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She blows out a breath as she considers that. “Then we don’t let him.”
“But how do we stop him?”
She doesn’t have an answer for that. Instead, she sighs as she sets her hand on her stomach, and I set my hand over hers. I lean down as I pull her hand out of the way, and I push her shirt up and lean over to press a kiss to her stomach. I turn my face so my ear is up against her, and I listen for our baby in there.
It’s not the first time I’ve realized we’re having a baby, but it’s the first time I’ve done this. “Hey, there. You in there?”
Desiree chuckles.
“I’m your dad.” As the words fall from my lips, an unfamiliar heat presses behind my eyes, and this strange wave seems to pulse through my chest.
It feels like I’m finally figuring out who the fuck I am.
It feels like my entire life, I’ve worked my ass off to find my place. First it was in my own goddamn family as I tried so hard to be as incredible as my three older brothers, and then it was on every team I’ve ever been a part of as I was looked at as the youngest of the Nash brothers, and then it was here at the Aces as I tried to overcome the reputation that I made for myself before I ever even got to complete a whole season. It was through the ridiculous fashion choices I made as I tried to assert my own identity. It was in sleeping with a variety of women as I tried to fill some void that they never would’ve been able to fill.
They couldn’t. None of them had that ability. How could they when it belongs solely to the woman beside me now?
How could it when it feels like the reason I was put on this earth was to find Desiree and have children with her?
I thought commitment wasn’t for me. I thought kids weren’t for me. I thought my entire life had to be football, and there was nothing else for me.
How very wrong I was.
Because this right here?
This is everything. This is where I was always meant to be, and I won’t always be perfect, but I will work my ass off to be the best man I can be to Desiree and the best father I can be to our child—or maybe even our children if we’re lucky enough to have more.
I think I finally found my place. The back of my throat is clogged with emotion, so I don’t say those words to Desiree.
I will. Someday. Or at least, that’s my plan.
First, we have to overcome the hurdle labeled with her father’s name.
Chapter 54: Asher Nash
Good Score, Kiddo
Her parents must’ve gone up to bed because they’re not downstairs when I head out. As much as I want to spend the night holding Desiree in my arms, I wouldn’t feel right doing that in her father’s house.
I think about inviting her home with me, but first I need to confront my own father.
She kisses me goodbye at the door, and I hate saying goodbye. We make a promise we’ll see each other soon. Tomorrow night we’ll stay in a hotel ahead of our final home game on Sunday, so it won’t be tomorrow. Maybe Sunday, and then I have an entire week off. I plan to worship her body during that week, that’s for damn sure.
Laying on a bed with her and kissing her naked stomach didn’t do me any favors in that department. I’m turned on, but I force the neediness away as I head home. I’m not really in any rush to get there, and it makes me realize what I want.
I want to live with Desiree.
I want to make a home with her. I want to make alifewith her.
Her dad gave me something to chew on earlier in his office when he said I should either quit playing or leave her alone. But maybe he was wrong.
Maybe Icanhave both.
She’s here in Vegas now, and she’s here because of me—in part, anyway. He doesn’t know that.
Presumably, he also doesn’t know that she stayed away as long as she did because of me. He doesn’tneedto know that one.
I pull into the driveway of the house I’ve shared with my dad for the last two and a half years. I can’t believe I’ve been in Vegas that long, and I’m not sure what’s next.
