Текст книги "Taking Chances"

Автор книги: Molly McAdams

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 20 (всего у книги 27 страниц)

16

I was uncomfortable. I was tired of no one letting me do anything for myself. I was tired of constantly laying down, and I was just flat out tired. I was so big I felt like I looked like a whale, even though Brandon continuously told me how beautiful I was. He let me complain at all hours of the day, and always smiled at me. I knew he was working hard to hold back his laughter, and I was grateful for it. I knew how ridiculous I was being, I just couldn't seem to stop and if he had laughed, I'd probably snap at him.

We'd had another appointment two weeks ago, and Dr. Lowdry was even more concerned that I wouldn't make it much longer. Per her instructions, we already had the hospital bag packed, the rear facing car seat was already put in my Expedition and I was no longer allowed to help cook. I had the most absurd urge to get on my hands and knees, clean the entire house and go through all the drawers in the nursery to make sure everything was where I wanted it. Again. Of course I wasn't allowed, so I laid on the couch, and grumbled to myself or talked to my little Liam.

Brandon had started school again almost three weeks ago, but thankfully he'd talked to his academic adviser before the semester started and found out he only needed to take two more classes and he'd be able to graduate in December, a week before our wedding. He was absolutely amazing, he was always getting me anything I needed, and things I hadn't even thought to ask for. When he was at school, he made sure Carrie or Mom were here to keep me company because he knew how stir crazy I was getting. The only problem was the numerous fights he was doing. He'd told Crow once the baby was born he was going to take a couple months off from fighting, and even though we had more than enough money to get us by for a few years, he was doing fights every other night anywhere from LA to San Diego to save up as much as possible. I couldn't complain too much, he'd made over ten grand last week alone, but I didn't like the fights anyway, and he only let me come with everyone if it was going to be a lame match. He was afraid of the crowds with the bigger fights, so more often than not, I sat on the bed freaking out until he called to tell me he'd won.

He had dropped me off at Mom's this morning, so I could go to lunch and have a pedicure with her and Bree, and picked me back up for my thirty-six week appointment. Like I said, they wouldn't let me do anything for myself anymore. No driving and no painting my own toes, not like I usually did them or could reach them anyway, but still. I wasn't allowed.

“Well Harper, things look great, as does he. Continue to hold off on almost all activities and lets cross our fingers that you last at least another week. You'll technically be considered full term by then, but really he would be fine if he came out now. I want to start seeing you once a week now, though I don't know how many more appointments we'll get out of him.” Dr. Lowdry's smile was warm as she spoke. “Are you both ready? Do you have any questions or concerns? Are you familiar with the hospital?”

“We took the tour and all of that earlier this week, and I don't think I have any questions. I'm just ready for him to be here. I don't sleep at all.”

Dr. Lowdry laughed and patted my leg, “That's common to be uncomfortable, just think of it as your baby preparing you for waking up all hours of the night.” She laughed again. “Brandon, what about you?”

“I think I'm good, I'm just worried she's going to go into labor and I'm not going to be at the house.” He gripped my thigh, “I don't want her to be alone when that happens.”

“I understand, but even if you aren't, most women won't have the baby for hours after their water breaks, so you'll have plenty of time to get to her and bring her to the hospital.”

He nodded, but I knew that didn't help much. Every time he left for a fight he would tell Liam if he had to come into the world that night, at least wait until he was back from the fight. Brandon wouldn't even say hi to me when he called afterward, first thing out of his mouth was always, “I love you. Did anything happen? How are you feeling?” If I wasn't so afraid he'd come home with a broken something or other, I would laugh at him for simultaneously kicking the crap out of people and being terrified his fiancée was about to go into labor.

“Well!” Dr. Lowdry stood and gave me a hug, “If anything happens or you need anything at all, just call me. If not, I'll see you both in a week.”

We thanked her and headed home for another fun filled night on the couch. Okay, I really needed to stop whining. Things could be so much worse. Brandon could not care, or he could be irritated with my moods, or worse, he could not be here at all. And I loved our nights at home, after dinner he would prop my feet up on his lap and rub them until the swelling went down. After, he would crawl next to me and press me close to his chest just so he could hold me while we watched TV. Like I said, he's amazing. I've just been super irritable lately.

