by Jordan Marie
“That’s why I’m here,” Rachel says, and I feel guilty for thinking she’s leaning on me a little too heavily since of the two of us, I’m probably dizzier than she is. I wish my heart would quit beating so hard. I feel so nervous. I just need to get Rachel settled and then I can talk with White. I’ve got to get this straightened out.
“It is? You could have called me to tell me. I know we don’t talk much, but I would have helped you. You didn’t need to come all the way here, especially if you don’t feel good.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so glad you’re being understanding about all this. Because, well… there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. I don’t really know how to tell you, or to tell anyone, really. And I feel just so lost, but I knew when White told me you were getting married, I had to tell you.”
“What are you talking about?” White asks at the same time I ask, “Tell me what?”
“That you can’t marry White.”
“I can’t?”
“She sure as hell can and she will.”
“She can’t. You see… my baby… it’s yours.”
“What the fuck are you talking about??” White growls, but I know. It’s all coming down on me like the force of a brick wall crumbling on top of me. My heart hammers even harder, my breath becomes labored, my skin feels clammy, and the room starts to swim. I’m fainting. I know it, I can’t stop it, and the last words I hear before I hit the floor are words I never want to hear again from anyone except me.
“I’m having your baby, White. I’m pregnant with your child.”
CHAPTER 56
WHITE
I’m in disbelief as I watch Kayla become lifeless. It’s almost as if it is in slow motion. I grab her just before she hits the floor and quickly gather her in my arms.
“Lay her down on the couch,” Mom yells, but I ignore her. I ignore everyone. I take Kayla straight to my room and lay her on the bed. She looks so small and frail lying there, and fear—bone-deep fear—replaces the anger from earlier. Well, at least the anger directed at her. I can’t lose Kayla. I don’t think I could survive. She’s always been special to me, but since we’ve been together, she’s a part of me. She owns me. Mom comes in a minute later carrying a washcloth. I squeeze it to make sure she got all the cold water out and then place it on her face, slowly moving it around, willing her to come to. I hold onto her hand, refusing to let go.
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Black asks, and I look up to see him and Rachel come in.
“Get her out of here,” I growl, not wanting to see the bitch.
“White,” Rachel says, and that does it. I had been kneeling by Kayla, but I stand up quickly and go to the door, pushing my brother out of the way.
“Get the fuck out of here. I don’t know what the hell kind of game you’re playing, Rachel, but you and me both know that kid in your belly is not mine.”
“White, you’re the only man I’ve been with in a long time. It is yours. I know you’re upset. I tried to tell you sooner. I was scared–”
“Bullshit! I didn’t sleep with your ass. I wouldn’t have done that to Kayla.”
“We’d been drinking. Things happen. We shouldn’t feel guilty about this. You and Kayla weren’t together and you can’t deny we’ve always had chemistry together. You have to see that this child isn’t a bad thing. We can have a good life together…”
“You are fucking delusional. Kayla and I might not have been together, but I have always loved her and I would never sleep with her sister! Hell, if I hadn’t been so drunk, I never would have crashed on your couch with the way you kept putting little jabs in about Kayla. You disgust me. That’s the reason I left as soon as I woke up. Woke up. Alone. Clothes on. So pedal whatever garbage you’re selling somewhere else. I’d cut off my dick before I’d let it touch you.” I’m advancing on her with every word until she’s backed up a good ten feet. Once she’s out of the doorway, I slam the door in her face.
“Brother—”
“You watch her, get her the fuck out of here, and see where she goes. It wouldn’t surprise me if she starts leaking shit to the press. I’m not sure what her game is, but I need this shit locked down.”
“You’re positive there’s no way…?”
“Not in a million years is that kid she’s carrying mine.”
“Got it. I’ll take care of it.”
“At least you have more sense than I was giving you credit for. I was starting to think poor Hamburger had more brains than you did.”
“Hamburger?” Black says, coming back into the room.
“Mom named her pet cow Hamburger.”
“Why does this not surprise me?” Black asks from behind me.
“Because you and Blue named him that first. It confused the little feller, so I just changed it to go along with you,” Mom grumbles. I can hear a thud and know she head-slapped Black. I know because she does that to all of us, usually twice a day.
“What’d you do with the bitch?”
“I got Jansen watching her,” Black says.
“Jansen? Oh, hell no. That man is so hyped up on my shakes, he could knock up a woman from fifty feet.”
“Jesus, Mom. Besides, she’s already knocked up,” Black growls.
“I’m not taking any chances. I’ll call the doctor while I’m out there and get him to come check our girl out.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m fine,” Kayla says weakly, sitting up in the bed. Relief sweeps over me and I’ve never felt more grateful in my life than when I finally see Kayla’s beautiful eyes open. “Did you really name your cow Hamburger?”
“Not originally, but the boys wouldn’t shut up, so I gave in. Hammy likes the name, so who am I to argue?”
