Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Delaney
The universe is out to make a mockery of my life. I swear that’s exactly what it’s doing. It’s simply a running joke for my fate to keep being cursed the way it is.
I mean, what else explains the fact that not only is Tyler . . . Tyler Henderson . . . the father of one of my students, but he’s the one I had the one-night stand with that has left me pregnant. Not to mention he’s been the center of every fantasy I’ve had in the weeks since that night.
God, what have I done to deserve this?
I want to run and scream. Throw my hands in the air and wave them around like a loon. To storm out of there without looking back. To jump Tyler and ride him all over again. The thoughts are endless and completely erratic.
Instead of doing any of those things, most of them being completely inappropriate as it is, I shove the thoughts away and focus on the here and now. I don’t bother focusing on the man, but rather his son, as I speak directly to Dash.
Dash.
A sweet little boy who melts my heart with his excitement about school starting for him. Though I’m sure his dad will ask for him to be switched out of my class before next week, when school officially starts on Monday. I hope not, because I do think his boy is the cutest.
Answering all of Dash’s questions about baseball, I straighten and ask one of my own, “Would you like to see where you’ll be sitting?”
“Yes,” he shouts, jumping up and down, the biggest smile I’ve seen yet on any of my students as he does so.
I stretch out my hand for him to take, which he quickly does, and guide him over to his table, where he’ll sit with three other students.
“See, it has your name already there and ready for you.” I lift the packet I put under each name and hand it to Tyler.
It’s not easy to meet his gaze, but I manage to do just that.
“I’ve put together a packet for all of my parents.
This holds all the paperwork that needs to be signed and sent back on the first day, along with a few extra things for the students to have at home.
I like to give each of my students something to take home to use if they decide to.
It’s your choice to use it, however, we’ll be using them in the classroom as well.
The main thing in there is a task chart for him to mark off things as he finishes them, it’s something he’ll be doing here.
I find it helps my students stay task-oriented. ”
I take a breath and show Dash the rest of the classroom.
“Here at school, you get to mark off each of your assignments when you complete them . . .” I list all the things labeled down for him.
“Then, at the end of the week, you will be rewarded with something from the prize tote.” I point to the one that sits on the shelf close to my desk, filled with all sorts of random finds, from Pokémon cards to princess odds and ends.
All of the prizes have been donated by my brother and a few of his club brothers.
I give myself a silent pat on the back for not hyperventilating as I go over the rest of the information Tyler needs and answer his questions. By the time they leave, my hands are sweating and shaky.
Leaning against the edge of my desk, I take a moment to send a silent prayer that I managed to make it through the meeting without blabbing to Tyler about my secret.
A part of me feels awful for not having told him just yet, but it’s not like it was a good time to do it.
I’d have to be heartless to bring it up at his son’s open house.
Right now is supposed to be about Dash. It’s important.
Besides, I haven’t even made up my mind if I should even tell him. It’s not like we’re together. I hadn’t even seen him since that night. Plus, I still need to go to the doctor to confirm the truth of it all.
Not that the morning sickness hasn’t already started to kick in. This morning I spent a good fifteen minutes hovering over the toilet. The only thing to settle my stomach had been a pack of garlic herb crackers and Sprite Zero.
Signing, I shake the thought away. Now isn’t the time to think about any of this. I need to figure out how I’m going to handle having Tyler’s son in my class.
I don’t know how much I’ll be able to avoid the man and keep this all a secret if I decide not to tell him.
Will Tyler be bringing Dash to school daily?
Let him ride the bus? Be active with school events?
Go on field trips? There would be no way for me to hide the truth from him for long if he were.
My mind whirls around the different scenarios of telling him as I clean up. They were the last of my students for open house, and honestly, I’m glad for it. I wouldn’t have to freak out in front of other parents as I allow myself to overthink everything regarding the man.
I didn’t know how I was going to manage it all going forward, but for now, it was going to have to wait.
But the way he looked when he stepped into my classroom . . .
God, he looked good, way hotter than I wanted to remember.
The way that T-shirt clung to him under the open flannel shirt he wore .
. . yep, hello libido, I definitely noticed the way it molded to his body.
Not to mention the dust-covered jeans and boots.
