He laid his hands on my belly. “How are the twins?”
“Good. I didn’t feel sick once today. I’m really hoping that means the morning sickness is over.”
“Are you feeling them move?”
I nodded. “Yep, they’re just like their daddy. Jumpy.”
He continued to move his hands, in doctor mode now, giving me an examination while I brushed my teeth.
“Everything looks good,” he decreed, and let me go back to getting ready.
“How did the clinic set-up go?” I asked.
“Good. Gina had a lot more done than I expected. She had a couple pieces of equipment she wanted to buy, but they’d just be a waste of money, so I gave her some other options which will work better and’ll be more cost-effective.”
“Minus will appreciate that,” I said.
He sat on the toilet lid and watched me put on my makeup. “Definitely.”
“How’s Sweet Pea?”
“He’s doing better than he should be, but it’s a miracle he’s alive.”
I met his eyes in the mirror, and he immediately shook his head.
“No way in hell I’m gonna stop riding, sweetness, don’t even ask.”
We’d had this conversation before. Honestly, I’d always hated motorcycles. Knew the statistics, knew how many people walked away from accidents, and it was one of the reasons I’d hesitated in committing to him. But the heart wants what the fucking stupid heart wants, and I fell in love. But it didn’t mean I didn’t worry every time he walked out the door and climbed on his Harley.
“But it’s so dangerous, honey, and now we have the twins to think about.”
He stood. “Is this gonna be a fight, Liv? ’Cause if it is, I’m gonna tell Hatch to leave without us.”
“It doesn’t need to be a fight,” I said, focusing back on my makeup. “I guess you have to decide whether or not your family means more to you than your motorized bicycle.”
“Why the fuck do you pull this shit right before we have to go somewhere?”
“What’s the alternative?”
“The alternative, always, is to discuss it at a later time.”
“Okay.” I faced him. “Are you willing to have a calm, adult conversation about it at a later time?”
“No.”
“Thisis why,” I snapped. “What if I decided to go back into counseling, maybe doing group sessions at Coastal State?”
“At the prison? No way in hell.”
“Why not?”
“Because, one, that’s not something you’d ever want to do. It’s also not who you are. Being a Dog, being a biker, riding, it’s who I am, Olivia. Take the bike out of the equation, everything else disappears.”
“You’d still be you if you didn’t ride,” I argued.
“No, baby, I wouldn’t. And you know it.” He dragged his hands through his hair. “I am not having this argument with you right before a club party. I’m gonna go wait for you downstairs. Text me if you need me.”
He left me and I sighed, sliding my hands over my belly. “Well, now Daddy’s uber pissed at Mommy, and I don’t think it’s the good kind that ends with multiple orgasms.”
