After a quick reload, which, by the way, was the best part of shooting, I took a deep, calming breath and aimed the way the gruff Max had instructed. If the time came and I had to shoot for real, I wanted to be the one to survive. Soon the good old pregnancy fatigue set in, and I went through the checklist as fast as I could, eager to get home before I started to nod off.
“Thanks for the lesson, Max.”
“You’re welcome.” His quiet, grey eyes held a wealth of emotions, but he was stoic as ever. “Did you need something else?”
“Yeah, the bill.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he insisted dismissively and that just pissed me right off.
“The bill. Please.”
He didn’t look happy about it, but he punched a button and a receipt spit out, which he thrust at me angrily. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
I knew exactly what he was talking about and that sent my anger right up to pissed the fuck off. I shoved some cash into his hand and glared because seriously, who the fuck did this guy think he was?
“Yeah, well, after your brother tracked me down and forced me to come back here, I’d say that was a matter of opinion, except I never fucking asked for yours. Have a good day.”
I couldn’t get away fast enough. Literally because another man clad in leather and denim was strolling my way.
I sped up.
“Hey, wait up!” There was no way in hell I was waiting for that guy. “Hey, Rocky, right?”
“Nope, you got the wrong girl, buddy.” There was no way I was putting myself in front of another angry biker who thought I was trying to swindle their boy. I hopped in my car and sped away and promised never to come back. I kept my foot on the gas until I turned into Lasso’s driveway and dragged myself up onto the porch and to the bed I now shared with him.
I couldn’t be sure since I was half asleep, but I remember picking up the phone to heavy breathing. Three times.
***
“How long?”
I woke up to Lasso with his big beefy arms folded across his expansive chest, those blue eyes glaring down at me.
“Excuse me?” My brain was still foggy and I blinked to bring his angry face into focus. “How long what, exactly?”
“How long have you been getting these fucking hang-up calls, Rocky? Were you even going to tell me about them?”
“How did you find out?”
“I answered your goddamn phone; how do you think? Waiting on you to talk to me is pointless, isn’t it?” He raked a hand through his hair and dropped down on the bed beside me. “I need you to help me out here, Rocky.”
“There’s nothing to help with. I was half asleep when those calls came in and I didn’t know if I was dreaming or not. And stop answering my phone!”
“That’s what you’re worried about right now?”
“You want me to trust you and then you do shit that makes it damn hard to do that, so do you want to play this game?” I sat up and pushed my hair out of my face. “And I don’t need your damn friends weighing in on my life. I didn’t ask them or you for help.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Are you done yelling?”
“I’m not yelling. I’m being firm.”
I laughed. “Yet I am not a horse or a dog.” He looked properly chastised, but I wasn’t buying it.
“Okay, fine, but you can’t keep shit like this from me.” He sounded tired and worried, reminding me once again that he was a good man.
“Fine, I won’t. But if you ever wake me up from a nap when it’s not an emergency, I promise this will be the last baby you ever have.” Even though he laughed, I meant it. “I’ve been sleeping like shit lately despite the fact that I feel like all I do is sleep.”