He was simply walking, talking sex on a stick.
He could be on the cover of a poster for ranches all over.
Sighing, I gather my things, turn the lights off in my classroom, and make my way out of the building. Thankfully, I had a whole week before I had to be back in here for the first day of school. My plans for the class are ready to roll out, and all the packets are put together.
Other than going to the doctor in two days, I intend to enjoy the days left of summer while I still can.
“And there’s your baby,” the doctor says, pointing at the screen, showing me the little blot that will grow into an infant over the course of months to come. “Hmm, this is interesting.”
“What’s interesting?” I ask, my heart racing, panic is starting to seep in.
“Well, it looks like you will be having twins.” She points at another part of the screen. “This little one was trying to hide a bit. Both look to be doing well in there.” She goes on to explain what to expect with my pregnancy of having twins as I stare at the screen.
Twins.
Not just one, but two lives are growing inside me.
“I would like for you to come in again in a month. With twins, we do things a little differently here at our office. I like to be able to see patients as I feel is right for them and their babies. If everything is good, we’ll do another month appointment, then move to bi-weekly ones.
I want to be on top of anything that could potentially go wrong. ”
By the time she pulls the wand out, and I can redress, I’m nearly at my wits’ end. I want out of here. I need air. To feel like I’m in control of something. Anything.
The doctor hands me pictures, and I take them along with some papers. She guides me to the front, where I make my next appointment.
The moment I step out into the waiting room, not bothering to take in those sitting, I rigidly make my way outside. I take a breath of fresh air, closing my eyes, letting the sun beat down on my face.
What am I supposed to do now?
I’m having twins.
Twins.
I figured I could handle one by myself, but two? I wasn’t sure I could.
Not to mention, it all felt so real now that it’s confirmed.
Sucking in a breath, I walk to my truck and climb in behind the wheel. Without thinking much of it, I drive straight to the Fallen Demons’ clubhouse and to the one person who knows what’s going on with me.
By the time I get there and park, I can barely breathe. I struggle to find the air I need to keep from fainting due to the lack of oxygen.
I scramble to open the driver’s side door and hop out on wobbly legs.
I know it’s usually not a good idea to just show up at the clubhouse unannounced.
I always call Dustin first, but I really need to see him right now.
I need him to tell me I was going to be okay.
That I wasn’t going to do something that could lead to potentially losing the two little ones that I’m carrying.
That I wasn’t in this by myself without help.
It was a struggle to come to terms with one, but now it’s two. How could I let this happen? Why?
It’s not like I didn’t know the chances of this when I realized the condom broke. Only I miscalculated when I did the math in my head about my cycle.
I barely register the walk up to the doors or even stepping inside. It doesn’t even compute in my head those around me. Not until Shadow is standing in front of me. Hands on my shoulders. Della right beside him.
“You alright, Delaney?” Shadow asks.
“I . . . I . . . um . . .” I clear my throat and try again, “I need my brother.”
“Let’s get you seated.” Shadow guides me to a table and pulls the chair out for me.
“Are you okay?” Della asks, coming to sit in the chair next to me.
“I . . . I really need my brother.” I’m barely keeping it together. Mammon’s the only one who can guide me through this.
“Already sent him a text to get his ass in here,” Shadow grunts.
“He’ll be here soon, Delaney,” Della says, squeezing my hand.
I nod because there is no way I could get anything else out right now without struggling. I am on the verge of tears I don’t want to shed, but know it’s inevitable.
“Do you want to talk about what’s got you so upset?” she asks, concern filling her gaze.
“N-no,” I stumble over the one word, unable to speak further.
“It’s okay if you don’t.” The softness in Della’s voice is nearly my undoing.
How can she be so nice to me when she doesn’t even know me?
“What the hell’s going on?” Dustin demands, storming into the room, eyes on me. “Laney, what the fuck? You okay?”
Tears burst free, and I shake my head, jumping out of the seat, rushing for him. Dustin wraps me tight in his arms and shh’s me while stroking my back.
“What’s got you this upset, Laney?” he asks more calmly, soothingly. “This ain’t like you. You’re not one for getting worked up like this for nothing. Is it the baby?”
