Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Maverick
Our baby.
Holy shit I was going to be a father.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be saying that. I long ago thought that ship had sailed. But here I was watching Jo sleep in my bed after I carried her upstairs when she passed out on the couch from exhaustion.
No wonder she was tired. Bee had said she had the flu, but clearly it was morning sickness.
I didn't know the first thing about pregnancy, but I had heard enough men talk about how their wives were sick in the first trimester to have at least an inkling of what was going on.
The rest I would learn through research.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and started looking up pregnancy books. If we were going to be in this together, then I needed to learn as much as I could before Jo pushed me away.
And she would. I had no doubt in my mind that this was going to be an uphill battle these next few months. I thoroughly looked forward to it because nothing with Jo was ever easy, and more than likely, it sure as hell would be fun.
I finished checking out when Jo started to stir. It took a few seconds of her eyes fluttering open before she was able to speak. "Where am I?"
I chuckled. "I would think you were familiar with my bedroom by now."
Plenty of our sexcapades happened in this room.
"Of course I recognize your room, but why am I here?"
"Because I couldn't possibly let you sleep on my couch when you're carrying my child."
Now that reality had sunk in, I was getting excited about the prospect of becoming a father.
"Do you have to say it like that?"
I tilted my head. "Like what?"
"All possessive. This doesn't change a damn thing between us."
And there it was. The fight that I expected. I had to give her credit. I think this was a record. Usually the fighting only ever occurred after sex. Never before and certainly not after she slept in my bed.
"Well, it certainly changes a little because I fully plan to be an active part in my child's life."
"Stop saying that."
Was that a whine I detected in her voice? It definitely sounded like one.
"What would you like me to stop saying?"
"My child. My, my, my. I get it, all right. You knocked me the hell up, but the baby is also my damn child, and from where I'm sitting, I'm doing all the damn work."
Yup, that was certainly a whine she had going on. But she did have a point.
I walked over to the bed and sat next to her. I had to stop myself from smirking when she scowled at me. She was so darn cute when she was mad.
"I know this has to be tough for you. Bee mentioned you had the flu, so I'm assuming you've been sick for a few days. I just want to help."
"You spoke to my grandmother about me? How could you?"
I sighed at the tone in her voice. "Not like that. I went in for dinner and casually questioned why she was serving tables. That's when she mentioned you being sick. Don't worry, your secret about me continues to be safe."
"Not for much longer," she mumbled under her breath.
I smiled at that. "No, at some point, you're going to have to confess I knocked you up as you so eloquently put it."
"You don't have to gloat."
I sure as hell did. I wanted to beat on my chest like a caveman. If I didn't think she would kick me in the nuts, I would do exactly that.
"I would say I'm sorry, but I'm really not. I'm kinda excited."
Jo pushed up so her back was against my headboard. "Why aren't you freaking out, because I know I am?"
I didn't know what else to do, so I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure really. This has taken me by surprise, but I'm not upset like I would've thought. It never occurred to me that I would get anyone pregnant, so I didn't have a reaction planned."
"Well, you being calm is freaking me the hell out."
Jo swung her legs over the side of the bed and scooted over.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Home. I feel good enough to make the less-than-five-minute drive."
"Why don't you just stay here?"
I knew the answer even before Jo said anything. "No, thanks. I need some time alone, and I can't get that if I'm here."
"At least let me follow you home."
"Fine." Jo waved me off. "Whatever. Just don't make it obvious. I don't need people in town figuring things out until I've had time to think."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jo didn't find me the least bit funny. That was too bad because I thought I was hilarious.
I did as she asked though, and I didn't follow close behind.
A stupid rule if you asked me, considering it was a small town, and there was hardly any traffic, so it wasn't like there were any cars between us.
I did however wait a few houses down to make sure she made it inside before I went back home.
I was barely in the front door before I called Wes.
"This is becoming a habit," Wes joked when he answered the call.
"I know, but that maybe is now a definite."
"What changed?"
Jo wasn't going to be happy with me, but right now, I didn't care. The only thing that mattered was keeping her and the baby safe.
"I'm going to be a father."
Wes whistled. "Shit, man. Congrats. By the sound of your voice, I'm guessing you're happy about it?"
"I'm not unhappy about it."
"Well, that's a good start. How does the mother feel?"
I thought back to Jo's reaction and her whipping the the pregnancy tests at me. "I think it's safe to say she's still in shock."
"I guess the complicated relationship just got more complicated."
"Oh, yeah. These upcoming months are about to be interesting."
"Well, don't let her push you away. Women tend to do that when they're scared."
Didn't I know it. Jo would absolutely be pushing me away if I didn't do something about it from the start.
"I don't have any intention of letting that happen."
"Good for you, brother. I'll contact Ghost and tell them what's up. You won't hear directly from them, but I'll keep you posted and again congrats."
"Thanks and I really do appreciate it more than you know."
"Anytime."
I hung up the phone. One problem down. Probably a dozen more to go.