“Brandon? Do you think we could do something tonight? Like maybe just go for a drive, or go to the beach? I'm not ready to be cooped up in the house again.”

He bit the inside of his cheek and looked at me for a few seconds before reversing out of our driveway we'd just arrived in. “As long as you promise to tell me if you get tired.”

I was already wide awake and practically bouncing in my seat knowing we were going somewhere, anywhere. “Promise! Where are we going?”

“Well it's your night, where do you want to go?”

“Beach and Pinkberry.” Seriously, I had frozen yogurt or ice cream every day now. It was bad.

Brandon's husky laugh gave me goose bumps and I couldn't help but smile just listening to it, “Beach and Pinkberry it is.”

He pulled the blanket out of the back of his Jeep and walked me towards the shore before laying it down and sitting me between his legs, my back pressed against him. After rolling my shirt up over my stomach, he started tracing delicate patterns on me. Liam instantly started wiggling as soon as Brandon's hands were on my bare skin.

“I'm so excited to meet him,” His deep voice filled my body, “but I'm going to miss this. You're the most beautiful pregnant woman I've ever seen Harper.”

I sighed and molded my body to his even more, “Have I told you how amazing you are and how much I love you recently?”

“I love you too.” He brushed my hair away and pressed his lips to my neck. “What are you most excited for?”

“Watching you teach him things. Like how to throw a ball and surf…” I said quickly, I thought about that all day long. “You?”

“Everything.”

“That's not fair babe! You have to say something.”

He thought for a minute, “I want to see you hold him.”

“You want to see me hold him?” I deadpanned.

“Yeah. The way you hold yourself whenever he moves or you're thinking about him, makes me fall in love with you that much more. It's tender, and full of love even though he isn't here yet. So I can't wait to see you actually hold him.”

“Oh.” And that right there made me fall in love with you more. I turned so I could face him and pressed a quick kiss to his neck, “You're going to be an amazing father Brandon. Your dad would be so proud of who you are.”

“I hope so.”

“I know he would.”

He shrugged but was smiling at me, “I don't think he wanted me to fight for a living. He was a business man, I always thought I'd do that too.”

“Do you want to? Someday, I mean.”

“I'm really not sure. I should probably figure that out soon. I can't fight forever.”

Thank God for that. “We have time, we have enough money to last us for a long time. I want you to just be with me for the first few months, I don't want you to worry about a career yet, okay?”

“Not likely, but thank you. I will stay home with you as much as possible for a while, but I've already been worrying about a career for some time now, I just don't know what I want to get into.”

“We'll figure it out.”

“Yes we will.” He kissed me thoroughly before turning me so my back was pressed against his chest again.

We stayed out there until after the sun went down and were now both lying on the blanket. My shirt was still rolled over my stomach and we each had a hand on it while our cramped baby tried to find a comfortable position to fall asleep in.

“It's getting late sweetheart, let's get some Pinkberry and get you home.”

“Thank you for taking me here, even if I was still laying down for most of it, it was nice to be outside near the water.” I let him pull me up and helped him fold the blanket back up.

We went to Pinkberry and my mouth was watering, Brandon thought my sugar cravings over the last few months were adorable, but I swear I turned into a crazed animal whenever I knew I was about to have some. Only problem was, if there were choices, I could never decide, which is why he usually went alone and picked for me. I stood there looking at everything and Brandon remained patient, he knew we'd be here a while. He wrapped his arms around my belly and planted his chin on top of my head, every now and then bringing his face down to kiss behind my ear and whisper how much he loved me and Liam. Then he'd start a trail of kisses down my neck and I'd have to start the decision making process all over.

“You're not helping babe.” I reached my hand up to run my fingers over the back of his buzzed head, I knew that would keep him from distracting me for a while. I glanced to the right and saw two female workers sigh with a dopey-eyed look. Looking over my shoulder to see that the wall was the only thing next to us, I glanced again and saw they were indeed watching us. “Jeez, no matter what you do, women drool over you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You fight in only a pair of shorts, and women practically climb over each other to get to you. You walk around at school or a store, and they trip over themselves to keep watching you. You talk or laugh, and their jaws drop and they get goose bumps. Then you do something as sweet as wrap your arms around your very pregnant fiancée and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, and they start swooning.”

