“You’re bringing an entire human into the world–into our family–for me, Jessie. This is the very least, and I mean that truly with my whole heart, that I could be doing for you. Which is why I went to get some of these things. This is just the first line of defense, too. I have some other tricks up my sleeve, but figured you’d want to start with the gentlest options first.”
“Thank you,” her voice pulled tight as she reached for the bag. Ginger tea and candies. Sour drops. Lemon-lime flavoredsoda. Alcohol wipes? Jessie held up the package. “What are these for? In case Jake has to give me another IV?”
“No,” he answered, a smile pulling up the corner of his mouth. “A first time mom in the due-date group said her doctor recommended smelling the alcohol wipe quickly when she first felt nauseous. Something about how studies show it tricks your olfactory senses into being distracted and lessens the nausea. I read one study that said you could feel complete relief from your symptoms for thirty minutes or more. I figured you could stash some away in your bag, and I’ll always carry a few if they work for you.”
The familiar feeling of tears forming stung against the back of her eyes. Instead of letting them fall, Jessie leaned forward, pressing her face into Hawk’s chest as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No. Not at all,” she sniffled. “You read a study for me? You joined expectant mom groups?”
“Knowledge is power.”
“Who told you that?” she laughed, remembering the exact moment the words left her mouth in the diner.
“Well, you see. There’s this woman I know. She’s really smart, and so fucking sexy. She has this perfect ass that I can’t keep my hands off of, and this wicked way of teasing me…”
“She sounds like a keeper.”
Hawk lowered his face, pressing his lips against hers. The kiss was soft, and precious, and she felt the promise he was making to her without saying anything at all.
And then his hand slipped off her hip and cradled her belly. “Oh, she definitely is. I’m just working on making sure she knows I’m worthy of her.”
“You don’t–” Her protest was cut off with another kiss. Normally, she hated being interrupted, but this… yeah, she could get used to this.
“I do. And I will.” Hawk tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and Jessie realized how awful she must look. Nauseous, sweaty, just waking up after pretty much passing out from exhaustion in his bed. God. She couldn’t hold back the groan that was building in her throat.
“How’s your stomach feeling? Is it bad again?” he asked.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Surprisingly, she felt a little hungry. “No. I feel better.”
Hawk stood, the loss of his warmth immediately noticeable to her.
“I was thinking…” He fiddled with the handle of the plastic bag.
“Okay?”
“I’d like to tell the rest of the guys about us… about the baby. Gunner and Stone know, and I want to share it with Nash and Gage, too.”
She could see how important it was to him. Of course it was. Normal people didn’t hide from things like that. He had a family and a group of friends who loved him and wanted to support him. Hawk should be able to tell whoever he wanted.
The guilt was eating her up. “Of course you can tell them. I just?—“
“I’ll tell them it stays between us for now. They won’t say a word outside of this building.”
“The girls?” Jessie asked.
“Do you want them to know? Mae obviously knows, but she hasn’t said anything.”
Sloane, Lily, and Lacy had been nothing but absolutely wonderful to her, and they didn’t need to be kept in the dark. “Yes. I actually think I’m desperate for them to know. But, I think I’d like to do it. Maybe I can group chat with them?”
“Sounds like a plan.” He scooped up the box of alcohol wipes and placed them back in the bag with the other things he’d bought for her.
“Don’t put that stuff too far away just yet.”
Hawks face fell. “I thought you said you were feeling better?”
“I am. I think I might be ready to eat something. And we probably should keep that stuff close just in case.”
