I started pacing, scattering the pregnancy tests across the floor, all the while trying to prevent a mental breakdown. Okay, I was pregnant, it’s not like this didn’t happen all the time. I should be happy that this wasn’t the result of a night of too many tequila shots and too little inhibition. This baby was conceived out of love.
I just hoped Cade was ready to be a father. I didn’t know how ready I was to be a mother. I had passed out sunbathing a week ago and the burns were only just starting to fade. How could I keep a tiny human alive when I couldn’t even properly apply sunscreen?
I was still pacing when Amy walked back in, my gaze darted up to her.
“You get me in?” I demanded, maybe a little sharply. But I was worried about the health of my child.
“Got us an appointment in an hour.” She looked pleased with herself.
“Okay great, thank you, thank you!” I didn’t stop pacing.
Amy leaned on the door jamb, looking more calm and collected than I could ever be.
“How can you be so calm?” I all but shrieked. “I am knocked up and it is so not planned. I haven’t even been with the father a year. I don’t even know if Barney’s carries a proper maternity line! I’m going to get fat, and my feet will swell. Holy fuck, I won’t be able to wear heels and if I do I’ll look like Kim Kardashian.”
I panicked and glared at Amy who didn’t look at all concerned about the very real possibly I could be facing elephant feet. And flats.
She strode over and gripped my arms, eyes twinkling. “Chill, Gwennie. This is freaking awesome news.”
My eyes bugged out at her statement, and I opened my mouth to repeat everything I had just said, maybe a decibel louder, so she could get it.
“I grant you, maybe not the best timing,” she said quickly before I could get started. “But you have a man that friggin’ adores you and will be over the fucking moon about you having his bun in your oven. Not to mention, I will make sure we get you the most kick ass maternity wardrobe. I’ll research options today,” she said thoughtfully, and seriously.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but failing. “Okay, just tell me something to take my mind off my freak out,” I ordered, needing to be distracted.
She thought for a minute, then her face got serious. “Well, I’ve finally made up my mind about what’s happening with Ian and Brock.”
“What?” I all but screeched, my mind well and truly off the bun in my oven.
Amy flinched at my yell, but I ignored it. “When did you decide this? Oh my god, did you choose Ian? Are we finally going to be sisters?” I asked, almost jumping up and down. She opened her mouth but I interrupted. “But then again, I really do like Brock. He’s super dreamy and bad ass. And he’s one of Cade’s best friends, so I’ll finally have someone who can relate to all the bad ass biker shit.” Oh crap, I actually found myself conflicted about her decision, even with my brother and potential nieces and nephews on the line. “Well?” I demanded impatiently.
I didn’t get to hear her answer because the front door opened and Bull strode in. No one knocked anymore. He did a chin lift to Amy then focused on me.
“Gwen girl, Cade wanted me to tell you he got held up. Also he wanted to make sure you were okay. What are you doing out of bed?” he clipped, glaring at Amy and me standing in the middle of the living room.
His gaze moved down to his motorcycle boot, which was inches away from one of my pregnancy tests. I watched in horror as he picked it up, looked at the result and grinned.
I stomped over to him and snatched the test out of his hands. This was the first time I had seen Bull smile, like, ever. I hadn’t needed all my lame jokes after all. An illegitimate pregnancy made the fucker happy.
“Eww, Bull, don’t touch that, it has my pee on it! How embarrassing,” I muttered, hiding the pee stick behind my back and glaring up at the dangerously handsome biker who was now wearing a shit-eating grin.
“You pregnant, babe?” he asked softly, happiness saturating his tone.
“Um, looks to be the case, big man,” I uttered quietly, nervous for his reaction.
Even though it seemed he was pretty fucking pleased. This was confirmed when he pulled me into a big bear hug and squeezed me tight against his hard body. I was shocked for a second, Bull had never physically embraced anyone since I had met him. I cautiously put my arms around him, not reaching very far because he was big.
Bull gently released me and kissed my hair. “Fucking great news, Gwen,” he whispered, eyes shining with emotion I didn’t know he was capable of.
I smiled shyly back. “You think so? This wasn’t exactly planned, Cade might not—”
“Cade will be fucking thrilled,” Bull cut me off, sounding firm.
“Okay,” I said quietly, feeling better with how sure he sounded. He was his best friend, he was sure to know, right?
“I hate to interrupt,” Amy cut in from behind me. “But, Gwen, how about you go and get changed and we’ll hit the pharmacy before we go to the docs, get you loaded up on all that prenatal shit.”
I turned to her. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea, Abrams, this kid’s going to need all the vitamins it can get,” I replied stroking my stomach, still worried about the possible affect my love of alcohol could have had on my child’s development.
“You going to the doctors? What for?” Bull interrupted, sounding concerned.
Amy waved her hand. “Oh, it’s nothing, we just need to make sure my little alcoholic over here hasn’t made her unborn child partial to cosmos inside the womb,” she said casually.
I glared at her.
“It was a joke.” She rolled her eyes. “Like I said, Cade’s kid probably has a badass super sperm force field around it or something.”
I popped my eyes out at her. “I am not even going to deign that comment with a response.” She was cuckoo.
“I’m coming,” Bull declared.
“Seriously, honey, you don’t have to, it’s just a precaution,” I told him, thinking of Bull being present while a doctor put that ultra sound thingy up my lady parts.
“I’m coming,” he repeated firmly. “Cade can’t be contacted for the rest of the day, and I ain’t asking.”
“Okay, but you are staying in the waiting room.”
So that’s how I arrived at the doctor’s office, trailed by my insane best friend and a member of my boyfriend’s motorcycle club. Amy checked me in while Bull directed me to the little seated area, which consisted of out of date magazines, uncomfortable chairs, and pamphlets on everything from STDs to asthma.
I snatched up every single one the contained the word pregnancy or had a baby on the cover and sat down next to a ten-year-old boy and his mother. Bull decided to stay standing, then maintained the universal bad ass stance, crossing his arms and spreading his feet slightly. He looked like he should have one of those ear pieces in and be guarding the president.
The boy beside me glanced at Bull, then at his cut, and gazed up at him in awe. His mother smiled warmly at him. Bull directed a scowl their way before his face turned away. I saw his tenderness had been short lived. I decided not to pay much attention to this as I had pamphlets to read and got started on the one on top of my pile. I had only just read the first sentence when it was snatched out of my hand.