a hell of a ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We pile into our cars, and I can’t help but think about what Jared’s reaction will be when he shows up. Things are about to get interesting, but we’ll deal with it. Together.

Carter slides into the passenger seat next to me, still grinning like an idiot. “So, naked celebration or what?”

I roll my eyes, but a smirk tugs at my lips. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

He shrugs. “Hey, can you blame me?”

“Yeah, actually, I can.”

As we drive away, the tension of the night fades into the background. It’s just us, the open road, and the knowledge that whatever happens next, we’re ready for it.

Jared’s not gonna like this, but fuck it. We’ve got each other’s backs, and that’s all that matters.