He glanced across to where his sister was now seated in the driver’s seat and pulling on her seat belt. “Drive carefully.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” she grumbled, sticking out her tongue at him.
I was glad when his lips twitched up in a half smile, and I pulled him back down for another kiss. “I love you. Please don’t worry about me.”
He stroked his thumb over my jaw. “I always worry about you,” he muttered. “When I don’t have eyes on you, all I can do is wonder if you’re okay.”
“Aww,” Monroe gushed from the back seat.
“Look, Mon,” Mila said with a sappy look in her gray eyes. “We trained him so well for our River.”
“Fuck off,” he growled at her. “And make sure you go the speed limit.”
Once we were out on the road, with Maverick right behind us on his motorcycle, Monroe scooted to the middle of the back seat and leaned forward so she was practically in the front with us. “Tell the truth,” she commanded. “How are you really feeling? Mila told me what happened Monday. Are you in any pain?”
“I’m fine,” I told her honestly. “No actual pain. A little discomfort at times, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Are you…bleeding?” she asked hesitantly.
I shrugged. “A little, but the doctor said I could deal with that for up to two weeks.”
“Does this mean you can’t…you know, have more babies?”
Biting my lip, I glanced out the side window. The thought of never getting to have Maverick’s baby hurt.
Monroe touched my arm. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
I covered her hand, blinking back my tears before turning to give her a small smile. “It’s okay. I’m just a little emotional lately. The doctor said I could still get pregnant, but the chances are cut in half because I only have one fallopian tube now.”
“That’s a good thing, though, right?” She gave me a bright smile. “I mean, half the chance is still a chance.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I just…”
“What?” she and her twin asked in unison.
I swallowed roughly and glanced at the side mirror, watching Maverick on his bike behind us. “I’m scared it might happen again.”
“Lyric’s aunt Lana had something like that happen to her. He told me about it the other night, and how she and her husband decided they would just let fate determine how many kids they would have, if any.” Mila said, reaching one hand across the console to take my hand as she drove. “And then she had five babies. He said they were always really open about being nervous during the first trimester. I guess the anxiety won’t ever go away, but River, babe, you can’t let fear hold you back. I mean, if you want a baby. If you don’t, that’s okay too.”
“Yeah,” her sister agreed. “If you and Mav decide not to have kids, Mil and I already have plenty for you and everyone else to spoil rotten. So, it’s not like Mom and Daddy will be all growly about not having grandbabies and put pressure on you.”
I laughed. “True.”
“Speaking of parents and pressure…” Mila pulled into the high school student lot and parked behind Kingston’s car. “We heard Uncle Colt shouting in the waiting room earlier.”
I pressed my lips into a hard line. “Yeah, he’s still being difficult. But at least he isn’t throwing punches or trying to kill Mav.”
“True,” she agreed. “I’m just worried he’s going to try to break you two up.”
I couldn’t help snorting at that. I knew my dad would try to come between Maverick and me. But he would learn he was just wasting his time, because Mav was my forever, and nothing short of death was going to tear us apart. “He can try all he wants. Nothing will come between your brother and me. Ever.” Leaning over, I kissed her cheek, then turned to hug Monroe. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll call you both later.”
“Take it easy,” Monroe urged, her brows pinched together in concern. “You’re still recovering.”
“I can’t just sit around with my feet propped up and expect to be waited on hand and foot,” I told her with a roll of my eyes. “I need to keep busy. It helps.”
“In that case,” Mila said as she leaned forward and pulled something from her purse that was sitting at my feet. “Take a look at some of this inventory I want to include in the store.”
I took the thick folder from her and slid it into my own purse.