Ride or Die (Rejects Paradise 4)

“Look, I, um … I don’t want to get your hopes up or anything, but the baby is moving, and I was wondering if you might want to feel?”

Rebecca’s eyes fill with tears, and she nods, instantly throwing herself to her feet. “Are you sure? I really don’t want to make you uncomfortable in any way, or overstep.”

I shake my head. “I’m not uncomfortable in the least,” I tell her, taking her hand and gently placing it over the foot that’s sticking out just above my belly button. “That’s his foot,” I murmur, knowing in my heart that this woman will be a mommy in two months. “He gets really active once I’ve been sitting down for a while. I think he finds it soothing when I’m moving around.”

Rebecca’s bottom lip quivers. “He?” she questions, hopeful.

I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t actually know, I just have a feeling.”

Another tear rolls down her cheek, and I can’t help but look back at Mom, who gives me a proud smile, tears of joy in her eyes, clearly seeing what I’m seeing. She gently nods, telling me that it’s okay to trust myself, and as I glance up at Colton he does exactly the same thing before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I place my hand over Rebecca’s, moving it around as the baby moves inside of me. “I have an appointment for a check-up this afternoon, and the doctor was planning on doing another ultrasound. I was wondering if maybe you had some time and would like to come along? I know there are some things that we would need to discuss first, but I wouldn’t want my child’s mother to miss seeing him.”

“Your child’s …” she sucks in a gasp, her eyes going wide as Bryson steps into her back, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Are you saying … do we… is this my child? Am I finally going to be a mommy?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I would like it very much if you two would be the parents of my child.”

Rebecca breaks into sobs and throws her arms around me, instantly sending a wave of emotions crashing over me. Bryson steps into Colton and offers him his hand only to pull him right in and clap him on the back. “Congratulations,” Colton says to the both of them. “You’re going to make incredible parents. This baby is lucky to have you.”----------Two Months LaterMy fingers nervously drum against the cheap plastic table as I watch all the guys in orange jumpsuits come through the door in chains. Their wrists and ankles are cuffed, and I can’t help but stare.

I see this stuff in movies all the time, but nothing prepares you for the real thing, especially when it’s someone that you care for.

Nic walks into the room with a guard at his back, and I watch with wide eyes as he does exactly what he’s told, being on his best behavior as his wrists and ankles are freed. As I watch him, I can’t help but notice the way that he holds himself. It’s almost as though I’m seeing a new person. The Nic I saw six months ago was haunted, he was jumpy and nervous, but the guy I’m looking at now is strong, proud, and healthy. He looks almost familiar, almost like a carbon copy of the old Nic that I once knew, and I can’t help but wonder what his time in here is doing for him. Is he finally at peace and forgiven himself for the horrible things that he’s done, or is he just living life in denial?

Once Nic is free from the chains, he begins scanning the room, trying to figure out who brought him here, and as he does, nerves pulse through me. I haven’t seen Nic since I was sitting across from him in court, watching as he confessed to a jury about all the things that he’s done. Well, by all, what I mean is just a few things that meant he wouldn’t get life in prison. Though, just as I knew it would happen, the judge made an example out of him and gave him ten years behind bars. His only hope is that he behaves and can apply for early release when the time comes.

Nic’s eyes come to mine, and I watch carefully as surprise flashes across his face. I’ve been so nervous that he’s been blaming this all on me, and well, honestly, for some parts of it, he’d be right. I am responsible for putting him here, but he’s the one responsible for the things he did that lead him down this path.

Nic instantly starts making his way toward me, and I quickly glance around at the other inmates, trying to figure out what’s the correct protocol here. Am I allowed to touch him, or do I just sit still and wait for him to come to me?