“That’s just wrong, Ida Sue.”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You being sick. I’m going to get Doc Baker to come out here and check you out.”
“I’m fine. It was just stress,” Kayla says, and her eyes lock with mine.
“You guys go check on Jansen,” I order, my voice gruff. They mumble their goodbyes to Kayla and I try to sort through everything, wondering how my life went to shit in the space of an hour.
“I’ll get Doc Baker to come out. It’s best to play it safe and not be sorry later,” Mom says at the door. “White Hall?” I look up at her, feeling a fuck of a lot older than I really am. “Don’t be an asshole and fuck it all up.”
“Mom…”
“I’m just saying! Of all of my boys, you have the tendency to react half-cocked and regret it later.”
“Ida Sue, we’ll handle it,” Kayla says quietly. I turn to her and see the fear in her eyes. I also see the questions, questions we both have to answer, questions that are surrounding us and seem to be choking the very air we breathe.
It takes a few minutes before Mom and Black finally say their goodbyes. I bite my tongue to keep from beating Black down for hugging Kayla. It appears that even mad, I am still a possessive motherfucker. When the door closes, we sit there in the empty room for a few minutes staring at each other.
“So…” Kayla says, a little color starting to come back to her face.
“Why, Kayla?” I ask without meaning to. I sound desperate and fuck, I am. Knowing Kayla has been lying to me feels like someone has cut out my heart.
“Why?”
“Why the fuck are you taking birth control pills?” I growl, unable to stop myself, feeling her betrayal twist in the pit of my stomach like a poison.
CHAPTER 57
KAYLA
White’s accusation hangs between us, and nerves threaten to consume me. I understand why he is upset, and I need to talk to him about it. I do. I need to explain. I don’t know how to make him comprehend why I made the choices I did, though. I’m not even sure I understand them myself. But his demand upsets me more. I mean, I get he’s pissed, but in light of Rachel showing up, I think we have more than just my birth control to discuss.
“I need to go out and check on Rachel,” I tell him.
“The hell you do! We need to clear this up between us. You’ve been lying to me.”
I sit up on the bed, doing my best to shake the dizziness off; the last thing I need to do is pass out again. “I didn’t lie! I just… wasn’t completely forthcoming about things.”
“Did you seriously just say that to me right now?”
“You didn’t ask me if I was still taking birth control! I was unsure about our relationship, and I was protecting myself! I think I had that right!” I growl, then immediately regret my words. They aren’t truthful, not really. “I think it’s clear that you’ve been keeping your own secrets here! And yours are definitely bigger!” I yell, getting up. I stumble a little and feel White grab my arm to steady me, so I jerk it away.
“Sit down before you fall down!”
“I’m fine! I’m upset! As any woman would be when they find out the man they love knocked up her sister!”
“I did not knock her up!”
“It sure looks like you did!”
“I don’t know who put that kid in her belly, but it wasn’t me. The only woman I’ve been trying to do that with was busy making sure it wouldn’t happen! What is it, Kayla? Are you too good to have a kid with me? It’s okay to sleep with the football jock, but I’m not good enough to give you a kid? You rather save that for a fuckwad like Tommy Haynes?”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me!”
“Why? What the hell else am I supposed to think?”
“That I know you! That I was scared and confused! I stopped taking the damn pills! I stupidly thought I could trust you and in what we were building! Call me stupid!”
“I will! You are acting stupid right now! I’ve never lied to you. I’ve never given you a reason to doubt me or think I’m lying to you.”
“I’m acting stupid?” I ask in disbelief.
“That’s what I said,” White growls, and that’s it. I stomp out of the room. I don’t even want to look at him. I’m walking through the house, not sure where I’m going. I just know I want to be gone. I can’t deal with any of this right now. “Where the hell are you going? We have to have this out!”
“I think we’ve said enough for now.”
“No way! Get your ass back here, Kayla. You need to explain why you didn’t—”
“Didn’t what, White? Let you knock me up?” I yell when I make it out onto the porch, which might not be the place to discuss this, since Ida Sue, Jansen, Black, Luka, Petal, their little boy, Rachel, and some man I don’t know are out here. Green’s truck is in the driveway and he’s standing at the steps watching it all. I know because our eyes lock and I can feel the tears start. I look back at White and then I see Rachel standing behind him.
“Exactly!” he growls, his face red and anger pouring off of him. Black is trying to pull him back and get his attention, but it’s no use; all of his fury is pinned on me. Some of it rightfully so, I know, but he’s being an asshole. He’s the one who should be explaining things here, and he’s not even trying.
“Maybe I didn’t want to be just like my sister! What were you thinking, White? Did you think it’d be fun to knock up sisters? Hell, we could probably go to the graveyard and dig up my worthless mother and you can go for the trifecta!”
“What the hell is going on here?” Green asks in the silence.
