“I am. Let’s do this, Melody,” I state, lying back on the bed, closing my eyes as the paper beneath me crinkles. There’s nothing more annoying than that sound other than nails scraping down a chalkboard. The stirrups come out and as soon as I hear them click into place, I situate myself and watch Melody as she lubricates the wand and blabbers about what to expect. I nearly roll my eyes because this isn’t my first time doing this, but then I remind myself that it’s her job and Ishould be more appreciative that she’s being so thorough in her explanation.
I bite my lip as she inserts the wand, but as soon as I hear the whoosh, whoosh of my baby’s heartbeat, my eyes snap open and I twist my head to where I’m looking at the fifty-six inch screen hanging on the wall. Staring back at me, in black and white, is my little jellybean. My eyes tear up when the first thing I see is my baby with its thumb in its mouth—and all I can think is that it’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. My heart skips a beat as it fills with love and devotion. I knowright hereandright nowthat I’ll do anything in my power to keep that little one safe.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Indiana
Zoey’s beenoff since she went to the doctor last week. She claims that everything is fine and that she got some medication from the doctor to help with her nausea. When I pressed about what her diagnosis was, she told me it’s just a bug, nothing worth me worrying about. But that’s what she doesn’t get, I’mgoingto worry regardless if she tells me to or not because she’s everything to me and I donotlike her being sick. Another thing that is bothering me is that she’s tired more often than not and has missed a few days of work here and there. Even though Riptide gave her some mandatory time off, we didn’t expect her to comply since that’s not her personality. She’s more of a workaholic than Rip and I are. I’m not the only one who’s noticed that she’s not acting like herself either. The guys have been on my ass wanting to know what’s going on with her and aren’t happy with the excuse I give them, which is the same damn one she gave me.
“I’m telling you, she’s hiding something,” Riptide swears. “She’s been cagey when I asked about it and even started dodging me yesterday whenever I’d get close to her.”
“I agree with you that she’s hiding something, but I don’t think it’s anything substantial,” I say, defending my old lady. “If it was something life-altering, she wouldn’t sit on it, she’d tell me about it immediately.”
“Can you guarantee that?” he asks, lifting his beer up and taking a swallow.
“I’d stake my life on it,” I remark. “Whatever it is she’s keeping to herself, she’ll tell me when she’s ready.”
“If it’s something bad, you’ll come to us, right?” Rip presses, giving me the side-eye.
“You know I will, man,” I say, sighing. “You’ll be the first to know.”
“Damn straight. I better be the first phone call you make when she finally fesses up,” he suggests, only it comes out in the same tone he uses when he’s demanding something from us.
“Is that an order, pres?” I ask, smirking.
“Take it however you wish, Indiana. But I’d advise you to keep me on speed dial.”
“You’re second on my favorites list,” I tease.
“Let me guess, Zoey’s the first?” he wonders.
“Hell no. Elodie is. Zoey is third. I think I should switch her and your order around and make her second. She might get her panties in a twist if she sees you’re a level above her.”
Riptide snorts before he starts laughing. “Technically, I should be the first in your list, Indiana.”
“Says who?” I ask, lifting a handful of peanuts out of the bowl on the bar and tossing them in my mouth. “The King’s police?”
“Considering I’m the chief and you’re a peasant, fuck yeah,” Rip taunts. “Club first, Indiana. And seeing as I’m the head honcho, I get first placement in everything.”
“Get off your high horse, Rip. You may be the pres and rule the roost here at the clubhouse, but my old lady sits on the throne and rules overmykingdom,” I inform him. “It’s her crown’s integrity I worry about, not your feathers getting ruffled.”
“So she sits on gold and jewels and I sit on rotted eggs waiting for them to hatch?” Rip asks, his tone full of mirth as he continues our banter. “No wonder I got stuck with all of you bird brains instead of intellectual soldiers.”
“Hardee, har, har,” I mock. “I’m a smart motherfucker and you know it.”
“I don’t know, this conversation has enlightened me to a few things,” he says before tilting his bottle at me and standing up from his stool, walking away.
“Wait a minute, pres!” I yell as he continues to tread his way down the hall and away from me. “I think you need to explain yourself because all I heard was a bunch of bullshit spewing from your mouth.” Since he continues to ignore me, I spring up from my chair, grab the peanuts, reach over the bar for a fresh beer and sprint after him. “Don’t ignore me, Riptide. I demand you retract your statement.”
As I catch up with him, he turns around and stares at me. “Sorry, all that squawking from the chicks has made me deaf.” With a condescending smirk, he slams the door in my face and locks it.
“Asshole!” I bellow, slamming my fist into the wood. “I’ll catch you later. You can’t hide from me forever.” In response, all I hear from the other side is laughter. “Jackass.”
Then I hear a bunch of whining coming from the communal room and it catches my curiosity so I narrow my eyes at his door one more time for good measure then head back to the bar so I can figure out what has the men crying like a bunch of little bitches.
When I make it there, my jaw drops and I laugh so hard that my belly aches. “What the fuck happened to y’all?”
