"How many times has she seen you naked now?"
"At least twice, but who's counting?"
She shook her head, looking so beautiful it nearly took my breath away. I could get used to waking up beside her. Not a bad way to spend the rest of my life.
I would get used to it.
"Alright. Hand me the phone."
I handed her my phone and started to leave. She grabbed my hand.
"No. Will you stay?"
I nodded and sat down beside her. I cradled her against me, rubbing her shoulders while she dialed her folks. I couldn't resist sneaking one hand around to touch her belly.
Our little baby was in there. It was still pretty small at five months, about the size of an eggplant according to Belinda. She was barely showing, but if you knew her body like I did, you could tell.
Oh yeah, I definitely knew her body.
I sat with her as she called her mother first. Her dad was at work so she was going to call him after. There were a lot of tears, on both sides of the phone. Belinda assured her mother that she was alright. She was safe. And that she was with me.
Then she looked at me and took a deep breath. I held her hand as she dialed another number.
"Hello, Dad?"
Belinda
"Bellie? Is that you? Are you alright?"
"Yes, Dad. I'm alright."
"You come home this instant! Do you have any idea how upset your mother has been? We've been out of our minds with worry!"
"I can't come home. I'm in New York."
"New York???"
"Yes Dad. I'm with Betsy."
I could hear his wheels turning while he recalibrated.
"I will be on the first flight-I will come get you-"
"No. I don't want you too."
He inhaled, his breathing sounding ragged over the phone. I could hear tears clogging his throat.
"Bellie... we are sorry we locked you up. We were angry and... surprised."
"I know Dad. I can't come back there though."
"Where are you going to go? You are only twenty years old!"
"Almost twenty Dad. And that's old enough to move out."
"How are you going to afford it?"
Kyle squeezed me and I smiled at him tremulously.
"I have help."
"What? Who?"
I sat up straight.
"From my fiancé."
I could practically here the tension crackling over the phone.
"Is he there?"
"Yes, Dad."
"You called him but not us? The man who abandoned you?"
"He never abandoned me. And I didn't call him. He tracked me down somehow."
I elbowed my fiancé. I liked saying that. Fiancé. Fiannnnnceeeé.
Dad huffed and puffed.
"Why don't we make a deal, you come back and I let him back on the team?"
"You kicked him off the team?"
Silence.
I twisted my head, staring at Kyle in shock. He nodded, giving me a funny little sad smile of encouragement. My dad cleared his throat.
"He didn't tell you?"
"No, he was busy being concerned about my well-being I guess."
I'd never used that tone of voice with my father before. The old me would not have dare. I didn't care. He was being an ass. First he locked me up and then he kicked Kyle off the team? I guess I should be grateful he didn't go after him with a baseball bat!
His voice cracked when he spoke.
"Do you love him Bellie?"
I turned to look at Kyle. His chin was on my shoulder. He smiled at me.
"Yes."
Silence.
"Listen Bellie-we made some mistakes-"
"Some?"
"Well, a lot maybe. But we want to make amends. You kids can move in with us-"
I looked at Kyle. He looked alarmed. I guess he heard that. I smiled at him, shaking my head.
"Thank you Daddy. But that's not necessary."
"Don't you want to be near your mom during the..."
"Pregnancy? Birth?"
Silence.
"Dad, if you promise to take Kyle back on the team I will move in with you-"
Kyle was shaking his head. He frowned at me, mouthing the word 'no' over and over again. I squeezed his hand in mine.
"Just until the wedding. Agreed?"
"Yes! We - uh - agree!"
"Good. It's settled then. I will see you soon. And Dad?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
I smiled at the endearment.
"Take the locks off the doors."
"Of course! Um, Bellie, I need to talk to the boy."
I looked over my shoulder and held out the phone.
"Dad wants to talk to you."
Chapter Twenty-Six Kyle
"He played you B. Plain and simple."
I stretched my legs out in first class as my bride-to-be snuggled up beside me. I'd requested an upgrade due to her delicate condition, and they'd given it to us. Free of charge.
It didn't hurt that Belinda looked like an angel.
Hell, she was an angel.
She'd sure as shit reformed me.
"Your dad was going to ask me back anyway. He had to when Jason got injured last game. So you don't have to hold up your end of the bargain. We can find a place now, not wait for the wedding."
She smiled and nodded.
"It's fine Kyle. This way we don't have to rush."
I didn't mind rushing. I didn't want to wait. I wanted her in my bed every night dammit.
Now.
"How are we supposed to be alone together with you living at your parents house?"
She shrugged, her slender shoulders rising against me.