Together Forever (18 page)

“We gave her a sedative to sleep and some pain medication. The I.V. is pumping a solution in her as she is extremely dehydrated.” The nurse says with a caring smile.

I swallow hard and brush some hair away from my love’s face, tucking it behind her ear. She loves when I do that. “The baby,” I whisper. It was a statement, not a question.

The nurse moves over to her other side, checking her pulse and I.V. She looks at me and smiles again. “The baby is just fine. Your brother-in law told us she was pregnant when you got here. We’re going to move her up to a room in a few minutes. It’s best we keep an eye on her tonight and continue the I.V.”

I nod with my approval and quickly look over at Jesse. He’s sitting in a chair across the room, arms on his knees, hands folded, almost like he’s praying. “I owe you, mate. I owe you so much,” I say with a shaky voice. Fuck, I’m going to cry. I never cry.

He looks up at me, water in his eyes as well. “She’s my sis, I would do anything for her. But, you’re welcome.” He shows me his teeth with his wide smile and I can’t help but smile back. That’s my best friend and my almost brother in law. Couldn’t have asked for a better one.

“You truly are a savior, aren’t you?” I smirk. We both start laughing.

We wait around for another hour, me sitting next to her bed, holding and kissing her hand repeatedly. I never want to let go. Finally, they move her to a private room with me holding her hand alongside her bed, the entire way. Jesse went outside to call his dad and update him on everything.

Once she is settled the nurse leaves the room, promising to bring me a coke. I don’t wait for her return as I climb into the bed, moving my love over gently. I laid her head on my shoulder and put her arm across my waist. This is where I need to be, with my sweet girl cuddled into me.

I open my eyes, the light streaming in through the blinds on the window. I look down at my girl and find her eyes open, staring at me. Thank fuck! I smile, half closing my eyes. I press my mouth against her forehead and just keep it there. “Fuck, you scared the shit out of me, girl.” I mouth to her skin.

I feel her hand on my rough scruffy face and sigh. Opening my eyes, I look into hers, the gleam returning to them.

“My sexy man.” She croaks. I smile and reach over her and grab the cup of water from the night stand. I bring the straw to her dry lips and she sucks from it greedily. She nods, and I pull the straw away and place the cup back on the table. “Thank you, darling,” she says much more clearly. She snuggles into my chest and rubs it through my t-shirt. “I missed this, touching you, smelling your unique smell. My sexy man.” She smiles up at me, her eyes lighting up a bit.

I can’t help but hold her tighter. I look up to the ceiling and say a silent prayer. Thank you, God, for taking care of my girl. I lay my head on top of hers and take a deep breath. “Oh, my love. I’m so thankful you and our baby are ok. I—” I get choked up. “I couldn’t live without you, I couldn’t—” She places two fingers on my lips and leans up to kiss my chin.

“I know.” She sniffs, tears forming. “I know, darling.” She removes her fingers and puts her hand over her stomach. My hand covers hers. Looking back up into my eyes, she smiles. “We’re ok, now. Now that we are together.”

Our tender moment is interrupted by a nurse walking into the room. She smiles and shakes her head at us. “Ok, I let you have her all night. Up. It’s my turn,” she says directly at me. I smile and kiss my girl one last time and groan as I get out of the too small bed. I stretch my aching body and can hear all the cracking my bones are doing in protest.

“Shane, do you have your pills? You need to take one. We both need to get well again, darling,” Allie says looking at me. The nurse turns to me quickly.

“Do you need something? Who’s your doctor?” She asks in concern.

I smirk. “They’re in my pocket. All I need right now is a shower and a coke.” I wink and head into the bathroom. I feel so much better after I get cleaned up but I gotta tell you, it hurts like fuck when the water beats down on a bump on your head. Shit! When I get back into the room, there is a glass full of ice and three coke’s sitting next to it on Allie’s hospital table and two plates of food. My stomach growl’s just looking at it. My love smiles at me as she digs into her plate and points at mine. She doesn’t have to tell me twice, I’m fucking starving. It takes a lot of energy beating up a motherfucker and rescuing my girl.

I sit in the chair, pulling it up as close as I can get to her bed and start shoveling food in my pie-hole. I hear her giggle with her mouth full. That’s my girl!

