The Baby Blitz (Varsity Dads #3)(36)
Author: Lex Martin

 

I take a deep breath and knock on the front door. Cameron answers. “Hey, Maggie. What’s up? Olly’s not here right now.”

 

“I’m actually trying to track down Billy. That’s his truck, right?”

 

“Yeah, he’s here,” Cameron says hesitantly. I’m sure he didn’t miss my animosity toward his teammate when they moved in Olly.

 

“I have a favor to ask.” Wincing, I add, “I might need your help too.” It’s tempting to use the pregnancy card, but I remind myself we said we’d wait to tell more people.

 

Two hours later, Billy and Cam are dripping in sweat and straining to squeeze the treadmill up the stairs. “Will you hate me if I yell ‘Pivot?’”

 

Neither of them laugh. So much for my Friends joke.

 

“You promised pizza, right?” Billy grunts out.

 

“Yes! I put in the order on our way here.”

 

I make several trips from my car to the house and haul the weights and bars and athletic-looking stuff I don’t understand. The doctor said I could carry a bag or two of groceries, which means I have to watch how much I lug around. I’m definitely testing the limits today, but I’d rather get this done myself than beg the guys to help me again.

 

By the time I’ve dumped everything in the living room, Billy and Cam have carried that ridiculously heavy treadmill upstairs and set it up.

 

“Here’s your pizza.” I set out some paper plates and soda I’d give my left nipple to drink, but I’m trying to avoid anything with artificial colors, sugar, and caffeine, which leaves little else to enjoy in life, quite frankly.

 

Billy and Cam double-fist those slices like they’ve been caged and starved.

 

“It’s solid of you to do this for Olly,” Billy says with a mouthful.

 

“You’re a good girlfriend,” Cam adds.

 

I don’t have the energy to explain that I’m not really Olly’s girlfriend. More like exhausted baby mama.

 

Olly says he wants to be with me, but I suspect that’s obligation talking. He’s a good guy. He wants to do right by me. As much as I’m attracted to him, as much as I wanted to scale him this morning, I’m scared we’ll ruin things before the babies get here, and then I’ll really be alone.

 

It would be better to be friends because friends don’t leave you high and dry. I saw how hard my mom struggled to make ends meet because my dad died. I don’t want that kind of life if I can help it, which means Olly and I need a solid foundation.

 

I leave the guys to the pizza and return to hauling weights from the living room and up the stairs.

 

Good God, they’re getting heavier. After several treks, I have to take a break. I sit and lean over until my arm rests on the steps above me and close my eyes. I don’t know how long I’m there when I hear Olly’s voice.

 

“So you just left her here on the stairs? Why was she carrying weights again?”

 

Yikes. He sounds pissed.

 

“We didn’t know she was hauling weights,” someone says. “We were out back in the kitchen.”

 

I try to sit up, but because I fell asleep on the staircase, everything hurts now. “Hey. I’m okay. They were helping me.”

 

Judging by his scowl, Olly doesn’t believe me. I wipe the drool off my chin. How long was I asleep?

 

“I have your surprise.” But then I realize half of it is still sitting in a pile by the sofa. Shit. “It’s not quite done yet. It took longer than I thought it would.” I smile awkwardly. “Would you close your eyes and let me finish?”

 

I try to stand, but my legs are asleep, so I wobble. Olly’s there in a flash, and then I’m in his arms. “Maybe you should lie down.” He stomps up the stairs, kicks my door open, and gently puts me on my bed.

 

“Please let me finish your surprise.” The doorbell rings, and I drop my arm over my face. “It’s probably my Airbnb person.” I did not coordinate this well.

 

I drag myself off the bed, past Olly, and down the stairs where Billy and Cam are goofing around with the weights.

 

“Don’t bother with the door,” I mumble to myself. “I’ll get it.” I open it and freeze when I see who’s on the other side.

 

“What the fuck? Don’t tell me this is the shithole I’ve rented.” Olly’s ex Amelia Larson struts in wearing designer everything and a golden tan.

 

This can’t be right.

 

“You’re not Nigel.” I would’ve remembered if I’d rented my casita to a woman.

 

“I’m certainly not. Nigel, my stepfather, books everything for me. My soon-to-be-dead stepfather, I should say.” When Amelia lays eyes on Olly, though, her whole demeanor changes. “Oh, my big boo! I haven’t seen you in so long!”

 

She flings herself at him like they’re saying goodbye at the airport.

 

So much for my damn surprise. Because this one takes the cake.

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

OLLY

 

 

 

 

 

I’m gone for a few hours, and when I get home, the apocalypse descends. First I find the guys eating all of our food in the kitchen. Then I realize Maggie is asleep on the goddamn stairs. Only to have the doorbell ring and find the succubus on the other side.

 

I peel my ex off me. “Why are you here?”

 

Amelia juts out her lower lip. “Don’t you miss me? It’s been ages.”

 

Do I miss the nonstop drama? Not at all. And the longer we’re apart, the more grateful I am that I broke up with her when I did.

 

Maggie sheepishly holds up a finger. “I think she rented the casita. For the next two months.”

 

Oh, fuck, no. “This isn’t gonna work out, Amelia. You need to find someplace else.”

 

In true Amelia fashion, she ignores me and looks around the living room, her pert little nose wrinkled and hoisted in the air. “Please tell me you don’t live here, Olly. This place looks like a crime scene. Oh, my God, it is a crime scene! Isn’t this where your teammate attacked that bitch, what’s-her-face?”

 

Sienna is one of the nicest people I know. The fact that Amelia hates her says a lot.