Chapter 10 #2
His sister huffed as she turned and placed her hand on Jessie’s arm. “I’m so happy for you two. I know you were wanting to keep things quiet, which is why I never said anything, but I am so thrilled for you both. And for me! Can I give you a hug?”
Hawk watched as Jessie embraced his sister, more color draining from her face as she stepped back to his side.
“Fuck, I am an asshole. I’m blunt and I know Lily will have my ass later when she hears about how I fucked this up.
” Gunner ran his hand through his hair. “I am just trying to understand. Hawk’s never been interested in settling down before.
This feels like it’s coming out of left field.
For him to say you’re having his baby is one thing, but to say you’re—”
“Hawk,” Jessie whispered behind him.
“No, baby. We already talked about this. You’re crazy if you think you’re going to have my baby and not be married to me.
” She groaned, but Hawk continued. “And you… You may be family, but you don’t speak like that to her ever again.
Jess and the baby are the most important thing to me.
Which means she’s your family too. End of discussion.
Think how far you would go if someone said what you just did to Lily. ”
“Lily and I have known each other all of our lives,” Gunner said as Jessie talked over him.
“Hawk, I—”
“Sweetheart, he’s so far out of line.” Jessie pulled her hand free from his, but he kept her tucked in behind him. Her hand went to his back, and when he turned to see why she was gripping onto his shirt, he instantly realized his mistake.
“Fuck.” Jessie had gone completely green. She was already covering her mouth, sweat dotting her brow.
“The bathroom is that way.” Mae was locked in on Jessie, pointing down the hallway.
Hawk spun around and took the small trash can Mae was holding out and handed it to her before walking as quickly as a queasy, pregnant woman should to the bathroom. Jessie shoved the trash can back at him before she threw the bathroom door open and fell onto her knees in front of the toilet.
“I’m so sorry.” Hawk rubbed her back while she went through another round of vomiting. “Fuck. This can’t be normal.”
“God, my head hurts,” she cried. “Why is the baby doing this to me?”
“I don’t know sweetheart, but I’m going to take you to the hospital.”
“No.” He handed her a few sheets of toilet paper to wipe her mouth. “I’m just being dramatic. Women go through this all the time.”
“I don’t think they do. I think… I think something is wrong. What if something happened when I slammed on the brakes?”
Her hand flew to her stomach and she moaned. “Nothing is wrong. Being sick is a good sign the pregnancy is continuing on how it should. I’m nauseous from all the hormones that are helping the baby grow.”
“This isn’t good, Jess. I want the baby to grow, but—”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Is everything okay in there?”
Gunner. Fuck. He’d completely forgotten about that dickhead the second he’d seen how sick Jess looked. Hawk stood and opened the door.
“Look, man. I didn’t mean to come off so aggressive. I just want you to know I have your back, no matter what.”
Hawk nodded. His eyes bounced to his sister, who was standing at the front desk with worry written all over her face. “Can you get Doc for me?”
Gunner’s brows furrowed as his face switched from remorse to worry as he looked past Hawk. His eyes went wide as soon as they landed on Jessie. “Emergency?”
“Could be.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right back.”
Hawk kicked the door stop under the door to help hold it open and went back to Jess. She was still pale and in the throws of trying to bring up anything left in her stomach.
Fuck.
“Hey.” Stone knocked on the door frame. “What’s going on?”
“I picked Jessie up at the ranch this morning, someone tried to run us off the road and now she’s getting sick. The baby…”
Stone’s eyes shot up to look at Hawk, and he could see his friend questioning how to play the information he already knew.
“Stop telling everyone,” Jessie protested.
“He already knew. Remember, I told Mae and Stone.”
“Yeah, but now Gunner knows…”
“And everyone else will know soon enough. We agreed to tell your family soon. We need to also tell mine.”
“You’re still in your first trimester then, Jessie?” Stone asked, his question breaking through the tension.
“Yes.”
“Nausea is pretty common during these weeks, unfortunately.” Stone placed his hand on her shoulder but before Hawk could go possessive bulldog on his ass, she had her head over the toilet again, heaving up nothing but bile. “Does something specific trigger it? Or is it just all the time?”
“All the time,” she whispered when the spasms stopped, and her raspy voice punched Hawk in the gut. He should have made her see her doctor when she started throwing up more. He should have at least talked to Stone before now.
“How many times a day are you vomiting?” Stone grabbed her wrist, looking at his watch.
“A few.”
“Jess,” Hawk scolded. “She threw up on the side of the road. And now, that’s three times she’s had her head over the toilet.”
“Have you brought this up to your doctor?”
Jessie shook her head, before placing her head down into her hands. “I haven’t had another appointment yet. I’ve been really busy and they don’t really see patients before twelve weeks.” The desperate moan that followed ripped him apart. Jesus, he hated feeling so helpless.
