In the meantime, I’d bring in the big guns to help me. Lady M would know what to do, and my momma was never wrong when it came to knowing what a person needed. She wouldn’t steer me wrong with Hope.
9
Hope
“All I’m asking for is a chance, baby.”Hustler’s words repeated in my head while I stared at him snoring. It woke me up when he touched my hand, but I’d kept my eyes closed. I wasn’t ready to talk about anything. Not me, not him, not the baby, and definitely not us.
Why would he want a chance anyway? He was a biker. He’d joked before how freedom was his middle name, that he’d never get tied down.
Plus, I wasn’t a great catch.
I put my hand on my stomach. I never wanted to be tied down either. Not everyone was made for marriage and children.
The door opened and Doctor Hayes entered.
“Shh, he’s sleeping,” I said quietly.
Doctor Hayes rolled his eyes and nudged Hustler. “Rise and shine, brother.”
“What, what’s wrong?” Hustler vaulted up. When his eyes fell on me, I saw genuine worry. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” He peered over his shoulder at the doctor. “Is she okay?”
“I’m fine. Can I go home?” I asked Doctor Hayes. My vitals had been good. Any other patient would’ve gone home already.
“I’d like to keep you until noon.” He flicked his gaze at Hustler.
“But why? I’m a registered nurse. I take care of patients like me, plus Mercy is off today. She won’t leave me alone, I promise.”
“I’ll be with her.” Hustler sat on the side of the bed.
“No, that’s not necessary.”
“Hope, I’m going home with you. This isn’t up for debate.”
Oh, we’d debate the subject once Doctor Hayes left. In all fairness, I needed to talk to Hustler about the baby. I didn’t have the heart to hide the truth from him. There were only a couple of good things about me. I didn’t lie, and I’d give the shirt off my back to help someone.
“I don’t have the energy to argue.”
“Perfect.” He gave me a slow wink.
Usually, I was immune to his charm but not today.
“Okay, I’ll let you go, but if you have any concerns about you or the baby, I want you to come in.” Doctor Hayes went to the door and shot a stern look at Hustler. “She needs rest.”
“I’ll make sure she gets it.”
I waited for the doctor to leave before getting into it with Hustler.
“You don’t have to do this. I’m really okay.”
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” He bent over and kissed the top of my head. The gesture was sweet.
“Don’t you have a job you need to go to?”
“No.”
“What, bikers don’t have jobs? How do you pay your bills and put gas in your Harley?” It would be my rotten luck to get knocked up by an unemployed biker who probably lived in a house with a dozen people. At least I had a good-paying job. If I decided to keep the baby, I wouldn’t need anything from him. But then Doctor Hayes was in the same club, so who knew.
“Yes, I have a job.” He poured water into my cup on the table and passed it to me.