CHAPTER THREE
The next couple of weeks passed by slowly and painfully as she kept up her strong front for everybody, dropping that at home and little by little with Walter. He was a really caring guy underneath it all and he helped. Aaron seemed to get back into the game as she watched him from afar, she being into her job that was going to support her and the child inside of her. She knew that it would be ugly when she had to tell the team but she had great health insurance until then and she was going to take advantage of it, since she might lose her job for lying anyway. What a complicated web she had weaved.
The next trip was going to be a week from then and she packed as many snacks as she did clothing, all loose and comfortable for her to wear as she hid her condition. Holly knew that she needed to go shopping soon for maternity clothes and she both loved and hated the idea. She was really in love with her baby even with all of the pain that came along with it.
The phone calls had stopped as well as the texts. Aaron pretended that she wasn’t there most of the time, the anger still in his gaze when it did pass over her before he went to speak to the team doctor. She missed their talks and missed their intimacy but she made friends with the team and a couple of their girlfriends. It was nice hanging out with other people and she appreciated it when they were kind about her pregnancy, letting her do what she needed as they drank and partied around her. It was part of being with a team and she liked watching them.
Lisa was getting excited about the baby as well. She’d dropped the talk about Aaron though Holly still saw the expression on her face sometimes that told her she thought about it. They slowly set up what they could in the shoe box of a den before a month later when she’d be finding out what it was with Walter and Lisa. He’d gotten into it, getting excited when everything was going well and joking around about corrupting his niece or nephew.
Holly also noticed a bit of a spark between him and Lisa as they got to know each other.
She carried on, beginning to wear her maternity jeans and slacks when she didn’t wear her go to yoga pants. Her stomach was small but it showed that she was having a baby and she still fought to cover it up.
Aaron watched her go everywhere with Walter as they’d leave the arena, talking seriously and closely as they walked to his monster of an SUV. After games, after practice and they even arrived together a few times. Holly looked beautiful and different to him somehow as he watched her when she wasn’t looking. She was glowing and…something else. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe she was happy with his center. Maybe she was having the kind of sex with him that he’d had, making him hit his desk as he sat alone in his office.
The team was moving quickly. There were a few great sponsors signing on and they were in a winning streak. It took a lot of time for Aaron that would otherwise be spent thinking about Holly and he appreciated that.
One night, he went out drinking with them as he found the thoughts too much. Walter was conveniently absent and he looked around as he threw back the whiskey that he was familiar with, half listening to something that one of the coaches said. “You in there, Neller?” Pat teased him as he looked at his friend. “What’s gotten under your skin lately?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aaron said bluntly as Pat shook his head.
“I like that you’re hands on with all of this, but there’s more to life. Aaron, I am here a lot as well but I also balance time with my own family.” Pat told him, making Aaron look at him. “Hell, you’re young. Get laid, at least. You’re a hot ticket in this city.”
Aaron shook his head, letting his eyes pass over the players that were drinking and talking to some of the ladies in the bar, remembering those days. Those days before Holly. He found the gaze of a pretty black haired woman as he continued to look, with bright blue eyes and a soft smile as she blushed. His neglected cock reacted before his heart did, making him realize that he needed to give up waiting for Holly and start living again. He returned her smile, forcing the small sense of hope that was buried under his pain forward as he stood up.
At the next game, Holly noticed the hockey on his neck as she frowned and her heart broke again. Who was she? She was feeling bloated and fat and he was off gallivanting, as he should be. She focused on the game happening before her with a scowl, trying to pay attention to her players. They won with a few goals advantage and she stood up to scream and clap as the stadium roared with fans. Maybe she could move past this and love what she did again without feeling the pain of her mistake.
Holly was too tired to go out to eat and Walter offered to take her to a quiet dinner. Aaron watched them before he went to Marcy’s apartment for a way to release his emotions, eating quickly before kissing her against the wall as he closed his eyes. She was kind and willing to be with him on his terms, nothing serious or public. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her hard, feeling her full breasts pressing against him as he moved his hands down to her ass. Marcy groaned hard as he squeezed tightly, feeling his pain in his grip. He ripped off her dress and tossed it onto the floor, taking her bare form in from the light of the kitchen as he realized what he was doing. He was going to fuck her thinking of Holly, but the hell with it. Aaron slipped his shirt off of his shoulders and kissed her again, lifting her to carry her to the bedroom.
He sucked on one of her nipples hard as his fingers worked inside of her, listening to her cries and wishing that she smelled like Holly. Marcy preferred the smell of vanilla and it was heavy in the air as he curled his fingers and felt her release on him with a choked cry. He moved down her body to lick her hard, always willing to please a lady no matter what the situation. Marcy grabbed his hair, rocking against him as he heard Holly in his mind but tasted another woman on his lips.
