Chapter Five
Tease
EVERYTHING WITH OUR son is perfect. He’s still growing and his heartbeat is strong and steady.
When Sheridan had the ultrasound, I stared transfixed at the small screen showing our son.
He was moving around and it looked as if he was waving at one point.
I always knew I wanted kids at some point in my life, now that it’s a reality, I’m scared.
I’ve got a great role model in my dad, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to be a good dad myself.
I keep imagining that I’m going to fuck everything up and my son will hate me.
Sheridan had to go to the hospital again.
Dr. Matthews did mention that it might be a good idea to admit her so she can have fluids and be able to eat daily instead of getting sick every time she tries to eat something.
Plus, there’s concern with the swelling Sheridan has because her blood pressure was slightly raised.
When Dr. Matthews asked about her back, Sheridan tried to brush off her concern but I could see the pain written all over her.
This pregnancy is hurting her and she’s trying to pretend it’s not as bad.
Seeing Sheridan at the appointment, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at her.
Even feeling like shit, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.
Her hair was up in a messy bun with pieces falling out around her face she kept brushing back.
I wanted to reach out and tuck those strands behind her ear to keep them out of her face.
Despite being pale as hell, Sheridan’s flawless skin still seemed to glow.
Her violet eyes are always captivating and even darker than normal as she tries to hide her pain from the world.
To anyone else, she pulled it off. Since I know her so well, I could see every miniscule wince and storm cloud filling her eyes.
I saw the tears starting to fill her eyes when Dr. Matthews mentioned admitting her to the hospital until she went into labor.
I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her close.
Instead, I sat in the hard chair across the room as they talked and listened to every word she said and filled in the blanks on what she wasn’t saying.
Like before, Sheridan’s dad was waiting for her when the appointment was finally over.
He glared at me as we left the office and ushered his daughter away from me.
I know Mr. Russell doesn’t hate me. What he hates is the way I’m making his daughter feel right now.
Especially when he saw the tears in her eyes.
Those tears weren’t about me this time though.
At least not all of them. I watched helplessly as he walked her away from me and toward his truck.
While I walked to my bike, he helped her inside as they headed for the hospital so Sheridan could get more fluids and the medicine she needs to eat something substantial.
Every ounce of me demanded I go to the hospital to sit with her for as long as it took her to get what she needed for herself and our son.
Instead, I went for another long ride to think more about the situation I can’t stop thinking about no matter what I’m doing.
During my ride, I really thought about the situation with Sheridan.
The girl has never once lied to me in all the years I’ve known her.
She learned to open up and talk to me no matter how upset she knew the truth would make me.
Now, there is no reason I can come up with for her lying about being on birth control and not realizing the antibiotics she was taking would mess with it.
I know deep in my heart and soul I need to let this shit go and have a conversation with her, but I have no clue how to bridge the gap I’ve created between the two of us.
Especially when Sheridan, the one woman I’ve always wanted as mine, barely looks in my direction when we meet for her appointments.
This is going to be on me to fix and I have to figure out a way to make it happen sooner rather than later.
Today, instead of checking on Sheridan like I should be doing, I’m heading to Slayer’s Pit.
The strip club is thriving and always packed from the time the doors open until we close each night.
I used to love showing up and spending my nights watching the girls dance and move around the club.
Now, I dread showing up every single day.
I know this is a job and nothing more, but part of me wonders how Sheridan would feel knowing this is where I spend my nights.
While I spend most of my time in the office now, I do walk the floor so I can check in with my staff and then sit at the bar for a little bit to have a drink.
The girls don’t do a damn thing for me any longer.
I used to appreciate watching them work the room even knowing I would never touch them because we don’t mix business and pleasure in the Dirty Slayers MC.
Now, I compare every girl to Sheridan and they all end up lacking even coming close to her.
After parking my bike behind the club, I use my keys to let myself in the back.
The second I start to pull the door open, I can hear screaming and know my night is going to be long as fuck.
The main voice I hear is Jess. Hiring that bitch was the worst decision the club ever made.
Especially considering the way she went about getting the job.
When I told her I would never hire her, she went above my head to Rooster.
She gave him some kind of sob story about us being friends and her wanting to be close to me because she had someone following her and harassing her for weeks.
She wanted to be close to me for protection purposes even though she has no connection to the club.
Rooster bought her story and called me to let me know she was my newest dancer.
When I told him the truth about the situation with Jess, he was pissed and went off on her.
Instead of outright firing her, I decided to keep her close to find out what her end game is.
I know it’s about more than being my ol’ lady.
Jess is up to something and we need to know what it is before something horrible happens to us.
“I’m gonna be Tease’s ol’ lady sooner or later.
When I’m in this club, you will obey me and do everything I tell you to,” Jess shouts, her whiny voice filling the club as I stomp through the back hall toward the main floor of the club where the voices are coming from.
“I can fire every single one of you with the snap of my fingers and Tease will always back me up. You sluts are nothing more than pieces of ass who take their clothes off for money in the hopes you’ll find your next baby daddy. ”
“What the fuck is goin’ on here?” I yell, entering the room to find Jess holding court with all the dancers and issuing demands like she’s the damn queen of the club.
“Tease!” Jess says, sticking out her chest even more in her pathetic attempt to entice me as I walk up to the group of girls. “Baby, you’re here. I didn’t think you were coming in until later tonight. I was just letting the girls know how things are here when you’re not in the building.”
“First of all, don’t fuckin’ call me baby.
Exactly how are things around here when I’m not around?
” I question her as the rest of the girls start to smirk while Jess doesn’t pick up on my anger as she steps up closer to me and reaches out to run her hand down my chest. I quickly back up and put distance between the two of us.
“Since I’m gonna be your ol’ lady, I’m the one in charge when you’re not here. That’s what you told me last night when we were in bed,” Jess states, a satisfied smile on her face as she looks between the girls and me.
“First of all, you sure as fuck weren’t in my bed last night.
You’ve never been in my bed for any reason.
I told you in high school I wouldn’t touch you and nothin’ has changed.
Quit fuckin’ lyin’ about bein’ with me or you’ll find yourself out bad while we make your life a livin’ hell.
Second of all, you have no say in this club for any reason.
If someone has a question about the bar, they go to Grace since she’s been here since the day the club opened.
Phoenix is in charge of the dancers when I’m not here.
Jess, you’ve been here the least amount of time out of everyone and you’re the one causin’ me the most problems,” I say, staring at Jess as the smile slowly melts off her face and anger fills her features.
“Why are you lying, Tease? You promised you’d make me your ol’ lady and we were in bed together last night,” she tries to lie again while my anger turns to rage as I step up close to her. Jess wisely backs up to keep distance between the two of us.