The pair walked towards me, and I took a deep breath and pulled my pregnant butt out of my chair.

  “Joe, lovey, this is Elle. She’s Logan’s girlfriend. Elle, this is my future husband, Joe.”

  I extended my hand to shake, but Joe hesitated and looked at me with a pained expression on his face.

  Oh God! What did I do?!

  I stood there for a moment, frozen like a dumbass, with my hand hanging in the air. A panic-stricken moment later, when I realized, Joe wasn’t going to shake my hand, I started rubbing my bump. I swallowed hard as awkwardly tried to think of how I’d fucked up meeting a billionaire before finishing formal introductions.

  “Is something wrong, sweetheart?” Amber elbowed Joe so hard in his rib he stumbled sideways.

  Once he recovered, Joe turned to Amber and asked, “Uh… Do I rub her belly and say hi to the baby?”

  My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip so fucking hard that I worried blood would splatter everywhere like a deranged, humorless vampire.

  “No love. Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean you stop treating her like a person.” Amber explained with a gentle eyeroll.

  Joe nodded his understanding and extended a hand towards me. “Nice to finally meet you, Elle. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  We finally shook hands. My shoulders shook lightly with suppressed laughter as Joe gave me a glance over.

  “Are you excited for the show?” he asked.

  I clapped like a child, not caring how it looked. “I am! I’ve watched from home, but I’ve never seen Logan wrestle in person before.”

  “Well then, you’re in for a treat. Amber doesn’t even like wrestling, but she thinks Logan is impressive in the ring. The crowd helps make the experience. Nothing beats the thrill of a live event. Next time I’ll arrange for you some ringside seats. The lounge is great and everything, but you might want to be closer…” he trailed off, his eyes clouded by some complex thought.

  I raised my eyebrows at Amber, who shrugged.

  “…Lovey, isn’t it time for you to get over to the production booth?” She wrapped an arm around Joe’s shoulders.

  He blinked back to reality. “Sorry about that. I’ve got a million things on my mind. It was nice to finally meet you Elle.” Joe said before he pressed a kiss to Amber’s cheek and rushed out of the lounge.

  “I know, I know. He’s a weirdo, but he’s, my weirdo. Besides, you’re having a baby with a wrestler. They’re weird by nature, so you have no room to talk.” Amber narrowed her eyes at me.

  We both giggled.

  “Weird partners out of the way, do they serve food here? Me and Blobby are hungry!”

  “Elle! I wouldn’t be here if they didn’t!” Amber grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bar.

  We ordered food and settled back in our seats just as people started showing up. I peered down into the arena at the mass of people already crowded in their seats. Fans who showed up early just to make sure they didn’t miss a thing. A massive contrast to the people sitting around me who’s money propelled them to the front of any line. Those differences aside, they were all wrestling fans as soon as the fireworks started up. The screaming and applause that filled my ears all sounded the same. I couldn’t help shooting Amber a glance as her cheering matched my own.

  Not a wrestling fan, my ass!

  One of the well-dressed waiters brought over a large tray of food and drinks. “After this, we’ll order dessert!” Amber said as she raised her glass of wine towards me.

  I snatched up my lemonade, and we clinked glasses. Wrestling for all it's wannabe polish was nothing more than the classic good guy vs. bad guy. In-between mouthfuls of food, I cheered and booed through the high and lows of the show. I found myself up on my feet screaming when the ponytailed brothers won their match. They were annoying nerds, but they had become my annoying nerds.

  “A little birdy might have told me Elle should be looking out.” Amber winked at me.

  I swallowed down my last bit of nachos and rubbed a hand over my belly.

  “We’re gonna see your daddy at work.” I whispered to myself.

  A video on the jumbo screen hyped the upcoming match. The two big points were that the fourth entrant was a mystery (wink) and whoever won would get a title shot. I fought down the urge to boo the other entrants as they made their way to the ring. One by one, the men’s themes played, and they entered the ring to cheers from the crowd. Ken Crain, Rock Stout, and Penn Heath. They weren’t necessarily the bad guys, but I only had one guy I wanted to root for.

