Wingman (Woman)

  “How have you been ill?” he asks.

  “Throwing up, mostly. Really tired. Lethargic.”

  He nods, turning to type a few things into his computer.

  “And does the throwing up come and go, or is it constant?”

  “It’s worse in the morning and the afternoon, but that’s probably because I’m sleeping through the middle of the day.”

  He nods and makes a humming sound, before turning back to me. “And when was your last period?”

  That’s a stupid question, and it throws me.

  “Huh?”

  “Your last period?”

  I shake my head. “I have that injection that lasts three months, I forget the name. I don’t really get periods.”

  “When was the last time you had that?”

  I swallow. What is he getting at?

  “I . . .” I stop and think, really think. “It was . . . about three months ago, maybe just a touch over.”

  “And you’ve had unprotected sex in the last two to three weeks?”

  My stomach turns. “Yes.”

  He nods and stands, excusing himself. He returns a moment later with a cup. He hands it to me and nods towards a door to the left. “If you wouldn’t mind getting me a urine sample.”

  A what? I stare at him, wide-eyed.

  “Just fill it halfway,” he encourages.

  I turn on shaky legs and walk into the bathroom. It takes me a solid ten minutes and two knocks from the doctor, before I collect what he needs. I’m numb when I walk back out, frantically going over dates in my mind.

  “We’ll have the answer in just a second,” he says, dipping a small stick into the container.

  I stare at it, unable to breathe, my heart pounding. When he pulls the stick out and turns it over, I actually squeak with fear.

  “Well, that explains your symptoms,” he says, looking up at me. “Congratulations. You’re pregnant.”

  That’s the exact moment I pass out.

  ~*~*~*~

  “Hey, Tia.”

  I hear Reign’s voice and feel the soft skin of his hand stroke over my cheek. I flutter my eyelids open and realize I’m on a soft, comfortable bed. Reign is staring down at me, the doctor by his side. It all comes rushing back to me and my entire world spins as panic seizes my chest. I bolt upright and start rambling some stupid words over and over. Reign’s hands curl around my arms, and he shakes me just slightly.

  “It’s all right,” he soothes. “You’re at the doctor’s surgery.”

  I shove away from him, pressing my hands to my cheeks. “I, uh, I know. The doctor here was just telling me I had food poisoning when I passed out. I’m sorry.”

  The doctor gives me a skeptical look, but he knows he can’t tell Reign if I don’t give him permission to. Instead, he nods his head and hands me a glass of water. “If you’re feeling better, we’ll finish the consultation and Mr. Braxton can take you home.”

  Reign nods and strokes a soft hand down my cheek. “You okay?”

  “Sure, if you could maybe get me, ah, an orange juice . . . that might help. I think my sugar is low.”

  He nods and presses a soft kiss to my cheek before leaving. When he’s gone, the doctor turns to me. “I’m assuming he’s not the father, then?”

  I flush. “He is, but I . . . I just need to process this.”

  My stomach turns at the very thought of what’s growing inside me. Not because I don’t want it, because a part of me, a tiny part, is already warming to the idea. It’s just because I’m not sure I’m in the right situation. Reign and I aren’t together and then there’s the problem of Slutena being in the way.

  I can’t even think of that right now.

  The doctor gives me a script for some pills to get from the pharmacy, and tells me to book in for an ultrasound in another week or so to get a more accurate date. However, his notes tell me I’m about five to six weeks along. I thank him and exit the room. Reign is waiting for me at the door, orange juice in hand.

  “You feeling better?” he asks.

  I nod, taking the bottle from him. “Thank you.”

  “Let’s get you home to bed. Did he say how long it will last?”

  How am I going to hide this? Reign will see me getting sick each day. I shake my head. I’ll figure it out.

  “A few days.”

  He wraps an arm around me and leads me out to the car. The entire ride home is quiet, probably because I hardly hear anything he says to me. All I can hear is the pounding in my head. I don’t know how to deal with this; I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with this. A baby . . . that’s lifelong. It means that forever a part of Reign will always be in my life.

