Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
On one hand, I was ecstatic that I had a baby on the way and a developing connection with her, but I was also more terrified than ever that something bad could happen.
Something that I couldn’t stop.
I checked the time and cursed. I had to get moving before I was late. After rushing through the shower, I grabbed my keys and took my bike to the clubhouse as the sun steadily rose in the sky. The details of my dream started to fade away in the back of my mind, and I tried to let go of it as much as I could before I arrived.
With quickness to my step, I hurried through the clubhouse and grabbed my jacket and two helmets, calling out to Aisling that I was here.
If Aisling and I were going to make it to her pregnancy check-up appointment in time, we needed to leave in two minutes.
I jogged out to the garage where Aisling was waiting for me, her side profile showing off the baby bump that was steadily growing with every passing week.
It had been three months since the Hornets found out that we had an heir on the way. They must’ve been too focused on looking after their own because we hadn’t encountered them or had any issues with them. That should’ve been comforting, but I didn’t trust them in the slightest.
I had a terrible feeling that something was brewing, and that worried me, especially since Aisling was getting closer and closer to giving birth.
At this point, her presence was natural and normal around the clubhouse. She went on rides with us, ate meals with us, and spent downtime with us around the clubhouse or at safe spots in town.
In a way, she felt like one of us.
I should’ve known being so close to someone like her, who was addictively bubbly and funny, would affect my feelings. She brightened my day, and I had dark days. Ones that turned into nightmares and guilty thoughts.
Survivor’s guilt was a son of a bitch, but focusing on Aisling and making sure that she, the baby, and the guys were safe took my mind off that pain.
“I’m here. Ready?” I asked, seeing that she already had her gear and helmet on. She knew the drill at this point. She even had her own gear that fit her properly.
“Been ready,” Aisling said.
I smirked a little to myself. She could have a little attitude every once in a while, but she was dealing with a lot. Fatigue. Morning sickness. Soreness. She was juggling a lot, so me and the guys did what we could to make her feel comfortable.
To me, I believed that things were going beyond just business and duty.
We were even more involved than initially planned, and I didn’t miss the intimacy that had started creeping into our everyday lives.
The forehead kisses. The embraces. We made ourselves at home in her bed next to her when she wanted to be held.
That didn’t sound like business. That sounded like more.
I took her to her doctor’s office, staying by her side as she checked in and took a seat in the quiet waiting room. There were only two other women there, who picked up magazines off a wooden coffee table in the middle of the room to pass the time.
“You know, I had a cheesy thought. I figured it would lighten you up,” I said, flashing her a playful grin.
Aisling rolled her eyes at me before cracking a smile.
“What’s your cheesy thought?” she asked.
“Well, I love camping. I thought it’d be fun to do a camping trip with everyone. You know, when the kid is a few years old,” I told her. That thought had crossed my mind quite a few times. I had been itching to at least do some hiking, but with Aisling’s pregnancy symptoms getting more intense, I wanted to stay near her side more.
Aisling smiled brightly at first, but it gradually wilted.
“Oh, maybe. I don’t know what all would happen after our deal is over,” she explained.
A sharp pang hit me in the chest when I remembered that there was a plan in place. We were only supposed to watch over her until after the baby was born. Then, we would mostly go our separate ways and only communicate if it was related to the kid.
But hadn’t things changed a lot since we made that deal?
We had actually gotten close with each other. Unless she was looking forward to some distance from us. I wouldn’t stop her, but it would hurt like hell for her to pull away from us.
Before I could tell her that I wanted us to stay in close contact after the baby was born, the ultrasound tech popped her head out and called Aisling’s name.
I followed Aisling to the back where she laid on a table and lifted her black band shirt over her baby bump so that the tech could prepare her for the ultrasound. I stood right next to Aisling’s side, taking her hand out of habit.