Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,186

and waved to Bryon. “I gotta go home.”

Bryon grunted, forcing the blonde’s hand back to his jeans. “Let her cool down. Those pregos get worked up all the damn time.”

“Yeah, I don’t want her worked up. I gotta make sure she’s not imploding. Thanks for…”

For showing me how hollow everything had been. For proving Leah right and me wrong and finally accepting that I had more in my life than superficial bullshit.

I nodded to him. “See ya tomorrow.”

I let myself out, sucking in a breath of fresh air as the night choked the world. I used to like that too. No one could see what or who you did in the dark. But tonight just felt too…alone.

I hopped in my car and pulled my phone. I’d turned it off in my rage like a jackass. Didn’t surprise me to see Leah’s name pop up on a missed call. At least she had the sense to call like a rational adult when times got tough.

I pulled onto the street and checked the message, but my fingers clenched over the wheel as Leah’s voice whimpered over the phone. The voice mail was from an hour ago. The fear in her words transferred to me, chilling my blood and slicing through my flesh in a raw agony.

The message played once.

I thought hurting my knee was terrifying. This was worse.

This was hell.

This was every terrible nightmare come to life because I was too goddamned selfish to consider the world beyond myself.

I jammed the brake and spun the car one hundred and eighty degrees in the middle of the intersection. The car squealed and peeled out, racing towards the city’s hospital.

Her words scalded my mind, replaying over and over.

“Jack…it’s me. I think something’s wrong. Please call me. I have to go to the hospital.”

22

Jack

The highway blurred under the car. I didn’t check to see how suicidally fast I drove.

I passed six cars on the right, two on the left, and weaved between any asshole who couldn’t figure out how their fucking accelerator worked. Nothing would stop me from getting to the hospital.

Nothing.

It was my fault. I got her upset. I fought with her. I left. And then something happened to the baby.

Fuck, I knew something wasn’t right with her. The signs were there. She was tired. Weak. She grabbed the couch for support.

What the hell did I do?

My heart crushed itself against my ribs. It wasn’t fair. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to Leah, but if the baby was in danger?

Fuck.

I wasn’t a good man. I wasn’t a role model. But goddamn it, I thought I could be a good father.

A good husband.

If I had the chance. If Leah gave me a chance and the damn world cut me a fucking break, I’d prove to everyone that Jack Carson wasn’t some bastard who only wanted a quick fuck, fast cars, and no responsibilities. Nothing sounded better to me than a night spent rocking my baby to sleep in my arms as I watched the late night sport highlights.

I laid on the horn and passed another idiot going under the speed limit in the left lane. Ten minutes lost. It felt like ten days. I was too late to get ahold of Leah. She didn’t answer her phone, and I hoped that meant she was already with a doctor and not…

Not that she couldn’t answer her phone for whatever reason.

This was bullshit. I forced the car faster and raced the highway itself, slowing only so I didn’t break my neck skidding off the ramp and into the city. The hospital was less than a mile away, but the instant I peeled onto Hayes Street, red and blue lights flashed in my mirror.

The police cruiser whistled his siren and pulled behind my bumper.

This wasn’t happening.

“Fuck…not now!” I slammed a hand against the wheel. Hurt myself. That was all we needed. Broken fingers with speeding tickets, leaving Leah alone in the hospital, terrified for herself and the baby and…

I couldn’t stop for the cop.

But if I ran?

At least Leah would know exactly where I was when the hospital TVs showed coverage of the high speed chase with the headline Jack-ass Carson – Still At Large After Fucking Everything Up.

I couldn’t put Leah through that, not while she was already in pain. How long could a stop possibly take? A minute? Two?

“Hang on, Kiss.” I pulled over. “I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

The lights flashed, repeatedly, but the officer didn’t haul his lazy ass out