Was Walter doing this? Aaron moved Marcy onto her stomach before donning a condom and taking her hard as she gripped her sheets. She begged for more as he closed his eyes and drove inside deeply, needing the physical release that it was going to give him.
He came with a loud cry of anonymity, not using her name as she did his. Aaron didn’t even know when she’d orgasmed and he pulled out and dropped onto the mattress with a groan. The space around him blurred as he felt something cold nudged into his hand, bringing him back to reality. Aaron took a long sip of the water, listening to the compliments from the woman beside him. Her voice was sweet and soft and her words sincere, making Aaron realize that she was a great idea for him. Why not dive in and see what came of it, since he was here anyway? He looked over at her, seeing her propped up on one arm as she smiled at him, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. “So, I was thinking…would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow night?”
“Out?’ Marcy asked, her eyes brightening.
“Yeah. Somewhere nice.” Aaron promised her, trying to find happiness in her smile.
Holly pulled on a sweater over her protruding stomach, enjoying the Christmas decorations as she walked into the living room. Walter was sitting close to Lisa as she observed them, envying their closeness before she cleared her throat. “Oh. Hey.” Lisa blushed as she looked up, blushing deeply.
“Ready to find out what kind of demon I’m birthing?” Holly asked, rubbing her stomach as she spoke.
“Shut up. That’s my niece or nephew you’re talking about.” Lisa grinned as Walter kissed her hair and pulled her off of the couch. They left the apartment, driving to the doctor’s office in his car as Holly felt her hands shaking. She’d been without Aaron longer than with him at this point and it felt so sad to be doing this without him. Lisa opened her door for her once they were parked and hugged her as she slid onto the sidewalk. “I’m so excited. We get to plan a baby shower.”
There were enough female friends in her life now to do that, making Holly smile. Maybe her family could come out too. “Nothing big.”
The three sat in the waiting room together as Holly closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She was feeling great and the baby was healthy and everything was good. She could do this.
“Holly?” She jerked her head and looked at the familiar nurse, who was smiling at her. “Big day huh?” They were closer and her voice carried through the room.
“Yeah. It is.” Holly agreed as she walked into the hallway followed by her friends. She was led to a different room where she was told to lie down and pull her shirt up to reveal her belly. Holly lowered her pants to a respectable level and her shirt up as she grimaced from the pressure on her bladder. She was forced to drink epic amounts of water for this and she sighed as she hoped that it was worth it. Lisa moved beside her and Walter took up the back of the room as a young woman entered.
“Good morning. Ready to see your baby?” Her voice was bright and cheerful and Holly nodded as brown eyes surveyed the group in the room. “Are we finding out the sex today?”
“I am.” Holly replied, smiling as Lisa chimed in. She saw the girl look between Walter and Lisa and she laughed. “He’s not the dad. Just a friend like her.” She may have sounded amused by it but she was hurting inside as she missed Aaron all over again.
“Well, then. Let’s get started.” Everyone watched closely as she dumped the chilly gel on Holly’s stomach and started to rub the device over it. She told her measurements and information as Holly longed for the bathroom until the woman paused. “So…here is your baby’s legs and you are having a little girl.”
“Oh my God.” Everything stopped for Holly as she felt Lisa squeeze her hand in joy, feeling tears slide down her cheeks. She now knew what this being was and it was going to be her daughter in just a few short months. She looked at her best friend and they smiled at each other as the woman started to tell her more stuff.
Holly was told that she could use the restroom and she pulled her clothes back on before rushing out of the room and across the hall. She had never been so happy to pee and she focused on her baby as she released her pressure. A daughter. Would she look like Holly or Aaron…or both? Would they get along like she did with her mom?
Leaving the restroom, she stepped back into the room for the sonogram pictures and thanked the woman for the good news. Lisa and Walter were amped up and wanted to get lunch before Lisa took her shopping as Holly blinked. She stepped out onto the busy street and took a deep breath for a moment. Everything blurred together and Lisa grabbed her arm. “Are you okay?”
“I just need a sec,” Holly panted as she felt a cold bottle against her hand.
“Here. Drink this.” Walter told her and she knew that it was water since everybody was being so protective of her.
“I want to eat. I’m starving.” Holly admitted, blinking slowly as the world came back into focus. “I’ll decide after that about shopping. Okay?”
They decided on a place as they looked around to see what was close, and Holly bit into her cheeseburger with a happy smile. “Now I feel better.”
“What do you think we need?” Lisa asked as she bounced happily in her seat. They had a little crib and Holly was planning on using the chair in the living room for a makeshift rocker.
“I guess we can get some bedding and blankets now. Clothes. So many clothes.” Holly brightened as she thought about it and Walter chuckled. “Maybe a store or two?”