“I wonder if they gave Nova a hard time last night.” Maria looks at me like I'd know the answer.
“She was fuming when she stormed out of there. I thought she was going to kill everyone.” Coral may be joking, but she's not wrong. I've never seen Nova as angry as she was when she came out of that room.
“Think she's calmed down yet?”
“I don't know, Avery,” I adjust Gabe in my arms while putting my boob away. My little boy is fast asleep again. He's grown so much over the past couple of months, and he's also getting heavy. “But I hope she has. We have a self-defense lesson later, and I don't fancy being on the receiving end of her anger.” It's bad enough when she's in a good mood, and she knocks me on my ass. Nova in a bad mood? She might break my back! “Actually, I think I might give it a miss.”
“I don't blame you. I think I will too.” Avery sighs.
“And me.”
“Me too.”
I guess we're all taking the day off. I just hope Nova isn't pissed off with us skipping her class. I wouldn't be surprised if she came to our houses to see what the hell we think we're playing at.
I suddenly feel sick. It's nothing to do with Nova, and everything to do with the fact I'm overheating. I lay Gabe in his seat. He'll sleep for a while longer yet. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, trying to ward off the need to vomit.
I finally manage to shake it off and rejoin my friends. The subject has changed, and we talk about anything but the MC. Each of us tells stories of our youth, and what we did for fun. Not that I have many stories to tell, but listening to the others tell me about how they would sneak out to meet friends, and how they get themselves in trouble, makes me laugh. Not one of them ever did anything that would have seen them arrested; they did things any other teenager would do. It makes me wish I'd been brave enough to get drunk when I was underage or kiss a boy older than me.
Laughing with Maria, Coral, and Avery has been just what I needed. There's nothing like being with friends to make a girl feel better about things.
After leaving Maria's house, and as I have the day off work, I spend it baking and making my little boy laugh. I've been trying to take my mind off feeling like I might throw up. Maybe I should make myself sick. It might make me feel better once it's out.
Maybe later, I don't have time right now. Plus, I wouldn't want my little boy to see or hear me like that.
“You're so beautiful, Gabriel.” I clasp his little fists together, and he giggles loudly. It melts my heart hearing him laugh. It's the best sound in the world.
Gabe first giggled two days ago. It was Hawk our boy first giggled at, and the funny faces Hawk was pulling. I saw how much joy and pride that brought the love of my life. Now, every time Gabe is with Hawk, he giggles at his daddy. Two short days and my little boy hasn't stopped smiling, giggling, he's always happy. I have a strong feeling Gabe's first word will be Dada. Now Gabriel has grown into his features; he looks even more like Hawk. He has his daddy's tanned skin tone, his gorgeous, sparkling brown eyes, and his beautiful smile. I don't see myself in Gabe at all, although others do.
Gabriel is also a chunky little man. He sure does like his food. At two and a half months old, he's bigger than most babies his age. He's beautiful and cubby, with a smile so bright it warms the heart of every person who sees it.
“Who's my sweet boy then?” Gabe giggles again, and I can't help laughing.
I could have missed out on all of this. I'll never regret being brave and walking away from my family. I won't because I can't imagine not having this little man in my life. He brings me so much joy and happiness, and I feel so blessed.
Marnie: How're things?
How are you?
How's my little man?
Ever since Marnie came to see me at the clubhouse, we've kept in touch. I also know that when Marnie sends a message asking multiple questions, I know something is wrong.
Brooke: Everything is good.
I'm good, and Gabe is amazing.
Marnie, is something wrong?
Marnie: Can I see you today? Please?
Paul is out of town, and I really need you right now.
Brooke: Of course. Do you want me to come to you, or do you want to come to the house?
Marnie: I'd rather come to you.
I need to get out of this house.
I'll be an hour.
Thank you for this, Brooke.
I love you.
Brooke: I love you, too.
My stomach is turning over with worry. I have a feeling that I am again going to see my sister covered in bruises. I know my heart will break for her if that's the case. I also know she won't allow me to help her escape him. I understand that it has more to do with Hank than it does with being scared of leaving Paul. I may have gotten away from Hank, but that's only because I have Hawk and the MC protecting me. If Marnie left Paul, even though the MC would protect her, Hank would never stop until he dragged her back to Paul. Hank has a special kind of hate for Marnie. She's the total opposite of him, and he can't stand that.
I need to get ready for my sister. I grab my purse from my bed, and riffle through it, trying to find my lipstick.
“Hey, you,” I jump, startled, and drop my purse on the bedroom floor.
I wish he wouldn't sneak up on me like that!
Hawk chuckles and crouches down to collect what's fallen from my purse. “You startled me...” My words trail off when he picks up the one thing I hadn't had the chance to tell him about yet. God, I wasn't ready to say anything yet! “Hawk, I...”
He stands his full height and holds up the pregnancy test I bought on the way home. I swallow hard. “You think you could be pregnant so soon?”
I nod my head. I've noticed symptoms the past few days, feeling sick, dizzy, more touch sensitive, not to mention certain smells turn my stomach. “I know this is quick after Gabriel came along, but that's what we wanted, right?”
“Right.” He smiles. Thank God, I almost had a heart attack with nervous for a moment there. “Shall we find out if it's positive?”
I nod my head and take the test from Hawk's hand, and then make my way to the bathroom, leaving Hawk making crazy noises at Gabe, making him laugh.
I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror after peeing on the test and washing my hands. A few months ago, whenever I looked in the mirror, all I saw was a miserable, young woman, who believed she was doomed to a sad, pathetic life with her racist father.
When I look at myself now, I see just how happy I am. It shines within my eyes. Sometimes, I catch myself smiling without realizing that I'm doing it. I'm happy because I'm free here. Free to be who I truly am, and that's thanks to Hawk and his love for me.
I take the test in my hands without looking at it. I want Hawk and me to see the results, no matter what they are, together.
“What's the verdict?” Hawk asks.
“I thought we could do that part together.”
He strokes my face with the back of his hand. “I was hoping you'd say that.”
“Are you hoping it's positive or negative? You can be honest with me. If you're not ready to be a parent again yet, then you can tell me. I always want us to be honest with each other.”
Hawk kisses me softly, making me smile. “I don't need to ask if you want there to be a baby on the way; it's written all over your face.”
I don't say anything; I just stare at him with a smile on my face. He reads me like a book.
“I want the test to be positive, Brooke.” He looks over at Gabe with a smile on his face, then back to me. “Put me out of my misery.” We both laugh.
I take a deep breath and turn the test over in my hand. “Oh, my God!” I screech. “We're pregnant, Dante! Three to Four weeks!”
“Yes!” Hawk yells, and he pulls me into his big strong arms. “I can't believe it!”
“I can,” I pull away enough to kiss his lips. “We're very early on, and anything could happen. So, just until we've seen the doctor and gotten pas
t the first trimester... Can we keep this between us?”
“I don't know anything about this stuff, Brooke. However, if you think it's for the best, then I won't say anything.”