“Kayla’s being stupid,” White spits out, and of all the things he could say, that one hurts the most.
Stupid. His face merges with my stepfather’s, and then I hear Rachel talking as she comes up to put her hand on White’s arm. Just like that, I’m done.
“Green, can you get me out of here?” I whisper, hating the tears, hating that Rachel is there to see them, hating that White sees them, and hating even more that he’s just standing there doing nothing.
“You leave, Kayla, and we are going to have even bigger problems.”
“Kay?” Green asks, confused.
“Please?” I ask, starting to feel dizzy again. “I need to get away.” The world swirls around me, trying to fade. I fight it. I fight going under, refusing to faint again. There’s no way I want to appear that weak in front of White—in front of my sister.
“I’m warning you, Kayla. Don’t push me.”
“Fuck you, White!” I scream, and it is a scream and it is over the top. I’ve had my limit and him standing there sounding so damned condescending is killing me almost as much as seeing my sister touch him.
“Come on, Kay, honey. Let’s get you out of here.”
“You put one hand on my woman and I’ll cut it off, Green. Step the fuck away.”
“Your woman? Did you just say that?” I ask him, not believing it.
“I did.”
“What about the fact that Rachel is touching you?”
“You don’t like it? Do something about it.”
“Do something about it?”
“Exactly. You don’t like her touching me, tell her to stop. Claim me. For once, Kayla, take what you want.”
“You, right? Take you? Claim you in front of everyone? That’s what you’re demanding?”
“I’m here. I’m telling the world you’re my woman. I’m trying to sort this shit out and I’m standing here waiting for you to do the same and to stop running.”
“Poor White. You’ve got it all thought out, don’t you? All except for one major thing. My sister is pregnant with your child!” I scream again, and this scream is so hard that my voice cracks. I feel and hear my heart thumping. I almost feel like I can’t breathe. The world starts spinning and I hear White growl.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” White grunts, and he sounds winded, but I can’t focus on him because the world goes completely black.
CHAPTER 58
WHITE
I’m walking back and forth in the hospital waiting room, waiting for the doctor to come out and tell me something—anything. I managed to grab Kayla before she fell and I loaded her in Green’s truck and took off with everyone yelling in the background. Green and Black ran and jumped in the back and rode there all the way to the hospital. They aren’t talking to me right now, but that suits me fine. I don’t have anything to say. I need to know Kayla is going to be okay. Then I have to figure out what the fuck I’m going to do about that lying bitch of a sister she has. Jesus, life seemed so easy this morning and now it’s a fucking mess.
“Where’s my baby? Where is she?” Mom comes in, yelling. I barely spare her a glance. I’m too busy looking at the door to the patient room at the urgent care center.
“She’s in with the doctor, Mom,” Green answers from somewhere across from me.
“What the hell were you thinking, White Hall, yelling at my precious baby when she was upset?” Mom demands, slapping me behind the head. I’d object, but I’m too busy feeling like shit. She’s right. I needed to cool down and make sure Kayla was okay before delving back into everything. I’m a moron.
“Let it go, Mom,” Black says, probably because he knows I’m feeling like an asshole.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” I growl when I see Rachel coming in with Jansen and Cyan.
“I realize you are upset right now, White. I would be too in your shoes. Kayla has always had problems with being honest, but she’s my sister, and you stand by your family no matter what.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Black butts in before I can answer.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you knew your father was beating Kayla and not once did you come forward and try to stop it.”
“Beating?” I growl, turning my attention back to my brother.
“Goodness, is that the garbage she’s telling you? My father bent over backwards to try and make Kayla a part of our family. She made it impossible.”
“That’s not the reports I read. Not even close.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Black, and why didn’t you tell me?”
�
��Family of Kayla Graham?” A doctor comes in, interrupting all of us.
“I’m her fiancé,” I tell him, spinning around. “How is she, Doc?”
“We’re still running some tests. Her blood pressure is running pretty low and she’s dehydrated. We’ll know more soon. She asked to speak to a Green?”
“That’s me,” my brother says, going forward, but that’s not happening.
“She may want to talk to Green, but it’s me she’ll be talking to,” I growl. I hear them all call my name, but I ignore it.
“Sir, I must insist that the patient’s visitors be limited to only those she asks to—”
I open and close the door on the doctor. I figure I have five minutes tops before security escorts me out of here, or my brother, the cop, manages to smooth everything over. I waste one of those minutes just staring at Kayla. She’s staring out the window, looking small and defenseless. The guilt inside of me intensifies. She turns around slowly and resentment flashes in her eyes.
“I asked for Green.”
“How are you?” I ask her, ignoring the obvious.
She holds up the hand that has an IV drip running through it with a frown. “Peachy. Just peachy,” she sighs, and I walk slowly to her. I sit in the chair beside her bed and take her hand in mine, letting my thumb move along her fingers, just below her bandage.