Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection

chapter 17

Roam carries Lola out to the car and gently places her in the car seat. She’s so tiny. She’s the image of her father, with her dark hair and bright blue eyes. The only features she got from me are her button nose and her chin. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life. She’s smaller than I expected her to be. She was only six pounds born, but judging by the size of my bump and the weight I was carrying, I thought she would have been at least eight pounds.

“Ready, sugar?” Roam turns and helps me from the wheelchair.

“Sure am,” I reply. I can’t wait to get home and relax in my own environment. Roam is planning on bringing Jasper over tomorrow night to meet his new sister. He’s called me up twice since I had her, asking me to put the phone up to her ear so he can hear her sleeping. He really is adorable. He has already asked Roam when Lola will be able to play with him.

The trip home is long. What should take us twenty minutes to drive, ends up taking over half an hour because Roam is driving so slowly and cautiously. If it wasn’t so sweet, it would be infuriating.

When we arrive home Jenn and Switch are waiting for us. Jenn jumps up and comes bounding over. She takes Lola from Roam and lays kisses all over face. Lola scrunches up her nose and begins to cry.

“Aww, you made her cry,” I tease.

“Some aunty you are,” Switch joins in.

“Don’t cry, baby girl,” Jenn rocks her back and forth.

“Give her over here to Uncle Switch,” Switch surprises me by saying. Jenn hands him Lola, and she immediately hushes. “See, Uncle Switch has got the touch, don’t he?” Switch coos to her.

“Well, just so you know, I am not ever having kids. Her birth was enough to scare me into a nunnery. Seriously, Lace, I don’t even know how you’re still in one piece.” Jenn shakes her head at me.

“She’s worth it,” I remark. Then I lead the way inside. Roam grabs my bags from the car and brings them in, while Switch carries in Lola and Jenn babbles to her.

Jenn immediately goes to the kitchen and pulls a casserole dish from the fridge. She places it into the oven and turns the dial. Then, her and Switch come over and kiss my cheek. Jenn gives Roam instructions for the casserole and they say goodbye.

That night, when we’ve put Lola down for the night, we cuddle up in bed, glued to each other from chests to toes. I feel fit to burst with love, and I thank my lucky stars.

***

The next six weeks pass by in a blur – literally. Lola didn’t sleep too well the first few weeks she was home and we are only now getting her into a proper routine. Roam has been fantastic. He helps out as much as he can and he’s home most all the time. The past week, things have improved for me. I was so run down, tired and exhausted, but the last few days I have managed to nap when Lola sleeps during the day. I feel better, but I’m still a little emotional – I blame this on the exhaustion.

Roam had to go into the clubhouse early this morning, so he’s been gone around four hours when I hear a knock on the door. Thankful that I’ve managed to get a shower in this morning and put on a bra and fresh clothes, I swing open the front door. Standing there is a heavily pregnant Christa. My heart stops.

“Hey, um, Lacey, right?” She says quietly, looking at the ground. I nod. My heart restarts with a hard thud.

“Is Roam around?” She tries to look past me.

“No. Can I help you?” I ask cautiously.

“Uh, I know y’all are together and just had a baby, but I can’t do this on my own,” she rubs her stomach.

“Uh?” My blood runs cold.

“I know this is bound to be awkward for y’all but I need to do what’s best for my baby. Well, that is to say, mine and Roam’s baby.”

I swallow the bile that is clawing up my throat. Oh my god. My heart feels like it is shattering and the splinters are trying to rip through my chest wall. I look at her rounded stomach. Then, I look at her sad eyes.

“Come on in,” I whisper. I stand off to the side and let her pass me.

“I was just going to take my baby to the clinic, so why don’t you go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Roam should be home soon.”

A look crosses her face that I can’t decipher. I don’t care what it means.

“Run Lacey,” my mom whispers in my ear.

I grab a bag for Lola and quickly throw some stuff in for me, and then I pack us in the car and drive. I make it an hour away before I pull to the shoulder and break down. I cry until I’m sure I have no tears left...and then I cry some more.

It hurts so badly. I never once thought he would cheat on me. I can’t believe it. I feel blindsided.