“Phoenix, you need to take her to the hospital. They can treat her dehydration and give her something for the nausea.”
“No! No, I can’t go to the hospital. I can’t afford it, and we might run into someone I know there. I just have to wait it out. I’m almost out of the…” Her eyes closed and he watched as she swallowed roughly. “I’m almost out of the first trimester. It’s supposed to get better then.”
“Hey.” Hawk sat on the floor next to her, running his fingers over her arm. “You can’t keep going like this. You’ve nearly passed out a few times.”
“You’re being dramatic. I was only dizzy—”
“Jess. You’re so sick it’s scaring me. Please stop being so tough and lean on me. I’ll take care of the bill. Let’s just go and get you feeling better.”
“No hospital.”
Hawk’s heart fell. “Doc? Can we do anything for her?”
Stone nodded.
“If we can’t convince you to go to the hospital, we can at least treat what I suspect is dehydration, which might help your nausea.
Let’s get you up to Hawk’s apartment. I’m going to call Jake to see if he can make a house call.
He’ll be able to set you up with an IV, maybe even some anti-nausea medications as a prescription.
It’s unfortunately outside the scope of what I’m able to do for a few more weeks until I pass my paramedic certification. ”
“Birdie. She can help. I’ll see her, if she’s free.” Jessie looked fucking wrecked. “And she won’t be able to tell Beau about the baby. Because she’ll be doing something medically for me, right?”
Hawk growled as he stood. “We need to tell your family about our baby soon. You’re going to be showing before long.”
A small smile spread across her face as she looked into his eyes. “I can’t wait for that.”
“Me either, sweetheart. You think you’re done getting sick? At least long enough for me to carry you upstairs?”
“Yes. But you don’t have to carry me.”
“What did I just say about being so god damn stubborn? Knock that shit off. Me taking care of you is the least I can do after my incredibly strong and virile sperm knocked you up.”
“And on that note,” Stone chuckled, “I’ll check around and see who’s available to make a house call for your IV.”
Hawk scooped Jessie up, but not before seeing the smile spread across her face. She snuggled against his chest and he didn’t waste any time walking out of the office and over to the elevators.
Mae hovered nearby, but gave a reassuring smile to him as he walked out of the office. Once inside his apartment, Hawk walked Jessie straight down to his bedroom.
“I don’t have to rest here. I can just take the couch.”
He settled her back against his pillows, removing her shoes before tucking her legs under his comforter.
“This is our date day, remember? You don’t have to work tonight, and I get to spend the whole day with you. You’re right where I want you.” Her jeans looked tight, so he undid the button and froze, looking at the gentle swell of her belly.
“It’s just bloat right now. Not sure how I can bloat when I can’t eat anything, but that’s hormones for you.”
“What?”
She squeezed his arm. “My belly. Like I told you the other night. It’s just bloated. It’s not the baby. They’re still too little.”
“Just when I think my mind is wrapped around everything, something new happens and my heart feels like it’s going to fall out of my chest. It just… it feels so real.”
“The vomiting did that for me,” he cringed. “Honestly, Hawk, just put me on the couch. That way I won’t fall asleep on you and I can leave once I’m done with the IV.”
“No can do, sweetheart. That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me, now would it?” She smiled, but the green coloring was back in her face and she was gagging into her hand before Hawk even had a chance to grab anything for her.
“Shit. Here.” He ran to the en suite and got the trash bin from there. By the time he came back, she looked a little better.
“I think it was just a false alarm that time.” Her head lolled against the pillows. He knew she was exhausted. How could she not be?
“Jessie, close your eyes and rest. I’ll have Doc come in as soon as he gets here and you are not moving from that spot for the rest of the day.
So sleep if that’s what you want to do. I’ll ask Lily and Lacy for help figuring out what might be good with your stomach being so upset.
They went through morning sickness too.”
“I’m really sorry.” Tears dotted her eyelashes and Hawk’s heart tumbled in his chest.
“Don’t apologize for not feeling well.”
“It’s not just that,” she sniffled. “I’m sorry for putting you in this situation. I know you didn’t want to settle down. Kids weren’t a part of your plan. And now…” Her hand slid up over her belly.
“God, I love Gunner, but he doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.
So, listen to me. This,” Hawk’s hand covered hers.
“You and me and our baby are exactly what I’ve wanted for years.
I’m not that great at letting people in, so my friends only see what I want them to see.
They think I’m Mr. Never-Settle-Down. They think I want to spend the rest of forever on my own.
But they’re wrong, Jess. So fucking wrong.
” His fingers flexed. “You and the baby are exactly what I want.”