  Penn’s theme song stopped, and a wave of silence washed over the crowd. Everyone waited for the mystery entrant. Their hopes and expectations about who it could be were the only thing to sway their reaction. The quiet was so loud that my heartbeat filled my ears.

  Oh God!

  The first few notes of Logan’s theme started, and insanity ripped through the stadium. The ovation was almost deafening. Me alongside thousands of other fans were up on our feet screaming for my boyfriend. My heart thudded against my rib cage as the camera zoomed in on his steely, determined face. He paused on the entrance ramp, allowing the wave of adoration from the crowd to wash over him. His lips quirked up at the corners and he strutted to the ring.

  Heart still in overdrive, I managed to sink back into my seat just as the ring announcer gave introductions. The referee gave the signal and started the match. With only a moment’s hesitation, the four guys descended on each other with fist and feet flying. Logan moved so gracefully in between the ropes. In motion, he seemed lighter than air as he flipped off the turnbuckle or charged across the ring to deliver a running dropkick to his opponent’s head. Hands clenched over my chest, my body jumped and jerked at every near fall and close count. The match was an extended blur of muscles, emotion, and movement.

  Ken Crain dived off the top rope to Rock Stout, who stood outside the ring. The crowd chanted, “Holy Shit!” as both men lay sprawled out on the floor. They were out for the count. Logan sprang to his feet. This was his chance. He knew it. Everyone watching knew it. Logan bounced off the ropes to rush across the ring and slam his opponent into the mat. Fired up, he hit his chest with his fist as the crowd rumbled. He stomped his feet, urging his Penn up to his feet. Dazed, the bulky man stumbled as he stood on shaky legs. Confident smirk in place, Logan rushed Penn, jumped up and wrapped his legs around his neck. Effortlessly, Logan whirled, flipping Penn and bringing him back down to the mat. In the middle of the ring, Logan wrapped his arms around Penn’s head in a crossface. The move was locked in. I sat up straight, holding my breath. Penn reached out for the ropes, but they were miles away. Logan wrenched back harder. Penn’s face scrunched in pain as he brought his hand down to tap out.

  I jumped out of my seat and screamed at the top of my lungs. My screams were lost in the echo chamber of similar cheers that tore through the stadium. The referee held up Logan’s arm. He was headed for a championship match.

  Logan

  I had done it. I was in line for the MWA World Championship. My chance to show the world why I was the best. Four weeks until the next pay-per-view and any other time I would have been consumed with wrestling. Every thought. Every breath. But not today. Today I was obsessing over something different. Today was the day we found out what we were having.

  My legs bounced with nervous energy as I sat beside Elle in OBGYN’s waiting room. This time there was no bag of pee, but they instructed Elle to drink 32 ounces of water before her appointment. Thighs squeezed together, she rocked back and forth as her bladder threatened to burst. I gently caressed her shoulder.

  “You’re doing great, sweetheart. You’ll be okay.” I reassured.

  “Unnnnnn!” She groaned.

  The waiting room was empty except a lone pregnant woman who occasionally looked up from her phone at us with sympathetic eyes.

  A nurse dressed in pink Hello Kitty scrubs stepped into the waiting room and called Elle’s name. I couldn’t help the giggle that slipped out as Elle hopped out of seat and dashed right up the woman.

  “Hello Elle. My name is Georgia and I’ll be preforming your ultrasound today.”

  “Nice. Great. Awesome. Where are we going?” Elle muttered as she tried and failed not to do the pee dance.

  “Last room on the right,” Georgia directed.

  The nurse and I exchanged strained smirks as Elle led us back to the ultrasound room with careful steps. The lights were dim, giving the room a peaceful feeling. I sat in a chair off to the side of the ultrasound machine. My hands ran mindlessly up and down my thighs. I never noticed how worn my blue jeans were, and I probably never would have noticed if I weren’t feverishly searching for anything besides the avalanche of chaotic thoughts that rattled around my head. Elle’s cute little grunts pulled me back to earth. I looked over to Georgia, helping Elle get settled on the exam table.

