CHAPTER SIX #2
I put my phone in my pocket and lean against the tailgate, crossing my arms as I wait.
Part of me wants to yell at her for not talking to me, but more of me wants to pull her into me and get her to see that she doesn’t need to freak out about things alone and that I’m gonna be here for her no matter what.
A cry fills the air, and I look up and see a crying Kinsley running toward me.
She is the most beautiful woman in the world.
Even though I’m upset she withdrew from me, I can’t help but open my arms and brace when she reaches me, and I can finally wrap my arms around her again.
My heart settles the instant my arms go around her.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t talked to you or seen you.
I was in my head and being stupid. I’m just so sorry.
I love you, and I hope you can forgive me.
I—” I interrupt her rambling by moving my hands and bringing them up to hold her face.
I lean down and kiss her, and the world melts away.
I know some people will think I should stay mad at Kinsley or yell at her for what she did, but no one is perfect.
I’d like to think that was her mama bear coming out to protect our baby from what she perceived as me not wanting any more kids.
She breaks the kiss and looks up at me with her tear-filled eyes.
“I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me get it all out before you say anything, Emmett. Okay?” I wipe her tears and bring my hands down to her waist. I feel it in my gut that Meg and Maddie were right and she’s pregnant.
That’s the only answer to this whole mess.
It’s got to be. “Okay, sweetheart. You tell me whatever it is you need to.” She takes a breath and looks me in the eyes.
“I’mpregnantandIknowyoudon’twantmorekidsbutI’mkeepingitbutIloveyouandIdon’tknowwhattodo.
” She says it all as one long word. I don’t think she takes a breath at all.
This is where I need to set her straight.
“Kinsley. I love you. I love you and I’m completely in love with you.
I love you in a way that I can never see myself not loving you.
Us together? That’s it for me. You’re it for me.
” I wipe her tears again, because even if they’re happy tears, it turns out I don’t like seeing my woman cry at all.
“Also, I never said I didn’t want more kids.
I’m beyond excited that we’re gonna have a baby.
” Kinsley looks confused. “But you said that one night on the couch that your life was perfect and you couldn’t see yourself ever needing anything more.
” I lean down and kiss her briefly. I touch my forehead to hers, needing that connection.
“At that very moment, I didn’t think my life could get better.
I loved that night with us spending time with Booker and Murph.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t want kids with you.
I’ll take as many as you want to give me.
If it’s one or five, that’s your call. I’ll buy whatever couch will fit them all. ”
I can tell she’s smiling through her tears.
“That’s why I got quiet this week. I didn’t know how I was going to handle everything.
I love you with everything that’s in me, but this baby…
I wasn’t going to give it up. I couldn’t.
” I kiss her once more before standing up straight.
“That’s because you’re already a good mama.
” I squeeze her hand, and she looks back up at me.
“But, no more of that going silent or just one or two-word answers. We’re in this life together from now on. You with me?”
I get that smile that I swear she saves just for me.
“Yeah, I’m with you, and I promise not to do that again.
I’m about fourteen weeks along, according to my doctor, so we’re already in the second trimester.
I must be one of the lucky ones to get morning sickness later on.
” I kiss her temple. “Well, sweetheart, I’ll be there every step of the way from now on for whatever you need, even if it’s just to hold your hair back while you’re sick. ”
Kinsley nods in understanding, and she bites her lower lip and looks back at the building and then back at me. “So…before you got here, something happened.” I wait for her to continue, as she looks like she’s trying to get her thoughts in order.
“Well, we had just finished eating and someone made coffee and…” She pauses and looks a little green in the gills for a moment.
She puts her hand to her mouth, and I worry she’s about to be sick, but she seems to get it under control and continues telling me what happened.
“Well, as it turns out, that smell had me dropping the tray of desserts I was carrying and running to the bathroom. I did…I did get sick. When that had passed and I wasn’t feeling as nauseous, I came back out to the whole room looking at me.
I don’t know what was said, but my dad looked at me and asked, well, more like yelled out his question, if I was pregnant and how the hell that could happen.
Rory got Dad and my brothers to go into their meeting room to talk things out, but before I could go talk to them, Captain Stone - Jason said you were out here.
Some of the guys told me they would give me a few minutes to talk to you before I needed to go explain everything to Dad, but I’m guessing right about now he’s fixing to lose his shit if I don’t get in there. ”
Well, this is one way to meet my woman’s family.
I squeeze her hand. “Well then, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.
” Kinsley looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea for you to follow me in there.
I don’t want Dad or Saxon or Samson to haul off and punch you or something.
” I start to speak, but she puts her fingers up to my mouth to stop me.
“This isn’t about me hiding you anymore.
This is about me worrying about your safety and wanting all your parts to stay whole and intact.
I need my tree to stay just as you are.”
“Sweetheart, I can handle it. We’re a team now.
I’m not going to let you go in and face them alone.
Is it how I thought I would meet them? No.
But, there’s no time like the present to get our first awkward meeting out of the way.
” Kinsley looks like she’s not sure, but must see that I’m not going to waver on this, and nods her head and squeezes my hand.
“Alright, let’s do it. We can stop at the gas station on the way home for extra ice if they do manage to land a shot.”
She starts to walk back toward the building when the door opens and a familiar face pokes out.
“Deputy Wood?” I give Mick a chin lift in greeting.
“It’s just Emmett. I’m not on duty.” He looks between Kinsley and me, and his eyes go big.
“Um…I was just coming out to see if Kinsley was ready to come talk to Grant. I think he’s starting to lose it. ”
Kinsley nods and tells him, “Yeah. We were just coming in to go talk to Dad and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb.” His eyes stay big as we all walk inside the building.
I let my girl lead since I have no clue where I’m going.
We walk into a large room with a number of people milling around and sitting at tables scattered throughout.
Kinsley squeezes my hand. “I’ll introduce you around afterward, but I think we need to get in there, even though I’m still not sure it’s safe for you to meet my dad at this very moment. ”
“Babe, I can handle it. I’m not backing down from meeting your family. We’re having a baby, and it’s time they meet me because I ain’t going anywhere.”
I could sense someone walking up to us on my left side as we were talking.
I turn and am confronted with a familiar face who looks equally surprised to see me.
“You’re the one who knocked up our Kinsley?
” I nod, and he rubs his face and looks down at my woman.
“You just had to pick someone I know, and a cop, didn’t you?
” Kinsley rolls her eyes. “You may be president of the club now, but I can tell you with one hundred percent accuracy that you didn’t factor into my dating and falling in love with Emmett.
You aren’t that special. And, if you’re not careful, someone’s gonna say you just sounded like Juan or Ry.
” Jon glares down at her, but I can tell it’s the look that siblings, or someone raised as close as siblings, give to each other.
I know that look well since Cash, Waylon, and Willie constantly bring it out of me, even as adults.
Jon looks between us and seems to make a decision.
“I’m gonna go in there with you. I know Pa, Rory, and Erik are in there, but you’ve got my support and that might just come in handy.
” Kinsley nods and walks toward a closed door on the far side of the room, keeping our hands together as she seems to gain confidence in every step and holds her head higher as we get to the door.
I can hear voices on the other side, but can’t make out what is being said.
I squeeze her hand in support as she opens the door with the other hand.
I’m met with angry, stunned glares, and most of them are directed at Kinsley, except for one.
Kinsley