Page 41
GOLDIE
I woke up feeling like complete shit. My body hurt all over. I barely had the strength to lift my head, let alone stand. Everything sucked!
Until York’s head popped up over the pillow wall. His sleepy eyes made his rugged face especially soft. When his leather-brown gaze focused on me, he flashed a victorious smirk.
York wasn’t as obvious about his feelings once my parents arrived to help me dress. Rather than offer me privacy, he lingered in the room. My dad shot him a dirty look, but York didn’t leave.
Soon, my dad pushed me out of my quiet bedroom into the bright and noisy family room. I smiled at the sight of my clubmate Roy “Rowdy” Reed and his “unofficial wife” Kat. The dark-haired biker was currently kissing all over his blonde baby mama.
Kat’s identical twin sister, Maria, had fallen for my clubmate and fellow Rawlins kid, Farley Jones. I was so relieved to see the sweet-natured biker with such a kind, smart woman.
Rowdy and Farley knelt in front of me. Rowdy’s icy blue eyes revealed nothing. I felt like he was putting on a happy veneer to calm Kat and Maria.
Farley, meanwhile, couldn’t hide his agitation. His brown eyes radiated worry.
“There’s the badass fox,” Rowdy said and tousled my hair. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I was hit by an SUV.”
Farley clearly wanted to hug me but seemed unsure if touching my battered body was safe.
While my old friend struggled, Rowdy kept up his smiley routine. “Well, you look amazing for someone hit by an SUV.”
While Rowdy encouraged everyone to applaud my hotness, Kat walked to me. Her soft blonde hair was tied up in a ponytail. She wore a yellow version of her sister’s orange shirt. I could see she wasn’t sure how to react to the varying moods in the room.
“We’re making breakfast. What would you like to eat?”
“Did you leave the boys with Bebe?” I asked, mentioning Rowdy’s mom.
“No, we brought them,” Kat said and gestured toward the other end of the family room.
Blackjack pushed my wheelchair closer to allow me to admire Rowdy’s identical four-month-old boys, Cavan and Colson. The blond boys sat in their bouncers, staring amazed at various beach-themed toys dangling around them.
“We just bought these,” Kat said and stroked her boys’ heads. “If the noise bothers you, let me know.”
“I want to watch them play,” I said and glanced at York.
The biker knew exactly where my head had gone. If we could be more than fuck buddies, would our future involve a baby? I had no idea if he had any interest in kids. York was always patient and friendly with Nova’s girls. That didn’t mean he wanted a kid of his own.
But I had been daydreaming about a baby since Elle gave birth to Trent just before the new year. By then, I knew York was far more than a bi-monthly hookup for me. Falling for him had inspired me to consider motherhood for the first time. Once Rowdy revealed he had twin boys, I was suffering from a terrible case of baby fever.
Blackjack and York helped me onto the couch with a clear view of the boys. I wanted to think of the future rather than focus on how crummy I felt today.
My mom climbed over the back of the couch and settled next to where I sat with my legs elevated. She rested on her knees and stared at me.
“You look bad,” Yarrow said and began to cry.
I hugged her against me, cradling her like a baby. My mom didn’t know how to process so much stress without wigging out a little.
Kat and Maria were startled by Yarrow’s sobs. While Rowdy whispered to them, Farley asked Blackjack if we needed anything.
The nearby baby boys didn’t notice my mom’s tears, but a nervous Mochi danced around next to the couch. Kneeling next to the dog, York stroked her until she stared in awe at him.
Blackjack sat at my side and smiled. “Your bruises are darker today.”
“I hurt more,” I said, tearing up as my mom sobbed against me. “But York said that’s normal. It’ll take a week or two before I’ll only have my foot to worry about.”
“And your head,” my dad said and stroked my noggin. “You seem sharper today.”