ROAM

“I’m outta here, brother. Gotta get home to my girls.” I fist bump my brother and ride out, headed for home and the loves of my life.

Never, in my wildest imagination, would I have thought I would find what I did. Christa is sitting on my couch when I walk through the door. There’s no sign of Lacey or Lola. My blood turns cold as an icy shiver ripples through my body.

“What the f*ck are you doing here?” I bark. “And where’s Lacey?” She stands, rubbing her swollen stomach. She’s pregnant? My mind spins.

“I came by to see if we could work something out, baby. I miss you. Given my state, I had to tell Lacey about our relationship and how you are the daddy of my baby.”

I blink.

“You did f*ckin’ what?” I roar.

My blood turns from ice to boiling and I swear to god there is steam shooting from ears.

“Roam, baby, don’t be angry. I know you’ll look after me and little Roam Junior. Lacey will just have to deal with it,” she walks towards me and places her hands on my chest.

“Where’s Lacey? And why the f*ck would you tell her a bunch of bullshit like that, Christa? I haven’t f*cked you since I hooked up with Lacey.” I push her backwards, so she’s not touching me; she makes my skin crawl. Her heel catches on the rug that Lacey brought and she stumbles backwards before righting herself. That’s when her plan falls to shit, because from the bottom of her t-shirt, a white cushion is exposed. Her shirt rides up a little further and then it dawns on me. I charge towards her and rip the cushion out. I look at it, and then I look at her. I want to spit in her face.

I throw the cushion and grab her around the throat, pushing her up against the wall.

“Where the f*ck is my woman?” I grate out.

“I-I-I don’t know. She-she said something about the clinic but she’s been gone for h-h-hours,” she stutters, with tears pouring down her face.

I release her and she slumps to the floor.

“You want to hope I can find her, Christa. Or you’re f*ckin’ dead,” I threaten.

Lacey

Two days later we drive in to Rockford, Tennessee. It’s a small town in the middle of nowhere – the perfect place to disappear. The town is quiet and everyone’s homes are tidy, with green lawns and colorful garden beds.

After checking into a motel, I spend the next day scouring the papers, looking at the for sale advertisements.

I drive into town and buy myself a new phone. Jenn’s is the only number I program in.

I know she must be worried, so I text her.

*It’s Lace. Can I call you?*

*Of course! I’m worried.*

*Are you alone?*

*Yes. Call me now*

I dial her number and wait. She answers after the first ring.

“Lacey, what the f*ck is going on? I’m scared out of my mind. Are you okay? Is Lola okay? Where are you?”

“Jenn, just listen, okay?”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m just freaking out here. Lace, you have to listen to me. Roam says it-.”

“Jenn,” I snap, cutting her off. “I don’t want to hear okay,” I say sternly. “If you mention his name, I won’t ever call again. Understand?”

“Okay.” We talk for a little longer and then she brings him up again.

“Lace, about Ro-,” she starts.

“Jenn,” I warn.

“I know, I know. But I need to tell you that I think you’re making a mistake, Lacey. You need to hear him out. He’s going crazy. He misses Lola. He misses you.” She rushes her words out.

“Jenn,” I sigh.

“Lacey, Roam is going psycho. I think you need to hear him out. Please, Lace.”

“NO! I won’t put myself through that. I was stupid to think that he would be faithful to me, Jenn. For god’s sake, our first sexual encounter was a threesome!”

“But Lace, please. Roam says-.”

“Jenn, please stop, okay. Don’t mention his name. I don’t want to talk about him, or to him. Please.”

“But, Lacey-,”

“ENOUGH!” I scream into the phone.

I press end on the call and sink down into the bed. I sob quietly, so I don’t wake Lola up.

I should have known better. From everything I learned from my mother, from my entire childhood, I should have known better. I should have known that despite outside appearances, all men are just the same. I just wanted to be different. I wanted to find what my mother hadn’t – pure love. A soul mate. I wanted it. I thought I had it, but it was all just a lie. It was all a stupid lie.

God, I wish it wasn’t.

I cry and repeatedly berate myself for being so stupid, until I fall asleep.