  Maybe they shouldn’t make the tables too high for pregnant people? Very inconsiderate.

  Georgia had Elle expose her bump by pulling her shirt up and her jeans down. With a paper towel tucked into her jeans, Georgia spread warm gel over Elle’s bump. Elle giggled and tried not to wiggle too much. Once her laughing fit ended, her lips settled into a hard line and she extended her hand in my direction.

  Me. She needs me.

  The scraping of my metal chair against the tile floor echoed in the small room as I scooted my chair close to her. I clasped her hand in both of mine and a feeling of warmth washed over me. Elle must have felt it too, because she tilted her head towards me and raised her eyebrows.

  Anytime you need me baby, I’ll be there.

  “So, how is pregnancy treating you so far?” Georgia asked as she sat at the ultrasound machine and started clicking things.

  “Good mostly. My nausea stopped, and now I’m mostly tired,” Elle laughed.

  “I understand that.” Georgia smiled over her shoulder at us.

  “So, I apologize in advance if I hurt you because I have to press down kinda hard to make sure we get a good picture. First, I’m going to take some pictures and measurements for the Doctor, then I’ll turn on the second monitor so you can see.” She explained.

  Elle nodded and Georgia took that permission to get started. She grabbed the wand and guided it across Elle’s stomach. I reassuringly squeezed Elle’s hand as Georgia pressed down, twisting Elle’s face. It took several agonizingly long minutes for anything to happen. Georgia didn’t give much away except for a few hmmms as she clicked buttons and inched the wand through the gel.

  “You’re doing great sweetheart,” I muttered reassuringly.

  I had no idea if my reassurances were more for Elle or me. My mind wandered toward everything, not being okay.

  What if there’s no heartbeat?

  What if the baby stopped growing?

  That if they have three eyes?

  What if-

  No sooner than my brain touched on that negative thought, a WOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH sound filled the room.

  “That’s baby’s heartbeat.” Georgia explained.

  My mouth fell open. The sound filled me with the cool reassurance of relief and joy. I looked at Elle, who smiled softly up at me.

  “Annnddd… If you two look up at the monitor. That’s baby.”

  My eyes looked up toward to monitor on the ceiling, and my whole world stopped. Blobby was Blobby no more. In black and white, an unmistakable tiny little human in profile was on the screen. A perfectly round head, a button nose, and a cute little chin. I blinked several times as my mind attempted to process what I was looking at.

  “Ouch Logan! Too tight!” Elle shouted as she wrenched her hand from mine.

  “Sorry.” I mumbled, totally unaware that I was squeezing the shit out of her.

  A ringing filled my ears, making it hard to hear Georgia as she walked us through the baby’s body parts. Dazed and unable to breathe, I stared at the monitor as the nurse showed us baby’s arms and legs.

  “Did you want to know the gender?” Georgia asked, knocking me out of my daze.

  That wasn’t something we talked about, and my eyes shifted to Elle for guidance.

  “Uh… I think so. I mean, if that’s okay?” Elle stammered.

  Georgia nodded and pressed harder with the wand. Elle grimaced and reached for me. I swooped in and held Elle’s hand lightly this time.

  “…So, I’d say that’s a girl! Congratulations!”

  Girl?! We’re having a girl?!

  Elle and I stared at each other as the weight of Georgia’s words hit us. Elle broke first. Her delightful and studious face cracked into an uncontrollable smile. I jumped out of my seat and wrapped my arms around her. I nuzzled my face into the soft of her neck and sighed.

  My world. My whole world.

  Elle pushed back out of my arms and asked, “Can I go to the bathroom now?”

  Georgia nodded. Holding onto my arm for support, Elle shimmied off the exam table and sprinted out the room.

  “Second door on the right!” Georgia called out to the puff of smoke that was once my girlfriend.

