She stormed in searching around for Nick. When she saw him, she grabbed him in a hug so fierce, Jason worried about Nick's air supply.
She pulled back examining him. "You know you're grounded, right? No phone, no friends, no practice."
Sheepish, Nick nodded as she squeezed him again. Jason watched from the foyer, a little jealous of the bond they shared. He hoped they'd be able to let him in at some point.
"Nick, can you give us a minute? I need to talk to Jason."
Nick nodded and made himself scarce, knowing where to find the media room.
When Nick was out of earshot, she rounded on Jason. "Did you ask him to come here? Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"
Jason stalked over to her. "No. I didn't ask him to come. His arrival was as much a surprise to me as it was to you. And the moment I found out he didn't have permission to be here, I called you."
She nodded and looked around as if she wasn't sure about which way to look. "He's okay. He wasn't hurt or anything when he got here?"
He reached out to pull her into his arms. "You saw him. He's fine."
She trembled in his embrace. "I was so worried. Then I was mad. Then I thought some crazy paparazzo had gotten him. Then I started to freak out that some crazed fan of yours got him."
She spoke so fast, Jason had to strain to hear every sentence. "He's okay. He's safe. So are you. Everything will be okay."
He pulled her into him, needing her close. This was the first time she hadn't fought him since Sabrina had told him about Nick. He hushed her and stroked her hair.
He held on as long as he could, telling himself he only needed to hold her a little longer and everything would be okay.
She pulled back to look at him. "Jason?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
She furrowed her brow, then wiggled out of his grasp and ran to the bathroom off the hallway.
"Izzy? Are you okay?" He knocked on the door. "Baby?"
She flushed, and he could hear the sink running. When she opened the door, her skin was clammy, and she averted her gaze. "I didn't expect you to follow me."
"I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine. Nothing wrong with me that hasn't been wrong with women for millennia."
He frowned. "I don't get it. What's wrong with you?"
She buried her face in her hands and mumbled something unintelligible.
"Try again."
"I'm pregnant."
Chapter Thirty-Nine.
"You're what?" Jason breathed, eyes wide.
Suddenly the hallway felt too small, as if Jason was using all the air she preciously needed. Izzy shoved past him and walked into the living room. She didn't make it far before he took her arm and turned her around.
"Izzy, tell me again."
Exasperated, Izzy blew her bangs out of her face. "I'm pregnant, okay?" And because she was so raw and scared, and more tired than she'd ever been in her life, she continued in anger. "And yes, it's yours. And yes, I'm the idiot who missed a pill. And no, I'm not trying to trap you, and no, I don't want anything from you. And no, we won't be working out custody."
He put up his hands in surrender. "Izzy, easy. Calm down. I wasn't-I mean I didn't-" He took a deep breath and raked his hands through his hair. "You have to give me a second to process this. I went from having no kids, to one kid and now two. It's all a bit much."
"A bit much." She kept her voice low. "How do you think I feel, Jason? I'm finally going to have a baby, and the father is none other than the man fighting me for custody of my other child. You don't even want children."
"Now, wait a minute." He couldn't let her continue. "I've never said I don't children. I've never given much thought to family. Mostly because mine was so shitty." He took a breath. "It's just a bit more than I ever thought I'd have to handle."
Izzy shook her head. "Again, this is all about you. Poor Jason. You can't spin this."
"Is that what the hell you think I've been doing?"
"Damn it. You're going to do what you always do, put on a show."
"What the fuck? I-"
She put up a hand. "You'll play the part, Jason. You always do. To the tennis world, you're this perfect god. To your friends, you're this consummate party boy. To Nick, you're the perfect mentor, to me the perfect lover. And now..." She spread her arms. "And now? You want what? You want to be the perfect father? Provider? Which is the real you? You're such the consummate actor, Jason. I never know what to believe from you."
"That's not fair, Izzy. I've been exactly the same since you met me."
"No, Jason, you haven't. You've got this shiny, glossy layer you use to mask who you are." She stalked into the living room.
Rage contorted his face. "Your damned pride keeps getting in your way, and you'll never see the truth."
"And what truth is that?" She stared at him, praying, hoping wishing.
Several beats passed, their breath mingling. "I'm in your life forever now, Izzy. You're going to have to get used to that."
Chapter Forty.
"Mr. Cartwright, I must say this is most unusual."
Jason folded his hands to keep from fidgeting. "Judge Robertson, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me."
The judge's usual stern expression softened. "Are you sure you don't want Miss Connors present as this affects her?"
"No. No. That's the last thing I want." He ran his hands through his hair. "Look, last time we met, you asked me to work on visitation and custody and give thought to the best arrangement for Nick." Jason swallowed around the lump in his throat. He knew what he had to do. What was really best for Nick. Doing the right thing wasn't easy though.
"As a professional athlete, I can't provide him the kind of stable environment he needs."
"You seemed certain about your place in Nicholas's life. What's happened to change that?"
He tried to avoid the judge's shrewd gaze, but eventually gave up the fight and leveled his gaze with the older man's. "Nothing has changed. I am certain about my position in Nick's life." He drew a deep breath. "I'm even more certain about Izzy as a mother. She's brought him up to be a smart, vibrant, talented kid."
