by Bellus,HJ
I swear Kip swerves while driving and then clears his throat. “Dad.”
Bernie stops him before he has a chance to say a word. “I know you’ve never been good with change, son. But this is happening and you deserve it.”
I squeeze the top of Kip’s thigh and then turn to Bernie, wrapping him up in a hug. I whisper in his ear.
“Thank you. Thank you for giving me Kip and thank you for operating on a stranger you didn’t even know. I love you.”
He hugs me right back. “Thank you for loving Kip the way he is.”
I dry my eyes and then blare the “Going to the Chapel” song again. All of our friends are already at the house. Kathy texted Bernie, letting him know they’re all out on the back patio enjoying appetizers. She also politely added hurry your asses up because the blonde is getting chippy.
“She’s going to kick me in the crotch.”
Bernie laughs and hops out of the truck. “I’ll go in first.”
He disappears into the house while Kip and I climb from the truck. The diamond on my left hand shines in the sun and I feel whole again. It’s been a long time coming.
“You’re gorgeous, baby.” Kip pulls me into his chest.
My arms go on automatic as they wrap around his neck. He palms my ass while nibbling on my bottom lip.
“I’m so proud of you, Kip. Are you excited to start your new job on the force tomorrow?”
“Not as excited as I am to start our life as Mister and Misses.”
“Mmmmmm.” I take his lips in mine and let my tongue wander around in his mouth until his phone dings with a text alert. We don’t bother looking and know it’s time to enter our reception.
Hand in hand we enter the house. Kip stops in the kitchen and grabs a beer, he takes a long pull from it before we walk the rest of the way through the house, making our way to the back patio. Butterflies flutter around in my stomach. I’m a giddy little girl who just scored her Prince Charming.
With Kip’s hand in mine and my bouquet in the other we waltz out onto the patio. Our friends are busy in conversation, but Charlie spots me.
“Ko-Ko.”
Everyone turns to us. I raise my bouquet over my head and Kip raises his beer. There’s a few gasps.
“Surprise!” I squeal. “Thanks for coming to our wedding reception.”
Kip lowers his arm and takes another long pull from his beer before turning to me. He lowers his face, dips me backwards, and lip locks me. It’s his taste mingled with the beer and forever type love.
“You assholes,” Darby shouts.
Kip giggles down onto my mouth and I can’t help but smile. In a matter of seconds, my two best friends attack me. They stare at the ring and hug the hell out of me.
“I knew it. I just knew you two would do this after you got engaged.” Ava wraps me in a tight hug. Well, as tight as they get with her belly in the way.
“I should really kick you or pull your hair. Good thing I love you, Chloe.” Darby is next to hug me.
Over her shoulder, I see Kip getting the bro shakes and brotherly one hugs. My heart fully beats for the first time in a very long time. I’m whole.
Thirty-Three
Chloe
Three Months Later
Playing Car Shuffle 101 is not fun. Especially not fun when you’re experiencing extreme morning sickness. That’s right, I have a growing pair of peanuts inside me that love making me sick. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, I can be found sprinting to the toilet.
Being pregnant never really came as a huge shock considering Kip and I never used protection. Looking back, we never even discussed it. Everything just happened so naturally. Life couldn’t be better. Oh, and the biggest surprise of all is that we’re expecting twins.
Kip’s dad has taken the proud grandparent part filling the shoes of the missing grandmas. I’m pretty sure he nearly passed out the day we shared the news with him. He’s in the process of phasing out of his practice and selling it off. He moved into the beach house and transitioned a weekend home into Kip’s little cottage out back. We never spent any time out there since we were always in the guest room where I stayed and remained there after.
We now have the whole house to us and Boozer, of course. I’m not sure how’ll he handle being a big brother. He’s a pretty fat and happy red dog who owns us. Kip’s dad has lined me up with the best doctors and spends the weekends with us. Watching the happiness pour off of him with his son is priceless.
Zack even made the headlines shortly after. It seems he beat up the wrong girl who had a family who backed her. It was all over the news along with several money-laundering topics from his campaign. He’s no longer an esteemed congressman from Tennessee. The last I read he’s facing quite a few years in prison after the long trial is over.
I send a quick text to Kip letting him know I’m driving Darby’s car to the service station for an oil change while she runs Dane to an appointment. Dane’s been another joy in all of our lives. He’s made huge milestones in his new home. Darby and Rhett are still jackasses, but loving parents none the less.
Waiting a few moments on Kip’s reply, I notice he hasn’t even read it. He has a terrible habit of letting his phone battery die on a daily basis. He’s trying to make the transition from his bike to a truck and it’s been a struggle, even though he’s owned the truck for months now. He’s taking the role of daddy to be quite seriously.
I tuck my phone in my purse and smile down at the baggie of Saltine crackers and bottle of Sprite nestled in there for me. I guess some things never change. He’s still feeding me crackers to keep my stomach calm.
I crank the radio and open the sunroof while jamming out to a new Justin Timberlake song on the radio. Life couldn’t be simpler or any more amazing than in this moment. I buckle up at a red light realizing my thoughts escaped me when I started driving. Ava’s warned me it’s called pregnancy brain and to expect being double air-headed since I’m carrying twins. Oh, poor Kip.
