4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Griffin's Beach Lex
L ex spent most of the day away from the house as she dealt with things. She's emotionally drained, and she just wishes there was a way to snap her fingers and have the house completely set up without having do anything. As much as she loves Colt, she doubts he's able to pull off the miracle that would require, and she still has to talk to Jennings today. Sounds like she's going to miss sleep for at least a few nights.
COLT: Baby theres a surprise for u when u get home - dont be mad
LEX: Uh oh
COLT: I called reinforcements for the house - ull be set
COLT: O and Jolie says she likes our toy collection
Lex looks at the last text as she waits at the stop sign by the house and gasps. She hadn't even thought about what Jolie and Bodie would find when they packed up the place. She was just grateful to have someone else help out.
COLT: She says Bodie saw nothing but shes going to the sex toy store now
COLT: If only she new ur favorite toy was my tongue
Laughing, she sighs and continues driving until she pulls into the driveway. She could use Colt's tongue right about now to forget everything. But all thoughts of her husband's mouth on her pussy disappear the moment she sees a furniture store truck with two men carrying a box with a picture of a bunk bed on the side. It's the only truck in the driveway, which is not what she expected to see at all.
"What the hell?" she mutters as she gets out and follows the men inside. Colt directs them down the hallway room, and Lex stops dead in her tracks. "Uh, Colt?"
Her husband turns, his man bun a bit mussed from whatever he managed to do during the move, and he pulls her back onto the porch. "Baby—"
"Please tell me the bunk beds were ordered for Noah because he was upset about moving and wanted a new bed. Not because the two teenagers you left with this morning to bring home are sitting on our couch with our children."
The house, from what little she saw, looked set up. Even pictures on the wall where they used to hang. Whatever reinforcements he called in seemed to do a decent job.
"I know I should have talked to you about it first, but I couldn't leave them at that house."
Blinking, her chest tightens, and she knows she's on the verge of a full breakdown between the mental and emotional overload from today. Taking in two teenagers on top of everything threatens to push her over the edge of the cliff she's teetering on. "It's their home."
"Baby, I'll show you the pictures I took, but that asshole stepfather of theirs grabbed Lucas and slammed him against the wall. Told Hailey to go play in traffic, and he threatened them with a punishment. Not because they were gone but because they were being brought home by me. Their dad's dead, Lucas's mom is a drug addict who was passed out on the fucking couch, Hailey's mom killed herself, and there were maggots moving the mounds of trash and mold in that place. Ty's apartment looked spotless compared to this place with a stack of goddamned needles next to the couch."
Tyson Reeves was nothing short of a slob before he fell in love. Not only is he a crazy conspiracy theorist, the mold and fungus he lived with in the apartment at the clubhouse made him even worse. How he managed to clean the place without using a blowtorch, Lex will never know.
"Colt—"
"Look, they're teenagers, right? Hailey's graduating this year, and then she'll be off to college and on her own. Lucas only has a few years left before he graduates. I bought the bunk beds for the guest room so they could stay together."
Sighing, she looks past them at Hailey playing with Calla on her lap, keeping her distracted and out of the way of everyone. Lucas heads out the sliding door with Noah, both of them laughing, and she shakes her head. "That won't work."
"We'll also get free childcare. I mean, think about it, baby. They'll live here like Bodie did with us in Summerville."
"That'll be nice, but that's not what I'm talking about."
He cups her face, his large hands feeling like a hug she hadn't realized she needed, and she leans her head into his palm. "Lex, I couldn't leave them there. I know we should have talked about it first, but—"
"The bunk beds need to go in Noah's room, and Lucas should stay with him. Hailey needs her own room because she's a teenage girl. Sharing a room with her brother can't happen."
"You're not mad?"
Letting out another sigh, she gazes into his eyes. How can she be mad at a man with a heart this big? "If you think it was too bad to leave them there, I trust your judgement."
His eyes narrow as he finally seems to notice her. "You've been crying."
"It's been... a day."
"Can you tell me what's going on now? What we had to move back for?"
Tears fill her eyes as she holds back her sob. God, she wants to. "I can't. It's... it's not my story to tell, but I really hate this person for asking me to keep this from you."
"How bad is it?"
"It's going to destroy my family. Not us but my family."
"That bad?"
"Let's just say I was in a position where I couldn't say no even though every cell in my body screamed it. My life is going to be a living hell for at least a month. Gotta love being dubbed the strongest person anyone in this fucking club knows. I really hate that accolade."