He sniffed and looked around the judge's office at the photos of different families on his wall. "I had nothing to do with that. I won't punish him because I want to be part of his life. He's old enough to know if he wants to spend time with me."
Judge Robertson looked down at his papers again. "Would you at least like to think about it? Take another day or two to make this kind of decision." His worn hands traced over the papers. "This can't be undone."
"I know it can't be undone. And I need no more time. It's the right thing to do. I'm sure of it."
Judge Robertson wielded a heavy sigh. "Fair enough, Mr. Cartwright. I'll process the necessary paperwork for you to sign away custody of your son."
Izzy blew down the highway like the devil was on her trail. Since leaving Judge Robertson's office, all she could think of was getting to Jason. Elation, confusion, anger, nausea, all warred for top billing in her body.
She swearing as she swerved to avoid a collision with the slow moving truck in front of her, Izzy took the Malibu exit. As she approached Jason's, uncaring about the voyeuristic paparazzi, she sped past the front gate security with barely a pause.
Jason was on the front steps before she'd even thrown the car in park. "Izzy? What the hell's the matter?"
Izzy panted as she climbed out of the car. "Jason, I know what you did." She took a deep breath. "I have no words."
He gave her a tight smile that resembled more grimace than expression of happiness. "All I want, is for you and Nick to be happy." Then with a wistful tone, he added, "The little one too." He gestured them inside, away from nosy eyes.
"Jason, I know how hard it must have been to give up your parental rights." Her hands itched to touch him, convey her thanks, her relief.
"It was. But it was harder to think about how unhappy Nick would be with me." He ran his hands through his hair. "I'll make sure you get back child support for Nick and take care of all the medical bills and child support for the baby."
"Jason, you don't need to do that for Nick. I've taken care of his education. His college fund is flush."
He reached for her. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. "Izzy, I want to. I know it can't have been easy doing it all yourself with no help all these years. At least let me do this."
She pulled back from him and nodded. "We'll work out visitation. I want you to have as much access to the kids as you want. It's important."
"Thanks." He smiled. "You'll take good care of them." Gone was his usual brash confidence, leaving a shell of vulnerability.
All the love she had for him squeezed at her tear centers and threatened to brim them over. "Thank you. I-I don't know what to say."
"Don't thank me, Izzy. We've already done enough damage to each other. I don't think I can take any-"
In a rush, she said, "I love you." Knowing Jason, she knew she had to qualify it. "I don't want anything from you. I just needed to tell you. I know you don't really do the long term relationship thing and it's fine. But after what you've done today, I can't let you walk away without knowing how I-"
She didn't get to finish her monologue before hot firm lips pressed to hers, demanding a response. As with every time he touched her, her blood sizzled and popped.
"Izzy, I love you too. I loved you the first time I saw you play. I loved you the moment I walked into your studio the first time. I love you."
Her blood tap-danced in her veins, and Izzy almost didn't hear everything he said. "You love me?" He loves me. "I know you don't really do relationships. I-"
He pulled her against him. "I want to be with you. I want to be part of our children's lives. See every part of them grow up. Support you. Make love to you every night and every morning. I want it all. What do you think I've been trying to tell you for weeks?"
"My stupid pride always gets me in trouble."
He dipped his head and grazed her lips with his. "Don't I know it, but I'm willing to hang in there, if you are."
"You love getting your way, huh, Ace?"
"Always."
Epilogue.
"So, I think I want to go see Sabrina next weekend."
Izzy turned her attention from the cooing baby in her arms to give Nick a long look. "Are you sure? Do you want me to go with you?"
He shook his head as he tickled his little sister's feet. Chubby, mocha hands slapped at Izzy's chest as a gummy smile displayed deep dimples. Nick grinned back. "Nah, it's okay. I just want to fly up for the day. Get a chance to talk to her."
Izzy handed Nick the baby as she rifled through one of the bags to hunt for a bottle. The stands at the match didn't provide much legroom, so she needed both her hands to get what she needed. "If it makes you happy, then that's all I want." She blinked away sentimental tears as she watched her oldest child hold her youngest. How in the world had she gotten so lucky?
"You're not upset?" Worry laced Nick's words and his brow.
She gave him her most reassuring smile. "You have every right to want to see her and have your questions answered. So, no, I'm not upset."
"Cool."
The announcer's voice reverberated through the stands as the officials on the court prepared for the awards ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to present to you, this year's Men's Grand Slam Champion, Jason Cartwright."
Izzy and Nick stood immediately and clapped like maniacs on speed, determined for their cheering to stand out in the roaring crowds. Baby Kara also clapped chubby hands together beaming a dimpled smile at daddy. As soon as Jason finished shaking hands, he sprinted for the stands and scaled the wall to greet them.
Laughter bubbled in Izzy's chest as he wrapped her in a drugging kiss. "You're a loon. You could have hurt yourself scaling the wall like that. I'm going to need my husband in top condition later."
Teeth nibbling at her lips, he chuckled. "Yes, ma'am. Understood."
"Do you two have to maul each other like that in public? It's kind of gross." Nick's voice dripped with teenage sarcasm, but his face beamed with pride.
Jason turned his attention to his children, enveloping them in a sweaty bear hug. Planting a slobbering kiss on Nick's forehead, he laughed as Nick grumbled with embarrassment. "I didn't want you two to miss out."