T.K.O.: Total Knock Out

by Ana Layne

  Three Months Later

  Do I miss fighting? Pretty much every time I watch Garrett or Lance step into the ring. I haven’t stopped training though; I don’t think I ever will. Maybe it’s the high I get from it, or the company of everyone inside Lou’s. I don’t know what it is, but I love it. Howard offered to pay me to help run the gym when he and Whitney can’t be there. I took him up on it since I love that place so much. After dinner last night, I definitely need to work out, so I’m looking forward to my next visit at the gym. Nancy and Dad invited us over for supper. She cooked this massive pork roast with all the trimmings and she made an apple pie. Oh dear Lord, I ate until I couldn’t eat anymore. I could barely move and somehow managed to talk Garrett into carrying me to the truck.

  Dad and Nancy have been taking things slow, working on bringing their relationship back to where it once was. Hard to believe just a few months ago everything went down the way it did. It was my personal hell on earth, but it led me where I am today. I’d have never met Garrett. Would I have stayed happy with James? I’m not sure and I’ll never know. My life changed for the better because of Garrett. I changed his life, too. He never thought he was relationship material. He hid his heart, but I snagged it, and now I love him so deeply words cannot describe it.

  Lance started seeing some girl he took home from the bar. This was a first, and took some getting used to. Garrett and I had a bet going on whether or not she would be the one to tame him. I’m not sure I see that day coming anytime soon. She’s pretty; I think she was the brunette I remember from the night I went out with him, but then again I don’t know for sure. I recall one night we were drunk, the night he told me about his mom, and then he said he met a girl. Was that her?

  I’m in bed staring at the sun through the blinds, groaning. Dammit, I know I ate way too much last night, my stomach is aching. I hear the shower running; if I can drag my ass off this bed, I can go join Garrett in the shower. That sounds amazing. The minute I start to move, his phone rings. Whitney’s name pops up.

  “Hello?”

  “Raegan? It’s Howard. We’re headed to the hospital. Whitney’s water broke.”

  “Oh my God!” I jump up, shooting off the mattress as if something bit me. “Let me holler at Garrett and we’ll be right there.” I end the call up before he can say anything else.

  I run to the bathroom door like a lunatic. Before I can turn the doorknob, Garrett steps out in a towel. Oh damn, he’s so sexy.

  Stop it Raegan, you’re on a mission. Whitney’s having a baby!

  “Get dressed Garrett. Howard called, Whitney’s water broke!”

  “What’s that mean?” Poor thing stood there looking confused. I kissed his lips before throwing some jeans on.

  “She’s having her baby.”

  “Oh shit!” He suddenly scrambles to the bedroom, throwing on the first thing he sees, a black pair of basketball shorts and a gray t-shirt.

  With hazard lights flashing, we sped to the hospital, getting there in record time. We found Howard pacing back and forth, worried to death. He said they’d admitted her, but he couldn’t watch; he was scared she was getting hurt. We walked in to find a much sedated Whitney. Her contractions were off the chart but thanks to the epidural, she felt no pain.

  Garrett picked at her about the tacky hospital gown she was wearing, trying to lighten the mood. Normally she’d be ready to kill him, but she was more content than I’d ever seen her. If I ever have a baby, I definitely want to make sure I get an epidural.

  “Garrett,” she whispered. “I’m scared.” There were tears in her eyes as she held his hand.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, Whitney. I promise. Don’t worry, okay?” She tried to smile but nurses kept coming in to check on her. Her nerves were getting the best of her.

  “I want Mom and Dad here.” She cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  He squeezed her hand, trying to remain cool and collected. “I know, Whitney, I know. They’re watching over you though, they see you, I just know it. They’re here with us now.”

  My heart broke for them.

  Shortly after the doctor came in, Garrett and I step into the waiting room. Hours pass. Neither of us could wait to see the baby. After a while, Howard emerges, a big, normally intimidating man with tears in his eyes. Garrett stops for a second, frowning.

  “Is the baby all right? Are you okay?”

  “She’s okay, right?” I repeat the question, as if worried Howard didn’t hear him the first time.

  “She’s fine, come on.”

