I nod, tears now flowing freely down my face. “That’s why I passed out. I didn’t know I could get pregnant. I thought… well, you know what I thought.” I wipe my cheeks, and fresh tears spring to life.
“You’re having a baby?” she asks again, needing clarification.
“Yes, we’re having a baby.”
“So, your baby is going to be my wife’s half-sibling, and Coral and her little brother or sister are going to be your grandkids, step-grandkids. You can’t be Aunt Manda and Mamaw both, or can you?” Reid asks, smiling.
“Wait! You’re pregnant?” I ask Bellamy.
Will can already see what’s coming, and he takes Mia from me, kissing her cheeks and making her laugh.
Her head bounces up and down in a nod, and I’m on my feet, rushing toward her. She stands, too, and we meet together, wrapping each other in a hug so fierce that I feel we might burst wide open. But I refuse to let go, not until she does.
When she pulls back, she’s smiling. “I might be a little hormonal. I’m sorry for how I acted. I love you both so much, and this is… weird as hell, and it’s going to take some getting used to, but the two of you have been happier these past few months. Now that I know it’s because you found each other, what I have with Reid, how can I be angry about that?” she asks, wiping at her cheeks.
“I love you, bestie,” I say, my voice cracking.
“I love you, too.” She pulls me into another hug. “No more secrets. Whatever it is, we deal with it together. As a family.”
Relief washes over me, and the next thing I know, Reid, Will, and the girls have joined our group hug. When we finally break apart, I snuggle back up to Will on the couch while the girls play on the floor in front of us. Suddenly, the tension and worry from the past few months are gone, and in their place is pure happiness.
“I can’t believe you left the game,” Bellamy tells her dad.
“I got your message and panicked.”
“Did you know she was pregnant?”
“No.” Will shakes his head. “We didn’t think she could get pregnant, but I’m not mad about growing our family.”
“We won, by the way.” Reid chuckles.
“I know. I looked it up online, and Jerry texted me last night.”
“Are you going to get fined?” Bellamy asks.
“Nah, and if I do, then I do. As I said, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“How far along are you?” Bellamy asks, covering her face with her hands. “This is so weird.” She groans.
“I don’t know. My periods have never been regular. I have to make an appointment with my OB. They’re closed today. You?”
“Eleven weeks. We were waiting until we were out of the first trimester to tell everyone.”
“And here I thought I was winning. I had the most kids, meaning my—stuff”—Reid coughs—“was superior, and here comes Coach, beating me three to two.”
Everyone laughs, and even more of the tension slips away.
I’m sure there will be hiccups along the way, but for the first time since blurting out my love for Will, the room doesn’t feel like it’s closing in on me.
Bellamy finally drops her hands from her face and points at Reid. “First of all, that is not how that works.”
Reid lifts both hands defensively. “Hey, I’m just saying, my track record was strong.”
“Your track record?” she repeats, horrified and amused all at once. “We’re talking about children, not racehorses.”
Will snorts. “I’m not touching that one.”
“Coward,” Reid mutters.