I take the back roads and enjoy the sun. It’s a faster route with no stoplights or four way stops. Just a lonely less taken road that has less traffic. I think about Kip and my argument last night. I want to be surprised with the gender of the babies and he insists on knowing. He swears he can keep it a secret until the babies are delivered and I call bullshit. Kip finally settled the argument with a long love making session where he did most of the work. The sly smile on his face when were finished and wrapped up in each other was cute and heart-warming at best, but he’s still not getting his way.
I notice a red pick-up truck hauling ass up a cross road. He’s so close to the intersection and not slowing down. It’s split-second decision to either slow down or accelerate.
“He has to be stopping,” I say to myself.
I look up just in time to see Zack’s beady eyes staring at me as the red truck slams into my side of the car. Crunching metal deafens me. I clutch to my belly to protect the babies. Smoke is so thick in the cab of the car I have idea what’s going. My head buzzes and something liquid runs down the side of my face. I panic. Try to scream but nothing comes out, confusing me even more.
Thirty-Four
Kip
“Hey.” I rush after the man dressed in black with those piercing and familiar eyes.
My whole body is exhausted just pulling a long week of shifts back on the force. Being a cop and low man on the totem pole, I get stuck with shit shifts and lots of busy work. It feels good to be back on the force and doing something with my life instead of slinging drinks or shaking my hips. I save all the sexy moves for my girl only behind closed doors.
The man stops dead in his tracks and turns to me. I wish I was still wearing my badge and could really get some information from this guy. When he faces me I know beyond a shadow of doubt it’s the man from the gas station and the beach house. The hair on the back of my neck rises. Something isn’t right about this motherfucker.
My fists clench at my sides. I have to force myself to u
nclench them and straighten out my fingers. I’ll do anything to protect my girl.
“What gives?” I nod my head towards him.
He runs his hand behind his head, dragging his fingers through his hair. The man easily towers over me and is a modern day Hulk. He’s not your average fool.
“Kip.” His voice is deep and intimidating, pairing perfectly with his looks.
I raise an eyebrow in question and cross my arms over my chest, taking a defensive stance. Recognition dawns on me. It’s Cruz Felix, the reigning world champion MMA fighter.
“You have time to sit down and talk.” The words rumble from his chest.
“Fuck yes.” I won’t back down from him. “You’ve been tailing my girl and have some fucking explaining to do.”
He nods.
“Bar or coffee shop?” I ask, feeling like a pussy-whipped fool even including coffee shop.
“Bar.”
“Blue Iron. Three blocks down. I’ll meet you there in five.”
We turn and head in different directions. I bolt back to my truck and mentally note to pick up roses and pizza for Chloe after this is settled. I think about texting Rhett or Zane for backup, but the guy seems legit for now and we are heading into my old stomping grounds.
I beat him there and settle at the corner table. Had enough time to give Ross and the bouncers on the clock a heads up. When Cruz enters the door, the man fucking towers the bouncers at the door. I may be fucked either way, but I’ll go down swinging.
I take a long gulp from my double Crown Royal and Coke. Cruz wastes no time finding me in the damn near empty club. He takes a seat and pass him a drink.
“Hope you like Crown Royal.”
“Thanks, but I don’t drink while training.”
“What the fuck are you doing following Chloe?”
He growls in frustration, not appreciating my words.
“It’s complicated.”
“I don’t care that you’re a world champion and fucking brute of a man. She’s mine and I’ll bury your fucking ass if you touch her.”
“Have I touched her?” He raises an eyebrow in my direction.
I shake my head side to side. “You’ve followed her.”
“I yelled your fucking name when that asshole Zack sent that man for her.”
“You working for him?”
A deep roar of laughter rolls off him. “I thought you were a good man and then you go throwing that shit around.”
“Who the fuck are you and what do you want?”
“I’m Chloe’s half brother.”
My jaw drops, literally falls on the table.
“Say what?” I blink rapidly. “Come again?”
“I grew up in Dallas, Texas, placed in foster care after my father died.”
My head swims trying to keep up with him. I’m not following him one bit and he must sense it on my face.
“We have the same mother. Her and my father fell madly in love in college. She refused to keep the baby and he begged her to. She went away to Europe courtesy of her parents and came back with a flat belly. My father was paid off to keep it all a secret. He died of cancer when I was fourteen. I was turned over to foster care and bounced around for years. Fighting became my survival.”
“The eyes. You have Chloe’s eyes.”
He ignores my comment and continues spilling his story.
“I found a letter in a box of my dad’s old shit after winning the champion belt. It was a letter to me about the fucking truth. I was livid and went for answers, but when I did, I found so much more.”
He pauses for a moment and goes for his drink, downing it in one whole gulp.
“This shit is way too intense and you may want to kick my ass after this. Consider this your advantage.” He points to his drink. “You might have a chance if I’m a bit tipsy, but probably not; alcohol fuels my rage typically. This shit is too intense to not drink.”