  “You sure you’re okay?” he asks, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

  I nod, forcing a smile. “Sure. I’m just exhausted.”

  He takes me home and settles me in bed, then promises to come back later that night. I’m grateful to him, so much so tears well in my eyes. I realize this is probably because of hormones, but all the same, it causes him to run a finger under my eye, swiping the moisture away.

  Then he kisses me and leaves.

  And I sob myself to sleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  A soft hand curls around mine, causing me to jerk from my sleep. I flutter my eyelids open, blink rapidly to clear my vision. I’m faced with a familiar, beautiful face and emotion swarms me. I bolt upright, throwing my arms around the tiny form on my bed and sobbing hysterically with pure relief.

  Autumn is home.

  “Oh God, Autumn,” I sob, pulling back and cupping her cheeks. She’s crying too. “Don’t you ever, ever do that to me again.”

  She hugs me close once more, squeezing me until the air leaves my lungs in a whoosh.

  “I’m so sorry, God, Tia, I’m an asshole.”

  I laugh hoarsely and lean back, my eyes scanning her, checking to make sure she’s okay. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

  She shakes her head, pressing her hands either side of my cheeks. “No, I’m not hurt. I’m finally free.”

  “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

  She shakes her head. “I can’t. Not because I don’t want to but because I promised to protect Wrath for helping me.”

  My brows shoot up. “Wrath?”

  She flushes and I tilt my head to the side. “Do explain.”

  “Later.” She smiles. “Tell me about you. How have you been?”

  At the very question I lose my smile and my heart begins to pound. I stare down at my hands, not sure if I should be telling Autumn.

  “Hey,” she says, shifting and crossing her legs. “That’s not a good look. What’s happening?”

  I sigh and put my head in my hands. “Things haven’t been great.”

  “Tell me,” she pleads.

  I go over everything that’s happened with Reign and I, then I get to the last part and I hesitate. I swallow, taking two or three calming breaths before saying, “I’m pregnant, A.”

  She says nothing for so long I actually lift my eyes to see if she’s heard me. She’s watching me, eyes narrowed, a deep expression on her face. Then a slow smile spreads across her face and she squeals, throwing her arms around me. “Congratulations. Oh my God, I’m going to be an aunty.”

  Not what I expected.

  “I . . . what?”

  “Are you happy?” she asks, pulling back and rubbing my belly. “How are you, little cutie?”

  “Are you talking to my baby?” I ask, eyes wide.

  “We’re all going to be so happy together,” she coos.

  “Okay, hold up, mother hen,” I say, removing her hands. “Reign doesn’t even know.”

  Her head snaps up and she gasps, “What? Why?”

  I sigh. “Because I only found out today, because he’s still hung up on his ex, and because I don’t know if it’s what I want.”

  Her eyes widen. “That’s your little baby.”

  “I know that,” I say, my voice lo
w and emotional. “But I have to think about every angle here, A. Reign is still obsessed with his ex, she’s causing problems for me and she’s quite possibly going to be in my child’s life. I don’t know if I can deal with that.”

  “It’s your baby,” she says again.

  My lip trembles. “I know.”

  She cups my face. “Your baby, honey. This is your tiny little miracle.”

  Tears roll down my cheeks.

  “Tell him; you know you have to. It won’t matter how long you take to get your head around this, you have to tell him. So do it; tell him.”

  “I don’t know how. What if he hates me?”

  She shakes her head. “You just told me the reason he’s hanging onto his ex is because of the baby thing. Do you really think he’ll run from this?”

  I shrug. “I don’t honestly know.”

  “Tell him, honey.”

  “You done here, babe?”

  I squeal at the sound of a male voice and my head jerks up to see Wrath, the biker I saw outside Autumn’s house the day she left, standing at the door. Autumn’s cheeks pinken and she gives me a guilty look. “I told him to wait downstairs, sorry.”

  My mouth opens and closes. “Y-y-y-y-you’re still with him?”

