19. Chapter 18
Clark
“How true are these results, like right down to the percentage, I mean…” I hear whispered behind me, and I look up from logging my patient's blood pressure to see said patient staring at her trembling hands, tears trailing her cheeks.
“The urine test is normally ninety-nine percent accurate, the one percent is extremely rare,” I say softly as I shut her folder and walk over to her before taking a seat on the doctor's stool, and I confirm, “It wasn’t planned?”
“We were protected,” she chokes, “he always wore a condom…”
“Unfortunately, condoms only work ninety-eight percent of the time. Usually, physicians encourage an extra form of protection like birth control,” I reply, and she sniffs as she wipes away her tears.
“How do I tell my sister I’m pregnant with her husband's baby?” the woman asks, looking up at me, and I swear, it takes everything to keep my expression neutral because, hello, I did not expect that.
“He doesn’t love me, he’s only sleeping with me to punish her for starting a job instead of being a stay-at-home mom.
I-I wanted to punish her for never taking my side with our parents,” she whispers.
“By breaking her trust and sleeping with her husband?” I ask gently, trying not to be judgmental, but well, I’m so totally judging right now and she sniffles.
“I want an abortion,” she exclaims, and I sigh.
“I don’t think making decisions on a whim is a good idea,” I try, but she shakes her head.
“I don’t want kids, I never have, and I certainly don’t want my sister’s husband’s child, she’ll never forgive me as it is,” she sobs before she grabs her phone and presses on the screen, then puts her phone on speaker.
“I thought we agreed you won't call me anymore!” an angry voice answers after two rings, and I freeze.
Surely she isn’t really going through with this right now.
Wait, I recognize that voice…
"I’m pregnant, Shayne,” she says, and I go completely rigid.
Shayne, as in Shayne Cals, the guy who tried to assault me in high school?
"You’ve got to be kidding me! I used protection!" he growls.
And yep, Shayne Cals.
“Well, it failed, I’m in the ER after bad cramps, and they’ve confirmed the pregnancy,” she whispers, and I lean back again in complete shock.
Someone actually married that guy? Unbelievable.
“You need to get rid of it, I can’t have your sister find out that we fucked out of revenge, Kim, she’ll fucking leave me!” he snaps, “She just told me we’re having another baby, that she left her job, if she finds you’re also having my child she’ll –”
“What?” A shocked gasp echoes, and I turn to see, well, what do you know, head cheerleader Taylor Mannings looking completely pale.
How did I not put the two names together?
Well, today just got interesting…
“Tay,” Kim chokes, and I slowly get up and say, “Miss Mannings, if you are still determined for an abortion, then I’ll send a physician in to speak to you.”
“Taylor?” I hear jackass say panicked into the receiver, and I roll my eyes and mutter, “Guess Shayne never really changed from high school.”
I wonder if he’s still friends with the failed quarterback, what’s-his-name?
Damn, is it bad that I can’t remember his name when I went on my first date with him?
Kim's hazel eyes widen, hearing me, and I give her a small smile before I turn and face Taylor, who has always wanted Miles.
And here comes that jealousy I always felt when the pretty blonde head cheerleader looked at my husband with googly eyes.
Crap.
“Clark,” she chokes, and I walk over to her and squeeze her arm in support. “I hear you married Trick,” she rasps, ignoring her sister.
“I did. We have a beautiful five-year-old little girl," I reply softly.
She nods as a few tears fall, and whispers, "I need to get out of here."
I nod in return, guiding her out as her sister and soon-to-be ex-husband call for her back.
I pass the physician on this evening and say, “Room two wants to discuss a termination of pregnancy. I’ve left her notes inside,” and she frowns but nods and walks over to where screaming and shouting are now echoing.
I guide Taylor towards the exit, and she whispers, “Thank you, Clark.” She looks at me, “Even in high school, you were always kind, and I just wish I’d listened to you when you said Shayne cornered you.”
“But if you had, then you wouldn’t have your two kids,” I remind her, knowing her daughter is in Drew's class, seeing her in passing.
I just never knew Shayne was her father. That poor kid. I’ve lost count of how many times Drew complained about Aries's deadbeat dad hitting on her.
I think Shayne brought her in the last class, and Drew made sure Cage was present.
She nods as a few tears fall before she squeezes my hand, then walks away with her head down and I sigh. I return back inside to chaos, where Kim is screaming down the phone at Shayne, claiming it’s all his fault and I shake my head.
Four more hours. No husband to distract me, just endless minutes ahead.
***
Belle:I think we need a girl day. We’ve barely seen each other lately, and I know my comment didn’t help things, which I really am sorry about. I miss my friend xx.
I smile reading my friend's message four and a half hours later as I put my bag over my shoulder, and I quickly reply.
Me:sounds like heaven, this weekend? Xx
When she doesn’t message back right away, I put my phone in my pocket and leave the staff room, ready to get home.
Miles should have picked Willow up from her Auntie Drew’s and had her ready for bed. Meaning I get the evening with my husband, something I’m still not used to having but willing to try.
Six years of being pushed away and even before that, I convinced myself he only saw me as a friend, or worse, his best friend's sister. That's a lot to overcome, but I’m determined not to lose hope.
I’ve put a stop to the divorce, and I’m communicating with him openly. Doing therapy together helps me understand his mind and feelings, and I’ve opened my heart to him. As I said, I’m trying.
