“Because it’s none of your business.” Then sighed seeing he expected an explanation. “I carried glucose gel in my pocket.”
“Do you know how fucking irresponsible it was not to tell me? Why couldn’t you have just told me? Why do you have a problem telling me shit I should know, like being pregnant with my child?”
Jane turned her head on the pillow to avoid looking at his face. “I was going to tell you. I had only found out I was pregnant a few weeks before I lost the baby.”
“You should have told me as soon as you found out.”
“You were kind of busy,” Jane said, tossing the covers back to sit up on the mattress. Putting her feet on the floor, she slid out of bed and moved carefully to the bathroom where she shut the door behind her.
She leaned back against the door, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like crap. Her hair was limp and dull, her face was white as a sheet, and her nightgown hung on her too-thin body.
She used the bathroom before running a brush through her hair. Reluctantly opening the door, she reentered her bedroom to find it empty. Staring in dismay at her bedroom clock, she went to her closet to pull out some clothes.
“What in the fuck are you doing?” Cade asked from the doorway.
“I’m two hours late for work.”
“No, you’re not. Get back in bed. Crazy Bitch called in and told them you’re sick.” Cade placed the tray he was holding down on her nightstand.
Jane walked back to the bed, sitting down before she fluffed up her pillows so she could lean back against the headboard. After Cade placed the tray of food on her lap, she stared down at the huge plate.
“I can’t eat all of this,” she protested.
“You’re going to eat it all. I’m not leaving until you do.”
Jane picked up her fork, shoveling the egg into her mouth, while Cade sat down on the bed next to her and watched her eat.
“The day you left your phone in my room and I didn’t know it, I tried calling you several times. You told me you would come back to the clubhouse in a few hours, and when you didn’t show and my calls weren’t answered, I began to get mad. I know it was juvenile, but it didn’t make me any less angry. When you showed up and caught me with Demie, I felt like shit, but then I pushed you away even though I wanted you so badly. You had left me once already at the hotel in Corpus Christi, and when I couldn’t reach you, my pride took a hit. It seemed like I was always the one chasing after you. Stupid, yeah?”
Jane remained silent, eating her food, wishing he would just leave.
“I couldn’t get a decent night’s sleep after you left Corpus Christi. I thought that, after I fucked you, wanting you would ease up. It didn’t. It only became worse.
“Every morning, when I woke up with a different woman next to me, I intended to get on my bike and leave town, just like I’ve left every other place I’ve stopped in. But I couldn’t this time, because I would be leaving you behind. Even though I knew I had screwed up what was between us, I kept thinking about you, hoping to be with you again.”
Jane set her fork down on her empty plate. “I’m finished. Will you go now?”
Cade took the tray and set it down on the nightstand. “I’ll go, but I’ll be back tonight. Crazy Bitch said your new favorite restaurant is the steakhouse. I’ll bring you dinner.” Cade stood up, putting out a hand to cup her cheek. “I’m sorry about the baby.”
“Go away, Cade. Please, just go away. I don’t need this right now.”
“I know you don’t, but I’ll be back, anyway. The doctor told Crazy Bitch you need to gain at least fifteen pounds, and I’m going to make sure you do. Then, when you’re healthy enough, I’m going to put another baby in you.”
Jane picked up the tray sitting next to her and threw it at him. “You can’t replace what I lost!” she cried out. “It’s not like going out and getting a new puppy when the old one dies.”
“No, it isn’t,” he said hoarsely. “But it will be a part of you and me, the beginning of the family I intend to have with you.” He picked up the scattered dishes, placing them back on the tray before going to the door, where he stared back at her mercilessly as she sat crying.
Opening the door, he went out and reached back for the handle. “By the way, I called your boss at Popeye’s and told her you quit, and if she gave you your job back, I would make sure the brothers came to eat there for all their meals.”