24. You’re What?
Chapter 24
You’re What?
Ash
I love her, but I’m kicking her ass for this latest stunt.
I knew something was wrong with Ori. She’s looked absolutely rundown the last few weeks, and even though she’s the queen of burning the candle at both ends, this was different.
She was different.
Hearing from Mina that she’s so damn tired, she’s fainting?
A different animal, entirely.
Ori has a hands-off approach to her life. She can handle it. She’s got it.
Well, I’ve got a newsflash for her.
Now, I’ve got it.
And I don’t give a damn what argument she has at the ready.
I tear open the door to her truck, trying hard to rein in my emotions. Those beautiful eyes widen at my abrupt gesture, but I’m in no mood for her protests.
“Ash, I mean it. I’m too tired for any more partying tonight. I just want my bed.”
I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “Hop out. We’re taking my truck.”
Ori shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t need an escort. Go back to your party.”
She can keep stalling, but I’m done playing games with this woman.
My woman.
Besides, I’m so frustrated right now that I’m tempted to toss her over my shoulder and haul her out of the truck if she doesn’t cooperate.
“We’re going to the doctor, but we’re taking my truck.”
“You’re not leaving your own party,” she argues, her tone sharp.
“Want to make a bet?” I reach across and unlatch her seatbelt, extending my hand. “Don’t make me come in there after you, Oriana Thorne.”
“Ash—”
“Just stop, okay?” I soften my voice, but the frustrated edge remains. “I’m already angry.”
With a defeated sigh, she slips her hand into mine. “Fine. We might as well get this over and done with.”
We settle into my truck, and I waste no time heading toward the urgent care center in town. Every few seconds, I glance her way, but she keeps her gaze locked on the trees beyond the passenger window, her jaw tight.
Enough of this nonsense.
“Why did you lie to me? I asked you not an hour ago what was wrong, and you claimed you were just tired.” I emphasize the word with air quotes.
“I am tired,” she says quietly, her focus shifting to her lap as her fingers toy with the strap of her purse. “But I also happen to be pregnant, which is something Mina shouldn’t have told you. It wasn’t her place.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat as her statement registers.
What. The. Fuck.
Swerving to the shoulder, I ignore the honks of irritated drivers as I throw the truck into park and whip my head toward her. Grasping her chin, I tilt her face toward mine. “You’re what?”
Her brown eyes meet mine, wide and brimming with unshed tears, her chin trembling. “I’m pregnant. Why do you look so surprised? Isn’t that what Mina told you?”
I hear her words, but they sound distant, muffled—like I’m underwater, and they’re only just surfacing.
Leaning back against the seat, I tug a hand through my hair. “She told me you were sick. That you’ve been dizzy and that you need my help. She didn’t mention a baby.”
My head spins, a dozen thoughts firing at once, none of them coherent. With every second, my anger simmers closer to the surface.
With a grunt, I smack the roof of the truck before scrubbing my face with my hands. “That’s fucking great.”
The sound of the door handle clicking pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts. I jerk my head around to see Ori trying to escape.
“I told you I’m fine,” she says, her voice icy, her shoulders rigid. “Just leave it alone. I don’t need any help.”
“Fucking stop, Ori. Okay? Just stop.” My voice cracks as I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, the weight of her news threatening to crush me. I suck in a breath, trying to will the anger away, but it claws at me, relentless.
And then, it all comes out.
“How long have you known?”
“About two weeks,” she mumbles, her long hair falling like a curtain between us, shielding her from the fire in my voice.
“Two weeks?” I huff out the question, an exasperated laugh bursting from my lips. “When I was camped outside your place, you knew?”
“Yes.”
“And let me guess—Mina and Eddie knew before me, too. Am I right?”
Ori nods, her shoulders sagging as she slumps in the seat.
“Unbelievable.” I shake my head, hitting the steering wheel with my palm.
“This is why I didn’t want to tell you,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “I knew you’d be angry.”
