“And this little one? She’s not about to make an early entrance?” Dolly’s hand patted Jessie’s belly.
“Not if I can help it. We’re both good to go for now.”
“I’m trying to get Jess to agree to go home,” Hawk grumbled, knowing he was probably just a second from getting a sharp elbow in his side from Jessie. “But she is refusing.”
Dolly let go of Jess and wrapped her arms around Hawk. “You’re such a good man, Hawk. And he’s right, sugar, you absolutely are going to get yourself back home. Right now.”
“I need to wait, Mom. If I’m not here and he?—”
“Your brother is going to be fine, Jessie. We got an update a little bit ago. The orthopedic surgeon said the breaks in his leg are severe, but he thinks they can save it. There is a concernwith blood flow, but he was able to give us a fast update before heading into surgery. It’s going to be a long night, there’s no sense in you being here. I’ll make Colt keep you in the loop.”
“Mom…”
“You know everything I do. Now you can get yourself and my grand-baby home. Today is not the right day for her to enter the world.”
Jessie’s face tipped up towards his. “Okay, let’s go home.”
Hawk nodded, his heart doing this weird flip flop in his chest at knowing Jessie’s brother was going to be okay, and he’d be able to get her home to rest.
“I just need to find my sister, and Stone.”
“They’re all in the waiting room with us, honey. I’ll show you the way.”
Jessie walked behind her mother into the waiting room, but it wasn’t just Mae and Stone in there with her family. Stone was standing with Gunner and Gage. The seats closest to them were occupied by Lily, Mae, and Sloane.
Before she could get to them, her brothers swarmed. Colt pulled her into a protective embrace.
“You’re okay?”
“We’re okay.” She squeezed her arms around him.
“We need to talk. Not today. Not right now. But probably once you’ve had some sleep.”
Jessie nodded. “You need to know… one of the guys… he has a tattoo. I should have told you earlier, but I wasn’t thinking.”
“Where?”
“Right arm.” She pointed down to hers. “A dragon from his wrist to his elbow. I don’t think he meant for me to see it, but I did.”
Colt nodded. “I’ll call it in.” He bent to kiss the top of her head. “Go home. Take care of my niece.”
“Not before I get to hug her.” Hayes stepped up, his face completely void of color. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Lach said… When we were trying to get him out of there… The thought of something happening to you…” Her brother, the tough firefighter who never strayed an inch from his steady temperament, wiped at the tears that were falling down his face.
“Hayes.” Jessie buried her face in her brother’s shoulder and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Jess. For everything. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but fuck. This just puts everything into perspective. Hawk and I buried our shit a while ago—” They had? She wasn’t aware Hawk had talked to Hayes since their disastrous family dinner. “But I want all this shit to be done between us. I know I was in the wrong. There’s no excuse for it. And I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too. For letting everyone down?—”
“No,” Beau barked. “You didn’t let anyone down, Jess. I fucked up saying that to you. You’ve been holding on to way too much for way too long. The baby, you having Hawk, it’s a good thing. An amazing thing.”
Beau pulled her away from Hayes, and she buried her face in her brother’s shoulder. At the rate she was crying, Jessie was going to need another IV before they left for the night.
“Quit hogging her, Beau. Let her go tell everyone she’s okay so she can go home and rest,” Dolly ordered.
“Okay, Ma.” Beau smiled as Jessie stepped away. “I’m sorry, kid. For everything.”
“I forgive you.” Jessie smiled and laid her hand over her bump where Bee felt like she was doing barrel rolls. “I think your niece is happy you came to your senses. It feels like she’s line dancing in there.”