His body tensed and I could practically feel his eyes looking everywhere, without moving his head, “That's kind of creepy. Wait, how do you notice this stuff?”

A quick glance to make sure they were still sighing and watching us together and I whispered, “I notice because I know what it's like to look at you, and I do the same thing. They’re at our three o’clock, by the way.”

“Does that bother you?” He teased, and when he shot a quick glance to our right he chuckled softly.

“Not at all, you're mine. It makes me laugh, knowing how much everyone else wants my man.”

“I'm giving you fair warning, I'm about to show them how much I am yours.”

I giggled, “Oh really now?”

“Hey if they want to watch, might as well give them a show.” He turned me around and captured my mouth with his, moving his lips against mine.

I put a hand on either side of his neck so my thumbs could trace his jaw, knowing they could see my humongous ring and almost burst out laughing at how stupid I was being. Not that they had any doubt before, but they for sure knew we were together now. I pulled away and smiled at him, “That was ridiculous.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the wall of yogurts.

“That was hilarious.” He corrected.

“Yeah, except now they're going to fantasize about you kissing them. Good job honey, I'm pretty sure they're goners now.”

His deep laugh made me shudder and bite my lip, “I'm not going to lie, that was fun. I make sure guys know that you're mine all the time, it was fun to let girls know I'm taken.”

“You do not.” I smacked his chest playfully.

“I do. I thought guys stared at you too much when we first started dating, you should see it now. It's frustrating the hungry looks in their eyes when they look at you.”

“Liar.”

“Harper,” he turned my chin so I was looking at his green eyes and talked soft and low, “Maybe me telling you you're beautiful isn't helping, so let me try another way. I know you think you look bad, but you're sexy as hell. Pregnancy looks damn good on you. Trust me. It takes everything in me not to rip your clothes off and finally make you mine despite what the Doctor says. And when other guys look at you, I see that look on their faces, they're fantasizing about the exact same thing.”

I rolled my eyes but planted a quick kiss to his lips anyway. After filling up my cup with frozen yogurt, I leaned into him and whispered, “It was a little fun. I flashed my ring their way when you kissed me.”

Brandon's next laugh bounced off the walls, “That's my girl.”

A male employee helped put the toppings on and took our cups to the register, there were now three girls huddled around it staring at Brandon. Brandon huffed a light laugh and shook his head as he wrapped an arm around me to pull me outside. We ate our Pinkberry in his Jeep in the parking lot and he had just turned the car back on when his phone rang. It was Scarecrow, Brandon put it on speaker.

“Man you gotta be there, this could make us more than we've ever got before. I already have a few bets and they're high.”

“I'll be there, where is it?”

Scarecrow gave him an address and Brandon cursed, “I can't I have Harper with me, we're already ten minutes away, I wouldn't be able to get back in time if I took her home.”

“Come on man, don't do this to me. The bets are only going to be this high if you're the opponent. I need you.”

Brandon looked at me and took a deep breath in and out of his nose, “Fine. But you keep an eye on her, if anything happens to her, my next fight will be against you. Got it?”

“HELL YEAH! I knew my boy wouldn’t let me down. See you in a bit.” He hung up before Brandon could say anything else.

“I'm sorry sweetheart, but I have to take you. If you don't want me to go tonight, just tell me and I'll call him back.”

“Well I don't, I never want you to go. But I know this means a lot to you.”

He brushed his knuckles along my jaw, “Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too. Call your guys, I'll call Konrad and Jeremy.”

By the time I was up on the platform with Crow; Breanna, Konrad, Jeremy and one of his friends were arriving and making their way towards us. They were surprised to see me at such a big fight, but after explaining our date and how he wouldn't have made it back they understood and the boys made a loose circle around Bree and I. I had accidentally been elbowed in the stomach pretty hard not too long ago, and that had been the last big fight Brandon took me to, ever since then I get boxed in whenever I'm allowed to come.