“Babies,” I murmur into his chest.
“What?” He stills, the room goes completely silent.
“Babies. Dustin. The doctor said I am having twins.” I cry harder into my brother’s chest, and he tightens his grip.
“You didn’t tell me you were going to the doctor today. I’d have gone with you,” Dustin grumbles, moving with me in his arms. “Come on, let’s get you seated and we’ll talk this through. Prospect, bring me a bottle of water for Laney.”
A guy brings over a water, hands it to Dustin, who takes the cap off and then gives it to me.
“Drink this, and then talk to me.”
I do as my brother tells me and drink several small sips before taking the cap from him and twisting it back into place.
“My appointment was today. I didn’t tell you because I was going to do it alone.
I had to do it myself. To know everything is going to be okay.
” I pause, looking around to see that the others had dispersed at some point, giving us privacy.
“The doctor did a sonogram and found I’m pregnant with twins.
” Fresh tears leak down my face as I shake my head.
“I don’t think I can do this, Dustin. I know I can’t do it alone.
I thought I could handle one baby, but two?
There’s no way. I’m scared that I’ll lose them.
I’m scared something will happen. That I’m not strong enough.
So many things could go wrong. That I’ll fail in . . . in being a mom.”
“Slow down, Laney,” he says, resting a hand over mine.
“Take a breath and listen to me.” I blink and wait for him to continue, seeing determination in his eyes mixed with hurt.
“Let’s get one thing straight here, little sister, you aren’t alone in this.
No way would I let you do it without me at your back.
Told you a while back, I was fixing the shit between us.
We’re family, and that’s never gonna change. ”
I know he’s said that. I know he means it. He’s been trying, but there’s still so much we don’t know about each other. There was a time we barely spoke to one another. We maybe spoke once or twice in a month at best, with us only seeing one another a handful of times before I moved home.
The fact that he’s doing the work to fix us makes me feel like a bitch. Because I should be helping too. Not just showing up at his clubhouse freaking out.
“You know I love you, right?” I blurt, fresh tears slipping free.
Dustin grins and squeezes my hand. “Yeah, I know you do.”
“I’m going to do my part in fixing us too. I promise,” I tell him, my breath hitching with each word leaving my mouth.
“You don’t gotta do anything but be who you are, Laney,” Dustin grins, squeezing my hand.
“Everything’s gonna be good, Laney. You’re gonna be a great mom, and your babies are gonna have a kick ass uncle with brothers that will help look out for them.”
I open my mouth to say something when Shadow steps up to the table, his wife tucked close to his side. “Everything good over here?”
“Yeah, VP, all good,” Dustin answers. “I’m gonna head out, make sure she gets home and settled in.”
“I can get home on my own,” I protest.
Dustin chuckles and shakes his head. “We ain’t done talking, and I want to make sure you’re actually alright,” he says, standing and reaching for me.
“Delaney,” Della calls softly. I look to her without question to see her staring at me with a soft smile. “If you ever need a friend to talk to, you can call me anytime. Mammon can give you my number. I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed by everything around you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, nodding. I didn’t really have friends anymore. I haven’t in so long, I’m not sure I even know how to be a friend. Just as I don’t know if I can make it as a mom, though I’m going to try.
“I’ll give her your number, Della,” Dustin says and leads me out of the clubhouse and over to my truck. “You go ahead of me, and I’ll follow.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him.
“Yeah, Laney, I do. As your big brother, it’s my job to protect you in whatever manner you need me to. Right now, it’s a matter of seeing to your state of mind.”
I love my brother. The very fact Dustin wants to push through the walls that were built up is nice. But he’ll be the only one that I let through the walls that surround my heart— him and my babies.
I suck in a breath, my hand moving to rest over my stomach. “I’m going to be a mom of twins.”
“Yeah, and I’m their uncle.” He chuckles and sobers quickly. “You ready to tell me who the father is yet?”
“No.”
There was no way I was telling Dustin who the father is.
Not until I’ve spoken to Tyler myself. As much as it scares me to tell him, he deserves to know the truth.
I don’t know how he’ll react to the news, but he’s got to know the truth of what’s happening.
He already has one great kid, would he be okay to know he’s having two more?