Definite, p.17
Definite, page 17
I wiggle my way over to him and he wraps his arms around me. “Love you,” he says with a yawn.
My eyes catch the clock on the nightstand. It’s not even eight o’clock and we’re in bed. I start to giggle, which turns to full-on laughter.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, chuckling just because I’m laughing.
“We are. It’s not even eight o’clock and we’re going to bed. If your fans could see you now. Badass drummer Tristan Lewis and his ball and chain are already an old married couple. I can see the headlines now.”
“It’s been a long day, and you need your rest. I am where you are.”
“You don’t have to come to bed just because I do.”
He kisses my shoulder. “I know that, but I’m tired too. Besides, you know there’s nothing else I would rather do than hold you.”
“You’re smooth, Lewis,” I tease.
“Nothing smooth about honesty.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For loving me the way you do. For giving us this amazing life.”
“None of it means anything without you.”
I close my eyes, letting his words wash over me. Lying here in the comfort of his arms, I drift off to sleep.
I wake a few hours later, needing to pee. Tristan still has his arms tight around me. It takes some maneuvering, but I’m able to slide out of his hold to relieve my bladder.
When I get back to bed, the moonlight is shining through the bedroom window. The blanket is riding low on his hips. Just the sight of him has desire coursing through me.
I want him.
Slipping out of my panties and shirt, I climb back into bed and snuggle as close to him as I can get.
“Everything okay?” his groggy voice asks as he puts his arm around me. “You’re naked.”
I don’t say anything, just arch my back, causing my ass to rub against him. He moans as his fingers find my sensitive nipples and his lips land on my bare shoulder.
“You want me?” he asks, his breath hot against my ear. My answer is to press my ass against his hard cock. “Are you ready, baby?”
His hands roam down over my bump to the apex of my thighs, exactly where I want him. When he runs his finger through my folds, he hums in satisfaction. When his hand disappears, I know what’s coming next. I feel his hard length at my entrance and I wiggle to where I’m almost sideways in the bed, opening my legs for him. He guides himself inside and we both moan. He curls his body into mine, and it’s as if we’re scissored together. I grip his leg while he gently slides in and out. We’ve had to come up with some creative new positions, but this is by far one of the best yet. He can thrust into me, and my belly isn’t in the way.
“There,” I say when he hits deep, just where I need him. This spurs him on and he lets loose. All I can do is hold on for the ride and just feel.
“Ren, I’m… close,” he pants, unrelenting in his rhythm.
“Yes!” I scream as my orgasm takes over.
He doesn’t stop, just hammers into me, chasing his own release. When he stills and shudders, I release my grip on his leg, holding him to me.
“Wow,” he exclaims, sliding free and pulling me into his arms.
“Move this one to the top of the list,” I gasp, and he laughs.
We’re both quiet while we catch our breath, and I can feel sleep starting to take hold.
“Love you,” he whispers, kissing my bare shoulder. That’s the last thing I remember before falling back into a deep sleep.
When I wake up the next morning, Tristan is already gone. He left me a note in the kitchen telling me to call him when I got up. I knew he had to be at the studio early; I shouldn’t have woken him up last night. I feel guilty for maybe a minute until I hear his voice in my head telling me he would’ve gone without sleep the entire night if it meant that he got to be inside of me. That’s my husband.
After a bagel and glass of milk, followed by a quick shower, I find my way to the nursery. I take my time, unpacking all my purchases from yesterday and removing the tags. I read in one of my pregnancy books that this is called nesting. I don’t really know if that’s the case, but it’s therapeutic to me. I feel ready. We have what we need for Zachary to arrive; now it’s just waiting. I’m sure these last few weeks are going to crawl by as we wait to meet our son.
I’m just gathering up the basket of items to throw in the washer when my cell rings.
“Hey, how’s your day?” he says in greeting.
“Good. I missed you this morning,” I tell my husband.
“You were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t wake you.”