My phone beeps and I grab it from my pocket and grin at Belle’s reply but groan as I read the words.
Belle:deal, but just so you know, your brother has begged me to convince you to talk to him and watch his niece xx.
I snort and reply.
Me:Maybe he needs to be man enough to come speak to me, but not with the attitude of, ‘I’m not apologizing because I always knew they should be together,’ but the ‘I should have had your back,’ kind of thing xx
Pressing send, I put my phone back just as a voice says, “You think you’re just perfect, don’t you?!” and I sigh as I look to my right.
Dr. Lavish who has the biggest scowl on her face.
"How do I think I’m perfect?" I ask.
She curls her lip. “Walking around all high and mighty, having the whole hospital staff on your side!” she snaps, and I snort.
“Bitch please,” I snap back, “I was held at scalpel point all because you couldn’t do your job properly.
You’ve tried to make my life hell ever since you arrived at this hospital and figured out the MC brother was married to me,” I look up and down at her in disgust, “You’re pathetic that you seem to think that a married man would want you over his wife.
Grow up and have some more self-respect. ”
I turn and keep walking away from her, and she calls, “I’ll have him one way or another, Clark! You don’t deserve him, you never have, and everyone knows your marriage isn’t real!”
I shake my head and keep walking, trying to ignore her harsh words, which are hitting closer to home than I’d like. I always thought I didn’t deserve him, but screw her because I got him, he’s mine, and I need to give him the faith he’s asked for.
I walk over to the nurse's desk and sign out just as I hear, “I’ve broken my fucking foot, stop being so rough with me!” and I look towards the door and find a tattooed skinny guy in handcuffs being dragged, and I grin widely.
“Well, well, well, Kodi Marshalls, the big badass police officer,” I call, gaining the beautiful woman’s attention from where she’s helping her partner drag the offender, and she grins widely, her hazel eyes sparkling.
“Hey, Clark,” she says before she looks at her partner and says, “Take a seat with him, Masters. I’ll log him in.”
The man nods as she walks over to me, but I don’t miss the way his eyes go to her ass.
Huh, maybe something’s going on with them? Although, Kodi and I shared the same no sex before marriage values back in school…
I shake my head as I drop the clipboard and give her a hug.
“How are you doing, girl?” I ask as we pull away, and she shrugs one shoulder and replies, “Oh, you know, so-so, working a lot,” and I nod in understanding.
Kodi, Belle and I were in the same friend group in high school and hung out a lot.
Belle and Kodi no longer get along – something about Belle claiming she heard Kodi gloat about trying to get with my brother, something I have never believed.
I’ve always stayed in touch with Kodi, heck, she’s even watched my daughter a few times but as of late her job is getting busier, a job she wasn’t keen on having but was pushed into.
Her mom was killed four years ago by the Chargers in retaliation for some of the men being charged with assault.
Her dad is the chief, and they hit him where it hurts, and now the leader, last I heard, is doing life because the man filmed himself raping and then killing Grace Marshalls.
Kodi was in school studying art while working in an art gallery, but her father pulled her out and forced her to join the police academy.
She’s lost a little bit of her spark.
“Willow misses you,” I say, and she grins widely.
“I have the day off next Thursday, we can meet up at the park?” she suggests, and I nod, already knowing I’m off that day and it’s a day off for the kids.
“Sounds perfect,” I say just as I see Knuckles walking my way, and I frown, causing Kodi to turn, but she tenses completely, confusing me, and she says, “I'd better log this guy in. He isn’t hurt or anything, but he knew that if he claimed he was, we would have a duty of care. Just uh, give me a message about what time on Thursday.”
I raise a brow but nod as she walks by me, squeezing my arm as she goes, but Knuckles stops before me, his eyes on Kodi.
Hmm, interesting, very interesting.
“Hey, good looking, what’s cooking?” I ask Kuckles, gaining his attention, and he smirks at me.
“You know if Trick heard you say that he’d skin me alive,” he says, and I chuckle as I begin to walk to the door with him following.
“Yeah, but it got your attention,” I say before I ask out of curiosity, “I didn’t realize you knew Kodi?”
“Kodi?” he says slowly, like he’s trying to taste her name on his tongue, and my curiosity builds.
“I don’t, not really. She was the cop who came when we called about the kids and wouldn’t take my authority when I explained the fuckers had left before we got there.
I couldn't exactly say, ‘oh, hey, yeah, don’t worry about it, we’re killing them.
’ She was pissed,” he admits, and I hum before I inform him, “Her mom was killed out of petty revenge by the Chargers,” and he pauses just outside of the hospital and looks back inside.
He wants to go in, but he’s hesitant and I know his mom is the reason for that.
While the club bunny has been there for him, it wasn’t in a positive way, something I only know because I saw her treatment firsthand, and he doesn’t trust women.
“She’s a lovely girl,” I add, “Hung out with me and Belle a lot in high school.”
He hums again just as I hear, “Buttercup,” and I turn to the parking lot, and my mouth drops open seeing every officer brother on their bikes, my husband front and center.
“What the…” I whisper, and Knuckles says, “Welcome to your ambush, sweetheart.”
Ambush?
I frown before I lock eyes with my brother's determined ones, and I groan, causing Knuckles to chuckle.
Goddamn Miles for not prewarning me.