“Really? Hanging in there because you know how much I love you and that I’d never do anything to hurt you was never a choice?”
“Not if it meant some other guy, especially that asshole, was spending time with my family.” He pounded at his own chest with a purpose. “My girls. It would’ve driven me insane. I would’ve driven you insane.” He took a step closer to her, and she didn’t move away. “It would’ve never worked, so I didn’t want to prolong the inevitable. But that was only because you were so adamant that you’d do whatever you had to for Clair’s sake. I don’t blame you, Addison. I really don’t. I’d do anything for you and Clair. But I draw the line at sharing you two with some guy who’s still in love with you and only using Clair to get to you.”
“I told you. I really doubt he knows what love is.”
“That’s not the—”
“Who marries someone and keeps something so huge from her like a daughter?”
“Addison—”
“Who claims to love someone then walks when he finds out she’s pregnant?”
Addison could feel herself coming apart. The pain of knowing AJ had been so ready to walk away from her and Clair just like that was unbearable.
“Babe—”
“Don’t call me that!” She swatted angrily at the tears that now streamed down her face. “I’ll tell you who does that. The same kind of person who claims he adores you then walks away the moment things get tough—”
“Bullshit! Don’t lump me in with that asshole!” He took another giant step to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I do adore you. I wouldn’t be able to lie about that if I tried. And don’t you think for a minute this was easy for me. Aside from the days I was waiting to hear if Clair was going to be okay . . .”
His eyes suddenly reddened and flooded as they had so much those days in the hospital, and he shook his head. His lips pressed together before speaking again.
“Aside from then, these last two days”—he stopped and cleared his throat—“have been the hardest in my life. Addison, I had no idea what I was gonna do without you two in my life.”
The fact that he always spoke in terms of her and Clair would never stop swelling her heart. Moments ago she’d been so ready to walk out that door and tell him to go to hell. But, as usual, she had no doubt what he was saying to her right then was absolutely genuine. There was no doubt when she looked into those pained eyes now that he’d suffered as much as she had these last two days.
“It’s been just the two of us for seven years, AJ.” She felt her lip begin to quiver. “I’d prided myself that we’d been just fine with that, and I knew we always would be. But suddenly I had no idea what we’d do without you either. I was so scared.”
AJ wrapped his arms around her neck, and she fell into his embrace. “Was?” he said, pulling away to look at her suddenly. “So that means we’re good? That idiot’s signing his rights away and we never have to deal with his ass again, right?”
Addison nodded. “My lawyers are writing up the paperwork as we speak. I told them I wanted it ironclad so I’d never have to worry about him making any claims or threats again.”
For only the second time since she’d arrived, AJ smiled. He kissed her then gave her another crushing hug, the kind he’d given her in the hospital, and she’d been helpless to not give into it completely. “Thank God,” he whispered against her ear with groan as he hugged her even tighter. “Thank God I get my girls back. Thank God I never have to worry about that asshole again, and it’ll be just the three of us from here on, without anyone trying to make a claim on what’s mine. All mine.”
“I never said anything about it being just the three of us from here on.”
The moment she said it, his hold on her loosened, and he backed away to look at her, his eyebrow already at attention. “What do you mean? You said he was signing . . .” His expression softened a little. “You mean your parents? I know they’ll always be around, babe. I just meant when it’s just us three.”
“Just the four of us,” she corrected him, and the brow rose again.
The squealing broke Addison from AJ’s death stare, and they turned to Emi, who rushed into the room, and everyone followed. Addison felt her face flush, seeing them all flood in with big smiles. She had no idea they’d apparently had such a big audience for the entire argument.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Emi asked, holding her hands to her mouth.
Addison smiled with a nod as she turned to a still-confused-looking AJ. Emi squealed again, hugging Addison, and then turned to AJ. “She’s pregnant, you idiot!” It barely appeared to register for AJ when Emi added, “So am I! We’ll be pregnant together! We were gonna tell everyone later today, but I figured now is even better.”
There were gasps and joyful hugs all around, so it was a while before Addison got to be in AJ’s arms again. As soon as they had a moment, he pulled her aside. “How long have you known?” he asked after squeezing her and kissing her over and over.
Addison explained how she’d suspected for some time because she’d been late, but it wasn’t until the morning of the last game that she took the test. With everything that happened that day and ever since, she hadn’t, or rather didn’t want to think about it. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen between you and me. I kept thinking—” Her voice broke, and she finally gave into the emotion she’d been failing miserably anyway to hold in. “I kept thinking, oh my God, this can’t be happening again.”
“Baby, you know I would’ve never turned my back on you.” He stared in her eyes as he wiped her tears away. “You should’ve said something sooner. Like as soon as you walked in.”
She shook her head adamantly. “I didn’t want this to be the only reason you gave us another try.”
AJ kissed her softly then hugged her again. “Another try.” He scoffed. “I talk a good talk, Addison. All this time I kept asking myself how the hell I was going to live without the two of you. Truth is, baby or not, deep down I’m not sure know how long I would’ve been able to hold off crawling back to beg you to take my stubborn ass back.” He chuckled. “Probably not very long.”
Addison laughed softly against his chest, wishing now she’d brought Clair with her. But she’d been afraid this might’ve ended badly as it almost did. She also hadn’t wanted AJ to think she’d brought her along to soften him up. She needed the truth of where his head was no matter how loud and ugly things got.
They all made their way into the kitchen. There were so many of them and they were all so welcoming it was almost a bit overwhelming. She could hardly believe that for someone who’d been such a loner most her life this was going to be her world now. Her and Clair’s world.
When it finally came time that AJ had to leave and they all started making their way out, AJ walked her to her car. He’d hardly stopped touching and kissing her the whole time they’d hung out with his family, and even now he could barely take his lips off her to say good-bye.
He pulled back when he noticed her eyes were all welled up again. “What’s wrong?”
She shrugged, feeling frustrated. “I never had any morning sickness with Clair, and I haven’t had any yet, but my God, did I cry. Back then I thought it was because of my circumstances,” she said, scrunching her face, and then squeaked out the rest. “But I’ve never been so happy in my life and look at me.”
AJ smiled, kissing her again. “Oh boy,” he said then laughed. “This is gonna be a fun nine months.” She shoved him playfully, but laughed even through her crying. “I’ve never been happier in my life either, baby. Cry all you want. I’m just glad the season’s almost over and I’ll be there for you more often. You and Clair.” He glanced down and rubbed her belly. “Just the four of us.”
“Just the four of us,” she repeated, her lips quivering uncontrollably, making AJ laugh again. “I love you, Andrés Josiah,” she squeaked out again.
“I love you too, future Mrs. Romero.”
Her eyes widened and the crying ceased.
“Oh, hell yeah,” he added with an even bigger smile. “You know I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
It wasn’t exactly a proposal, but it may as well have been. Instantly, her face crumbled, and AJ laughed again, pulling her into another crushing hug.