“Someone wore me out last night.”
He laughs. “Weren’t you the one who woke me up?”
“It was so worth it,” I counter.
“Yeah, baby, it was. Listen, Kace and Cole are calling the girls. We thought we could all meet here and go out to an early dinner. Kace doesn’t want to mess with Drew’s sleep schedule.”
“What time is it?”
“Just after four.”
“Wow, I’ve been in here all day.”
“Here being where?”
“The nursery. I went through everything, took off the tags and got it ready to wash, and organized some things.”
“Nesting.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“That’s what the books call it.”
“I know. I remember reading that.”
“I still can’t believe you read those books.”
“I had to know what you were going through, what to expect. This is a team effort, even though you’re doing all the work right now. So, dinner?” he asks.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Meet at the studio?”
“Yes. Be safe, and I love you both.”
“I love you too. Be there soon.”
Ending the call, I leave the clothes basket where it is. After a quick stop at the bathroom, I grab my keys and purse and head out.
When I pull out of the garage, I notice a black SUV similar to mine behind me. I don’t think much of it until I realize it’s taking my exact route. Every turn, they follow me.
I try to remain calm, thinking it could just be a coincidence. It’s not until they speed up on me that I get really worried.
Hitting a few buttons on my steering wheel, I dial Tristan.
“Hey, you here?” he asks.
“Almost. I don’t want you to panic, but I think I’m being followed.”
“Where are you?” His voice is stern and I know he means business.
“About five minutes away. It’s a black SUV like ours, just longer. The windows are dark, so I can’t make anything else out.”
“Tell me why you think they’re following you.” I go through the last ten minutes and tell him about the car speeding up behind me. “Where is the car now?” His voice is calm, but I can hear the fear, it’s just as apparent as my own.
“Right on my ass,” I say, seeing them pull even closer in the rearview mirror.
“Babe, stay calm. Can you drive faster but stay safe?”
“Yeah, but—”
The car rams into mine and I scream, my grip on the wheel tightening.
“What was that? What’s going on?” The calm is no longer there, his voice is laced with panic and fear.
“They just rammed into the back of me,” I say through tears.
“Fuck!” he screams.
I hear the guys in the background, but my focus is watching the road and this lunatic behind me. “Tristan, I’m scared,” I tell him.
“I know, baby. You’re close, right? Just drive a little faster, but please be safe. I love you. You’re almost here. Gavin’s going down to the garage to open the doors for you. Drive straight in.”
“I love you too,” I say through my tears.
“Ren, baby. Take a deep breath. Fuck!” he roars.
“I’m trying. Tristan, what if—” My voice breaks off in a sob.
“Baby, you’re close, just focus on the road. Listen to my voice,” he says, taking a deep breath himself. “I’m here, Ren. We just need to get you to the label. There’s no reception in the garage, so Gavin is there waiting on you. Just drive right in. As soon as I know you’re inside, I’ll be there. I promise you.”
“Shit!” I scream, gripping the wheel, trying to keep my car on the road.
“What?” he asks, panic in his voice.
“Th-they hit me again,” I sob. “Tristan, I’m scared. Zachary.” I cry even harder. My tears are making it hard to keep my eyes focused on the road.
“Lauren, baby, I need you to stay calm. How far away are you?”
“Two minutes maybe,” I guess.
“I love you, Ren. You’re almost here, baby.”
“I love you too. They’re driving up beside me,” I tell him, frantically looking from the mirrors and back to the road. “Tristan,” I cry, scared out of my mind.
That’s when it happens. The SUV rams into me and I lose control. I scream, knowing there’s no way to keep my car from hitting the ditch and the pole in front of me. I faintly hear Tristan screaming my name as my car flies through the air. It tumbles over and over, and all I can think about is my baby.
I place my hands over my belly, knowing it’s not enough to protect my son. The faint taste of blood assaults my taste buds. I try to call out for Tristan, but everything goes black.