“Damn straight,” I snap, my tone sharper than a knife. “This is the most important news of my life, and I find out after your employee? Like some second-class citizen?”
Ori drags the back of her hand under her nose, still avoiding my gaze. “Welcome to my world, Ash,” she mutters bitterly.
Her words hit me like a gut punch, but I can’t allow them to derail me.
“How could you keep this from me?” I demand, slamming my fist into the steering wheel once more.
That does it.
Ori bursts into tears, her sobs raw and jagged. “Because I didn’t know how to tell you!”
“How about this?” I shoot back, my voice rising. “You’re going to be a dad, Ash. Now get busy doting on me for the next nine months.”
“I don’t need you to dote on me,” she grumbles.
“Yeah, that’s really apparent by our destination right now.”
She whips her head around to look at me, her tear-streaked face twisted in defiance. “I didn’t want to ruin your birthday with a hospital visit. That’s why I left.”
“No more of this shit, Ori. No more secrets.” My tone is firm, final.
She lets out a shaky exhale, her gaze darting back to the window. “Just drop me off, okay? Go back to your party and forget all about this.”
“No way in hell.” I grab her hand, squeezing it tightly. “I’m hearing from the doctor’s mouth that you and my baby are safe. Don’t argue with me on this, either. You won’t win.”
“Never do,” she whispers, an air of defeat coloring her words.
I glance at her again, her fingers trembling in mine. “Despite what you think, you being pregnant didn’t ruin my birthday.”
“Yeah, right. Just what you need. Another baby and another baby mama. Banner year for you, alright.”
“It is a banner year for me. True, the baby is unexpected, but it’s hardly unwelcome.”
She sniffles, her eyes red from crying. “I’m sorry.”
Those two words break something inside me, splintering my anger and leaving only raw emotion in its wake. The woman I’m in love with is apologizing for carrying my child.
If only she knew the truth about Lucille, maybe it would allay her fears. But letting Ori in on the secret puts her in more danger, and I won’t risk that—especially now that we’re expecting a baby.
The only thing I know for sure is I have to keep Ori safe.
At all costs.
That, and we must keep quiet about the baby. Trace is certain there are several leaks in Sparkwood. One wrong word to the right person, and this entire house of cards collapses—with Ori and me at the bottom.
And Kevin? He’s already too close. If he suspects that Ori and I are back together, let alone expecting a baby, it’ll give him leverage I can’t afford to let him have. The man plays dirty, and he won’t hesitate to use her—or our child—against me.
But first, I need to reassure my woman that I’m not mad. Actually, I’m pretty fucking excited.
I reach over, tucking her hair behind her shoulder. “Look at me.”
But she doesn’t.
Her gaze stays fixed on her lap, her fingers still fidgeting with her purse strap.
I unfasten my belt and lean over, brushing a soft kiss against her neck. “I know you’re scared, little one, but you’re going to be the best mom. We’ve got this.”
“We?” Her voice is quiet, almost disbelieving.
“Obviously.”
She finally looks at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thanks for saying that. Sorry I ruined your birthday.”
“You haven’t,” I reply, my voice steady. “And it’s going to be the best on record once I get word that you two are okay.”
But she doesn’t believe me.
Hell, I don’t know if she believes anything I say anymore.
I pull back onto the highway, but this time, I’m overly cautious. Every car, every shadow, feels like a potential threat that could strip my family from me.
My mind races, caught in a loop I can’t break.
I’m going to be a dad.
Holy shit.
I’m going to be a dad.
I couldn’t have picked a better woman than Ori. She’s the entire package—fierce, brilliant, and beautiful. And now she’s carrying my baby.
When I pull into the urgent care lot, I realize I’ve been silent for the last ten minutes of the ride. Judging by Ori’s expression, it’s scaring the hell out of her.
I get it. I’m terrified, too—but not for the reasons she thinks.
