Ruby and looked at Reign, she knew what I was thinking. It was Priest that remembered I might have already fathered a kid out there. I winced, feeling guilty that I’d somehow managed to forget and Reign locked onto it. I knew she would question me later.
“Bates, whatever it is, just spit it out so we can figure it out between us. I really don’t like being kept in the dark.
“Shit.” I scrub my hand down my face and move across the room, taking the seat beside hers.
“I know why Priest was being a dick last night. Kitty approached him to say that Lexi is pregnant,” I say quietly, the words sounding like a shotgun.
“And she says it’s yours?” Reign asks softly, her voice void of any kind of emotion.
“Yeah, but I swear I’ve never slept with her ungloved,” I answer, my body coiled tight, ready to grab her, to stop her from running if necessary.
“How far gone is she?”
“I don’t know. According to Priest, she’s known for a while and that’s why she’s been trying to get me to make her my old lady.”
She looks up at me sharply, something working behind her eyes. “And if she is pregnant, and you’re the father?”
I slide my hand over her thigh, keeping her in place, hating how tense she feels. “Then I’ll be the best father I can be. Fuck, who am I kidding? I’m going to fuck this up so bad,” I admit.
She flips my hand over and links her fingers with mine, and I take my first deep breath since telling her.
“I’m sorry,” I say and turn to look at her. She doesn’t deserve any of this, but can’t let her go.
She offers me a shaky smile. “It’s not what I envisioned for us, but that’s okay. I’ve realized there isn’t much I won’t do for the people I love, so if that means I’m going to be a stepmom to a baby Bates, then so be it.” Her voice catches at the end, telling me how hard those words were for her to say, but I don’t doubt for a second she means them.
I swallow hard, then again when I realize how dry my mouth is. I just stare at this woman and wonder where the fuck she came from.
“You love me?” I squeeze her hand, feeling elated but unworthy.
“You caught that, huh?” She smiles.
“You sure? I’m not exactly easy to love,” I remind her.
“Nothing worth having is easy, Bates,” she whispers.
The air crackles around us as I lean forward and place a kiss on her forehead. “You’re it for me Trouble. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know whatever happens, I’ll be by your side and we’ll face everything together.” I kiss her softly, pouring everything I feel into it, letting my mouth do the talking even though words fail me.
“I’m gonna kick your ass.” We pull apart, both turning at the choked voice and see dark eyes just like Reign’s watching us intently.
“Rain-check?” I offer him magnanimously, even though the ass just ruined the moment
“Deal,” Travis agrees with a groan.
“Holy fuck, Travis, you scared the shit out of me. You are so lucky you didn’t die because I’m going to kill you,” Reign snaps before dissolving into tears.
I pull her into my arms and hold her tight while she sobs into my shoulder, muttering about asshole brothers before getting control of herself. When the sobs turn to sniffles, she looks up at me and sniffs.
“Sorry I made you wet.”
I open my mouth, but she puts her hand over it.
“Don’t say it,” she warns, before climbing off me and moving over to her brother.
“Oh, hey, remember me? I got shot, but sure, let’s make this all about you,” he states, making her laugh.
“Shut up, you know you’re my favorite.”
“I know.” He smiles at her before turning to me, but his look isn’t hostile like his brothers’ tend to be. “You love her?”
“More than anything,” I answer truthfully as Reign sucks in a sharp breath.
“Yeah, you’ll do. Don’t let my brothers scare you off.”
I look at him with a raised right hand.
“Right,” he chuckles before coughing.
“Take it easy, Trav,” Reign soothes, reaching for the glass of water beside the bed.
“I’m fine, Raindrop, but you need to go.”
“What? Trav, I’m not leaving you. I want to make sure you’re okay first.”
“Reign, I promise I’m okay now. You can’t get rid of me that easily, but you need to go.”