Page 8 of The MC's Surprise
“I think I’m going to give you some time to process all this. I know I needed it. Still do sometimes.” I forced an awkward laugh, pushing to my feet. He still didn't move. Maybe that was answer enough. It was too much for him. Was it wrong to feel disappointed? He was such a nice guy before. I thought maybe at least I wouldn’t be going through this alone.
Walking away was hard. It felt wrong. But I couldn’t force him to acknowledge or accept the news before he was ready. I had a few weeks to come to terms with it. He deserved at least a little time before we made any big decisions. I stopped as I pulled open the door, looking back at the frozen statue sitting on the couch.
“I hope you know I didn't mean for this to happen. And you don’t have to be part of any of this if you don’t want to. I just didn’t want to be that person to have a baby behind your back without telling you. I, uh… I’m staying with my parents in Silver City for now, if you want to talk more. If not… that’s okay too.”
It really wasn’t, but I couldn’t say that to him. I couldn’t force him to be part of this. It would be wrong.
When he still said nothing, I made myself leave, shutting the door quietly behind me. I tried to comfort myself with the knowledge that I’d done what I came out here to do. I told him the truth. I was having his baby, and he could be involved if he wanted to be. The ball was in his court now.
I managed to make it to the car before the tears spilled over. My throat was tight from the suppressed sobs and my hands trembled as I used the key to unlock the truck. I was pulling the door open when a voice caught my attention.
“Hey, you!”
Quickly, I swiped the tears away, clearing my throat. Yes, life sucked right now, but no way in hell was I going to show that to the harpy I’d met before. She stomped across the parking lot in six inch heels, her eyes blazing with fury. I didn’t close the door, using it as a shield between her and my turbulent emotions.
“Well?” she demanded as she stopped a few feet away.
“Well, what?”
“Don’t act dumb,” she snapped. “Why did you come? If you’re looking for a job, you have to go through me first. I’mthe manager. Mr. Taylor won’t hire anyone without my approval first.”
“I’m not here for a job,” I grumbled, sliding into the driver’s seat. “I’m going now. Bye.”
I shut the door on her incredulous screech, but she didn’t stick around to argue with me. She stomped her foot, which looked painful, honestly, and stormed back inside without another word, leaving me alone in the parking lot. Letting out a heavy sigh, I rested my hand on my belly. It felt a little awkward. It still didn't feel real.
“I’m sorry. Neither of you deserved being stuck with a failure like me.”
Vegas
By the time I pulled myself out of the shocked stupor I’d been drop kicked into, Sierra was gone. A part of me knew I needed to go after her, but I didn’t know what to say. How the hell did this happen?
Charlotte strode back into my office without knocking, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s going on? Who even was that?”
My stomach twisted at the thought of explaining to the woman I’d been pining over that I got someone pregnant. If I thought I didn't have a chance before, I definitely didn’t have one now. It only made the news harder to take in and my stomach twisted up in knots to the point that I thought I mightretch. I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the way I wobbled, my entire equilibrium off balance.
“I need to go,” I croaked out.
“What? Where? Justin–”
My mouth filled with saliva and I panicked, dodging past her and out of the building at a run. I made it to the sidewalk before I started dry heaving. I staggered to my bike, grateful I left my helmet on the handlebars. The employee parking lot was around the back and no one ever went back there who didn’t work here. I never worried about it being stolen. I jammed it on, throwing my leg over my bike in a rush. My hands shook as I pulled out my keys and it took me more than one try to start the damn engine. I lift my visor up, desperate for some air as I took off out of the parking lot. I needed some damn air.
The entire forty five minute drive back to the clubhouse passed in a blur. I didn’t remember a second of it when I pulled into the parking lot out front. Driving distracted like that could get me killed, but I couldn’t focus for the life of me. I was lucky to have made it home unscathed.
Most of the guys weren’t home. It was a weekday and we all worked for a living. Which meant the clubhouse was blessedly empty when I trudged inside, my helmet dangling from my fingertips. I dropped myself onto the couch, then froze again, just like I had in my office. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.
I buried my face in my hands, leaning my head back. My mind was full of white noise and I couldn’t think straight. All my swirling thoughts aside, I kept going back to one question. How the hell had this happened?
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed that way. Long enough for the guys to slowly start trickling into the house after the work day was done. I got a few pats on the shoulder and some attempts to make conversation. I couldn’t offer more than a grunt inresponse, my stare far off. I wasn’t present in the moment. Thankfully, my crew didn’t push unless they needed to and most of them respected that I needed a minute, even if they didn’t know why.
Rooster dropped onto the couch next to me with a sigh, giving me a relaxed grin. “You think the kids are coming tonight? I wanna kick your ass in poker again, and I play better with my good luck charm.”
The mention of kids made my stomach clench. One of those kids would be mine. Holy shit.
“V? You alright?”
I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. I wasn’t alright. I still felt like I couldn’t fucking breathe.
“Uh… I’m gonna get Prez. You… stay right there.”