“Lauren!” I scream into the phone, but all I hear is the sound of screeching tires and metal crunching. Then the line goes dead. “No! Call 911!”
“What’s the fuck is going on?” Cole booms.
“Lauren!” I scream into the phone again, but nothing but silence greets me. “I have to get to her.” I race toward the door. “Call 911,” I say again over my shoulder, then run straight into Kacen.
“T, listen, man, you have to tell us what you know.”
“I don’t have fucking time. They wrecked her, I heard it. I heard her scream. I have to get to her.”
“She was close, right?” Cole asks.
They must’ve heard me ask Gavin to open the garage for her.
“Yeah,” I croak out, tears making it hard to speak. “She said two minutes away, so she’s close. Fuck! I have to go to her.”
“I’ll drive. You stay here with the girls, and call Gav,” Cole tells Kacen.
“Go!” Logan shouts. “We’ll get Gavin, and he can stay with us. Go to her,” she tells her husband over her tears.
I don’t remember much else. The entire ride there, I pray for their safety over and over again, begging anyone who might be listening to not take them from me.
When we reach the scene, the ambulance is already there. I see her SUV on its top and it’s fucking mangled. I rush toward her, but Cole and Kacen hold me back.
“You have to let them do their job, man.”
“That’s my fucking world. My wife and my son. Fucking let me go!” I scream, doing everything I can to break free, to get to them. “Lauren! I’m here!” A sob wracks my chest. Twisting and turning, I try to break free. I have to get to them. They need me.
They don’t relent, keeping a firm grip on me while I watch as crews cut my wife and son from the wreckage. When they bring her up on the gurney, I break free. I know they let me, but I also know that nothing would stop me from going to them. I would have fought them, both of them to get to her, to get to them.
I reach her and there’s blood. So much blood. “Ren,” I whisper, my voice shaking.
“Sir, you have to step back,” one of the uniformed officers warns me.
“She’s my wife. She’s pregnant,” I tell them.
“Let them do their job,” Kacen says, his grip firm on my shoulder.
“I’m going with her. I won’t leave her.” I have to stay with them, let them know that I’m here.
“I’ll take you. We’ll follow right along behind them, but you can’t ride with her.” He tries to pacify me. It’s not working. I know Kacen means well, but I know that if the roles were reversed he would insist to be with his wife and son.
“No, I won’t leave her.”
“Tristan.” Kace squeezes my shoulder. “Let them do their job. Come on, I’ll ride with you. Cole will be right behind us.”
“No.” I twist away so his hand will drop from my shoulder. “I’m going with her.”
“Sir, your family is in need of medical attention,” one of the EMS workers joins the conversation. “We need all the room and none of the distractions to get them to the hospital to receive the care they need. I need you to stay strong for her and meet us there.” He closes the doors, locking me out of the back of the ambulance.
“Fuck!” I roar. “Let’s go.” I stalk to the officer’s car, then back to see them standing still. “Now!” I don’t take my eyes off of the back of the ambulance where my whole word resides.
Kacen and the officer make double time to the car and we speed off after them. Again, I pray, I beg, I plead for them to be okay.
When we reach the emergency room, I don’t even wait for the cruiser to stop before I’m pulling the door open and rushing inside. I hear Kacen yell for me, but I don’t stop.
There’s a young girl working at the desk, her eyes lighting up in recognition. “Can I help you?” she asks with a flirty smile.
“You can tell me where I can find my wife.”
“Sure, have a seat.” She twirls her hair.
“Listen, I need you to look on your little screen there and tell me where the fuck my wife and son are. Now!” I roar when she just sits there.
She jumps at my outburst, eyes wide.
I feel Kacen come up beside me. “Lauren Lewis. She was brought in from an auto accident. That’s his wife, and if I were you, I’d start telling him where he can find her.”
She blinks a few times at the two of us together.