Sure, the idea of being responsible for another life is overwhelming, but isn’t that the point of this crazy ride? You fall in love, they love you back, and then you create tiny versions of yourselves to drive you up the wall for the next eighteen years.
Good times.
I park the truck and glance at Ori. “Do you need a wheelchair?” I ask, my voice brimming with nervous energy.
“No. I’m fine.” Ori’s already out of the truck and headed toward the entrance, her pace brisk and determined.
I easily overtake her. It helps that I have over a foot on the woman.
“Will you wait a minute?”
She whirls around, her eyes blazing, hands clenched into fists at her sides. “For what? To keep looking at that petrified, disappointed look on your face? I told you, I’m fine on my own.”
Typical Ori. When she’s scared or insecure, she throws up armor so thick it’s damn near impenetrable. I saw it during our first six months—those horrible days where instead of loving her, I was glaring at her.
But then she let me in. She removed her armor for me.
For a while, it was perfect—until Lucille showed up.
Since then, her emotional armor has been locked in place, and I don’t have a damn key.
But it won’t stop me.
Even if I have to scrape it off inch by inch.
Ori checks in, even going so far as to put a seat between us as she fills out the paperwork.
Me? I’m not sure what to say.
Patting my thighs, I stand and rest a hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to get coffee. You want something?”
Ori doesn’t bother to look up from the clipboard. “I’m fine.”
Another fine. I’m beginning to hate that word. She’s not fine. Neither of us are. We’re both so far from it, we can’t even see the damn road back.
Plus, we’re both exhausted. Between juggling my businesses and worrying about Ori, I’m running on fumes.
Now that worry has multiplied a million-fold.
When I return to the waiting room, coffee in hand, Ori is nowhere to be seen. My chest tightens as I scan the room. “She better not have left.”
“They took her back, sir,” the receptionist says, her voice clipped.
“Great. Can you buzz me through?”
She hesitates, her gaze darting away. “Ms. Thorne figured you’d rather leave or stay out here.”
She did, did she?
“Ms. Thorne figured wrong. I want to be back there. With her. Please buzz me through.”
“I’ll have to check with her.”
I grit my teeth, forcing a smile. “Look, let me back there, and if she tells me to leave, I’ll go.”
“Really?”
No. Not really. But I nod anyway, because there’s zero point in arguing with this woman.
Mainly because I’ll be arguing with Ori in about thirty seconds.
She’s trying to push me away, but I’m not leaving without a fight.
Ori sits gowned on the exam table when I step inside the room. She looks at me and crosses her arms, a mixture of annoyance and overwhelm dancing across her face. “What are you doing back here?”
“ You’re back here. I will not sit out there while you’re in here.” I pace the small space, my boots echoing against the floor.
“Just go, Ash. Everyone is waiting for you at the farm.”
“No chance in hell. I’ll leave when you leave. Where is that damn doctor, anyway?”
“That damn doctor is here,” a voice says as the door opens. “Although I prefer Dr. Fulton. Ash, didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Trust me, neither did he,” Ori mutters, earning a sharp scowl from me.
“She hasn’t been feeling well. Dizzy spells. Tired.” My gaze narrows on Ori. “Or so I hear, since she didn’t bother telling me until today.”
Dr. Fulton chuckles nervously, shifting his focus to the chart in his hands. “Do you two need a minute?”
“We’re good,” I reply. “Let’s get her checked out.”
Am I overriding Ori? Absolutely. With every passing second, my concern for our baby grows. Dizzy spells every day—there’s no way that’s normal, right?
The doctor clears his throat. “Okay, well, I need Ori’s consent before we continue. Do you want Ash to stay, or?—”
“I’m not going anywhere. Don’t even think it,” I cut in, my tone firm.
“She has to be okay with it,” Dr. Fulton says, his gaze flicking to me.
“It’s fine,” she mumbles, her voice barely audible. She doesn’t meet my eyes, convincing no one in the room.
“We good here?” the doctor presses, looking between us.
