“No.” She shook her head again. “I got him to agree to sign off on Clair, give up his parental rights completely.”

The shock in AJ’s eyes was quickly replaced with something else: something cold—dark—hard. The spark in his eyes, the one she’d seen earlier and so many times before, was back. “How’d you get him to agree to that?”

That he might actually think she’d done anything but what she had, was annoying, not to mention insulting, but she was glad he was at least listening to her now—even more glad she wasn’t crying anymore.

“He owes me back child support. A lot. It’s why I went to see him that night—to show him the paperwork from my lawyers. I had a few threats of my own for him. I knew I had him when he didn’t immediately wave my threats off. His lawyers called mine this morning. He’s ready to sign.”

AJ stared at her for a moment before starting to her with a smile.

“Oh, hell no.” She put her arms up and took a few steps to the door. “You can’t just expect me to be happy with how this all went down.”

“Addison,” he said, shaking his head. “There was no way I—”

“No!” she said, and this time she raised her voice, and the stupid knot in her throat was suddenly back. “I told you from day one my number one priority is to protect Clair. I can’t bring someone into her life that could so easily drop us both like we never meant anything—”

“I never said you didn’t mean anything to me.”

“You may as well have.”

“You’re the one who said it would be an easy breakup. I admitted it wouldn’t be for me. I knew I’d be miserable, but it was my only choice.”

“Really? Hanging in there because you know how much I love you and that I’d never do anything to hurt you was never a choice?”

“Not if it meant some other guy, especially that asshole, was spending time with my family.” He pounded at his own chest with a purpose. “My girls. It would’ve driven me insane. I would’ve driven you insane.” He took a step closer to her, and she didn’t move away. “It would’ve never worked, so I didn’t want to prolong the inevitable. But that was only because you were so adamant that you’d do whatever you had to for Clair’s sake. I don’t blame you, Addison. I really don’t. I’d do anything for you and Clair. But I draw the line at sharing you two with some guy who’s still in love with you and only using Clair to get to you.”

“I told you. I really doubt he knows what love is.”

“That’s not the—”

“Who marries someone and keeps something so huge from her like a daughter?”

“Addison—”

“Who claims to love someone then walks when he finds out she’s pregnant?”

Addison could feel herself coming apart. The pain of knowing AJ had been so ready to walk away from her and Clair just like that was unbearable.

“Babe—”

“Don’t call me that!” She swatted angrily at the tears that now streamed down her face. “I’ll tell you who does that. The same kind of person who claims he adores you then walks away the moment things get tough—”

“Bullshit! Don’t lump me in with that asshole!” He took another giant step to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I do adore you. I wouldn’t be able to lie about that if I tried. And don’t you think for a minute this was easy for me. Aside from the days I was waiting to hear if Clair was going to be okay . . .”

His eyes suddenly reddened and flooded as they had so much those days in the hospital, and he shook his head. His lips pressed together before speaking again.

“Aside from then, these last two days”—he stopped and cleared his throat—“have been the hardest in my life. Addison, I had no idea what I was gonna do without you two in my life.”

The fact that he always spoke in terms of her and Clair would never stop swelling her heart. Moments ago she’d been so ready to walk out that door and tell him to go to hell. But, as usual, she had no doubt what he was saying to her right then was absolutely genuine. There was no doubt when she looked into those pained eyes now that he’d suffered as much as she had these last two days.

“It’s been just the two of us for seven years, AJ.” She felt her lip begin to quiver. “I’d prided myself that we’d been just fine with that, and I knew we always would be. But suddenly I had no idea what we’d do without you either. I was so scared.”

AJ wrapped his arms around her neck, and she fell into his embrace. “Was?” he said, pulling away to look at her suddenly. “So that means we’re good? That idiot’s signing his rights away and we never have to deal with his ass again, right?”

Addison nodded. “My lawyers are writing up the paperwork as we speak. I told them I wanted it ironclad so I’d never have to worry about him making any claims or threats again.”

For only the second time since she’d arrived, AJ smiled. He kissed her then gave her another crushing hug, the kind he’d given her in the hospital, and she’d been helpless to not give into it completely. “Thank God,” he whispered against her ear with groan as he hugged her even tighter. “Thank God I get my girls back. Thank God I never have to worry about that asshole again, and it’ll be just the three of us from here on, without anyone trying to make a claim on what’s mine. All mine.”

“I never said anything about it being just the three of us from here on.”

The moment she said it, his hold on her loosened, and he backed away to look at her, his eyebrow already at attention. “What do you mean? You said he was signing . . .” His expression softened a little. “You mean your parents? I know they’ll always be around, babe. I just meant when it’s just us three.”

“Just the four of us,” she corrected him, and the brow rose again.

The squealing broke Addison from AJ’s death stare, and they turned to Emi, who rushed into the room, and everyone followed. Addison felt her face flush, seeing them all flood in with big smiles. She had no idea they’d apparently had such a big audience for the entire argument.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Emi asked, holding her hands to her mouth.

Addison smiled with a nod as she turned to a still-confused-looking AJ. Emi squealed again, hugging Addison, and then turned to AJ. “She’s pregnant, you idiot!” It barely appeared to register for AJ when Emi added, “So am I! We’ll be pregnant together! We were gonna tell everyone later today, but I figured now is even better.”

There were gasps and joyful hugs all around, so it was a while before Addison got to be in AJ’s arms again. As soon as they had a moment, he pulled her aside. “How long have you known?” he asked after squeezing her and kissing her over and over.

Addison explained how she’d suspected for some time because she’d been late, but it wasn’t until the morning of the last game that she took the test. With everything that happened that day and ever since, she hadn’t, or rather didn’t want to think about it. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen between you and me. I kept thinking—” Her voice broke, and she finally gave into the emotion she’d been failing miserably anyway to hold in. “I kept thinking, oh my God, this can’t be happening again.”

“Baby, you know I would’ve never turned my back on you.” He stared in her eyes as he wiped her tears away. “You should’ve said something sooner. Like as soon as you walked in.”

She shook her head adamantly. “I didn’t want this to be the only reason you gave us another try.”

AJ kissed her softly then hugged her again. “Another try.” He scoffed. “I talk a good talk, Addison. All this time I kept asking myself how the hell I was going to live without the two of you. Truth is, baby or not, deep down I’m not sure know how long I would’ve been able to hold off crawling back to beg you to take my stubborn ass back.” He chuckled. “Probably not very long.”