Then Cole walks up. “What the hell is your problem? Consider your job gone.” He walks around the desk and into the back room, not giving a single fuck.
“Sir, you can’t be back here,” I hear a nurse tell him.
I start to follow him but Kacen grabs my arm, holding me back while Cole speaks to her. “Listen, that man out there just watched his pregnant wife be carted out of her SUV that was mangled. He’s ready for blows, and the receptionist out there is too busy flirting with us to do her damn job. Somebody needs to tell us something, or my boy is going to lose his shit. And trust me, you do not want that to happen.”
She nods. “Let me take you to a private room and I’ll have the doctor come speak to you.”
“I need to see her,” I yell out.
Her eyes soften. “My name is Kathy, and I promise I will do what I can to keep you updated every step of the way. The private room will keep you away from all of that.” She points behind me. I don’t bother to turn and look. Instead, I just let Kacen pull me forward to the private room.
“I’ll be right back,” Kathy says, shutting the door.
The room is small, maybe fifteen chairs, and it has a small vending area. I pace the floor while Kacen and Cole stand at the door, as if they’re afraid I’ll run. They know me well.
At the sound of the door opening, I stop and lift my head. A middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair comes in. He has blood on his scrubs, and my stomach drops.
“Mr. Lewis?” he asks.
I raise my hand, unable to speak from the sight of the blood all over him. I know it’s hers.
Please, God, let her be okay.
“I’m Dr. Stevens. Your wife has been rushed into an emergency cesarean. The baby’s heart rate was too low when they brought her in. We had to act fast.”
“It’s too soon.” I’m barely able to push the words past my lips.
“We’re guessing her at about thirty-four, thirty-five weeks?”
“Thirty-four,” I confirm.
“Your baby has a good chance, being this far along. He’s going to be small, but his chances are good.”
“My wife?”
He swallows hard. “She has a lot of injuries. A wound to her head, which is where the blood came from. She had a gash on her abdomen as well. Other than that, her vitals are strong, but we had to move her into surgery to save your son. Once she’s out, we’ll send her for scans to make sure there’s nothing we’re missing.”
“How is she? Was she okay?” I ask. “I mean, fuck, she has to be scared to death.”
“She was unconscious when she arrived, and as far as I know she still is.”
My chest pounds and my heart feels as if it could beat right out of my chest. “What does that mean?”
“It means just that. It’s not uncommon for the body to shut down with trauma. It’s a defense mechanism. We’ll know more once we can take her for scans.”
“When can I see them?”
He looks down at his watch. “My guess is that your son is already here. I’ll have Kathy check and let you know when you can see him.”
“And my wife? I need to see her too.”
“I’ll let you know. As soon as we’ve run the tests and given her the care she needs, I promise I won’t keep you from her.”
“Those two—” I choke on a sob. “They’re my life. Please.” I can’t seem to even get the plea for him to save them past my lips.
“Mr. Lewis, I assure you that we’re doing everything we can.”
I watch his retreating form as he leaves the room. I’m hollow, empty. Cole grabs me by the arm and guides me to a chair. I don’t fight him as I let what the doctor just told me sink in. My son is coming early, and my wife is unconscious.
“Breathe, brother,” Cole says.
“I c-can’t without her.”
Kace sits on the other side and places his hand on my shoulder. “She needs you to be strong for her. They both do. They can’t fight this fight alone.”
“How do I do that, Kace? How do I fight for them? I should’ve been with her. I should’ve been there to protect them.”
“You can’t protect them from life, Tristan.”
“Tell me what to do. Tell me how to fight for them. What do I need to do to bring them both out of this and home where they belong?”
“You love them,” Logan’s voice answers. Lifting my head, I see her, Stacy beside her and Gavin behind them with Drew in his arms. “You love them hard, Tristan Lewis. You make sure they both know you’re here, that you need them to fight, to live this life with you. You love them hard. That’s how you fight for them.”