Scarecrow was jumping up and down and couldn't stop laughing and smiling. He finally leaned in and told me if Brandon won, he would be bringing home at least forty-five hundred. I blanched, that could only mean the guy he was fighting was really good. The most Brandon had ever made was three thousand. He introduced them, and the fight began along with my uncontrollable shaking. Bree held my hand, she knew how much I hated this. The fight seemed to go on forever, both fighters equally getting in good punches and kicks. Brandon finally got him on the ground and almost choked him out before the other guy, who went by the name “Demon”, tapped out.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief, and Bree and I laughed shakily and hugged. Scarecrow hugged us hard and started out to the ring. I looked back at my fiancé who was riling up the crowd on the opposite side of the basement we were in. I saw Demon push someone away that had been yelling at him and charge toward Brandon, just as Brandon turned back around, Demon punched him so hard Brandon's body went stiff and fell to the ground. Demon sat on top of him and began punching him again and again until Scarecrow and some other guys pulled him off. Scarecrow rushed back over to Brandon but he wasn't getting up and he wasn't moving. I was screaming and trying to run to him, but there were multiple pairs of hands holding me where I stood. I kept getting flashes of Chase's limp body on the stretcher, his lifeless hand in mine. Bree's hand was gripping my arm so hard, I had no doubt she was seeing the same thing. A few guys helped Scarecrow pick up his body to carry him out of the room, and I broke away from whoever was holding me to get to Brandon. He was breathing, but he wasn't opening his eyes or responding to anything.

It probably wasn't the brightest idea, but there was a hospital less than a mile away so the guys carried him up the stairs and put him in the back of his Jeep. Jeremy jumped in with me so he could drive after tossing his keys to his friend. Konrad said he'd follow us there. Jeremy jumped out and ran into the E.R., when he came out he was followed closely by nurses with a stretcher. They took Brandon back to an exam room but made us stay in the waiting room. I collapsed into Jeremy's side and bawled my eyes out. I'd seen Brandon knock guys unconscious, but after a minute or smelling salts, they always woke up. Brandon didn't. There was no way this was happening.

Bree, Konrad and Jeremy's friend rushed in together, Bree was crying just as hard as me. Konrad's face was ashen and blank. This was too much for what we'd seen just over three months ago.

Jeremy's friend, Kevin, stood next to Jeremy and half whispered, “I get he was knocked out and all, but these people need to calm the eff down.”

Konrad lunged at him but Jeremy jumped in between them. “I got this.” He said calmly to Konrad and turned on his friend to push him toward the door, “Not cool man.” I heard him say before they got outside.

Konrad sat on the couch and pulled Breanna onto his lap, she curled into him and soaked his shirt with her tears, his other arm went around me. None of us could say anything, the only sound was our sobs. My eyes seemed to not be able to leave his left arm that was holding Bree to his body. The thick pink scars from trying to get to Chase seemed to stand out even more now. Taunting me with alternating flashes of Chase dead on the ground and Brandon laying unresponsive. A few minutes later, Jeremy pulled me from Konrad and wrapped his arms around me, he was still in High School, but he was just as tall as his brother, though slightly lankier, and was able to hold me just as easily as Brandon.

“It's okay sis, it'll be okay.” He softly crooned. “He's going to be fine.”

An administrative nurse came up to us with a clipboard and paperwork to fill out for Brandon, and with the help of Jeremy, we got it completely filled out. When I sat back down on the couch, Kevin walked up, he'd been sitting in some chairs against another wall, and looked at us sheepishly.

“I'm really sorry. I didn't know about…” He looked around for a second, biting his lip.

“It's fine.” I said hoarsely.

Scarecrow came running in and came right over to us, “Is he okay? Did he wake up?”

Bree and I started crying again at those questions. He’s not waking up! I remembered Konrad's hysterical screaming from that night and my pleas for Chase to wake up when the EMT pulled me away from him.

Jeremy talked to him for a minute, and went back to trying to calm me down. Konrad wasn't having much more luck with Bree, but then again he looked like he was in shock. Scarecrow held a wad of cash in front of me and I looked up with disgust. I sucked in a deep breath to let him know what I thought about him and his money but Jeremy hugged me close, grabbed the money and shoved it in my purse while telling Scarecrow he needed to leave. He was a good brother for stopping me from saying something stupid.

“Sis, look at me.” he ordered and I reluctantly looked up, “He's going to be fine. I know what this means for all of you, but he will be fine.”

“Mr. Taylor?”

Jeremy and I jumped off the couch and rushed over to the Doctor.

“Are you family of Mr. Taylor?”

