Page 33 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door
I’m pregnant.
Chapter 18
Harper
Idon’t have time to process the result before the sound of the bathroom door creaking on its hinges and footsteps interrupt the silence.
“Harper, you okay, hon? You’ve been in here an awfully long time,” Pam’s voice calls out, echoing on the tiles.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I reply, stuffing the test deep into the bin and flushing the toilet before coming out of the stall.
“You don’t look fine,” Pam says, surveying me. “Are you sure you’re okay? I know we don’t know each other very well, but you can trust me. I’m a good listener,” she says with a comforting smile. She’s so nice, so maternal, that I find myself spilling my concerns to her.
“I’m pregnant. I just took a test.”
Pam pauses for a moment, carefully watching my reaction. “I take it the guys don’t know?” she asks cautiously. I shake my head. “And I’m guessing you’re not sure which one of ‘em is the daddy?”
“No. It could be any of them,” I admit.
“Well then, I guess I can see you’re in a bit of a unique situation. And I can tell that this isn’t a planned baby,” she adds, her words slow and measured.
“No, definitely not.”
“Well, how do you feel? What’s worrying you? Not ready to be a mom again?”
“No, it’s not that. In fact, now that I know I’m pregnant, I know I want this baby badly.” As I say this, I know it’s true. I want to have this child. The thought of having a perfect little baby that is part me, part one of the men I’m falling for, is fantastic. If I allow myself to dream, the idea of a family filled with children, raising them with the guys, is exactly what I want. I just don’t know if they want that too.
“You’re worried the guys won’t feel the same,” Pam correctly guesses. I nod, biting my lip anxiously. “Well, for what it’s worth, I can tell each of those men is head over heels for you, and I know that they’d all make great dads, that they’d kill to have a family. If it’s what you want, you should let ‘em know. No matter what, they deserve to know.”
Panic floods me. “I’m not ready to tell them yet,” I admit, stricken. “I will. I need time to process it myself first, I only just found out. Promise you’ll keep this to yourself for now?” I plead, taking her hand in mine.
“Of course sweetie, it’s not my news to share. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thanks, Pam, you’re a good friend.”
She squeezes my hand and smiles. “Come on, let me show you around the place, introduce you to some folk.”
Pam is exactly the kind of friend I need right now. She distracts me and makes me feel welcome, like part of the family, at the same time. When the time comes to collect the kids from school, the guys are still busy, and she offers to collect Jenny for me. “Sammy and Jenny have been begging for a playdate for awhile now. She could even sleep over in our spare room if you need a break, perhaps some time to talk to your men in private when you get home?” she offers generously.
“Really? That wouldn’t be too much to ask?” I say gratefully.
“Nope. Besides, you didn’t ask. I offered.”
I thank her profusely before calling the school to inform them that Jenny will be going home with Sammy and Pam that day. Pam heads out, leaving me with the other Shadow Pack members we’ve been chatting with. I excuse myself and head to the bathroom. On the way back, I bump into a blonde woman who seems vaguely familiar.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the new chew toy,” she says with a predatory smile revealing sharp white teeth against her red lips. I realize then where I recognize her from. She’s the woman from the cookout, Susan, the one who was crying and shouting at Wolf.
“Excuse me?”
She looks me up and down, nostrils flared in disgust. “They used to like their women tight and fit. They must have wanted to try something new, or maybe they’ve run out of good choices and you’re a last resort.”
I’m not sure what’s gotten into me, but instead of standing back and taking it, I find myself spitting out, “What did you just say to me? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I was you, sweetheart. The girl your boys fucked and shared before you came along. The woman who will be there long after you’re gone, too, when they come to their senses andrealize that I’m the one they want,” she says, preening, pushing her fake breasts out and batting her false eyelashes.
“You’re delusional,” I say, but there’s uncertainty in my voice. This woman is their ex? I know they said they shared before, but I didn’t think they’d been in a proper relationship like ours. I’d assumed it was just the occasional hook up, that ours is special.
She pounces on my weakness, going for the kill. “I bet you struggle to keep up with their sexual appetites. Boy, they were wild. We used to have sex for days on end,” she recalls with glee.
