Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“It don’t matter to me,” Kael murmurs when we’re done and dressed.
He must see the terrified expression on my face.
“But if this is Gage’s baby, that means forever, we have to have him in our lives. That isn’t as easy as you think it will be.”
“No, it ain’t, but I made a choice when I chose you and that means I accept everything about who you are. Including that baby.”
I bite my bottom lip. “I’m terrified.”
“It’ll all be good, baby, yeah?”
I hope he’s right.
We both get on his bike and begin the ride into town where the results will be read. We haven’t told Gage yet, because I wanted to see if the baby was Kael’s first. If it isn’t, that only leaves one person. Kael’s DNA was taken, along with mine, and if it doesn’t come back as a match, then we will know the baby isn’t his.
It’s really that simple.
My chest rises and falls with panic as we walk into the small clinic where the doctor will give us the results. Kael squeezes my hand, but I can’t focus. I can’t think about anything but what is going to happen in the next hour. We wait in the waiting room, and I pick at a strand of gauze around my wrist until Kael covers my hand with his.
Finally, there’s a click at the door, and the doctor enters. He calls me in and we stand, my legs jelly as we walk into his office and sit down. He looks at the computer screen, flicking through some results, and the entire time I feel like I am going to vomit.
“We got your test results, Sable.”
Kael laces his fingers through mine, and I swear we both hold our breaths.
The doctor clears his throat. “The baby is healthy. No chromosomal concerns at all.” He glances at me, searching for relief, but I’m not moving. “The paternity screening was conclusive.”
I brace myself, the words sliding by in a distant echo.
“It doesn’t belong to you, Kael. I’m sorry.”
My lungs fold in half. My mouth won’t work. I don’t know if I’m making a sound. I force myself to look at Kael and his expression is neutral, not angry or calm. Just blank. The doctor says some words about follow-ups, scans, and other things we will need, but I am zoned out.
We finish the appointment and get the hell out.
The walk to the bike is silent. Kael hands me the helmet, and my hands shake so bad I almost drop it. When I climb behind him, I wrap my arms around his ribs like if I let go, I’ll float away. He starts the engine and revs it until the world goes meaningless, and I want to scream.
We get back to the clubhouse, but I barely remember the ride. The second I am off the bike, I turn to him. Tears burning under my eyelids as I blurt out, “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I understand if you want me gone, if you want to leave, I would too. This is so bad, I’m so sorry.”
He takes my face in his hands and pulls me close, his eyes locking on mine. “I told you there ain’t nothin’ that could happen, that would ever make me not want you in my life, Sable. I love you. I love that baby. We’ll make this work.”
I make a pained sound in my throat. “But it isn’t your baby, that will come back, that will bother you one day...”
“Millions of people out there lovin’ someone else’s baby. Just because it ain’t my blood, don’t mean I won’t love that kid like it’s my own. Gotta know that about me.”
I stare at his face, trying to see a single sign that this is bullshit, that he’s just trying to make me feel better. But it’s not there. I see only Kael, the man who broke his own rules to love me. His hands are rough as he lets them drop to my stomach, gentle. It makes me want to cry, and that’s pathetic, but I don’t care. He brings me close, presses my forehead to his and breathes me in like I’m the only thing that matters. Then he lifts my chin and makes me look at him—really look at him.
"We’re gonna have more of them," he says, his voice low with promise. "A whole damn football team if you want. And this one, this one is goin’ to be just as much mine as the rest of them.”
He pulls me against him, and for the first time since I could remember, I let myself feel safe. Not because everything was fixed or easy or possible, but because Kael said it was, and that was enough.
He presses a kiss to my head. "We do this together," he says. "No matter how fucked it gets."