Mav and Cydney, Dex and Callie with Raine, Momma and Professor Bryant, and my parents are all here with me and Cayden sitting backstage, waiting for my name to be called. It's day three of the draft. Dex and Mav were already picked up in the first two days, and this wait is killing me. My heart is anxiously pounding with each name that’s called before mine. My pulse is racing, hands are sweating not knowing which team will pick me…if any team picked me.
I can’t take sitting here any longer. I stand from the couch and begin pacing the room.
“Zac?” Cayden questions, worry shining in her orbs.
I stop marching for a moment to gaze down at her holding our little bean. The two most important people in my life are sitting on that couch.
My lips tilt up. “I’m okay. Just fucking nervous.”
She nods her head in understanding and mouths, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I stroll over, laying my hand on top of bean’s full head of light brown hair, and then bend to kiss Cayden on her brow. “So much,” I mumble and breathe in her sweet scent, letting it calm me some.
Our son was born two weeks ago, and even though we named him Noah, the nickname Bean has stuck with us all. I didn't know I could love someone before he arrived as much as I did him, but as he grew in Cayden’s stomach, I fell more and more in love; although, nothing compares to when I first laid eyes on our son, or when I first held him in my arms. I’ll never forget the overwhelming feeling of complete happiness as I laid beside Cayden while she slept in her hospital bed, holding him in my arms. I realized this was everything, nothing else mattered.
The door suddenly flings open. “Did we miss it?” Melanie blurts out breathlessly. Brody comes in behind her holding Jacob.
“Hey!” I laugh at her excitement. “No, they haven’t called my name yet.”
“See! I told you we wouldn’t miss it.” Brody chuckles. “Hey, man.” He pats me on the back.
“Thanks for coming.” I return the slap and step over to Melanie, giving her a hug.
“We wouldn’t miss it. At least, I had hoped we wouldn’t.” Melanie rolls her eyes playfully. The three girls approach to take their turns hugging Melanie as Dex and Mav begin talking to Brody. “Oh my God!” Melanie gushes when her gaze lands on Noah. “Can I hold him?”
“Sure.” Cayden snickers and gently passes him to her.
Melanie sure has changed since this past summer. She no longer looks exhausted or frazzled, she appears peaceful and happy. She’s even wearing a little makeup and has her hair done.
Brody has been good for her. He eventually made amends with Cayden, and they started working on their friendship. I have no qualms about it, especially since he and I worked out our shit, and realized neither of us is actually that bad. We spent some time together at Momma and Professor Bryant’s wedding and came to the conclusion that when he’s not trying to take my girl, we get along and could actually be friends. For Cayden’s sake, I’m glad there’s no animosity between us.
The sound of the announcer's voice brings a hush over the room, "Boston Red Sox’s number one pick is Zac Benson from the University of Georgia." I release the breath I had been holding, and everyone in the room claps, hollering and cheering for me. My hands shake as I quickly hug Cayden, kissing her forehead before I march out onto the stage.
I give my acceptance speech, telling everyone how excited I am, and plastering a smile on my face. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I got picked up, but what does this mean for the girls?
I walk back into the room, and all three of them are hugging while my mom holds Noah.
"What's going on?" I ask Mav.
"We don't know,” he answers.
The three of us guys stand back, waiting for the commotion to die down. I know the two of them are just as nervous as I am. As it turns out, Georgia didn't pick any of us. Dex was the Miami Marlin’s number one pick, and Mav was the New York Yankees’. This is going to separate all of us, and the girls haven't told any of us if they will be going or not. If not, we have to respect their decisions and do long distance relationships, but we’re hoping they choose not to stay behind.
The girls break apart and stand in a line in front of us. Cayden speaks first, "You know we have never been away from each other, and it's asking a lot for us to move away. But...we couldn't imagine not being with you through this journey the three of you are about to begin. We all knew this was a possibility, and we've prepared ourselves for it. So our stipulations are that we have to come to Momma's for every Thanksgiving and Christmas no matter what."
I jump in, "Done."
Callie says, "I have to Skype with my sisters once a day."
Dex is already nodding. "Deal."
"And..." Cydney gives the last stipulation, "When I have this baby, everyone has to be there."
Cydney and Mav's gazes lock. "You're pregnant? We're having a baby?" He asks, shocked.
Her smile widens. "Is it a deal?"
"Holy shit! My swimmers work!" He yells, making all of us laugh. He rushes over to her, sweeping her up into his arms. "Hell yes! It's a deal!"