We spend the day, watching T.V. from her bed. The staff here has gotten used to me being in it. Allie sleeps on and off and so do I, from time to time. I’m jolted awake when several people come into the room. Jesse, Cassie, Tuck, and Paxton all come right on in and make themselves at home. I don’t move from the bed. I’m not getting away from my snuggling girl unless someone tries to kick me out. Good luck with that!

Allie wakes up and falls into Paxton’s waiting arms but she stays right next to me, as close as she can get. Paxton is crying all over her and making Allie cry in the process. I don’t mind though, she needs her best friend too, but I’m not sharing her for very long. We all sit around talking until a doctor walks in and tells us we all need to leave so he can check Allie over to see if he can release her. Over my dead body, bucko. Everyone shuffles out and tells us they will see us over at our house. I get out of the bed and stand there, arms crossed looking at the doctor. He winks and tells me I can stay. Fucking right I can stay.

He releases my girl finally and tells us she needs to keep drinking a lot of water and see her OBGYN, whatever the fuck that is, to check on the baby as soon as she can. She is wheeled out of the hospital to my waiting truck. How the hell did that get here?

Tuck gets out of my truck and runs around the back and opens the back seat door. His arm goes out to wave us in like a gentleman. I laugh, pick up my girl and climb in. We make it home in record time with speed demon driving. Allie and I snuggle and kiss all the way. Fuck, I missed this! My eyes look up at the rearview mirror, my mouth still locked with my girls, and see Tuck roll his eyes. Fuck, not him too!

I carry my girl into our house, her giggles a grateful reminder that she’s in my arms. I stop abruptly to see the whole gang in the entryway, yelling and cheering. Balloons are all over the place along with streamers and a big banner over the stairs saying ‘Welcome Home’. We have amazing friends and family. I do a double take seeing my ole man standing there. Shit! I forgot he was coming to town today.

Tears threaten as the crowd disperses and my dad walks towards us. He gives us both a huge hug, probably squashing my girl but she doesn’t seem to mind. He takes a step back and wipes tears from his eyes. Shit! He’s gonna make me fucking cry.

“Dad,” I say trying to clear my throat. “This is my girl, Allie.” I turn to her and kiss her face. “Love, this is my dad, Steven Barton,” I say proudly. She smiles and reaches out her hand to him.

“Oh, no! You’re gonna be my daughter-in-law, I think I deserve another hug.” He gently hugs her and she giggles. Best sound in the fucking world.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Wow! Now I see where Shane gets his gorgeous looks. His dad is hot even for his age. You can tell he really takes care of himself and must work out. He has those dark brown eyes too that I love so much.

It’s getting harder to keep my eyes open as we all sit around talking. Shane’s dad is a hoot, now I know where he gets his awesome sense of humor too. Lana has been talking my ear off about how my book is already in the top 100 in Romance on Amazon and how the cover reveal is set for tomorrow.

I let out a rather un-lady like yawn and snuggle into Shane’s chest. “Ok, our friends and family. My girl needs some sleep, apparently,” Shane laughs. I can hear his laughter in his chest and my head moves up and down with it. “Please lock up when you leave and thank you all for doing this. I can’t—” I look up to see his eyes watering. Oh, my sexy man. “We can’t thank you enough for being here for us.” He looks at his dad and tells him that he is staying in the guest room and to make himself comfortable. Steven thanks him and lets him know he is going to go to the tattoo shop for a bit and hang out with the guys.

Everyone comes by us on their way out, patting our shoulders and arms and telling us both to heal fast. I am so comfy against my man that I barely register them. I feel light as he lifts me and takes me upstairs. He removes my clothes and cuddles up behind me, his arm wrapping around my middle, his hand over my breast. I sigh. I’m home.

Startled, I wake hearing shouts coming from downstairs. I look at the clock and it’s only 6:00 AM. What the hell? I slowly get up, my legs unsteady, slip on my robe and head down the stairs. I look into the living room, from the bottom of the stairs, as the voices get louder.

“What the fuck, Stiles? How the hell did that happen? I could have lost my girl AND my unborn child and you can stand there and tell me he got off?” I see Shane pacing the floor and waving his arms in the air. I cover my heart with my hand as it beats faster. He got off. Does that mean Paul is out of jail and out there somewhere? Or is he talking about the mad man that took me? My body starts shaking.

Shane turns and stops dead in his tracks, looking into my eyes. He walks over to me. My body moves into him quickly, and my face buries into his chest.

