“God, thank you. Thank you so much, Monroe.” I close my eyes, lay my head back on the pillow, and soak in the goodness that’s surrounding me.
“You’re welcome. Don’t get too comfortable. I just paged the tech, and she’ll be here before Rocket. Gosh, I’m still not used to calling him by that name. Oh well, I guess I’ll get used to it.” Monroe looks at all of my IVs talking a mile a minute in between.
“Are you pulling strings for me to get a tech here that fast?” I ask her after she adjusts the machines.
“Duh, that’s what family is for. Be back soon. Unless you need me to stay while you have something that looks similar to a male phallus inside of you?” I bust out laughing, which also causes my head to pound.
“I think I can manage. Thank you, Monroe, truly.” My hand is on my stomach, still. I do this all the time now. How the cat isn’t out of the bag yet, I have no idea. It’s then that I notice my clothes have been stripped away. Sure, my panties are still on, but other than that, I’m in a hospital gown, and my bra is definitely gone. I almost panic until Monroe must notice. “Don’t worry. A nurse took care of that, though the clothes are trash. Sorry about that. I might have a spare outfit in my locker, but I’m sure Aunt Sadie will have you covered if Lavender doesn’t already.”
“Knock, knock.” A lady with an ultrasound machine walks in.
“That’s my cue. I’ll let them know it’ll be a few more minutes. Thanks, Mary.” Monroe squeezes the technician’s arm.
“Ready to see your little one?” Mary asks. A smile must be shining brightly on my face because she returns it with one of her own. It doesn’t take her long to help me figure things out, discarding my panties, which is probably for the best with how long I’ve been in them. A shudder goes through me thinking about it. I surely won’t be putting them back on. Jackson can say what he wants; he’ll just have to stay by my side. It’s not long until my feet are in stirrups, I’m spread like an eagle, and Mary has her ultrasound machine on. I hear the whoosh of a heartbeat and look at the small screen, seeing the tiniest of peanuts knowing that’s my baby.
“Rocket, give her a minute. I promise it won’t hurt you.” Obviously, Jackson doesn’t listen because the next thing I know, he’s barging inside, then stops in his tracks, his gaze moving between me and the screen, and then to Mary holding the ultrasound wand inside me.
“Fuck, baby doll.” I’m not sure if he’s happy, mad, sad, or all three. All I know is this is not the way I wanted to tell Jackson that he’s going to be a father.
CHAPTER 15
SAILOR
“Jackson!” I scream after him, my heart in my throat, saying his name like he’s the last person on earth, like he was the last droplet of water in the desert, like he didn’t just singlehandedly destroy the best moment in my life and what could have been his if he’d only stayed. And I swear if I weren’t sitting here with my legs spread open, I’d run after him. That’s not in the cards, not with Mary still working on the lower half of my body. Tears are threatening to stream down my cheeks, but I suck them back.
“I’m sorry. I promise we’re almost done, and then I’ll go grab Monroe, if you’d like.” As if it wasn’t bad that the man who you thought was your everything, especially after the words he whispered a couple of weeks ago, walked out on what seems like the biggest moment of your life, imagine doing it with an audience.
“It’s okay.” My voice is watery. There’s no way I can meet her eyes, so my focus moves to the screen where she’s taking measurements, soaking in the moments I can hear my baby’s heartbeat, not wanting to think about what a fucking idiot Jackson is. It wasn’t him who found out he was pregnant on his own. It wasn’t him who was kidnapped. And it wasn’t him who landed in the hospital. I never thought Jackson could be selfish until today.
“That should do it. I’m going to leave you a few copies of your ultrasound in case you want to show them off.” Mary pulls the probe-like phallus out of me. My legs shut automatically, hating the feeling that is left in its wake.
“Thank you,” I tell her and sit up, which is a task with the IVs in my hand and the inside of my arm. That’s the one that seems to smart the most when you make certain movements.
“You’re welcome. Are you sure I can’t get Monroe for you?” Mary puts things back on her rolling cart, then moves to wash her hands. As much as I love the club, and Monroe is definitely a part of that group, I’m not sure she’s the best person for the situation.