“I'm his brother, this is his fiancée.” Jeremy answered, keeping a tight grip on my upper arm in case I fainted, which I definitely felt like I was about to do.

“He's awake, and you can see him. Only one person at a time, but I have some questions before you go back there. Can you tell me how this happened?”

Jeremy replayed what happened after the fight had ended for the Doctor who nodded and looked at his watch.

“We should have the X-ray back in a few minutes, if there's anything suspicious I'll be running more tests, but you may go in and see him now if you'd like.”

After making sure I was going to stay vertical, Jeremy let go and walked back to the group.

“Miss? Do you need a wheelchair?” The Doctor asked looking at my swollen stomach and pale face.

“I'm fine, just please take me to see him.”

We walked down two halls and into a room. Brandon sighed in relief and reached an arm toward me. “Come here sweetheart.”

I grabbed his hand with both of mine, no longer caring about the tears still falling down my cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, just feel like I got my ass beat.” He huffed a laugh.

“This isn't funny. You weren't waking up Brandon!”

“I know.” He pulled my arm closer to his body, “Come here.” He kissed me twice and held my face in his hands. “I'm sorry, he was dirty, I wasn't expecting that. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again though. That's the first time I've had someone do that.”

I pulled away abruptly, “Again? No! Brandon, you can't fight again. Do you know what it was like seeing you like that? Unresponsive on the ground? I can't lose you too.” I sobbed and fell into the chair next to the bed.

Brandon tried to get off the bed, but the IV was keeping him there. “You won't lose me sweetheart, I promise. I'll be more careful.”

My entire body was shaking hard, I was trying to take calming breaths but it wasn't an easy thing to do. I thought watching Chase die on the ground was the worst thing I would ever experience in my life. I was wrong. Seeing Brandon like that, and thinking I was going to lose him too, that was the worst moment of my life by far.

There was a knock on the door, “Mr. Taylor?”

I looked up to see the Doctor walking in. I wish he had more emotion, his face looked like he could easily be delivering good news or bad news.

“It looks like you're going to be okay, you have a major concussion and we're going to have to keep you for a while to make sure nothing happens. But there isn't too much swelling, so that's a good thing. I do need to stress something though. You fight often, is that correct?”

Brandon nodded.

“I can't tell you what to do, but it would be wise for you to consider retiring from your fighting. Hits like the one you received tonight, can easily cause much more severe damage. Permanent damage. You were extremely lucky tonight, but since you suffered from a hit like the one tonight, even a minor one can cause damage if received the wrong way.” He looked over a couple papers, and stayed looking at them as he spoke again, “We'll monitor you for the next four hours, and if you seem to be recovering fine, you can go home. Any questions?”

Brandon looked at me, and spoke softly. “No. Thank you Doctor.” After he shut the door Brandon continued to watch me silently cry and hold my stomach for a few minutes, “Harper –”

I shook my head and moved farther from his reaching hand.

“Hey guys,” Jeremy said as he walked in, “sis, you mind if I talk to him for a bit?”

I didn't say anything, I just stood up and walked out. Brandon called my name twice but I kept walking. When I got back to Konrad, Breanna and Kevin, I relayed what the Doctor said, and how Brandon planned to keep fighting. Konrad went to the bathroom and Bree held me while we waited for Jeremy to come back. Thankfully guys don't talk long, and he was walking back into the room in no time.

“He wants to talk to you.”

I nodded and walked back down the halls, the door was cracked and I heard Brandon's rich voice filling the room.

“I’m sure it looked bad, but I really am fine.”

“You don't get it man. You weren't there that night with Chase.” I realized it was Konrad and stepped closer.

“I know that, but this is the first time something like this has happened, and it wasn't even during the fight. I make really good money, more than enough to support her and our family. I can't just stop because of one hit.”

“You won't be supporting them if you take another hit like that and it paralyzes you.”

“I won't.” Brandon groaned.

“Look you can do whatever you want. Despite what Harper says tonight, she loves you enough that she would never actually stop you from doing something you wanted to do. But your girl wasn't the only one who thought you were gone. It was like a complete flash back of that night for all of us. People normally wake up from smelling salts, you didn't. You didn't even move.”

“I didn't know they used them.”