“Fix it Stiles! Find that mother fucker and get him on something, anything! Get his ass back in jail before he does something desperate!” He yells across the room.

I hear movement and turn my head to see Stiles walking towards us. My hands grasp Shane’s t-shirt and hold on tight. “I’m sorry, Allie. We did all that we could but legally we just couldn’t keep Paul. His accomplice is being charged though. I’ve assigned an undercover police officer to your case. He is posted outside in an unmarked car and will be following you around. He’s a friend of mine.” He smiles sadly. “His name is Dirk and wants to get this guy as much as we do. I gave Shane his number, he’ll give it to you. You call him if ever you see or hear anything suspicious, ok?”

I leave my man’s warm arms and give Stiles a hug. “I know you’re doing everything you can. I appreciate it.” I give him a smile and go back to my sexy man’s warm embrace.

Once he leaves, Shane walks me into the kitchen keeping his arm around me. He picks me up and sets me on the counter next to the coffee pot. He starts my mocha latte, which he has perfected and his coffee. While we wait, he perches in between my legs, my ankles going around him and my feet push into his fine bottom bringing him even closer. My arms instinctively go around his neck, my hands in his long soft hair and our mouths connect. I feel so loved. I am the luckiest girl in the universe. I get to have this every day, for the rest of our lives.

Steven walks into the kitchen during our little make out session, clearing his throat, his head down slightly, smiling. I try pushing Shane away, but he won’t budge. “Shane,” I giggle. “Your dad!”

He holds me tighter and kisses me again quickly. “Fuck him. He can get his own girl,” he laughs.

Shane makes us a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and bacon as his dad and I sit at the table. I’m enjoying my latte while Steven enjoys a cup of coffee. Steven stops eating and looks at Shane, like he wants to tell him something but isn’t sure. Shane looks up his fork raised full of eggs and stares at him. “What dad? What is it? Is something wrong?” He asks as he sets his full fork on his plate.

Steven clears his throat and wipes his mouth with his napkin. “No, no. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just—”

Shane looks at me and shrugs, then back at his dad. “Come on, dad. You can tell me. What is it?”

Steven takes a big drink of his coffee and wipes his mouth again. “Ok, well. You see. I’ve been seeing this woman.” He shrugs. Shane looks at me, eyes raised and shock on his face. “Her name is Emily Banks. She doesn’t live far from me and owns a little coffee shop that has so much business I decided to work there. I’m having the time of my life!”

My hand reaches over and lays on his. “That’s awesome, Steven! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet her.” My smile is huge. How wonderful for him, he must have been lonely. No one should be alone. I know that all too well.

I look at Shane who is sitting there with his mouth open, eyes bulging. I lightly kick him under the table. Closing his mouth, he slowly turns his head my way, blinks, and then turns back to his dad. “Ahem, dad. That’s great! Wow. Just wow.” Well, that was articulate.

“I really can’t wait for you to meet her, son.” He looks at me, smiles and back at Shane. “Hey, why don’t you and Allie come to visit? I am sure with everything going on that you both could use some time away.” Shane and I look at each other. “It might be just what the doctor ordered,” he winks.

Shane puts his hand on my knee and squeezes. I smile and wink. “Might be just what the doctor ordered, huh?” He asks. “Maybe it would be a good idea to get away. I think I can get some time off, haven’t had any in a really in a long time. Had no reason to.” He leans in and kisses me, my face heating up as I blush.

I look at his dad, who seems to be blushing as well. “I think that’s a great idea. I miss the ocean and could use some relaxation.” I look at my man. “I can take my laptop to keep up on my book and start writing the next one I have in mind.”

The plans started me on the phone with Lana and Jesse, Shane on the phone with work. Paxton comes sauntering into my office and overhears our plans. She sits in my reading chair and crosses her arms. I hang up just in time to hear her big huff. “Pax, you’re getting ready to go back to L.A. in the morning, what are you so huffy about?” I ask as she pouts.

“Oh, nothing. I love Florida. I just wish I was going too. But, you’re right, as usual. I have a modeling gig in two days that I must get ready for. I’m gonna miss you. And—” She stops abruptly and bites her fingernail.

I get up and sit on the arm of the chair. Putting my arm around her, and rub her shoulder. “What sweetie? What’s wrong? And you know I will miss the hell out of you too.”