“So what am I then?”
“Pea’s Mom,” he said simply, stepping closer. “Take the card Lauren, make this place look nice,” he coaxed, taking my hand and opening my palm before dropping the card into it and closing it. He squeezed my closed palm and leaned down to press his lips to my forehead. “Let me do this,” he whispered against my skin. “Make me feel useful,” he added. “And not just like some asshole who turned your life upside down,” he said, pulling back so he could glance into my eyes.
“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow,” I began, lifting my eyes to his. “You want to do something useful? Be there,” I explained. “Adrianna says we’ll probably get to hear the heartbeat,” I added, smiling slightly.
I don’t know what kind of childhood Riggs had but our child would not be bought. A dollar wasn’t going to make up for a broken promise. He wanted to step up and do the right thing—that’s great but I wouldn’t allow him to throw money at a situation and think he’s doing his share. Pea deserved better than that. Pea deserved a daddy.
He nodded quickly.
“Yeah, sure. I can do that,” he said. “Shit,” he sighed. “What time tomorrow? I’ve got Jack’s brother’s funeral and…” His words trailed off as Bones cleared his throat, causing him to look over his shoulder at his friend.
Bones coughed and muttered something that sounded like, ‘own it’, before Riggs turned back to me.
“What time is the appointment?” He repeated.
“Two in the afternoon. Dr. Heltzer is my doctor, his office is across the street from the hospital,” I told him, looking down at the credit card. “I just want to remind you I don’t want you to feel obligated,” I said, cocking my head to the side as I stared at him. “I can do it without you,” I paused. “I just don’t want to,” I whispered. “But I will if I have too.”
He took my face in his hands, stepping closer, so I felt his breath against my lips.
“I’ll be there,” he vowed.
I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to feel his lips on mine and be reminded of what kissing Riggs felt like. But the last time we did something reckless it resulted in two pink lines. He leaned down and kissed my cheek before dropping his hands from my face.
“I’ve got to get going,” he said. “Text me the information and I’ll be there,” he reiterated as his thumb grazed my jaw.
I nodded, holding my breath as I stared into his eyes and saw the unmistakable flicker of desire. He turned around and snapped his fingers at Bones.
“Did you just snap at me?”
“Let’s go,” he exasperated.
“Don’t you ever snap at me again,” Bones warned, glancing at me. “See ya, Kitten,” he winked.
“What’d I fucking tell you about calling her that?”
“You snapped your fingers at me like I was your fucking dog,” Bones argued, as he followed Riggs out of the apartment, closing the door behind him. I heard them bicker back and forth for a few moments before I heard nothing at all. I walked toward the window and glanced down, watching Riggs straddle his bike. He fitted his helmet to his head, tilting his head back as he secured the chin strap. I would’ve sworn he was staring at me but I couldn’t be sure as his sunglasses shielded his eyes and his facial expression was blank.
Hope.
It was going to break my heart.
It was strange seeing Jack with a woman. Well, not really, the dude had a lot of bitches at his beck and call but it was strange seeing him claim one. The sucker even put a ring on it. Not that Reina was a bitch or that Jack really was a sucker. He was a lucky prick, and she was a goddess. The pie goddess. That woman could throw down in the kitchen.
I wonder if Kitten can cook.
Jack wrapped his arms around Reina as he made his way down the hill from where his brother was freshly buried, back to where our bikes lined the road. Reina smiled, and I overheard her go on about stopping at the grocery store to get ingredients.
Because I was pissed.
Because I was due a pie.
And I wanted to collect.
Jack protested, and I started to argue when Pipe made his way over to us. He was grinning as he held the phone in the air and delivered us the sweet news that Blackie had finally pulled his ass out of the coma.
There was no question about it—the pie could wait.
We hustled out of the cemetery and drove our asses to the hospital, eager to see the brother we almost lost. The hospital tried to give us some shit about all of us not being able to visit him in the ICU but that didn’t last very long and we did what we did best, disobeyed the rules and strode into Blackie’s little cubical.
“There he is,” Wolf cheered.