A girl.

Our girl.

A girl.

Holy shit, it’s a girl.

I’d better get a gun.

As Avery giggles and raves about the appointment to Lucy, I try to concentrate on driving. It isn’t working, though. My mind is flooded with thoughts of her—my daughter and who she will be. Will she like hockey? Or be a princess? Or both? She looks like a good mix of both of us, and I still can’t believe what I saw. What I felt. When the probe revealed my daughter, it took everything for me to find my next breath. It was love at first sight. Just like it was when I saw Avery for the first time and that scares me. If she’s got me this wrapped up and she isn’t even here yet, no telling what will go down when she gets here. Man, I just want to meet her because I love her already.

With my whole heart.

“I know! They can be best friends.”

I smile as I pull on to the road that leads to the Loveless Cafe where we are meeting Avery’s parents.

“I know. He is freaking out, I think. He hasn’t said much.”

“I’m fine. I’m excited,” I say and she flashes me a grin as Lucy and my mom scream on the other end. Apparently, everyone was hoping for a girl.

So was I.

“Cool, yeah, okay. I’ll call you back later. We are almost there. Thanks, I will. Okay, bye.”

Hanging up the phone, she lays it in her lap and she’s just beaming. I’m so thankful too, because for a second there, I was worried. She scared the shit out of me and I didn’t expect that, but that’s how it is with her anxiety. It can come at any moment. But thankfully, I knew right away that something was wrong. Being around her almost all the time now, I’m learning the signs and I’ve figured out how to help. It makes me feel good that I can help her, that I can calm her down because I hate seeing her like that. But it’s fine. I’ve got her, and together, we can beat this.

“Oh my God, are you excited?”

I lace my fingers with hers when she grabs my hand, bouncing in her seat. “Yeah, baby, I am.”

“A little girl. Eek! So cool.”

“For sure,” I agree, squeezing her hands as I try to push the nervousness out of my chest. I don’t want to be nervous to meet her mom and dad, but I’m still worried he could fuck with my career. I haven’t told Avery that, but it’s weighing heavily on me and I really don’t even want to go to dinner.

But I will.

Grinning over at her because I feel her watching me, I say, “So, no Gretzky for a girl, huh?”

She rolls her eyes. “No, but I like your idea from before about something J and A.”

“Okay, cool, so we’ll go with that.”

“Okay,” she says as I pull into the café. “Do you still like Ashlyn?”

I nod. “Yeah, didn’t you pair it with Joy?”

“I did,” she says with a grin. “I love when you listen to me.”

I scoff. “You’re crazy, but I do like Ashlyn Joy.”

She nods, saying the name a few times before grinning up at me. “Did we just name our baby girl?” she gushes and I laugh.

“If Ashlyn Joy Sinclair sounds good to you, I love it.”

“Eek! I do… I think. What if I change my mind?”

Laughing out loud, I shake my head. “Baby, we’ve got plenty of time to decide.”

She nods as she scrolls through her phone. “You’re right. Okay, let’s go in.”

Leaning over, she kisses my cheek. But before pulling away, she eyes me. “You’re nervous to meet my parents, aren’t you?”

I swallow hard. “No.”

“Liar.”

“Just a little bit.”

“Don’t be. They’ll love you.”

“Liar,” I accuse and she laughs.

“Yeah, I don’t know what is going to happen, but at least we are doing it together, right?” she says hopefully and I nod.

“Yup, let’s go,” I say, kissing her lips before getting out and going around to get her. When we turn, a couple is coming toward us and I assume they are Avery’s parents. They are both smiling. The lady looks a lot like my wife, the same frame and long dark hair like Avery’s. The guy is Benedict Haverbrooke, a very tall man with thinning hair and bushy eyebrows. Avery has his eyes, though. But his sons favor him while Avery does her mother.

Swallowing hard, Avery squeezes my hand as Benedict breathes, “Avery.”

Her mom’s eyes fill with tears as she holds out her arms. “Look at your little belly.”

Avery lets go of me, going into her mother’s arms. I suck in a breath as she kisses Avery’s cheeks, pressing her hand on my daughter’s home. Benedict presses his lips to Avery’s forehead before looking her over. “You look good.”

“I am,” she answers. “I’m really good.”

Her mom takes hold of her, clutching her by her arms. “Before anything else happens, I need to apologize for that phone call. I was shocked, and I was wrong for what I said. I’m so sorry.”

Avery’s eyes cloud with tears as she stares into her mother’s eyes. “We both are,” her dad adds. “We wanted to do this in person.”

Avery doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I can see the relief, the joy on her face as she nods. “Thank you.”

Looking over at me, Benedict smiles. “And this is Jace Sinclair, my new son-in-law?”

Avery turns to me, a smile on her face as I hold my hand out, taking Benedict’s. “Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” he says sincerely, shaking my hand hard. “Hate that it has taken so long.”

“Agreed.”

Letting go of my hand, he looks back at Avery and smiles. “She’s in one piece.”

I grin as I nod. “She is.”

“This is her mother, my wife, Thea.” Avery’s mom comes to me, her eyes scrutinizing me as she glares. Swallowing loudly, I hold out my hand, taking hers as I flash her a grin. Usually, my grin works on women, but apparently, not this one.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

My mouth quirks. “Good things, I hope?”

Her eyes narrow. “My son, Avery’s twin, used to play with you.”

“He did, good player.”

“He is. He’s going into the draft this year, too.”