Chapter 17
Saturday morning, Rosa woke up cuddled next to Street.
He held her tenderly to his chest as if she were the most precious thing in his world.
She was sure her mom had cared about her as an infant and toddler but couldn’t remember anything other than the pressure to disappear.
After remarrying, her mother had focused more on his daughter than on Rosa, fueling Rosa’s rebellion and further distancing them.
Had her mother ever regretted pushing Rosa out of her new life?
“Wow, Little girl, you’re wrestling with big thoughts this morning,” Street said, smoothing a finger over the vertical line between Rosa’s eyebrows.
“I’m glad to be here with you.”
“Good. I’m not going to let you go anywhere.”
His voice was firm and solid. A hint of emotion colored the words, increasing their importance. Street wasn’t afraid to let her know how much he cared. She liked his openness a lot.
“It’s Saturday, right? You don’t have to go to the warehouse?” Rosa guessed. She’d never not worked. Keeping track of what day it was had become challenging when she didn’t need to finagle two or three shift schedules.
“No work for me. Remember, I’m taking you to see Razor today, and tomorrow we have the barbecue.”
“Let’s reschedule that exam for another day,” Rosa said, trying and failing to eliminate the nervousness from her tone.
“Not happening, Little girl. Razor’s going to check your hand. If it’s healed sufficiently, Fury’s finishing the plumbing tomorrow and invited you to help.” He held up his palm when she opened her mouth. “That’s a big if.”
“My hand doesn’t hurt at all. I’ll wear the gloves you got me this time.”
“After Razor checks you out.”
“And your knuckles?”
“Yes. He can do both. Then, he’s got time to examine you for birth control. I want to make sure we protect your health.”
Rosa wrapped her blankie around her chest as she pushed herself up to sit on the mattress. “I don’t really need a physical.”
“I get that you don’t want an exam, Little girl. No one enjoys going to the doctor. I will be in the room with you.”
Her cheeks heated. “Those visits are so embarrassing. I’ll skip that part. Just have him check my hands. Maybe I can talk him into a generic birth control prescription without doing an exam.”
“Razor won’t prescribe anything without making sure that you are healthy. Even a medicine as simple as aspirin can cause problems. You’ve had a pelvic exam before?” His gaze assessed her.
“Yes. Several years ago when I thought I’d picked up something from a stupid fling. The doctor looks at everything. And I have to see Razor all the time. Honey is a friend of mine.”
“Aha. Now I understand. Razor is an excellent doctor who cares about his patients. I trust him. More than any other doctor I’ve known.”
“But I have to run into him a lot. Like at the barbecue.”
“Honey is aware that Angel, Caroline, and Winnie all go to him as their doctor. Do you think she’d be upset if you let him treat you as well?”
“Probably not. She’s too sweet.”
“Would you like me to see if Razor will give us the name of another doctor?” Street asked quietly.
“No. I don’t want him to think he’s the problem.
That would make things even more awkward.
I’ll check if he can give me pills without examining me today.
I’ll tell him I’m on my period. That would make examining me impossible.
Then, I’ll go to a clinic somewhere after I earn some money. We can keep using condoms, right?”
“Of course we can, Rosa. Condoms aren’t as reliable as the pill. Lying to Razor doesn’t sound like a good idea. You can tell him the truth. He won’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“I’m a terrible liar,” she confessed.
“He’s a very smart man.”
“I know he’s a good doctor. We didn’t really talk about exams and personal stuff like that at the slumber party, but Razor’s name came up several times in our conversations.”
“You were gossiping about the Daddies, hmm?” Street asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“We weren’t gossiping, Daddy. Angel mentioned Razor had helped her a lot after being held captive by the Ravagers.”
“Yes. He’s extremely knowledgeable. He has both a medical and psychology degree. I’ve talked through a few sticky life things with him,” Street admitted.
“You did? Like something bothering you mentally?” Rosa didn’t want to pry, but she didn’t know much about Street’s background. He was obviously intelligent and self-controlled.
“Yes. My family doesn’t understand why I left my bone-crushingly demanding business career to come drive a forklift and join a motorcycle club.”
“Did he make things better?” The train wreck of Rosa’s existence had impacted all her decisions.
She’d always wondered if she’d played the game better—if she hadn’t rebelled against losing importance to her mother and accepted being a barely tolerated stepchild and stepsister—what her life would be like now.
“I felt better after talking to him. I don’t know if Razor would say he actively helped me. He doesn’t do that. He coached me through my doubts of whether I’d made a mistake in undertaking such a major change.”
“What did you decide?” she asked.
Razor tugged one of her hands away from the blanket.
He linked his fingers with hers. “I never thought my choices were wrong. And now that I’ve found you, I know this was the path I was supposed to take.
You are my reward for being true to myself.
” Razor lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss on her skin.
Her eyes filled with tears. How had she met this incredible man?
She digested his statement. Maybe all her struggles hadn’t been a punishment.
If she considered the many nights she’d gone to bed hungry and hoped she’d wake up safe as part of her journey to Street, to her Daddy, suddenly they paled in importance.
She smiled at him and blinked away the moisture blurring her vision.
Suddenly, the discomfort of having such an intimate checkup wasn’t important.
She could do this easily for herself and her Daddy, especially because he would be with her.
“I think seeing Razor today is a good idea.”
“I’ll support whatever decision you make,” he said.
Rosa leaned down to press her mouth to Street’s. She tried to show him how much he meant to her in the exchange. He responded eagerly as if he craved her kisses. Her heart skipped a beat and sped up. When she forced herself to sit back again, they both breathed heavily.
“Damn, Little girl. I never imagined I could love you more than I do at any specific moment. You always show me how wrong I am. Every second we’re together helps me treasure you more.”
She gathered her courage. “I love you, Daddy.”
The heat flared in his eyes. “Repeat that.”
“I love you, Daddy.” This time sharing her feelings was easier.
He pulled her to the mattress and rolled Rosa onto her back. She pushed her arms against his shoulders. “Daddy, we can’t. Not before my exam.”
“Your rule, Rosa. Not Razor’s.”
“How about after my doctor’s visit, you bring me home and we spend the rest of the day in bed?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows in what she hoped was a seductive move.
His groan filled the room before he dropped his forehead gently onto hers. “Deal. That reward will definitely beat even the good lollipop treats at Razor’s office.”
Peals of giggles at his silliness welled from deep inside of Rosa. She couldn’t wait. Perhaps she could distance her mind from the physical with lascivious plans for their playtime afterward.