He looked up, realizing his mistake, his face breaking out into an unmistakable smile. My breath stopped, and I started scanning the field, looking for my girl. I finally saw her walking back onto the grass from one of the tunnels, and I took off into a sprint. She just dropped her purse and sank her head down, shaking it.
“Oh no! Was she crying? Not again. Please God, not again!” I prayed.
As I got closer to her, I realized she was laughing. And when I reached for her hands, she just looked at me and smiled. “I knew your dad would blow it,” she said, her lips forming a tight, confident smile. I looked down at her belly and then back up at her.
“Are you…are you sure?” I asked. She just nodded big.
“Oh, I’m sure. It’s about six weeks according to the doctor,” she said, laughing a little at my stunned face.
“We’re…pregnant?” I said, placing my hands on her stomach now and staring at it again. I’d never felt something so important before. So fragile. Nolan was giggling, and I looked up at her, my mouth unable to do anything but smile.
“Uh, I’m pretty sure I’m the one that’s pregnant. You get to be a dad, yeah. But I don’t see you throwing up your damn breakfast in a stadium bathroom,” she said, her hands on her hips. I laughed out loud, half because she was right, and it was funny, and half because I’d never been happier than I was in this exact moment.
I got down on my knees and hugged her waist, just listening to her like I could hear something. I knew it was ridiculous, but suddenly I couldn’t wait to get her home to touch her belly and talk about names and Google whatever the hell it was we were supposed to do.
“Hey, I’m having a baby!” I shouted to the reporters standing and staring now. They started to walk over, taking pictures of us together. Suddenly, my interviews got a whole lot more interesting, and Nolan fielded a few questions, too. When she started to look tired, I held up a hand and apologized to the few reporters left. My girl was running out of steam, and I had to get her home.
“Sorry guys. Just give me a call and we’ll talk. I gotta get my family home,” I smiled. Family. I was going to have a family.
I took Nolan’s purse from her and tucked it under my arm. “I can hold my purse. You look silly,” she sassed. I refused to give it back, though. If I had my way, she wouldn’t carry anything for the next nine months. “Fine, if you insist. I’m going to start bringing the heavier one, though, just to torture you,” she said, crinkling her nose at me. I just crinkled mine back and leaned in to kiss her quickly.
I held her hand as we walked through the family area and down to the garage. Suddenly, I felt guilty making her climb up into a lifted Jeep. I was going to get a new car tomorrow. Hell, I might just go get one tonight.
We drove home through the hills and pulled onto our private street. I was waiting for the gates to swing open when Nolan broke the silence.
“Peyton,” she said.
“I’m sorry?” I asked, a little confused.
“Our baby. I’d like to name him Peyton,” she smiled, looking straight ahead as I drove through the gates to our house.
“Him, huh? You feeling a boy?” I said, my male instincts kicking in with pride at the thought of having a son.
“Either way,” she shrugged.
“Either way what?” I asked, then realized. “Oh, yeah. Either way. I’m happy whatever we have.”
Nolan just laughed to herself, rubbing her hands over her sleepy eyes. “No, silly. Either way. We’re naming our baby Peyton either way.”
Peyton, just like Nolan. I loved it with all my heart, instantly. Just like my girl.
“Yeah, Peyton. I like it,” I said, falling in love with her all over again.