The Way We Score: A small-town, accidental pregnancy, sports romance. (The Bradford Boys)

Twinkle lights adorn the delicate trees lining the patio, and dim lights shine in the depths of Miss Gina’s Italian, blue-tiled pool.

I’ve been doing water aerobics with her and Rachel twice a week for a month, so this is the first time I’ve been able to relax and appreciate its luxury.

The moon is a fingernail overhead, and I’m floating in perfectly warm saltwater, with my back against Garrett’s chest and his strong arms around me.

My insides are way less jittery, and after my breakdown earlier, I feel like I could crash. “Maybe we should spend the night here. I’m exhausted.”

“I have no objections.” His voice is quiet beside my cheek. “I’m sure it’ll be as elegant as everything else here.”

My eyes are on that sliver of yellow hanging in the vast expanse of blackness overhead. I wish we could see the stars.

Garrett’s hand slides down my arm, and he kisses the side of my head. “Talk about birth-class backfires.” I can tell from his tone, he’s approaching with caution. “What happened back there?”

“I don’t know.” I feel so foolish saying these fears out loud.

“Come on, Liv. You can’t keep this stuff from me. I’m here to help.”

Moving out of his arms, I go to the side of the pool, resting my eyes against the back of my hands as I confess. “I’m a freaking whale. I know it’s mostly baby, but after so many years of being in complete control of my body, all through my dancing days, to see it changing this way is really disorienting. I wonder every day if I’ll ever be the way I was before, and I’m pretty sure I won’t.”

Quiet falls around us. The waterfall at the opposite end of the pool typically creates a restful ambiance, but tonight it feels very far away.

Garrett drifts closer to where I’m standing with my back to him. “Would you believe me if I tell you you’re adorable?”

My shoulder rises in a shrug.

He slides a finger down the side of my arm. “Well, you are. You’re actually giving all the guys baby fever. All except Hendrix, of course. And Jack, I guess.”

“I’m not thinking about them.” My voice is quiet, and I hate the twist of anxiety in the middle of my back.

“Who are you thinking about?”

Another beat of silence. I’m not accustomed to saying stuff like this out loud. I’ve always been strong, managed my emotions, and placed feelings like these in their appropriate boxes.

My chin dips, and I cringe so hard. “My vagina will never be the same after I have this baby. My breasts are going to be all full of milk…”

The finger on my arm turns to a hand sliding across my back. “It’ll be different for a little while, but that’s okay.”

“It’ll be a lot different.” I rest my forehead on the back of my hands again.

“Come on, Liv.” His voice is warm, and he moves closer. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I’m never going to be the same, and you’re never going to want to have sex with me again.”

He moves back slightly, looking at me like I’ve lost it. “Are you serious right now?”

“Yes.” My voice is pouty. “You want me tight and muscular and young, and after I give birth to this giant watermelon baby, my body will be all stretched out and ruined, and you’ll never want me again. It won’t feel the same, and⁠—”

“Stop.” His tone is firm. “Look at me.” Touching my chin, he lifts my head so I have to meet his fierce blue eyes. “I would never say this to you, Liv. You know how much I respect you, and how much I think you’re smart and a badass…”

“Just say it.” I’m feeling shame, fear, loss, and I can’t stop the tear that hits my cheek.

“You’ve lost your fucking mind if you think I’ll ever stop wanting to fuck your brains out. Are you kidding me? You’re having my baby, Liv. It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever been a part of.”

“You say that now…”

“I’ll say that always, even when we’re on baby number five.”

“Number five?”

A hint of a smile curls his lips. “I gave up believing I’d get a second chance with you when you married that douche in Birmingham. I went out that night and got so drunk…” His chin drops. “Logan didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me. Nobody did. But I knew it was my fault, and I’d lost the best thing I ever had.”

“You never lost me.” My voice is quiet. “I never stopped loving you, Garrett. As much as I thought I could move on with my life, I knew if I ever saw you again… I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Hey.” Large hands cover my shoulders, and he pulls me closer. “All that’s past now. We’re here. We made it, and I’m so fucking happy. I’m not going to let you be afraid to have my baby.”

Pressing my lips together, I don’t know how to break it to him. I’m terrified. I’m not just afraid of the tearing. I’m afraid I’ll barf everywhere when the first contraction hits. I’m afraid I’ll poop myself when the baby comes out.

I’m afraid of all the horror stories I’ve heard, and I’m certain they’re all going to come true in the most humiliating way possible.

“I’m afraid you’ll never think I’m sexy again.”

His lips part, and he exhales a laugh, shaking his head and looking up at the trees. “I don’t know how to tell you I can’t even imagine what would have to happen for that to be true. If anything, you’re more beautiful to me every day.”

“Stretch marks and all?”

