“I didn’t know how you’d react. I was scared that you’d be angry or that you might ask me to get rid of it.” She put her hand protectively over her stomach. “I love our child already. I don’t want to—”
“No,” he said. “I would never ask you to get rid of our child. I want to be part of their world. Boy or girl.”
“I don’t want us to get back together,” she said.
He nodded. “Fine.”
“I know this is going to be hard.”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be. One day, Ava, you will realize how sorry I am. How much I love you.”
“No, don’t say stuff like that. I don’t want you to say that.”
“It’s true.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. He wanted to take her into his arms and promise her it was going to be okay.
She shook her head and looked up toward the ceiling. “I don’t want to cry anymore. After everything that has happened, you can’t tell me you love me. With what happened, it’s not that easy.”
“I know.” He tried to speak gently with her. From now on, he would never raise his voice, never speak harshly to her. The club would come first, but she would take priority. “I don’t expect you to trust me. I will earn it back.” He looked down at the picture again. “Please, let me be involved. I want to get to know my kid. I’d love to share this experience with you.”
She smiled. “Okay. I have another ultrasound in a couple of weeks. This one will determine how far along I actually am, and when they believe I’ll be giving birth. You’re invited to come.”
“Can I take you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I think it best I meet you at the hospital. The appointment’s at ten o’clock.”
“I’ll be there. Can I … can I touch you?” He looked at her stomach.
“There’s not a lot to feel, but if you want to, then yes.” She stayed perfectly still and he closed the distance between them.
Slowly, he cupped her stomach, staring into her eyes. There was a slight swelling.
“Can you feel it?” he asked. “The baby?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I think so. I don’t know if it’s too soon for a baby to be felt.” She laughed. “It’s kind of surreal, you know? All of this. I’ve wanted a baby for so long.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. Derek didn’t want one.”
“Your ex is an asshole. You’re going to make an amazing mother.”
“I hope so.” She laughed.
She looked at him, and the last few months evaporated. He stared into her eyes, and she had the same expression on her face. Full of love, hope. He wanted it. Craved it. How had he taken this for granted before?
Ava looked away first. The mood was broken.
When Raven, Brick, and Kinky entered her shop, she tensed up. No one else was inside and she folded her arms. “I need to ask you to leave.” She wouldn’t look at them.
“We’re not here to cause trouble.”
“I’ve very politely put up a sign asking that no member of the MC comes inside my shop. I’d appreciate it if you leave.” She’d written out the sign and hated herself for doing it. The memory of how they’d entered, the attack, being dragged to the club’s basement… It had been too much.
She wasn’t a strong woman and had no way of fighting them off. They were the ones with all the control.
“We heard about the baby,” Raven said. “We wanted to offer you congratulations and our sincerest apologies.”