Page 85 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

“He was excited to meet his parents,” she says. “Can you blame him? It looks to me like he has two great ones.” She nods toward the gift that still sits unopened. “That’s for you, Bertie.”

“For me or Rory?” I ask.

“For you,” she confirms.

I straighten my shoulders. “Oh, that’s so nice of you.”

Luke hops up and grabs it before I can even think about standing. I take the box from him when he hands it to me. Curiosity grips me. I can’t imagine what she’d bring for me.

The pastel purple and green wrapping paper is almost too pretty to mess up, but since they’re both staring at me, I make myself tear into the corner. I let the ripped paper fall to the floor to pick up later. Lifting the lid off the box my jaw drops open when I reveal a pastel blue fuzzy knit cardigan. My fingers tremble slightly as I reach for the garment.

I pull it out and shake it loose.

“Did you make this?”

“I did.” Her eyes crinkle at the corners with her smile. “I noticed you really like blue and yellow too, but I figured for this blue might be better. It has some deep pockets too so you can carry around stuff you need. I thought it might be helpful with the baby.”

“Oh, Jocelyn.” I set the box and cardigan on the coffee table so I can get up and hug her. “You have no idea what this means to me. Thank you so much.”

“You’re so welcome, sweetie.”

I scoop the cardigan up and tug it on. It’s the softest material I’ve ever felt before. Doing a spin, I ask them, “How does it look?”

“It looks great,” Jocelyn says at the same time Luke says, “You’re beautiful.”

I feel my cheeks warm beneath his praise. I don’t know how pretty I am right now, but the way he says it certainly makes me feel that way.

Jocelyn stays for another half hour before she has to leave. I hate to see her go. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her steady and reliable presence.

“Thank you so much for everything,” I say as I hug her goodbye.

“I’d do anything for you, sweet girl.” She squeezes me back.

With Rory tucked into his bassinet, Luke and I watch her get in her car and drive away.

“Your mom is a wonderful person,” I tell him, watching her car lights disappear around the bend of the driveway.

He wraps an arm around my torso, tugging me into his side. “She is.”

“I can’t believe she made me a cardigan. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone make me something before.”

“She loves you,” he says as he leads me back inside.

There’s something there that hangs in the air between us. I look up at him, seeing if he’s going to be the one to take it and say something. Our eyes hold like we’re each waiting for the other to say something and then the moment is gone.

CHAPTER 31

LUKE

Tanner and his family return the day before preseason is set to start. A text comes in shortly after their arrival.

Tanner: Can we meet the baby?

I show the text message to Bertie. She promptly breaks into laughter. “They want to meet him already? They just got back.”

Another text comes through.

Tanner: We want baby snuggles.