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“The baby’s okay?” Cross stood at the foot of the bed, looking nervous for the first time since I’d met him.
I nodded, my relief still palpable even an hour after receiving the news. “Yeah, Rocky took the brunt of it.” I still couldn’t believe she’d done that, curled around her belly to protect our kid. “They’ll both be all right.”
“That’s good.” I knew there was more so I just waited him out, not like I was leaving Rocky’s side until she left this hospital. Maybe not even then. “Look Lasso, I owe you an apology. I had my reasons, but I never wanted anything to happen to her.”
I stood and looked my Prez right in the eyes. “I know, man. No apology necessary. We had different ideas but in the end you came through, like I knew you would.”
He barked out a laugh before catching himself and casting a sad glance at Rocky. “Make sure you tell that to your girl. I’m pretty sure she’s never going to warm up to me.”
“It’ll take some time, but Rocky is pretty forgiving.” It would be a long damn time before she warmed up to the club, but once I convinced her to stick around and stay married to me, she would. “Trust me.”
“I do,” he said in a tone more serious than our conversation warranted and I knew he meant something more. “Thought you might be hungry,” he said and shoved a bag from the best damn taco place in all of Nevada into my hands.
I laughed and held up the bag. “You thought it would bribe Rocky, right?”
He shrugged. “Pregnant girls love food. I’m glad everything’s okay.”
“Me, too. Thanks, Cross.”
“No problem.”
He left and I ate four tacos before I slowed down. Finally, the excitement of the day took its toll. My head rested on Rocky’s thigh, one hand holding hers and the other cupping her belly as I drifted off to sleep. They were safe. I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep when I felt a hand brushing my hair. No, not brushing my hair, brushing past it.
“Damn tacos,” she groaned and I smiled, lifting my head to look up at her, red hair standing in all directions and skin flushed from exertion.
“You’re all right.” I meant to just say it out loud to confirm but it ended up being a throaty groan. I stood and pressed my forehead to hers as relief settled in my bones. “You’re all right.” I said it again because it felt damn good after watching her pass out in my arms.
“I’m all right,” she said on a shaky, teary sigh as she raked her fingers through my hair. “Really, Lasso, I’m fine. I mean, I lost the baby,” she said on a sniffle, blinking like crazy to signal she was on the brink of tears. “So now we don’t have to stay married and I’ll have to start over. Again. But it’s fine. I’m fine. See?”
I smiled and gave her a thorough once over. “You want to say fine one more time just to get it all out?”
It was slow, but she rewarded my patience with a soft, sad smile. “Fine. Now I said it for you so, you’re welcome.”
I gathered her hands in mine, kissing both sides of her hands, her fingers, letting the feel of her pulse racing against my lip settle my nerves.
“And you didn’t lose the baby.” I let that sink in because I knew it was what she was most worried about. “We didn’t lose the baby.”
“We … didn’t?” Her hands went to her stomach and her eyes went to me for confirmation. “We didn’t?”
I shook my head and stood, pointing to the other monitor. “That’s the baby’s heartbeat right there. Strong like it should be. The kick hurt you more than the baby, but you both are fine, as long as you take it easy for a while. Let your husband take care of you.”
“But that’s—”
“Doctor’s orders.” She pouted but I could see the smile playing around her lips.
She leaned back but I noticed she didn’t let go of my hand. “You don’t have to, you know.”
“I know Rocky, but dammit I want to. Seeing you take that bastard’s beating and knowing I was too far away to do a damn thing about it tore me apart, but watching you pass out in my arms damn near killed me.”
“I’m sorry I scared you. I had it under control, well, mostly.” I leaned into her palm and closed my eyes, letting the sound of her breathing, the flowery scent of her skin wash over me.
“I’m just happy you both are all right.” My lips brushed hers softly and I pulled back because I didn’t want her mouth to distract me the way it all too easily did. “Rocky I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said as she gestured to the hospital b
ed. “Taking it easy, remember?”
I tried for a smile, but I couldn’t because I knew what she was doing. It was exactly what I would have done before I met Rocky, created emotional distance with humor. “Not just now, Rocky. Forever.”
