Was it stupid how nervous Jace was for this class? Even if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t show how nervous he was. It was a baby class. How hard could it be? He endured endless pain during difficult workouts, and he technically would just be there to support her.

Frankie and John had teased him mercilessly all afternoon. They’d stopped teasing him after they’d gone to a furniture outlet and he’d picked out the remaining furniture her organization needed and bought it.

Frankie asked, “You’re serious about this girl?”

John had frowned. “She better not put you off your game. You’ve just gotten it back.”

He’d tried to explain how, if anything, she’d helped him get back on his game. Now, as they pulled up to the birthing center where the Lamaze class was held, he felt completely out of sorts.

“How come you’re all white and pasty-looking?” she asked from the passenger seat.

“I’m not.”

“Hmm.” Her hand went to the door handle.

“Wait.” He ran around the Jeep and helped her down. Why in the world did he have a Jeep? He should be driving a car for her. Yes, tonight he would swap out one of his other cars. Pulling open the door, he put up a hand and helped her down.

Her face was flushed. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure you should even be coming to this class? Bed rest means bed rest, right?”

She held on to his arm and slipped hers through it, like he was a prince. “Shh, it’s fine.”

They walked in and saw several other couples all positioned by large pillows scattered around the room. The space was clean and reminded him of some medical place he’d gone to once to rehab an ankle sprain. The smell was kind of chemical.

The lady at the front looked, for lack of a better term, old. Like ninetyish old. Her skin sagged, and she was thin and walked in a shuffle.

Seeing them, she walked over. “Hello, Addison, I missed you last week.” Her large glasses turned on Jace. “Oh, and I see you’ve brought a handsome one with you tonight.” The woman winked at him and then, out of nowhere, pinched his cheek.

Jace felt like he was in a movie, unable to do anything about her papery skin and poky fingernails. “Hi.”

A large guy wearing a Storm jersey walked over to him, his mouth agape. “Jace Harding?” He put out his large, brown hand. “I’m Stuart.” Stuart turned to Addison. “Are you?” He pointed at her.

“This is my girlfriend,” Jace said protectively and without hesitation.

The teacher tsked. “Well, sonny, I guess we’ll forgive you for missing the other nights. Come in.”

They were handed a stuffed pillow, and as the old lady, Mrs. Howard, helped get them settled and adjusted, Jace whispered, “You never told them about Tim?”

“No. Why? I don’t want their sympathy.”

Pretty much every eye in the place was on them. “Well, I guess I’m the jerk boyfriend then.”

She gave him a smile. He mimicked the rest of the couples, placing the pillow behind his back, and she settled into his legs. Somehow, it didn’t feel odd or out of place to have her snuggled in next to him.

Her cheeks blazed even brighter pink as she turned to him. “Sorry. Mrs. Howard likes us all positioned right from the get-go.”

“No problem.”

“Put your hands on her belly,” Mrs. Howard said.

He did so, trying to shrug off this new awkward feeling. Granted, he’d felt her tummy at different points, but this felt possessive. Especially since everyone thought he was the boyfriend.

Boyfriend? Hmm, he kind of liked the sound of that. Though he would prefer “father.” The thought sprang out of nowhere, and he quickly dismissed it.

“Ah,” she said, leaning back into him more.

“Now gently massage her belly.” The old lady crouched next to them. “Let the baby know you are there.” She winked at him.

It was kind of insane how he fell into rubbing her tummy and how sensual it felt to have her against him. He drank in the scent of her coconut shampoo. It smelled amazing. He saw her eyes close and wondered at how good this actually must feel for her.

Looking around the room, he saw all the other couples doing the same thing. Some were whispering or talking or laughing together. Others were just relaxed. One idiot—Stuart, Jace noticed—was actually holding a phone with one hand and still rubbing with the other.

Mrs. Howard walked over and whacked the phone away from him. “How do you think that makes your wife feel, Stu? Like second place.” She rose triumphantly and turned to the class. “Your wife has to know she’s number one, and the baby has to know they are number two. Yes, that’s right. The woman is number one. She is Eve. Baby is number two. The offspring of happy people are happy.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes at Stu. “So make her happy.”