“Come here.” He pulls me close, turning my back to his chest again and wrapping his arms around me. “We should try that class again. I was skeptical, but I think it’s helping us already. For starters, you were the most beautiful woman there. They’ll want you for the publicity photos.”

A laugh snorts through my nose, and I tuck my nose against his jaw. “Compliments will get you everywhere.”

“Will they get me in your pants?”

“You’ve never had to worry about that.”

“I’m ready to take you to that guest cottage and remind you how hard you make me.”

Warm lips cover mine, and while anxiety still twists in my chest, while I’m still terrified my body will never be the same, I’m a little less terrified it’s the end of our sex life.

At least not when Garrett lifts me out of the water and carries me to the pretty little house on the edge of the premises overlooking the bay, and proceeds to make me scream.

“I thought your mom said no more chickens.” Garrett’s voice greets me as he crosses the backyard to where I’m standing right outside the henhouse, introducing Henny to her new baby chick.

It’s been longer than twenty-one days, but she doesn’t seem to care. She’s making soft little clucks and doing her best to scoot the little chick under her body.

“It’s called chicken math.” I keep my voice low and calm. “If Mom didn’t want it to happen, she shouldn’t have left.”

Garrett stands just outside the perimeter watching as Henny guides her baby around. Every time the baby black silkie tries to come to me, she clucks over to it, lightly touching it with her beak.

I put a handful of chicken feed in the small cup Henny’s been using, and she shows the baby chick how to eat. The little black puff ball runs over, and she nuzzles it with her beak.

“Look how happy she is,” I coo, sliding my finger down the soft feathers beside her neck to her back. “She has a baby girl now, just like our… Gina Grace? Gigi?”

Garrett’s brows furrow as he thinks about this, then he rests his hand on the roof of the henhouse, leaning attractively as he watches me. “I like it.”

“Miss Gina has always been like a sweet grandmother to you and your siblings, and your real grandmother is no longer with us…”

“I think Gigi’s a good name.” He’s grinning now. “I even like Gina and Grace alone, if she wants to be more traditional when she gets bigger.”

“I don’t know if Mom will be annoyed. I didn’t name her Persimmon or some other fruit.”

“I don’t care for Persimmon.”

I go to where he’s standing, watching me in a way that lights all my nerve endings. He’s watching me like he wants to put his mouth all over my body, and I’d let him.

“What are you thinking?” My voice is suddenly shy.

“Just you, worrying about that silly bird.”

“She’s not silly.” I pretend to pout, which makes him laugh. “I’m also a little worried about you.”

“What?” He frowns.

“You haven’t watched a single football game since you got here. It’s always been such a huge part of your life and your family. Don’t you miss it?”

“Not really.” He lowers his hand, standing straighter. “I guess it seems strange to watch the games when I’m not playing anymore.”

“But you love football.”

His voice drops, turning softer. “I love you.”

Energy floods my body as he takes my hand. We’ve said similar things to each other, more and more lately, but this is the first time he’s saying it in a way that feels like he’s saying something more.

I meet his possessive gaze. “You do?”

He traces a lock of hair off my cheek with his finger, tucking it behind my ear. “Don’t you already know it?”

He doesn’t have to ask me. “I do.”

“I wanted to show you I’m not the same guy who only thinks about himself.” Lifting my left hand, he studies my fingers. “I’m not the guy who hurt you in college.”

“I loved that guy, but you’re right. You’re a better man. A man I love.”

“Do you think I might be a good dad?”

The earnestness in his tone squeezes my heart, but I’m able to say with complete honesty, “You’re going to be the best dad.” Wrinkling my nose, I step closer. “You’re the champ.”

“One day, I’ll be a good sheriff.” His hand covers mine, and he lifts it to his lips. “And a good husband…”

My breath catches. “What are you saying?”

“I want you to marry me, Liv.” My lips part, but he stops me. “Don’t answer me now.” He looks around with a chuckle. “Not here in the henhouse.”

Lifting my chin, I rise onto my toes, ready to kiss his face off. “So you’re not proposing to me?”

His thumb touches the line of my jaw. Electric blue eyes hold mine, and I’m about to get my answer when I hear the sound of footsteps approaching fast.

We both turn to see Dylan marching across the lawn like she’s about to commit murder.

“Dylan?” I step away from Garrett, going to meet her. “Are you okay?”

“No…” Her voice trembles. “I am not okay, and we need to talk.”

“What’s wrong?” Garrett’s right behind me, reaching for his little sister.

“This.” She holds up the iPad she uses for recipes when she’s cooking, and I don’t understand.

On the black screen, in large, blocky white letters reads “They Say Disabled. He says Pregnant!!!” My jaw drops, and I look up at Garrett.

His lips tighten, and he shakes his head, muttering, “Shit.”