Brock Purdy never imagined that one ordinary Tuesday afternoon would change his life forever. The season had been intense—long days, sleepless nights, the constant pressure of proving himself. He’d learned to push feelings aside, to focus on the playbook, on the next game, on the noise that drowned out everything else. But lately, there’d been one person he couldn’t quite shake from his mind. The one he’d let slip away when football took over.

He was leaving the team facility when fate stepped in. She was there—standing by her car, juggling a few bags, hair blowing across her face in the breeze. For a moment, he thought he was imagining things. Then she turned, and the sight of her froze him in place. His eyes flicked down, and the rest of the world faded. She wasn’t just here—she was pregnant. Very pregnant.

The air between them tightened as their eyes met. Neither spoke at first. She looked guilty, scared, unsure of what to say. He looked stunned, hand gripping the strap of his duffel like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Finally, his voice came out rough and quiet. “How long?”

Her answer came out shaky. “Seven months. Twins.”

Seven. Months. Twins.

He took a slow step closer, every emotion flashing across his face—shock, hurt, disbelief, and finally… something softer. “You should’ve told me,” he said, but his tone wasn’t angry. Just tired. Sad.

She explained—how she didn’t want to ruin his season, how she thought he had moved on. But Brock just shook his head, letting out a shaky breath. “You’re not a distraction,” he said quietly. “You never were.”

When he finally reached out, his hand hovered before resting gently against her bump. The small kick beneath his palm made him exhale sharply, eyes softening. “Guess they know who I am already,” he murmured with a small, disbelieving smile.

For a long moment, they stood there in the fading sunlight—no noise, no cameras, no pressure. Just two people, a few months late on a truth that would change everything. And for once, Brock wasn’t thinking about football. He was thinking about family—and how this time, he wasn’t letting it slip away.