“Oh, I’d say good is a stretch,” I mutter under my breath, earning a quick glare from her.
Dr. Fulton sighs, glancing between us before setting the chart down. “I’ll give you two a moment to sort this out.” He pauses by the door. “Let me know when you’re ready.”
Can’t blame the man for wanting to hightail it to safety.
Ori throws up her hands in resignation before flopping back on the table. “How is it you’re so cool and collected regarding your baby with Lucille, but with me, you’re a bundle of nerves?”
I’m ready with a withering remark when I stop, realizing the truth—she doesn’t see the difference. And why would she? She’s in the dark about the entire Lucille situation.
Crossing the small space, I place my hand on her stomach, my voice softening. “Because it’s you.”
Her lips tremble as she looks away. “I’m not going to break, Ash. You can go.”
“Don’t you get it?” My voice tightens, thick with emotion. “All I want is to be here with you.”
Seems my words finally break through as tears slide down her cheeks. “All I want is for you to be here, too.”
My resolve softens as I take her hand in mine. “Then there’s no problem.”
I poke my head into the hallway. “We’re ready.”
“Now we’re good?” Dr. Fulton asks, a smirk tugging at his lips as he steps back into the room.
“Absolutely. Even if she is a royal pain in the ass.”
“ Me ?” Ori’s jaw drops, a look of feigned shock on her face.
“Yes.” I lean down, brushing my lips against hers in a soft, lingering kiss. “You. Let’s check on our baby, and then you can go back to fighting me on everything. Deal?”
Ori chuckles, and for the first time in forever, it sounds genuine. She tilts her head up for another kiss before nodding toward the doctor. “Deal. Go ahead, Doc. What’s the plan?”
While the nurse draws Ori’s blood, I slip into the hallway and find Dr. Fulton at a workstation, typing notes into a computer. His fingers hover over the keyboard as he glances up, his brow lifting when he sees me approach.
Thankfully, we’ve been friends for years, so I’m banking on him agreeing to my plan.
“Can you do me a favor?”
Dr. Fulton stops typing, turning his chair slightly toward me. “I can try.”
“Can you recommend Ori rest for a week or so?”
“Bed rest? That’s likely unnecessary, unless there’s something you’re not telling me,” he says, his tone cautious.
“No, but here’s the thing—she won’t rest. The woman works 24/7 and never stops. Ever. But if you mention it to her, she’ll listen.”
Dr. Fulton leans back, folding his arms as he considers my request. “You want me to recommend bed rest to a woman who doesn’t medically need it?”
“Not bed rest,” I clarify, running a hand through my hair and glancing down the hall toward Ori’s room. “Just rest. I want to take care of her, but she has to stop moving for a hot minute for me to do that.”
Dr. Fulton’s serious expression softens into a faint smile. “I can phrase it in a way that’ll get through to her. If she’s really overextending herself, then yeah, she needs to slow down.”
“Exactly. So technically, you’re just telling her the truth.” I shove my hands into my pockets, releasing a loud sigh.
“Anything else, Ash?”
I hesitate, clearing my throat as I glance at the computer screen. “Yeah, actually. Is it safe for her to, uh, you know—” I gesture vaguely, feeling like a kid in junior high asking about the birds and the bees.
Dr. Fulton pauses mid-keystroke, turning to smirk at me. “You’re asking if it’s safe for her to have sex?”
I shrug, trying to act casual. “I mean, look at her. Can you blame me?”
His smirk widens, and he shakes his head, returning his attention to the computer. “Assuming her labs and ultrasound results come back normal, there’s no reason to avoid it. But you might want to let her take the lead—she may not feel up to it.”
“Fair enough,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “Just checking.”
And I’m damn sure going to stoke those embers smoldering between us—so long as it’s safe, of course.
Dr. Fulton chuckles softly, finishing his notes before swiveling back to me. “Any more questions, or are we good?”
I grin, leaning in a little. “That custom ink you wanted? It’s on me. Just take care of her.”