We move in for a group hug, and Momma exclaims, “I’m getting another grandbaby!”
Cayden and Callie share Momma’s excitement. “We’re going to be aunties again!”
After the group hug and some of the excitement dies down, Callie walks into Dex's arms, and Raine runs over for her daddy to pick her up. “Our family keeps growing,” She says giddily.
“It does,” He states, pressing his lips against her temple before kissing Raine’s head. His eyes meet mine, and we both smile.
Cayden saunters over to me, and we wrap our arms around one another. My lips meet hers for a brief moment. "Are you really going to follow me to Boston?"
She gazes up at me with those hazel eyes that shine so fucking brightly with a smile so infectious, mine mimics hers. "I'd follow you anywhere in the world, Zac Benson." And with those words, she makes me fall even more in love with her.
My mom and dad bring Noah over. “We’re so happy for you, Zacky.” My dad hugs me, followed by my mom.
“And proud.” My mom adds.
I take Noah into my arms, kissing his forehead, followed by kissing Cayden’s. “Thank you both for being here with me.”
Ever since Cayden and I went to Colorado that first time, we’ve gone back a few times, and my relationship with my parents has grown stronger. On each visit, we make sure to visit Maddie as well. She and Cayden have become great friends and talk on the phone regularly. She wished she could have been here too, but her doctor didn’t give the okay for her to fly, and the drive would have been too exhausting for her.
My dad chimes in, “You’re welcome. We have to catch our flight home, but we love you. Be sure to come and visit soon.” My mom gives Bean one more snuggle before handing him over to me again. With one last hug from my parents, they leave.
Holding Bean with one arm, I pull Cayden into my side with the other. "I never thought I could love two people so fucking much."
She laughs lightly. "I never thought I could be so fucking happy."
Placing my lips against her ear, I ask, "Would you be happier if I said, ‘Marry me?’"
She pulls back quickly. "What? Are you serious?" Tears pool in her eyes. "You better not be joking."
Chuckling, I respond, "I'm serious. Will you marry me?"
"Oh my God! Yes!" She covers her mouth with her hands, and I pull her back into my side.
"Did we hear you propose?" Cydney asks surprised.
"Yep." I smile proudly.
"Well, fuck! Dex, we gotta step up our game, man." Mav glares at me jokingly.
"You sure in the fuck do." Cydney shakes her head, grinning.
Momma’s eyes widen, before darting to Professor Bryant. "Am I gonna have a triple wedding on my hands?"
He hugs her close and laughs. "I think so, babe."
“Make that four.” Brody grins widely. “We didn’t want to take away from the moment of the announcement, so we were going to wait, but since everyone’s talking about weddings, Mel and I are gettin’ married too.”
"Look at what we started,” Cayden chortled.
Everyone laughs loudly.
“Congratulations, everybody!” I shout to the room.
Cayden smiles brightly up at me. “I love you, Zac Benson."
"I love you too." I grin down at her. "It appears that good shit is happening for all of us."
"Sure is," She mumbles while we gaze around the room, seeing all of the people we love. Our family.
Smirking, I ask, “You know what this means right?”
She glares up at me with a brow cocked. “What?”
“You gotta give up your dream of marrying your Jax Teller.” My smile widens.
She guffaws. “That’s okay because I got someone better. I got my Zac Benson.”
“Aww! I think that might be the sweetest shit you’ve ever said to me.” I throw my arm over her shoulders and hold her tightly once again. Putting my mouth to her ear, I whisper, “If we didn’t have to wait four more weeks to have sex, I’m sure I could get more sweet words to pour from your lips.” My cock twitches behind the zipper of my slacks. I was only trying to mess with her, but damn, not being inside her for the last two weeks has been hard. It’s become my favorite places to be.
She releases a rush of air. “Not fair, Zac. Keep teasing me, and your new best friend will be the couch.”
She glares at me and I gasp. “You would never.”
Her eyes narrow. “Try me.”
I run my tongue along my bottom lip. “Don’t you wish you could feel that on your—”
“Zac!” She screeches, her cheeks turning a rosy pink from getting flustered.
I keep the teasing and taunting going, “I’m gonna make you come just from my words.” I smile in anticipation.
Her brow arches as she leers. “Is that a new challenge?”
“Yep,” I proclaim with a huge satisfied grin.
“Let’s go,” She yells, getting everyone’s attention. “We’re just gonna…umm…go now.” She grabs my hand and rushes as quickly as possible to the door.
Let’s just hope Noah stays asleep long enough for me to win.
The End