Addison let out a light laugh. “She’s eccentric, but she’s good.”

“I guess,” Jace said, thinking they could use Mrs. Howard to motivate the defensive line. He focused on hovering over her belly button. He found it fascinating that it was out at the moment.

Her hand covered his. “Hey, it’s sensitive.”

He stopped, but left his hand there. “Oh, sorry.” He was in a state of complete happiness.

She glanced at him. “You seem like you are enjoying this.”

Unable to help it, he closed his eyes and held her tummy like it was a big football. “It’s amazing how your body stretches to grow a baby. I can actually feel the baby in there.”

For a few seconds, she didn’t reply. Then he felt her shaking.

“What?” He leaned in, but his worry dissolved when he realized she was giggling. “What?” he asked curiously.

“Nothing.”

On a whim, he started tickling her sides.

She giggled even more. “Jace.”

He didn’t stop. She playfully hit him, and he laughed.

“Hey!” Suddenly, Mrs. Howard was upon them. “I was just about to begin.”

She froze in his arms, and he froze too.

“Sorry.” Addison turned back.

“Sorry.” Jace helped her get situated.

Mrs. Howard frowned at them. “No hanky-panky. This is a Lamaze class.”

He felt Addison’s intake of breath and couldn’t help but laugh a bit. He caught a look from Stu, which just fueled his laughter.

“Shh,” Addison whispered, but he felt her giggling.

Mrs. Howard went to the front of the class. “Okay. Now, we’re on the home stretch, people. You’re almost to the finish line.”

“End zone,” Jace whispered.

“Now breathe.” Mrs. Howard commanded them.

The whole class took in a collective breath.

“In, two, three. Out, two, three,” Mrs. Howard said. She carried some type of ribbon hooked on a stick that she waved back and forth.

Jace thought of his marching band in high school. Somehow, this scene reminded him of when they would take the field, led by their conductor.

“In, two, three.” Mrs. Howard moved around the room.

The whole room breathed, and he was with them.

“Out, two, three,” she said, coming past them and waving the streamer near his face.

He felt Addison giggle. “Breathe,” he whispered fiercely in her ear. She giggled again, but he kept focused.

“You all keep breathing.” Mrs. Howard stood in front of them like a great storyteller, preparing to tell the best part of the story. “Now men, when you are in the delivery room, you need to be strong. You need to be whatever you need to be in order to motivate them through labor.”

Jace’s thoughts were spinning. He hadn’t thought about having to be in the delivery room with her. He should be there, right? Would he be a wuss and have his mom go instead? He knew she would love it.

It felt like he was getting way, way involved, and for a second, he felt like he was rushing through a storm of men on the field, all grabbing him and pulling him down. Then his vision went hazy. He was breathing deeply, and he felt himself slump over.

When he jerked back to consciousness, Addison and Mrs. Howard loomed over him.

“Jace, are you okay?” Addison was turned onto her knees, shoving his shoulder.

He shook himself out of it, gulping for air. “Man.” He put his hands over his head and pulled in a breath.

Mrs. Howard glared at him, shaking her head. “You’re a trained athlete, for heaven’s sake.” She tsked. “Newbie.”

The rest of the group looked mostly disinterested and returned to their positions.

Addison frowned up at him then put her hand up, and he helped her to a standing position. “Are you alright?”

He didn’t know if he was. “I’m fine. Let’s just sit back down.”

She shook her head. “Sometimes, when you’re not used to focused breathing, it can make you dizzy.”

Not wanting to tell her he didn’t know if it was the breathing or thinking about the delivery room, he just stood there like a fool. “I’m fine.”

“No.” She bent to pick up her purse. “You haven’t eaten dinner and neither have I. I’m hungry.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Since I’ve broken my bed rest, what do you say I take you out for a steak dinner?”

Somewhat relieved, but still uncertain, he looked around. Seeing Mrs. Howard start moving toward them, he took her hand and yanked her toward the door. “Actually, I already have plans for dinner.”