  She gives me a smile that pleads with me to understand. “We . . . connected.”

  “You’re an . . .” I take a deep breath. “Old lady?”

  Wrath walks in, his big boots thumping on the floor. “She’s my old lady, correct.”

  I gasp. “Seriously, Autumn?”

  She shrugs, staring up at him with a look in her eyes I’ve never seen.

  “Oh hell no,” I cry, leaping up. I stalk towards Wrath, who crosses his arms and stands his ground. I press a finger to his chest. “You listen to me, buddy. You can’t just come in here and steal my best friend. You were going to hand her in to some psycho and now you’re here, in my house, trying to take her from me.”

  He leans down, placing a big hand on my shoulder. “Firstly, the shit that went down is between Autumn and I; it’s got fuck-all to do with you.”

  My mouth opens, and then shuts because he keeps going, not allowing me to speak.

  “Second, you don’t get a say-so in how this goes, so you can either accept it or lose your friend because, babe, she’s with me, like it or not.”

  My mouth is hanging open now.

  “And third, I’d never, not in a thousand years take her away from the people she loves.”

  I cross my arms, taking a step back. “Yeah, well . . . bite me.”

  Autumn bursts out laughing and Wrath grins. “Savin’ that for Autumn, babe.”

  I roll my eyes and turn back to my friend. “You’re so going to tell me what went down with you two, and you’re going to like it.”

  She laughs, getting off my bed and tucking her tiny frame into Wrath’s arms. Damn, the man is fine. “And you’re going to tell Reign what he needs to know, aren’t you?”

  I stop smiling and nod weakly.

  “We’re going to go, because I’m starving,” she says, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me. “Call me later, tell me how it goes.”

  “Where are you going to be?” I ask her, glaring at Wrath over her shoulder. He winks at me. Prick.

  “At my house.”

  “Don’t leave me again, Autumn, promise me that.”

  She hugs me tighter. “I swear.”

  I pull back, taking a deep breath. “Then I accept this relationship.”

  Autumn laughs and Wrath mutters, “No one was givin’ you a choice.”

  “Pipe down, biker,” I say. “You still owe me.”

  He raises a brow. “Owe you? For fuckin’ what?”

  “One, for flipping me the bird,” I say, stepping closer to him. “Two, for stealing my best friend and scaring the life out of me.” I get up to his chest. “And three, well shit, there is no three. I will drop three because you have put a smile on her face I’ve never seen, so I can forgive you for some of your bad behavior.”

  He laughs and wraps an arm around Autumn. “Whatever you say, babe.”

  I lift my hand and I flip him the bird.

  I just know we’ll be good friends.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  I don’t tell Reign that night.

  That would be because I pass out cold when the sun goes down, and there will be no moving me from my bed.

  I decide to go to work the next morning, and I try to keep my stomach sealed for long enough to get me through the first part of the day without being sick. The doctor told me salty crackers and water in the morning, so I managed to nibble some down before heading in.

  Reign called a meeting first thing, which is the absolute worst thing that could have happened. Being that I’m stuck in a room with men and women who are talking far too loudly and they’re all eating pastries and delicious things that now make me feel as though I’m going to lose my stomach at any second.

  That’s why when the plate is passed my way and the smell fills my nose, I find myself leaping out of my chair, hand pressed to my mouth.

  “Tia,” Reign says, turning to me from his position at the head of the table. “Are you okay?”

  I shake my head, running from the room. I barely make it out of the office space when I drop to my knees and throw up. Shame fills my body as I lose the water I drank only an hour ago. Tears tumble down my face as I desperately try to stop the vomit rising up in my throat.

  “Shit, Tia.” Reign is by my side, his hand rubbing my back.

  “Get me the cleaner,” he barks to someone.

  I sob loudly, pressing my hand to my mouth.

  “You need to get a second opinion. You’re fuckin’ sick and I’m not going to sit back and watch it,” Reign says, helping me to my feet. “I’m taking you right now.”

