That Baby: A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers Romance (That Boy Series Book 3)

I don’t leave Jadyn’s side.

I can’t.

They aren’t letting anyone other than Phillip and me into the ICU. I finally told Lori what had happened but told her to stay home with Devaney. I have enough to worry about without dealing with her right now.

Phillip’s parents and my parents have been here off and on. They’ve been rotating shifts to sleep, take care of Angel, and get Phillip and me to eat.

I walk down the hall to give them an update—which is nothing yet—and am assaulted by flashes of cameras and reporters.

“Are you playing today, Danny?”

I don’t even know what day it is. Sunday? Game day?

I stop and look at them. All they care about is football. And, right now, football is the last thing on my mind.

But then I have a flashback. Lying on the hammock with Jay on the day after prom.

“Greatness is in you. Don’t you know that? You’re doing what you’ve always wanted, what you’re meant to do.”

Her friendship and unwavering support helped give me the confidence to do so many things.

I step into the nurses’ office, realizing that I never did text Coach to let him know what happened. I call the stadium and let them know I won’t make the game.

Then, I deal with the reporters.

My response is simple. “It’s true that I love my job. But I’m a husband, a father, and a friend before I’m a quarterback.”

Friendship—the people who touch your heart—that’s what matters most in our lives. Something I knew before, but it is now permanently ingrained in me.

I’m thankful that, after I reply, the hospital security herds the reporters outside.

I go down the hall to grab a cup of coffee and find Lori in the waiting room.

“How’s she doing?” She gives me a tight hug, and even though things between us have been strained, I’m grateful for it.

“No change yet. How’s my little monkey doing this morning?”

“Good,” she says. “She misses her daddy. What are you going to do about the game today?”

“I’m not playing. I don’t give a shit about football, Lori. I’m not leaving until she wakes up. Until I know she’ll be okay.”

Lori frowns. “So, that’s it? You’re choosing her over your family?”

“My family? What are you talking about? No, I’m choosing her over a game.”

“Football is your career, Danny. It’s how you provide for your family. What if they fire you?”

“You’re worried about the money? You’ve gotta be kidding me. If my job and the money are more important to you than our friendship, then, all of a sudden, you’ve developed some messed up values. Is that why you came here? To ask me about the game? Do you even care about her anymore?”

“Do you wish you were Phillip? Do you love her?”

I shake my head at her, not believing she’d bring this up again. Not now. But I say calmly, “Of course I love her. She and Phillip are my best friends.”

“Well, if she wakes up, maybe you should just sleep with her and get it over with,” she snaps.

“Where is this even coming from? Why are you bringing this bullshit up again?”

“You’re putting your family’s future in jeopardy because of her. Our future. What am I supposed to think? Maybe, if you slept with her, it would ruin you once and for all.”

I don’t want to deal with this right now, her ridiculous jealousy. But she needs to know. I need her to know and understand why I told Jay that. Why I lied to her in the hammock. Maybe it will make a difference.

“Sit down,” I say sternly.

She sits.

“I know you think, just because Jay is the only girl in my life besides my mother who I haven’t slept with that, it makes her special. You think I have some unrequited crush. I lied to her that day in the hammock, Lori. If Jay and I had dated or slept together, it wouldn’t have ruined us. I’m on good terms with every girl I ever dated.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

“Because it would have ruined my relationship with Phillip. It’s always been her and Phillip. He’s always been who she runs to. You should have seen how he took care of her when her parents died. Phillip is like my brother. And I’m not leaving this hospital until he’s okay. And he won’t be okay until she wakes up. Do you understand?” I start to tear up. I need her to understand that I chose her. I could have chosen Jennifer. I probably should have. But I didn’t. “I need you to understand, Lori. You and our baby mean everything to me, but I need to be here for him. I have to.”

Tears stream down her face. Tears of relief, I hope. `

“I love you,” I tell her. “I also owe Jay big time. She bribed you into going out with me.”

“She came over before the accident. Said you made her. I said something that wasn’t very nice,” Lori admits.

“What did you say?”

“I just got jealous. She walks around, looking like a pregnant Barbie doll. And I said—”

“What did you say?”

“I’m embarrassed to even tell you. I feel horrible now.”

“Horrible because she’s lying in ICU or horrible because you actually regret what you said?”

“I’m sorry I said it.”

“What did you say?” I ask again.

“I told her that, because her pregnancy had been so easy, it meant she’d have a hard delivery. She got really upset. Stormed out.” She sobs. “It’s like I cursed her. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t wish for this. I haven’t been very nice to her. When she wakes up—and she will wake up—I promise you that I’m going to apologize for being such an ass about her morning sickness, for yelling about the skybox, about accusing her of cheating with you. I’ll beg her to forgive me. And I’m sorry for the way I’ve been treating you. I really love you, Danny. Will you forgive me? Do you think she will forgive me?”

“That’s all she wanted, Lori—was for you to apologize. There’s something else I need to tell you. Something she didn’t want you to know. Remember when we came home from the hospital and the kitchen was miraculously finished?”

“What’s that got to do with any—”

“It was Jay. She’s the one who got the construction crew together. She’s the one who got them to work for thirty-six hours straight. She’s the one who helped the designer. She’s the one who got my mom and Mrs. Mac to make all that food and stock our pantry. And she’s the one who paid the workers double overtime to get it done.”

“But … why did she do that?”

“Because that’s the kind of friend she is. I hope you never forget that.”

She shakes her head and cries. “I won’t. I promise I won’t. What about you, Danny? Will you forgive me?”

“That depends on your answer to my next question. Do you understand why I don’t care about football right now?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good,” I say, giving my wife a kiss.