“If you touched Chloe, I will kill you,” I spit out.
“After research, I learned I had at least one sibling. I figured that she’d be my best bet to get answers. I saw it all. Zack’s abuse and her hurt state.”
“You fucking watched him hit her?” I blow up from my seat and flip the table in the air. “You fucking asshole.”
Ross is at my side and holding me back.
“No,” Cruz roars. “I came in on the tail end of it. Watched her pass out from sheer pain in her front yard. She had her arm in a sling. I scooped her up from her front yard and took her to the bus stop. I got her on a bus and sat back a few rows. She was confused when she woke up and I assisted her and encouraged her to call a friend. I followed her when the woman from the shelter picked her up and then followed you guys back here.”
I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. He continues talking.
“I’ve wanted to talk to Chloe for months, but could see she needed to heal and I respected that. I have no desire to meet my mother after watching everything play out, but I do want to meet my sister.”
It takes several minutes for everything to soak in and find two words falling off my lips.
“Thank you.”
“I swear to God I’m here for good reason. If you let me in then I’ll only protect Chloe. She’s blood and that means something to me.”
“Have you been stalking her this whole time?”
He shakes his head. “I’m not a fucking creep. I’ve been in Dallas training for my next fight. Just got back in town. Look man, I have people you can call to verify shit.”
I reach my hand out, knowing he’s solid. His large palm makes me feel like a nine-year-old boy.
“Let’s go meet your sister.” I grip his hand tight. “After I make those calls and check shit out.”
“Respectable enough.” He nods.
Ross lets me invade his office and after an hour of making calls from his desk phone, searching the web, and calling into the department, he checks out. Can’t say I’m exactly comfortable with the man quite yet and that’s why I’ll be escorting him to Chloe.
The top of his head brushes the fucking ceiling of my truck and his legs are cramped in the floorboard. I forgo the pizza and flowers and head straight home. I also decide against calling or texting Chloe. I’ve been walking on glass trying not to stress her out since her body is fostering our two babies.
The ride grows uncomfortable with the silence between us. I’m not sure how to talk to Cruz, so I keep my mouth shut. I take a right and go for a back road, which will cut an easy five minutes off the drive. Only a mile up the road, I spot a wreck. It’s fresh with no officers on the scene. I reach for my phone and slow down a bit.
“No fucking way,” I say out loud when I recognize the car. “It can’t be.”
“What?” Cruz growls.
I study the mangled car I’m nearing, hoping like hell it’s not Darby. But when I come to a complete stop it’s definitely her car. “My Girl Unlove” logo sticker covers the back window. I slide my phone open and Chloe’s text pops up.
Chloe: I’m taking Darby’s car to get the oil changed and we’ll swap cars when Dane is done with therapy. Love your sweet and adorable knocked up wife
My heart fucking quits beating. I toss the phone to Cruz.
“Call for help now.”
I race from my truck and head for the car. It’s fucking mangled with the majority of the damage on the driver’s side.
“Chloe,” I scream and panic. All of my officer training forgotten.
She looks up to me with blood running down her face.
“Kip,” she sobs. “I can’t get out.”
“I’m here, baby.”
Cruz throws the phone after calling for help and begins bellowing at someone. I look up long enough to see fucking Zack dragging himself from the truck. Cruz stomps on his head, sending it into the asphalt.
“Kip.”
I’ve never heard her cry so hard. I grab the door and try to pull it open, but it’s impossible.
“Don’
t move, baby, help is on the way.”
I reach inside the car and grab her phone to get help here faster, even though I know that’s not possible.
“Kip,” she screams.
I freeze and hold her face to me. I can feel shards of glass cutting through my shirt and piercing my skin. I look down to her and watch her look down in horror. There’s a pool of blood between her legs. She clings to my arm and drops her head.
“My babies,” she cries and shakes.
I squeeze my eyes shut and cry with her. The sound of a skull cracking fills the air and then a door slam. Cruz is at my side and Zack is lifeless on his truck.
“Move,” he growls.
“Don’t let go of me, Kip.”
“Shhhh, baby, he’s going to help.”
And by damn the fuel raged Hulk rips the door from her car.
“Don’t move, baby.” I’m kneeling at her side and holding on to her.
I turn and look up to Cruz. “Thank you.”
When the ambulance and officers finally arrive, there’s no need for the Jaws of Life or wasting any time getting Chloe from the car.
“I’m going.”
“No, you’re not. There’s not enough room.”
Cruz grabs me and forces me back. “Let them do their job, man. I’ll drive you.”
Zane and Rhett are at the hospital doors when I rip out of the truck and rush in. My dad catches me by the shoulders.
“Calm the fuck down, son,” he whispers, shaking me. “They won’t let you back there in this state.”
“Listen.” Rhett grips my arm.
Their serious tone only sends more fear through me.
“Where is she? I need her now.”
“We’ll let go of you once you calm the fuck down.” Zane has my other arm.
My dad remains in front of me with his hands on my shoulders. “She’s fine. Chloe is going to be just fine.”
Some fear dissolves, but I need to be with my girl. She’s scared to fucking death.