Her face brightens when I mention Faye. “No, I’ll stay here and hang out with Faye. She’s going to show me how to throw knives.”
An average day with Faye then.
“That sounds more fun than literally watching paint dry,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “I still want to talk to you a little more about yesterday. I don’t want things to be strained between us. You know you can say whatever is on your mind, right? I won’t hold it against you.”
Just like I hope she won’t do to me.
“I know, I know,” she says, leaning into me. “Why don’t we go out to dinner or something tonight? We can talk about everything then.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll be back in a few hours anyway. Now give me a kiss.”
She lifts up on her toes and kisses me. I deepen the kiss, wanting our connection back—it’s like I can just feel something isn’t right, and I need to fix it, now. Today. I will fix it.
“Do you want something to eat before you leave?” she asks, resting her palm on my chest like she always does. “I can make you some bacon and eggs, or some pancakes or something.”
“No, I’m fine,” I say, running my fingers along her collarbone. “Sin says food is provided. Probably knows it’s the only way to get us there.”
She grins and says, “Ten bucks says Rake will be the first one there.”
“I don’t know,” I say, loving the fact she was acting more like herself. “He likes his sleep too.”
“He’s like a giant kid.”
“Says the woman who licked his fried chicken yesterday.”
She lifts her shoulders in a shrug. “He deserved it.”
I kiss her again, unable to stop myself. The truth is, yesterday scared the fuckin’ shit out of me, and I can’t wait to get all this over with so we can go back to being Vinnie and Shay.
“Probably,” I murmur, taking a step away from her. “Faye should already be on her way here, so you won’t have to wait long—or do you want me to wait until she gets here?”
She rolls her brown eyes and says, “I’m sure I can manage for ten minutes without you. Besides, I’m not even alone, Irish and Tina are here.” She pauses. “And Colt. Will you tell me how the other two puppies are doing? Maybe take some pictures?”
“Yeah, of course,” I say, leaving the kitchen. “Sin says they’re destroying his garden and ruining his life.”
“Dramatic much?”
I grin at her, lingering for a second before leaving for Sin’s house.
The sooner I get there, the sooner I can come back and take my woman out to dinner. After we talk, I’m going to bring her home and make love to her all night.
Yes, I fuckin’ said it, I’m going to make love to her.
Fuck.
How the mighty have fallen.
And I don’t even give a fuck.
* * *
When I arrive at Sin’s, I’m about to walk inside when my phone rings.
And that’s when everything goes to hell.
THIRTY-NINE
Shayla
MY heart is in my throat.
I check into the hotel using the fake ID Talon had made for me, grateful to have it. If I didn’t, I would have been screwed, because without any ID, they wouldn’t have given me the room.
So for today, my name is Alexis Osborne. I leave my suitcase in the corner of the room and sit down on the bed, wondering just what the hell I’m doing. I left the clubhouse because I didn’t know what else to do. Because for the first time ever, being there didn’t feel so comfortable. How can things change so drastically within twenty-four hours? I went from being happy with the man I love and his amazing family, to being alone in a hotel room, my phone off and tears in my eyes. The situation I’m currently in, I don’t know how to get out of. There’s no fixing it, and there’s no happy ending for everyone involved, especially me.
I wonder how I am going to live without everyone I’ve grown so close to over the last few weeks. I turn my phone on and send Vinnie a message, letting him know I’m safe, because I don’t want him to worry that something bad has happened to me. I put my phone on silent, use the bathroom, and then climb into bed. I don’t know what’s going to happen, or what the future holds for me, but for right now, I’m going to take a nap.
I don’t have it in me to do anything else.
* * *
I wake up feeling less sorry for myself, and more anger. I check my phone, but ignore everyone’s messages and calls except one person’s. I don’t want to drag him into this, but he’s all I have right now.
I need you, I type.
Tell me where you are, I’m coming to get you, he replies instantly. I decide I want tonight to myself, so I reply with, I’m safe. Can you come and get me tomorrow? Come alone.
Stubborn.
I grin and put the phone down. He better come alone. The last thing I need is Vinnie showing up demanding to know why I left, and then I’ll have to tell him that I’ve ruined his life by making him a father. Even though it wasn’t all my fault. Or maybe it was? I don’t remember ever skipping a pill, but with everything going on I guess I must have. My stomach rumbles, and I know I have to get up to get something to eat.
When I told Faye that I was feeling nauseous, and my period still hadn’t arrived, she quickly went and bought me two pregnancy tests. They were both positive. Then, when I finally worked up the nerve to tell Vinnie, I find out that he never wants kids. Ever. And now . . . now I don’t know what to do. I’m lost, and confused, and all I want to do is stay in bed, cry, and eat junk food.