He runs his fingers through her hair. "If it's going to make your life hell, say no, baby. Change your mind. Isn't that what your kind is known for? Women always change their minds."
"I can't say no, baby. Even if I could, we're stuck here. We have two teenagers we can't take out of Griffin’s Beach. And before you say we can make other arrangements, you can't dangle a carrot like a stable life in front of them and rip it away if their home was as terrible as you say it was. That's not fair to them."
His eyes close, and he rests his forehead against hers. "I hate this, Lex."
"I just need you to trust me that I'll tell you as soon as I can. I just... I was specifically asked not to say anything to you or anyone else. I do need to talk to Jennings, though. You have no idea how much I wish I'd never answered that call."
He kisses her forehead, and she knows he knows it's not club related. It's family, and the shit people do for family tends to reach beyond reasonable depths. Especially in a motorcycle club. "I trust you. More than that, I know others know they can trust you. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."
They walk back inside, and Lex waves Lucas and Noah inside. Once they've taken a seat on the couch next to Hailey and Calla, she lets out another breath. It's the only thing she can manage to do to keep herself from curling up in the fetal position and rocking back and forth right now. "We've made a change to the sleeping arrangements. Lucas, we're going to have you stay in Noah's room with the bunk beds. Hailey, you'll take the bed in the extra room to give you some privacy."
"You don't need to do that," Hailey says. "Seriously, I told Colt we didn't need the bunk beds, either. We're fine with sleeping bags."
Moving to sit beside her, Lex takes Calla and accepts the hug her daughter gives offers, fighting back the tears springing forward. "If you're going to live here, you're going to actually live here. But there are going to be rules. First rule is that we need you to watch the kids when we're not here."
"Done," Lucas says. "And we don't need to be paid for it."
His sister whips her head to the side and glares at him. They share a look that tells Lex they're communicating in a way the rest can't understand. Whatever it is has Hailey's mouth remaining shut. Which seems pretty amazing.
"Well, I'm glad you've offered that because I need to cash in on that pretty soon."
"Fuck," Colt says and grimaces. "Ky just texted SOS with a thousand exclamation points. I need to take off soon."
"Like in an hour or so," Lex clarifies.
Laughing, he looks at the teenagers. "Aren't you glad you chose to break into this house to stay?"
"I really wish we'd stayed at the last one," Hailey mutters.
Her brother smacks her arm. "I like it here. I'm cool sharing a room with you, too, dude."
"Sweet!" Noah says, and Lex hates how badly his sandy hair needs to be cut. Another thing to add to her list of things to find time to do.
Shaking his head, Colt groans. "That kid has spent too much time with Bodie."
"Can you do me a favor? Reach out to Jennings and ask him to meet me at the clubhouse? I should be there in about an hour. I'll follow you shortly—"
A familiar redhead running into their house interrupts Lex, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Lex!"
"Lacey, what's wrong?" she asks, handing Calla to Hailey before jumping up and helping catch Lacey as she nearly collapses on the floor. "Are you okay?"
Taking a few deep breaths, she clings to Lex's biceps. "I'm okay. I'm, well, I'm not okay. I'm freaking out. But... who are they?"
Her bony finger with bright red polish points at the teenagers, and Lex laughs. "They're... foster kids. I guess that would be the best way to describe this unique situation. Hailey and Lucas."
"You're fostering kids?"
"It's a new thing," Colt says with a smirk that makes Lex swoon.
"Let's go out on the back porch and talk. Guys, we'll finish going over the ground rules later. Are you good with the kids?" Lex asks.
Hailey nods as Calla bounces on her lap, high fiving her. "Yeah, we're solid."
She leads Lacey to the seats Lex is surprised are set up already, and she kneels down in front of Lacey. "What's with the freak-out, babe?"
"Do you need me?" Colt asks, sticking his head out.
"No, go to the clubhouse. I'll meet you there shortly."
He winks at her, which oddly comforts her racing mind, and he disappears. Lacey's trembling hands pull Lex back to the situation at hand, and she shoves something at Lex.
Looking at the images, Lex's heart races. "I don't think I understand."
"I'm pregnant," Lacey says as Lex stares at the ultrasounds in her hand. "Five months."
"You're... What now?"
"Uh huh."