“Well they did, three different times. She has every right to be terrified that she's going to lose you like she lost Chase. Only this time, I don't know if she would be able to move on. I understand that you didn't see her side of things after you broke up, but we did. Everyone knew she was still madly in love with you, even Chase knew it but he never brought it up. We all knew he would never hold her heart the way you did. But you did see her the morning before he died, and you saw what that, and his death did to her.”

“It was like she wasn't even there anymore.” Brandon whispered.

“Exactly. I had to watch two police officers hold her down and she still escaped them to get to Chase. I watched her scream for him to wake up even though she knew he wouldn't. But tonight? Random guys standing near us even helped in trying to keep her away from the ring. She got away from four grown men tonight. Four! And she's about to have a baby. The fear in her eyes and voice, was like nothing I've ever seen before. It was as if her reason for existing was lying motionless on the floor. Losing you would kill her, I have no doubt about that. So do what you want, but consider her and your baby before you go out there again.”

“I do consider them, I'm doing this to support them!”

“You can find another way to support them. Do you want her to always be worried that you won't come home one night from this?”

“No.” Brandon took a few deep breaths in and out, “Seeing her like that tonight, I felt like someone stabbed me and kept turning the knife. I hate that I put her through that.”

“Yet you still told her you weren't going to stop fighting?” Konrad challenged, “If you love her like you say you do, you'll take care of yourself so you can take care of them.”

“I love her more than my own life.” Brandon growled.

Konrad sighed, “I know you do man, I shouldn’t have said that. You both mean a lot to me, I love you like family. I don't want to see either of you hurt.” He took a couple steps toward the door and stopped. “Listen, she messed up with you once, and she's paying for it. She'll pay for it every day for the rest of her life. But she would never do anything again to hurt you. Think about that.” Konrad stepped through the door and shut it behind him, he jerked back when he saw me. “Hey Kid.”

I hugged him tight and cried on his shoulder.

“Did you uh, did you hear that?”

“Most of it.”

“Aw hell. I'm sorry Kid, I didn't mean for you to hear that.”

I wiped my cheeks and stood up straight, “It's fine. Thanks for talking to him, I really appreciate it.” I traced some of the scars and his body started shaking when he looked down at them as well, “I appreciate everything you’ve ever done. And I love you too Konrad.” I smiled and after another quick hug from him, waited until he rounded the corner before knocking and walking in.

“Hey sweetheart.” Brandon's voice was thick with emotion, he could barely tilt his lips up in a smile.

“You feel okay?”

He shook his head slightly, “Not really, no.”

“No?” I asked alarmed and rushed to his side. “What's wrong?”

“No, no. Nothing like that, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you,” he sighed heavily, “again.”

I pulled the chair back up towards his bed so I could still touch him. “I heard you and Konrad.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” I breathed.

“Harper, I hope you know how much I love you.”

“I do, trust me I do.”

“I'm so sorry for putting you through this tonight. I didn't know how bad it had been. I didn't know how it all had gone down for everyone that was still awake.”

I smiled and ran my hand over his buzzed hair, “You scared me. I thought I was going to lose my best friend and the love of my life.”

“I know Harper, and I'm so sorry. I can't say that enough, you can't imagine how sorry I am. I shouldn't have gone tonight, and I won't go anymore. No amount of money is worth putting you through that.”

“You and I, we've had too much loss in our lives already. Do you think we could attempt to not add to that?”

He nodded and pulled me to him, “I'm not going anywhere. I promised you forever, didn't I?”

“Forever.” I agreed.

“Come here,” He scooted to the far right side of the bed and rolled onto his left side, “you're still on bedrest, and I haven't been taking care of you tonight.”

I lay down on my back and sighed at having Brandon's warm body pressed against mine and finally relaxing. Dr. Lowdry may have a point to this whole bedrest thing, my entire body had been aching to lay down.

Brandon kissed me softly and placed a hand on my belly. “Are you two doing okay? Physically?”

“Yeah, he went to sleep right before I came in here the first time.”

“Good, I want you to sleep too. I'll wake you up when we're going to go home.”

I couldn't even protest, it had been a long day anyway, and what happened tonight had exhausted me to the point where I thought I could fall asleep standing. I felt Brandon's lips on my forehead and heard his whispers of his love for me, but I was out before I could respond.