Ava smiled at him. “This is nice.”
The sound of a throat clearing drew her attention to the door. Harlow stood there with bloodshot eyes and a teddy bear.
“Hey,” Ava said.
Harlow rushed into the room and threw herself at Ava. She was careful to miss her stomach as the woman wrapped her arms around her. “Don’t ever fucking frighten me like that again. I nearly lost ten years of my life worrying about you. My parents kept on saying don’t worry, but I just knew I should. I know you, and you wouldn’t allow me to keep worrying.”
Ava ran her fingers down the woman’s hair. “It’s fine. I’m safe.”
“It’s not fine. Damn it. Nothing can happen to you.”
“Nothing did happen to her,” Big Dick said.
Ava looked toward the other man.
“I’m sorry. She was nagging and Smokey said you were allowed visitors, and well, we’re all here.”
“All?” Ava asked, glancing over at Smokey.
“The club is here. Ugly Beast and Abriana want to come as well.”
Harlow still hadn’t let her go.
“Raven. Brick. Hunter. Kinky. All of the others.”
“Oh,” Ava said. “They didn’t need to come.”
“They did,” Smokey said. “They’re worried about you.”
Ava wasn’t sure if he was telling the full truth. She’d started to become close to the club when everything had turned ugly. Since that day, other than Abriana and Smokey, she never talked to anyone else. Big Dick being the exception in the past few days.
Harlow pulled back and Ava drew her attention to the woman, who was crying.
“Please, don’t cry.”
“I should have made you come home with me.”
“No. I wouldn’t have accepted. This isn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself. The doctors have already said I’m doing fine. I’m healthy. The baby is healthy.”
“But you’re still here.”
“I was out in the cold for a long time. They’re doing everything to make sure I’m perfectly fine.”
Harlow kissed her forehead.
“Come on, Harlow. Let’s get you a hot chocolate.”
“I’m staying.”
“Now.”
Ava chuckled. “I’ve got a few other visitors to see. Go and have something to drink.” She saw the worry in Harlow’s eyes, and the darkness surrounding them. “You’re a good friend, Harlow. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
Harlow nodded and got to her feet. She hesitated, and Smokey held his hand up. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The other woman left, and Ava sighed.
“I think that woman has a crush on you,” Smokey said.
“No, she doesn’t. She’s just a really good friend.” Harlow didn’t have any sexual feelings for her. She was a woman who didn’t hold back in expressing her emotions. It was one of the many reasons Ava adored her. She found it refreshing to be around someone who didn’t hold back.
“I can tell the club to leave,” Smokey said. “They wouldn’t be offended.”
“It’s fine. I can see them.”
She wasn’t exactly sure if she was ready to see them. Not after they’d all stood by and allowed her to be hurt.
Sitting up, she settled the blanket around her and took a sip of her water. Abriana and Ugly Beast were the first to come to her room, with a wriggling Bella. She smiled as Abriana came in with a packet of grapes and some flowers. She gave her a hug, being careful with her.
They both wished her well.
After them, a couple of the prospects and some patched-in members she didn’t really know well enough. She recognized them.
Each member came with some flowers and more food. One by one, her room filled up until it was a floral scent.
Ava glanced over at Smokey, who hadn’t moved from her bedside. “Did you put them up to this?”
“No. My men don’t always do what I tell them to.”
“How can you be the club president if they don’t follow every single one of your orders?”
“They follow the ones that matter.” He gave her hand a squeeze, and she looked up to see Hunter there.
“How are you doing, Ava?” he asked.
“I’ve been better, but it could have been so much worse. Thank you for helping me.”
“Don’t mention it. We’ve missed you around the clubhouse. After everything, we’ve all felt your loss.”
Ava pressed her lips together. She’d missed the clubhouse. “Thank you. But … I’m not ready. Not yet.” She didn’t know if she’d ever be ready.
“Well, we’re all hoping you get well soon. You’re the only person we know who can keep this man on his toes.”
Smokey chuckled.
Ava joined in.
Hunter had already put down his flowers.
“The nurses are going to ask me to leave,” Ava said. “This has to be some kind of health hazard.”
“Let them try,” Smokey said.
When Brick, Kinky, and Raven came into the room, all three held flowers in their hands, and Raven also had a teddy bear. It was a small one, but from where Ava sat, it was cute.
Ava couldn’t help but tense up.
All three had been the ones to bring her to the clubhouse. She’d experienced so much pain from Raven.
“We’re so sorry,” Raven said.
“None of our apologies will ever excuse our behavior,” Kinky said.
“We were glad to help. We don’t want anything to happen to you,” Brick said.
They put the flowers near the door.
She noticed they didn’t come too close into the room.
Slowly, Ava began to relax.
“Hopefully, one day, you will be able to forgive us,” Kinky said.
“We will protect you, Ava. With our lives. All of us.” This came from Brick.
“No, that’s completely unnecessary. I don’t want that at all.” She didn’t want them putting their lives at risk or thinking they should just because of her.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” Smokey said.
Kinky and Brick left.
Raven still held the bear in her hand.
Ava forced herself to look the other woman in the eye.
Raven’s brow was creased. She hesitated. “I’ve … everything in my life I’ve done, it has all been justified. Doing it for the club, for my life, to survive. I’ve never been in the wrong.” Raven pressed her lips together. “I will always beg for your forgiveness, Ava, but I will never expect it. I messed up. I should have argued. I should have questioned because looking back, I spent time with you. I knew you. I knew what you were capable of, and it wasn’t this level of deception, and I am sorry for that.” She stepped forward and placed the teddy bear on the bed. “I’m so glad you’re safe and well.”
Ava watched Raven leave.
She didn’t call her back even as her throat felt like it was on fire from trying to control the tears.
“She means well,” Smokey said.
“I know.”
“I didn’t ask any of them to do this.”
Ava glanced over at him. “But?”