Tarin: Chapter 19
I never got around to telling Outlaw last night what Ilara had told me at the clubhouse when we were talking about weddings. She’d asked me if I’d like to have a double wedding with her and my dad. Apparently, Bull and Jocelyn had one with Ace and her daughter, Devyn. It had been a lot of fun and Bear had talked about it a lot. She thought Dad would love the idea. Today, while Outlaw was busy working at his computers and Dad was at The Dark Angel, I went over to their house to talk to Ilara. I wanted to make sure she was serious about the idea before I talked to Outlaw.
She had Hope in her booster seat, eating a snack when I got there. Hope held up her hands out to me with her lips puckered. That’s how she greeted people now. I laughed then gave her a kiss. “Hi, pretty girl, what are you eating?” She held up a slice of banana to me. I took a bite. “Yum. No, you finish it. I need to talk to Momma.” She nodded and got back to eating. It was good to see she had an appetite. She was usually off for a week or so after her chemo sessions. I sat down as Ilara handed me a glass of water.
“Better start drinking more of it. Your dad is going to be talking to Outlaw about what you can and can’t have. I tried to tell him not to, but he’s stubborn.”
“Oh God, if both of them start, I’ll kill them. Outlaw tried to take my cup of coffee away this morning. He said all the guys knew you weren’t supposed to have too much caffeine when you’re pregnant. Something about Bull making them watch Jocelyn when she was.”
“Oh yeah, she told us about it. What brings you over today, not that you need a reason, but you had a look on your face when you came in that told me this is more than a social call.”
“I did. I wanted to talk to you about your idea of a double wedding. I wanted to make sure you had thought about it and not just said it spur of the moment. If you did, I wouldn’t be mad.”
“No! I was completely serious. I think it would be fun and I know your dad would love it. Jocelyn and Devyn have some great photos from their wedding. They said even though it was together, it was still special. However, I don’t want you to feel like you have to do it either. It was a thought. I thought it would be funny if both guys didn’t get to hold it over the other’s head. I think they’ll be competing a lot.” She laughed.
“Me too. Actually, I think it would be fun and great to do. I haven’t asked Outlaw yet, but I don’t think he’ll mind. Have you decided on a date yet? I know Dad mentioned while I was in the hospital, he had you working on it.”
“He did. He insisted you’d be waking up soon, and he wanted to be ready. We haven’t set a date, but I have ordered some decorations. Madisen agreed with help from Jessica to do the cake. Some of the old ladies in Dublin Falls are working on other things like the table settings, more décor, and they told me where I should go to get my dress. I’m planning to go there this week or next if you can go with me. The food and the band are being arranged by the ladies here. Honestly, I haven't had to do much. There are so many hands to help it’s like picking one of two things to do and they handle the rest.”
“What colors did you decide on?”
“I chose royal blue and white. I almost added another color but then thought it might be too much. We can go back and change that or add to it if you want.”
“Actually, if you wouldn’t mind, take a look at this. I love royal blue and I saw this the other day.” I pulled up a picture on my phone. She gasped and clapped her hands excitedly, which got Hope doing it. We spent the next hour talking over options of where we could add purple. When we were done, I couldn’t wait to go ask Outlaw if he’d be okay with the double wedding. Ilara and Hope both gave me a hug before I left. I hurried over to the clubhouse.
He liked to work there since he had all his computers set up there. He said there was no reason to move them to the townhouse only to move them again in a couple of months to our house. I didn’t argue. When I got inside, it was eerily quiet. I knew most everyone would be at work, but I’d thought at least one of the prospects would be in here. I went down the hall to his room.
Just as I got to his door, it opened, and a scantily dressed woman came out. Outlaw was behind her. He had his shirt off and he was frowning. When he saw me, he paled. I stood there in shock. The woman saw me and froze. She gave him an odd look. Outlaw pushed around her and came toward me. “Baby, it’s not what this looks like. I swear to God.”
I heard another door open down the hall, but I didn’t look to see who it was. I was too busy staring holes through him and the skank with him. I recognized her. She was one of the bunnies. I think her name was April. “Oh, so I’m not seeing a skank coming out of my man’s bedroom, dressed like a hooker and he’s only got half his clothes on. Wow, my eyesight must be going. Good thing my arms work.” I hauled back my fist and punched her in the mouth, then I punched him.
“I won’t need to talk to you about our wedding after all. There isn’t going to be one,” I snarled as she cried and held her mouth. Outlaw was staring at me in shock. I turned to leave when arms wrapped around me and picked me off the floor. I gave a frustrated scream and tried to get loose.
I realized it wasn’t Outlaw when he yelled, “Put her down before you hurt the baby.” I looked over my shoulder and into Payne’s eyes.
“I’m not hurting the baby or your old lady. I’m trying to keep her from storming out of here, dumbass. I told Bull these bitches shouldn’t be allowed in the clubhouse unless they’re escorted. They always cause trouble. Tarin, calm down and I’ll let you down. Your man wasn’t fooling around with April.”
“How the hell do you know he wasn’t?”
“Because a minute before you came, I heard him through our shared bathroom, telling her to get the hell out of his room.”
“Really, you expect me to believe that? Then why does he have his shirt off?”
“I took a damn shower after crawling around on the damn floor, looking for the wire that was loose on one of my computers. It’s dust bunny heaven down there. I took a quick shower and when I came out, she was in here. I forgot to lock the damn door,” Outlaw growled.
I didn’t know why I should believe them but I did. As soon as my knee-jerk reaction cleared, I knew he hadn’t done anything. Even if she was everything I wasn’t—tall, slender, with perfect proportioned breasts and hips. Her ass didn’t look like it carried around too much junk. Mine would only get bigger as my pregnancy got further along. What if Outlaw found my changing body disgusting? I opened my mouth to say something when a wave of nausea came out of nowhere.
“Let me go. I'm going to puke,” I told Payne. He let go of me. I didn’t have time to make it to the bathroom. I puked all over the hallway floor.
April shrieked, “Oh my God, that’s gross. What’s wrong with her? Why did you let her hit me? I’ll smack that bitch.” She took a step toward me.
Payne pushed her away from me. “You lay a hand on her, and I’ll show you to the fucking door myself. She’s pregnant, damn it! Don’t you listen? Why the fuck were you in his room, April?”
Outlaw was beside me with his arm around my shoulder. “Tarin, sweetheart, come in the bedroom. Payne, get her out of here. I’ll clean this up in a minute.” He slammed the door on April’s irate face as he carried me to the bed and laid me down. I rolled onto my side.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I got a little crazy there for a minute or two, seeing her coming out of your room like that. I know you weren’t messing with her. I just let what she has bother me.”
“What she has? What the hell do you mean?” He was frowning.