  I didn’t know she could move that fast…

  “When she gets back, I’ll print you two some pictures.” Georgia smiled at me.

  Winded like I’d worked an iron man match, I flopped back into my chair. I actively had to force my brain to remember the steps to breathing. In. Cool air filled my lungs. Out. In. Out. In. Once I had a handle on the whole breathing thing, I looked down and noticed my shirt was splattered in ultrasound gel.

  A little girl… I’m gonna be a girl dad!

  Elle

  I was very good and saved my one cup of coffee until I was out. A few sips into my specialty brewed mocha, and I felt like a million bucks.

  Oh caffeine! I love you so!

  Logan and I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, and not for that reason. Every time I’d doze off, Logan would wake me up by caressing my belly, or kissing my belly, or talking to my belly. Although I was reaching the point of cranky tired, I couldn’t help but smile as feelings of love wrapped their hands around my heart and squeezed the shit out of it.

  After the ultrasound, we called my aunts and his parents to tell them the news. Trisha and Renee screamed so loud, I worried they’d broken my speaker. On the other hand, Logan’s parents’ response was subdued acceptance before moving on to other things. His mom invited me to visit, but Logan assured me I didn’t have to. Growing up in a small family that kept shrinking, I couldn’t help the idea that I wanted baby girl to have the large family I didn’t. Logan didn’t press me about having a relationship with his parents, but the more I mulled it over, the more I wanted to have a connection with them for the sake of the baby. That was something I needed to talk with him about.

  Logan was leaving work to look at houses with me. He rationalized it as giving our daughter a foundation where she could grow. And after much brow beating from my aunts, I decided to go along for the ride. I took a sip of my mocha and pulled my car into Save Point’s parking lot. The bar had been open for a couple of hours, but it still surprised me to see patrons. Most drinking and gaming seemed to happen after work hours. According to the two men in business suits in the middle of an over-the-top game of Rock Band, today seemed to be an exception.

  “Hey Elle!” Nick waved from behind the bar.

  Two giggly girls in the far corner kept whispering and stealing glances at him. International girl language told me that one of them had to be interested in him. But being the loveable airhead that Nick was he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Hey!” I smiled.

  I didn’t spot the other half of the ponytailed pair or my boyfriend.

  As if he read my mind, Nick said, “Zeke is in the kitchen supervising the junior chef. And your boyfriend is in the back office.”

  “Thank you!” I shot Nick a pair of finger guns for some cringe worthy reason.

  Thankfully, he laughed and waved me through to the back. I walked through the dimly lit hall, blinking to allow my eyes time to adjust. The back-office door was closed when seem unusual for a busy day. I raised my hand to knock, only to pause at the yelling coming from the other side.

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore!” The booming bass in Logan’s voice left me frozen with my arm in the air. Even when he was playing the cocky bad guy on TV, he never raised his voice.

  “We’ve been friends for 30 years and I honestly can’t believe you’re being this fucking stupid!” Davis shouted.

  “You’re my friend. I value your opinion, but just because you think it’s stupid doesn’t mean it’s stupid! What is wrong with me wanting to do right by my child? I don’t fucking understand why you’re so pressed over this?!” Logan retorted.

  “Because you have no way of knowing if that baby is yours! She could be pinning that kid on you because you’re a famous wrestler with lots of money and apparently not a lot of smarts! Too many concussions and the first woman to fuck you plays you like a fiddle!”

  The urge to vomit churned my gut.

  “Low fucking blow Davis.”

  “It’s true! A few injuries and suddenly you’re diving into this feet first. This will end up being another Yuki situation and you’re too blinded by what you think is love to fucking notice!”

  Why was his ex a situation?

  “Davis, I’m going to say this once and only once, so you better listen good. Elle is my girlfriend. That baby is my kid. I have no reason to think otherwise, and you shouldn’t either. She’s a part of my life and hopefully will be for a long time. If you ever disrespect either one of them again, I’ll knock your fucking teeth down your fucking throat. I think we’re done here.” Logan huffed.