Chapter 16

Parker

By the time everyone went home after Christmas dinner, I was exhausted, and so was my family. The twins and Jenny walked with Cassie and the baby, while I carried Jeff to the house. Then I headed back to get Jake. By the time I got back, Cassie had already gotten the baby ready for bed. I tucked Jake in, and she tucked Jeff in. Then we both tucked in the three older kids. Cassie had gone back to say goodnight to Jake, so I went to the living room and sat down on the couch. My head fell back and my eyes closed.

“We need to talk,” she said softly, as she sat down on the couch next to me, leaving space between us.

Talk about what, I wondered? The day had gone well. Why was there concern in her tone, and why the fuck had she left space between us? I needed her right there, in my arms, snuggled in close. Instead, an entire person could have fit between us. That wasn't normal, and it most definitely wasn't something I wanted.

“Talk about what?” I asked, not opening my eyes or lifting me head.

“What's going on?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked her in return.

“Something has been off, Parker, and I can't figure out what it is,” she said.

“Nothing is off, princess,” I said. “Why would you say that?”

“You're wrong,” she said. “You spend every possible moment that you can with the baby, so I know he's not what has you this way. Is it having so many kids? Is it me? Shit! Are you already changing your mind about me? Is there someone else?”

I opened my eyes and immediately turned toward her.

“What?” I asked. “Are you serious?”

“I am,” she said, as the first tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

“Cassie,” I said, as I reached out to pull her closer, but she pulled away.

My woman pulled away from me.

“No,” she said. “It's there. I'm not stupid. You know what I've been through. I know, Parker. Something is going on. You've been different since we got back from your parents. If I'm being honest, the first time I noticed that something was off was in the airport after we'd flown to California. Was it all of us being on the plane together? Is that was started it, or was it something else?”

“Cassie,” I said, but she cut me off again. I was an inch away from shoving my dick in her mouth just so I could get out more than her name.

“Just tell me, wannabe,” she begged. “Don't fuck with me. I've been through enough, and I honestly don't know how I'll make it through losing you.”

“Losing me,” I said, and she nodded, as another tear fell. “You're not losing me. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm here to stay?”

“Then what, Parker,” she snapped. “What's going on?”

I opened my mouth to speak, and she shook her head.

“Do not tell me it's nothing,” she said. “Do not tell me everything is fine. I'm not playing. I need you to be honest with me. I don't care what it is, just tell me.”

“Fuck, Cassie,” I said, as I took her hands in mine and looked into her worried eyes.

What I had on my mind was nothing like what she thought it was. It wasn't her problem. It wasn't something that needed to be put on her shoulders, but hearing her words and knowing what she was thinking, I couldn't not tell her. She was my wife, and she was right. She needed to know.

“They're talking about trading me,” I said.

“What?” she asked, in a shocked tone, as more tears came.

“I've been so damn worried since the moment they mentioned it,” I said. “I didn't want to tell you. It's not your problem, Cassie. This is for me to figure out.”

“That's not true,” she said, through her sniffles. “You're my husband. It most definitely is not for you to deal with alone. You should have told me.”

“I didn't want to ruin the trip,” I said. “Then the holidays came right after.”

“You can't keep shit from me,” she said, as even more tears came. “It's not good. I can't take secrets.”

“Hey,” I said, as I took her chin in my hand and lifted it so her eyes connected with mine. “Please don't worry. I'll figure it out.”

“I'm not leaving my family,” she said, as she tried to take her eyes away from mine, but I held her still.

“I get it, Cassie, I do,” I said.

“No, you don't,” she said, as she shook her head and her tears fell faster yet. “I can't leave them.”

“I know,” I said.

She shook her head again.

“No, Parker,” she said. “I'm pregnant.”

“What?” I asked, as her words began to sink in. “Wait! You're pregnant?”

“Yes,” she said. “I didn't mean for it to happen. Shit! Pete is only five months old, Parker. I'm sorry. I was sure I'd been on the pill long enough. It shouldn't have happened. I'm so sorry. Please don't be mad.”

“Mad,” I said, and she nodded. “You think I'm mad?”

“I wasn't sure how to tell you,” she said.

“So, no secrets unless they're yours then?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “I just found out. I was going to tell you, but I wasn't exactly sure how to do that.”

“A baby?” I asked.

She nodded, but she was totally unsure of herself.

“Princess,” I said, as I grabbed her waist and pulled her onto my lap. “Do not ever be afraid to tell me anything. I'm your husband, and I will always be there. Another baby?”

I asked her again, more out of awe than anything.

“Yes,” she said. “I'm freaking out, Parker. I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I'm so sorry.”

“Don't be,” I said, as I tightened my hold on her waist. “I'm not mad, Cassie. I'm so damn happy. You know I want to have another baby with you. I told you I'd get my way.”

“Not funny, wannabe,” she said, as she laughed through her tears. “What are we going to do?”

“I'll figure it out,” I said.

“No, we'll figure it out together,” she said, as she began to get up from my lap.

“I love you, princess, and I am so happy about this,” I said, as I rubbed her belly, not being able to wait until I could feel our little one growing inside of her.

“I love you too, wannabe,” she said, as she finished getting up from my lap. “I could always come back here to my family to have the baby.”

“Bullshit!” I growled out.

“Parker,” she said.

“Don't Parker me,” I replied.

“It's going to be the middle of the season,” she said. “You barely made it the last time. I won't be alone.”

“We'll figure it out,” I said, as she turned to walk toward the stairs.

It was in that moment that I knew what I had to do. It was time. I loved my team, but I loved my family more. Seven kids, I thought. We were going to have seven kids.

“Parker,” Cassie called out to me, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Don't tell any of them yet,” she said. “I don't want them to know until we figure it out.”

“Cassie,” I said.

“No,” she said. “I will not have any of them putting their opinions out there. You know how they are. It will be fine.”

“You tell that to the guys when they find out,” I said, as I stood up and began locking the house up for the night. “I've been around long enough to know what you're proposing is a really bad idea.”

“I don't care what they think,” she said, with confidence in her tone, as she walked up the stairs. “It's our decision.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” I said, with a laugh, feeling better than I had in weeks.

If my woman wanted to wait, we would wait, and I'd take whatever came along with that decision when the time came to face them all. She was mine, and she was worth the shit I knew for sure would be coming my way.