Callum keeps trying to get my attention. I know calling him Cowboy in front of his friends didn’t go over so well. He was the one who said we’re supposed to hide our relationship. Using his real name would clue his friends in to what’s going on. I called him by his road name and then walked away.
When Butcher came over to talk to me, Callum rushed over and dragged him off. I’m not going to keep up with this very much longer. Thank goodness Leticia, Lia’s restaurant manager, distracts me from going after him.
“They’re here,” Leticia says.
Callum moves to stand near me, but I walk across the room to Lennox to get away from him.
“Congratulations,” everyone yells.
I watch as Lia puts a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back tears. Her hormones are raging, and on top of that, she struggles with the fact that her parents are gone. Her father was killed when he attacked her, and her mother was murdered. Our grandparents are gone too, and my mother and Lia aren’t very close. This is her family now. I look around. Some of her staff is here, and so are the club members, even those with ol’ ladies. I want this. My own family only wants me around for the accolades.
“Who’s manning the Roadhouse?” Lia jokes with Leticia and Alessa.
“Don’t worry about it. I have it taken care of.” Leticia hands her a gift. “You need to focus on you and those babies.”
Lia goes to sit in the chair offered to her. She stops abruptly and glances down before looking back up at Striker.
“My water just broke,” she announces.
“It’s too soon,” he says, panic rising in his voice.
We all chuckle, and Leticia, who used to be an ER nurse, helps calm her while I walk over and take her hand. Striker is barking orders but also insisting it’s too soon. They’d been warned the boys could come early. I’m there with them because she wants me to be with her and Striker so I can keep Jude updated, and because she said I’m going to be one of the babies’ godmothers. They said we’ll decide which after the boys are born, an honor that still humbles me.
I toss my keys to Lennox, and she heads for the exit but is stopped by Jumper. I trust her with my truck. Callum is trying to get my attention again, but I ignore him. I’m not ready to confront him about my feelings or how he’s been acting today, because I won’t be quiet, and people will wonder what’s going on.
I climb into the driver’s seat of Lia’s new SUV. Striker got it for her after hers was destroyed. He helps his wife into the back seat and climbs in beside her. Leticia is in the passenger seat, timing the contractions, while Striker tries to tell me how to drive. I stifle a laugh and wonder what Callum would be like if I ever got pregnant. The thought makes my heart ache instantly, so I focus on the road.
I pull up to the ER entrance and get out with them. Leticia quickly gives me the information to pass along to the nurses checking Lia in. Once we’re settled into a room on the maternity floor, I text Jude to give him an update. He replies that he’s getting a ride from one of the guys and will be here soon.
Cowboy
Walking around the clubhouse,I stare down any man who looks at my girl. I’m just glad Striker hasn’t shown up yet. This is a surprise baby shower for Amelia. Several of the ladies she works with are here, plus a few friends. But it’s the guys checking out Andi who have me pissed off. She and her friend Lennox showed up early to help set up. Andi cut off her hair to a length between her shoulders and breasts, giving it a sassy bounce that looks lighter and beautiful. She’s wearing makeup I didn’t notice before, but the worst of all is her outfit.
My sexy little nymph is in a mini denim dress with long puffy sleeves. She’s wearing fringed cowboy boots, and the dress accentuates her small waist and sexy boobs. I want to take her into the corner and bury myself deep inside her. She’s avoidingme, and I hate it. I know I said we need to keep our relationship on the down-low, but I’m regretting that now.
The moment she calls me Cowboy, I about lose my shit and break our secret. The only reason I wanted to keep our relationship hidden is because I still haven’t talked to Striker about being with her. I want to ask him properly so there are no issues. He did say he’d kill any club member who hooked up with her, but I have so much more than hooking up in mind with Andi. I took her without a condom, and I plan to get her pregnant, just like Striker did with Amelia. I want her to wear my patch on her back and my ring on her finger.
I haven’t told her that yet because I don’t want to scare her off. I don’t know why she’s avoiding me. When we parted yesterday, she seemed okay, but now I wonder if she really is.
As soon as Amelia announces that her water broke, everything turns to chaos. I can’t get to Andi, and I watch as she gets in the car and heads out with them like it was all planned. Gambit is trying to find someone to take Jude to the hospital, and that’s when I decide I’ll help out so I can get to my girl and corner her. She can’t be that focused. Deliveries take a long time, right? That’s what I’ve heard.
“I’ll take him to the hospital,” I pipe up, and all the guys turn to look at me.
Those who saw me the other night after Andi ran out know exactly what I’m up to, I think, but the others just stare at me like I grew a second head. Okay, so I’m not always the most helpful when it comes to the ol’ ladies.
“What? I got my truck outside. It’ll be fine,” I assure them.
Jude nods, not really caring. The kid is a mini Striker. He’s going to be taller than his dad if he keeps growing like this. He’s texting on his phone.
“Andi said they’re in a room now and the doctor is on her way.”
“Get the room number and tell them we got you a ride,” I tell him.
Hopefully, he doesn’t tell Andi it’s me giving him a ride. I don’t want her to run before I get there. The good thing is I know where her dorm is now, and I’ll get to her. I still haven’t gotten her phone number. I need to do that. I should have gotten it from her on Friday, but I was so focused on her.
“I can give him a ride if you don’t want to. I don’t know how to get there, but I’ll figure it out,” Lennox offers.
“No, little one, let Cowboy do it,” Jumper says, and I look between them. I should question him about her, but I need to focus on my girl instead.