  I brushed Garrett’s tears away with my thumb. Hand in hand, we follow Howard into the room where Whitney is holding a baby in a pink blanket. I try to contain my excitement but I immediately squeal, thrilled to see she’s had a girl. Garrett’s eyes light up as he asks to hold her. Howard grabs the tiny infant, placing her in Garrett’s hands. He seems scared at first but as he listens to her breathing, he relaxes and places a kiss on her tiny forehead.

  “What’s her name?” he asks.

  Whitney’s eyes fill with tears. “Her name is Randi Lynn. After Mom and Dad. We added the ‘i’ at the end of her name instead of a ‘y’ to make it feminine.”

  That’s all it takes for Garrett to start crying. He hands the baby to me so he can wipe his eyes. I stare at little Randi Lynn, lying there peacefully in my arms. She doesn’t know it now, but she has the best parents in the world, and her uncle already loves her more than life itself.

  “She’s beautiful, Whitney.” I smile, kissing Randi before handing her back to her mom.

  Garrett stares out the window, looking up at the sky. I knew this day was going to be emotional for them. He doesn’t look at me, but I can see the tears shining in his eyes. He pulls my hand into his for comfort while I take my free hand and begin to wipe those tears away.

  “You know, I wish they could be here,” he begins. “I just want to know they’re proud of Whitney and I. I wish they could see their granddaughter and love her the way they loved us. I know they would have loved you, Raegan.”

  I pull his head onto my shoulder, holding him tight. I hate to see him upset, especially today. I say nothing, just let him have his moment. Eventually he begins to smile; I love seeing him happy. He holds Randi Lynn again, this time he talks to her, telling her he plans to spoil her, and how she’s the luckiest baby ever. She really is.

  We spend all day at the hospital, long enough to see Lance come by. He’s too nervous to hold Randi Lynn since she’s so tiny. Once Howard gets hold of her, she has to be pried away from him. He’s the proudest daddy I’ve ever seen. Whitney is exhausted; continually dozing in and out. Poor thing needs her rest.

  She fights to keep Randi Lynn in her room for the night, but Howard convinces her to get as much rest as she can before they head home. I think if Garrett could’ve stayed the night to help watch after his sister, he would. That one took Howard, Whitney, and I to convince him she would be just fine. The nurses would be in to check on her.

  Lance calls later that evening trying to convince us to go out. I groan, wondering how the hell they used to do this all the time. Well, Lance still did it all the time. Being the nice person I am, I fix myself up to make an appearance. Joe’s is pretty slow tonight so it was easy to spot Lance standing by the bar with the brunette next to him. I nudge Garrett with my elbow trying to conceal the surprised look on my face.

  “Raegan, so glad you could get out of bed and drag my best friend out tonight.”

  I open my mouth to make a smart remark, but Garrett interferes, probably worried I’d scare this poor girl away.

  I turn to face the brunette. She’s dressed in a cute denim skirt and orange stripe tank top, with wedges to match.

  “Since genius here isn’t going to introduce us, I’m Garrett’s girlfriend, Raegan.”

  Her smile shows her nervousness; if this girl is timid she is definitely with the wrong guy. “I’m Hilary. Nice to meet you.”

  Garrett leans over the
bar, ordering four shots to break the ice. He passes them out, raising his in the air. “To Randi Lynn, my beautiful niece.”

  We clink our glasses together in unison. “To Randi Lynn!” The liquid was gone in a matter of seconds.

  Everyone stood around talking. The more we talked, the more Hilary seemed to loosen up. It was sweet the way Lance put his arm around her. It was a strange sight, seeing him so tame. Whether she knew about his famous stunts or not, she didn’t seem to care. I think of Lance like a brother, so I just want the best for him. If Hilary makes him happy, then I’m all for it.

  But it never fails, just when I think I have it all figured out and things are perfect, the DJ plays the damn Dougie. Just like old times, Lance grabs my hand and hauls ass to the dance floor, leaving Garrett and Hilary standing by the bar in a fit of laughter. Lord have mercy.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to the team at Limitless Publishing for believing in this book. Also, thank you to each and every one of you for your amazing support. I couldn’t do this without you.

  About the Author

  Ana Layne was born and raised in south Louisiana where she still resides with her family.

  She owns more books than she will probably ever read, but can't resist a good story. When she's not reading or writing she loves to relax and enjoy life.

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