Page 389 of The Tempted

“Yeah, give it to him. He’s going to love this shit,” Wolf agreed.

I rolled my eyes and clenched my jaw.

“Fine! I gave you mouth to mouth,” I exasperated.

“Not that!” Jack said, shaking his head.

Bones leaned into me.

“Pea,” he muttered.

“Shit,” I sighed, feeling like a complete sack of shit for needing a reminder that Pea was my news.

My news.

My kid.

“I’m having a kid,” I announced.

“Give him the good stuff, tell him who’s the baby mama,” Pipe said, wiggling his eyebrows to Blackie. “Wait for it,” he told Blackie.

“Fuck off,” I said, flipping the bird to Pipe.

“Riggs knocked up Bianci’s sister,” Wolf supplied.

“Come on guys,” Bones started.

Blackie stared at me with a dumbfounded expression on his face, one I wasn’t sure was due to the ordealhehad been through or the one I was going through.

“Glad I could amuse you fuckers,” I grunted, as the door opened and Jack’s daughter, Lacey, stormed into the room.

Now, I’ve been in a lot of awkward positions in my life, but that one right there, may have topped the cake. We all stared at her as she kept her eyes locked with Blackie’s.

“You’re okay?” She whispered, ignoring the rest of us as she walked toward the side of Blackie’s bed. “You’re okay,” she repeated, this time her words surer than the first time she uttered them. I wanted to shout at the two of them that it was pretty fucking obvious this was no casual encounter. If I could notice the way she looked at him then everyone else could because we all know I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Blackie turned his gaze away.

“I’m good, kid,” he said, looking at Jack. “Going to want my gun back,” he added.

“Yeah,” Jack agreed, his eyes wandering back and forth between Blackie and Lacey.

Nice save!

“So a kid, huh?” Blackie said, turning back to me, his eyes pleading with mine to save his ass.

“Yeah, I’m going to be a dad,” I said, the words sounding weird coming from my mouth.

Lacey took a step back, staring at Blackie like he’d slapped her across the face.

“Congrats, man,” Blackie said, ignoring Lacey and the hurt expression on her face.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Lacey whispered, turning on her heel and stepping out of the hospital room.

“Lacey,” Jack called.

“Dude, speaking of Pea…” Bones started, glancing at the clock.

“Pea?” Jack asked, as he stared at the door his daughter closed behind her.

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