“Why am I so nervous?” Chloe asks, her foot tapping on the floor of the car.
“Because this is the first time we’re going to see our families since we decided to really try this whole relationship thing?” Tom suggests, his eyes focused on the road ahead of him.
“I guess...” She drags.
“Maybe it’s because of the news?” He smiles.
She looks over at him, her nerves written clearly on her face.
“Yeah. I think it’s definitely that.”

He rests his hand on her knee, stilling it.

“Hey, don’t be so nervous.” He says. “This was going to be expected anyway. And you and I are both completely thrilled about it.”
“I know. I’m just so antsy. I feel like I could throw up.”
“Well if you really are going to throw up, make sure to tell me so I can pull over.” He jokes. One look over at her and he realizes it’s not a joke. “Are you-?” She nods and he quickly pulls the car over to the side of the road just in time for her to throw the door open and leave her digested lunch on the ground.
“I’m never going to get used to that.” She says, wiping her mouth with the napkin he hands her.
“Yeah, no.” He agrees.
“You’re going to have to get used to puke.” She says as he pulls back onto the road. “And pee and poop and slobber.”
“So basically like having a dog.”

She laughs and hits his arm jokingly.

“Tom, this is crazy.” She sighs.
“I know, baby. But it’s all going to work out in the end.”
“I like when you call me baby.” She says, rubbing her hand along his thigh.
“I like calling you baby.” He sends her a smirk that instantly wets her panties.
“Do you think we would have ended up together if there wasn’t the contract?” She asks, trying desperately not to get too turned on before they show up at his parents’ house.
“I’d like to think so.” He admits. “The truth is that I’ve been in love with you since like forever. I just didn’t know it until six weeks ago.”

“I don’t think we would have at first.” She says, staring at the scenery passing by outside the window. “I think we would have gone our separate ways. You to the NHL and me to a different college. We probably both would have ended up with someone else. A model for you and a doctor for me. But then we’d meet up at a high school reunion or something and realize that we’ve been missing each other so much. We’d break up with our significant others and be together instead.”

He stares at her, taking in what she just said. He could see that happening. Chloe is by far a knock-out in every category imaginable. If she wasn’t betrothed to him since birth, she probably could have had any man she met.

Hell, when he introduced her to the team they all though it was some elaborate prank. Because there’s no way a complete ten like Chloe would choose to be with a dork like him. Until she showed them the ring and pulled up a picture of him proposing the summer before, no one believed them.

“I guess I’m a lucky fucker then, eh?” He laughs.
“I guess so.”

He pulls into his parents’ driveway next to Chloe’s dad’s car and turns off the car. Jumping out, he runs around to her side and opens her door, holding out his hand for her. She chuckles at his gentlemanly action and kisses his lips in thanks.

“I’ll come back and get the bags later. Right now, let’s go see our parents.” He says.

As soon as they open the back door out to the patio, all four adults come rushing over to greet them. Chloe is the first one to notice that the six are not alone, and her jaw drops when she realizes that half of their family and friends are in the Wilsons’ back yard.

“We decided to surprise you guys with a welcome home party!” Her dad says, pulling her into a hug.
“Well thank you guys! This is definitely a surprise!” Tom says, hugging her mom.
“Come, grab a beer! Hang out a little!” His dad shouts.

Chloe shoots Tom a quick glance, not sure what to do. They planned on telling their parents immediately about their big news, but this definitely changed things.

“Actually, dad. Chloe was just saying she really had to go to the bathroom. And I left my car unlocked because I was going to grab the bags. We’ll be right back out, okay?”
“That sounds perfectly reasonable!”

Tom and Chloe hurry back into the house where Chloe heads for his old room and he heads out to the car. A couple minutes later he brings their bags into his room and sits down on the bed next to her.

“What do we do?” She asks.
“If the moment comes up, we say something. If not, we wait.” He says.
“Okay...”
“Hey, Chlo?” She looks up at him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She says.

They make their way back to the party and Tom quickly pours her a glass of lemonade. They make their rounds together, saying hello to everyone who came out to see them. Eventually the sun starts to go down and people start to dwindle out. The remaining couple of guests all sit around the huge fire pit, chatting with each other. Tom discusses the season with his old neighbor and Chloe listens to her old high school friends gossip about people they graduated with.

“So Chloe.” Tom’s Aunt Rita says, getting everyone’s attention. “Now that you’ve graduated, have you thought about setting a date for the wedding yet?”
“Not yet, actually. We’ve talked a little but we’re not completely sure. I kinda wanted a winter wedding, but with the NHL season it’s kinda tough to find some time.” She says.
“What about during the All-Star break in February?” Tom’s mom suggests.
“That’s seven months away, you could definitely plan it in that time! And then you could come back here for it.” Rita says.
“Oh that’s a fantastic idea!” Chloe’s mom pipes in.

Chloe looks at Tom quickly and bites her lip, not really sure what to do or say.

“Actually, February won’t work this coming year.” Tom says coming to her rescue. “But maybe the next year, if Chloe still wants a winter wedding.”
“Who won’t it work this year?” Chloe’s friend Abby asks.
“Well....” Chloe starts, nervously. Tom grabs her hand and squeezes it, giving her strength. “This February I’ll be eight months pregnant and I don’t really want to look like a whale in my wedding photos.”

The entire group is silent for a second before shouts of joy rise up amongst them.

“Really?” Her mom asks, grabbing on to his mom’s hand.
“Yeah, really.” Chloe smiles.
“Oh my gosh, we’re going to be grandparents together. This is amazing!” His mom shouts, tears in her eyes.
“Funny, that’s the exact word we agreed on.” Tom says, putting his hand over her belly.

When the excitement and surprise dies down and the last of the guests trickle out, Tom’s dad pulls him aside before they go to bed.

“You know, son. I was having doubts about the whole arrangement thing.” He says. “I saw the way you two interacted with each other throughout the years. You were no doubt best friends, but I felt like you were more like sister and brother. I felt guilty about forcing you two to get married, because I was afraid that you didn’t really think that way about each other.”

“We were like that.” Tom admits with a smile. “But then things changed.”
“I’m glad. You love her? She makes you happy?”
“Dad, I love her with everything I have and everything I am. I could lose everything tomorrow. My NHL contract, the nice house, the cars. But as long as I have her I'll always be happy. And now our little baby too.”
“That’s all that matters, son.”
“Believe me, I’m finally realizing that now.”

"Are you ready to be a father?" He asks.
"I'm not really sure." Tom admits. "But do I really have a choice at this point?"
They both laugh.

They break apart and Tom heads up to his old room, peeling off his clothes from the day. In just his boxer briefs, he climbs into bed next to his gorgeous fiancee.

“So that went well.” She says, snuggling up against his chest.
“It did.” He says, tracing patterns on her bare stomach with his fingertips.
“I love you, Tom.”
“I love you, Chloe. And I love our baby too.”

He presses a kiss to her lips and turns off the light, both of them happy to be falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Notes

Okay, so this wasn't requested. But I've been so obsessed with this storyline that I wanted to write a second update on them.

I could probably write a whole story of them together, especially filling in the gaps from before the first one and then between the first one and this one. But I just don't have time for that.

Anyways, enjoy!