Chapter 9

Seven Months Pregnant

By seven months pregnant, everything had changed again.

Your stomach was noticeably bigger now.

Walking across campus exhausted you faster than it used to.

Sleeping comfortably had become nearly impossible.

And after a long conversation with both your professors and the university administration, UConn had officially approved accommodations for you to finish the remainder of the semester online.

At first, the decision had felt relieving.

No more rushing across campus.

No more uncomfortable classroom chairs.

No more trying to squeeze through crowded hallways while seven months pregnant.

But after a couple weeks, another feeling slowly started replacing the relief.

Restlessness.

Paige noticed it immediately.

Because Paige noticed everything.

She noticed how often you stood near the window now.

How you sighed whenever she left for practice.

How you kept rearranging the nursery out of boredom.

How your smile looked smaller lately.

Not sad.

Just restless.

Like you were tired of feeling stuck inside.

And Paige understood why.

Unfortunately, there was another problem.

Her popularity had exploded recently.

The deeper the basketball season got, the more attention followed her everywhere.

Social media clips.

Fans asking for pictures.

People recognizing her constantly.

Normally she didn’t mind.

But now?

Now she worried about you.

About strangers crowding around you.

About people taking pictures.

About someone bothering her pregnant wife just because they recognized her.

So Paige came up with a plan.

A very Paige plan.

—

“What do you mean I need to wear something comfortable?”

You looked up from the couch suspiciously.

Paige stood in the kitchen trying and failing to look casual.

“It means wear something comfortable.”

“You sound suspicious.”

“I’m not suspicious.”

“You once tried to convince me that hiding six energy drinks in your backpack was ‘hydration.'”

“That was different.”

“How?”

Paige pointed dramatically.

“I was thirsty.”

You laughed despite yourself.

Paige smiled.

Good.

She’d been trying to get more of those lately.

“Seriously though.”

You looked at her carefully.

“What are you planning?”

Paige walked over and kissed your forehead.

“It’s a surprise.”

“That somehow makes me more nervous.”

“You’ll survive.”

“Maybe.”

Paige grinned.

Then crouched slightly in front of you, placing both hands against your stomach.

A habit that had become second nature.

“Tell your mom to stop being dramatic.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Our daughter is not responsible for me.”

Paige looked at your stomach.

“I think she is.”

Right on cue, a kick pressed against Paige’s palm.

Her entire face lit up instantly.

“There she is.”

You smiled softly.

Every single time the baby kicked, Paige reacted like it was the greatest moment of her life.

Which honestly wasn’t far from the truth.

—

About an hour later, Paige pulled into a long private driveway surrounded by trees.

You frowned.

“Where are we?”

“You’ll see.”

The deeper into the property you drove, the quieter everything became.

No crowds.

No people.

No cameras.

Just trees and open space.

Eventually Paige parked beside a small lakeside pavilion.

You stared.

“Paige.”

She looked suddenly nervous.

“What?”

“You did all this?”

Paige rubbed the back of her neck.

“Maybe.”

You climbed carefully out of the car.

And immediately noticed everything.

A blanket spread near the water.

Pillows.

Food containers.

Your favorite snacks.

Drinks.

Even a small portable speaker quietly playing music.

Your chest tightened instantly.

Because it was beautiful.

Simple.

Peaceful.

Private.

Exactly what you needed.

Paige watched your reaction carefully.

“You like it?”

You looked at her like she’d lost her mind.

“Paige.”

Her shoulders relaxed immediately.

“Okay good.”

You laughed softly.

Then looked around again.

“No people?”

Paige shook her head.

“I rented the space for a few hours.”

Your eyes widened.

“You rented this whole place?”

Paige shrugged.

“I wanted it to just be us.”

The sincerity in her voice hit hard.

Paige walked closer.

Her expression softening.

“I know you’ve been stuck inside a lot lately.”

You looked down.

Because she was right.

“And I know things are different now.”

She hesitated briefly.

“My popularity and stuff.”

That was one way to put it.

Over the last several months, her social media following had exploded.

Every game clip went viral.

Every appearance drew attention.

People constantly recognized her now.

You knew Paige appreciated the support.

But you also knew how protective she’d become over you since the pregnancy.

Especially recently.

“I didn’t want anybody bothering you.”

Your heart melted.

So instead she’d secretly rented an entire private lakeside space just so you could have one peaceful afternoon together.

Very normal behavior.

“You’re insane.”

Paige grinned.

“Probably.”

You stepped closer and wrapped your arms around her carefully.

As carefully as possible with a seven-month baby bump between you.

Paige immediately held you close.

Resting her chin against your head.

“You’ve been cooped up.”

You smiled softly.

“I have.”

“And I missed taking you places.”

That made your chest ache a little.

Because between basketball, classes, pregnancy, and life, things had gotten busy.

Complicated.

But moments like this reminded you that underneath everything else, it was still just the two of you.

The same girls who fell in love years ago.

Just older now.

Married now.

Parents now.

Paige pulled back slightly.

Then guided you toward the blanket.

“Careful.”

You laughed.

“You do realize I’m pregnant, not fragile.”

“I know.”

Paige immediately adjusted one of the pillows behind your back anyway.

You watched her fondly.

“You’ve become so protective.”

Paige looked genuinely confused.

“I’ve always been protective.”

“Not like this.”

She sat beside you.

Then rested a hand against your stomach automatically.

Maybe she didn’t even realize she did it anymore.

“I just worry.”

You leaned against her shoulder.

“I know.”

Paige looked out toward the lake.

Quiet for a moment.

Then she spoke softly.

“Everything feels bigger now.”

You looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged slightly.

“Basketball.”

School.

Life.

“You.”

Her hand moved gently over your stomach.

“Her.”

The baby kicked again beneath her palm.

Paige smiled instantly.

And there it was again.

That look.

The one she got every time she thought about your daughter.

Pure love.

Pure awe.

Like she still couldn’t believe this was real.

You watched her carefully.

“You’re going to be such a good mom.”

Paige looked over immediately.

Emotion filling her expression so fast it almost startled you.

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

Her eyes softened.

Then she leaned over and kissed you slowly.

Gently.

The kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t.

And for the next few hours, the world became quiet.

No cameras.

No basketball.

No expectations.

No noise.

Just you.

Paige.

And the daughter growing between you.

Exactly the way Paige wanted it.