  “No,” I protest, my voice shaky. “Reign, no.”

  “Tia, you’re sick. You’re going to pass out if you keep throwing up the way you are. You’re going to the hospital.”

  “I said no, Reign,” I cry, trying to tug my hand from his as he leads me down the hall.

  “Argue as much as you like, hate me if you will, but I’m not letting you continue on like this, because I care about you.”

  “Reign—”

  “Don’t argue with me.”

  “Reign—” I try again.

  “Tia, for fuck’s sake, you’re going to the hospital.”

  “I’m pregnant,” I screech, losing it. “You goddamned stubborn asshole. I’m fucking pregnant.”

  His hand drops from mine so quickly it’s like he’s been burned. He stops in front of me, not facing me. I can’t see his eyes, but I can see how stiff his shoulders just got. I stop breathing for the few minutes it takes him to turn and stare at me.

  “What did you say?”

  “I’m pregnant,” I whisper.

  I can see the emotion flashing across his face, and I can almost hear the wheels in his mind turning.

  “Mine?”

  My shoulders straighten. “Of course it’s yours, Jesus, Reign.”

  He just stands there, staring at me, clearly in shock. “Are you sure?”

  “Am I sure I’m pregnant, or am I sure it’s yours?”

  “Both,” he rasps.

  I grind my teeth together. “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “I thought you were on protection, or I would have fuckin’ used a condom.”

  “I was, but it ran out and with everything that was going on, I didn’t realize my time was up.”

  He reaches up, running a hand through his hair. “Shit, fuck.”

  Not exactly the reaction I wanted, but it could be worse.

  “I need,” he begins, taking a deep breath, “I need time. Go home, Tia. I can’t . . . I can’t do this right now.”

  That burns.

  Nodding my head, knowing it’s best not to push, I turn and walk slowly down the hall. My vision blurs as I climb into the car he organized for me, and the entire w
ay home I manage to hold my tears in. Confusion and fear fills my veins as I get out and numbly walk to my front door, my heart breaking.

  What if he doesn’t want our baby?

  ~*~*~*~

  I’m curled up on the couch, arms around my knees, head dropped between them. I’ve stopped sobbing, but my heart continues to feel empty and broken. Reign hasn’t called; it’s been three hours. I guess that’s all I need to know. My mind twists in confusion as I try to think about my next steps. I don’t even know if there are steps to take.

  Maybe my best option would be to leave.

  A pounding at my door has my head lifting from their warm spot on my knees. I stare at my front entrance, knowing it’s not Reign. He doesn’t knock, he just enters. With a sigh, I shove to my feet and walk over, opening the door to reveal a brooding, angry Selena. It takes me a moment to process that she’s standing at my door.

  “What the hell?” I mutter.

  “You little whore!” she screeches, her face scrunched with rage. “I knew you wanted him back, but going to this length to get him is low, even for you.”

  What is she talking about?

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, crossing my arms.

  “He told me you’re pregnant!” she yells. “He told me because he’s disgusted and had nowhere else to turn.”

  My heart feels as though it’s been ripped from my chest at her words. Reign told her? Instead of coming to me, he went to her? Pain rips through body as heartbreak takes over. Betrayal is an ugly emotion, and it hurts so damned much.

  “Leave my house,” I rasp out, trying to keep my control.

  “I won’t warn you again: you will leave this town, leave Reign and never come back. Sort that thing out,” she growls, pointing to my stomach. “And fucking get out of my town.”

  “Your town? You have some serious balls, lady,” I laugh brokenly. “And if you truly thought Reign wanted you and there was a chance, you wouldn’t be here threatening me.”

  “Reign and I have been together a long time. He loves me.”

  “That’s because he’s blinded.”

  She steps forward, shoving a finger into my chest. “I won’t ask you again: leave this town.”

  I shove her chest. “I said, fucking no!”

  Her hand raises and she punches me. Pain radiates through my cheek as I stumble backwards, tripping on the doorframe and landing on my ass with a thump.