The thought momentarily paralyzes Lex. Lacey has been plagued with miscarriage after miscarriage due to her past trauma, and the memory of the last time it happened feels like ice flowing through her veins. It almost cost Lacey her life, and Lex still bears the scars from being forced to intervene. Lex’s actions that day, and Lacey’s subsequent committal into a state-run program are what saved her. If it weren't for Lacey's current state of mind, Lex would be pacing and tugging on her hair in a similar panic.
"Wait, five months? That's further along than you've ever gotten, right?"
"I know!" Lacey shouts as more tears come. "Lex, what am I going to do?"
"Lacey!" Psycho shouts from inside the house.
And cue the next freak-out. Lex walks to the sliding door to see Lacey's husband frantically walking around the house. "I really wish I was in Summerville," she mutters before opening the door. "Psycho."
"Who the hell are they?" Psycho asks, pointing to a frightened Hailey and Lucas. He waves when Noah and Calla both smile and wave enthusiastically.
"Long story. I'm guessing what you're looking for is sitting on my back porch."
Hailey stares with wide eyes. "Who the hell is that?"
"That's Uncle P!" Noah says. "Don't be scared of him. He just looks scary."
Pointing at her son, Lex just nods. "What he said."
Psycho crouches down in front of Lacey when Lex returns to the porch, his eyes wide. "What the hell? You leave with a just a note, and you're sitting here crying. Baby, you can't do that to me!"
When she doesn't respond as she sobs, Lex jumps in. "Hey, Psycho, remember at the wedding when I said Lacey looked like she was glowing?"
"Yeah. Did that hurt her feelings or something? That was months ago."
"Well," she says, holding the ultrasound out to him. "Kind of?"
"You're pregnant again, Lex?"
Shaking her head, she holds in her breath. "Not me. Congrats... Dad."
His brows furrow before they shoot up and hide beneath the brim of his cap. He looks first at the ultrasound and then at Lacey. Then back at the ultrasound and then his wife. "What?"
"I'm five months along," Lacey says, her voice cracking. "It's the furthest I've ever gotten, and I didn't even know I was pregnant. What if I screwed something up already because I didn't know? What mother doesn't know she's pregnant, let alone five months along? I should've been taking vitamins. There are classes you have to go to. What if I missed the deadlines and don't get to learn what to do? There's so much—"
"Okay, first of all, let's stop for a moment before we pass out," Lex says. "Did the doctor have any concerns about the baby when you got the ultrasound?"
Shaking her head, her shiny red hair falls over her shoulder. Shiner than normal. Yep, girlfriend is definitely preggo. "No. He said the baby's healthy."
"Well, that's a great start. So, clearly, nothing's been screwed up. And as for the classes, trust me, I can give you a thirty-minute rundown that's cheaper and so much quicker."
"It's a real baby this time," Psycho says and sits down on the chair next to Lacey, his eyes never leaving the image in his hands. "If we lose the baby, it's a real baby, Lace."
"I know," she says and sobs again.
Lex, don't snap. No one knows this is just the fiftieth layer of the shit cake you're baking right now. Just... keep it together.
"I don't want to lose you like I did before. If something happens, I have to confess, I'm scared of what it'll do to you," Psycho admits.
Lacey takes his hand in hers. "I'm not going to be like the last time. I'm scared of disappointing you if something happens."
"Disappoint me?" His free hand cups her cheek. "You... Baby, no."
"See? You guys are going to be just fine. The doctor said the baby's healthy, and you look the healthiest I've ever seen you, Lace. Maybe, you know, don't ride on the back of the motorcycle for a few more months, but you'll be okay," Lex says.
Giggling, she nods. "We'll be okay. We're going to be a family, Carson. You're going to be a dad!"
He kisses her and lets out an unbelieving gasp. "Wow. We are. We really are."
Lex can't help but smile. "You got this, guys."
"Can we go home now?" Psycho asks.
They kiss again after Lacey nods, and Lex opens the door for them. They wave to the kids, and Lex walks back to collapse on the couch after they leave. "This day needs to be over."
"Don't you have to go to the clubhouse or whatever it is?" Hailey asks.
She groans. "Yes... Thanks for reminding me."
"Do you need an excuse not to go?" Lucas asks. "We can be an excuse."
Smiling, she knows Colt did the right thing bringing them back home with him. "Thank you, sweetheart, but I have to get this over with. One way or another, it's still gotta happen."