“You don’t have to say things like that, Shay. Not anymore. I know where we stand and I’m fine.” Lies. There are two lies. First, I have no clue where we stand and second, I am nowhere near fine. I haven’t been in a while.
The hurt look is almost too much for me to bear. Her smile fades and the light in her eyes has dimmed. “I told you I’m sorry. I told you I screwed up. I was going to tell you something but maybe now just isn’t the time.”
Curiosity gets the best of me. I’m being an ass and I literally want to kick myself for it. She’s lying in this hospital bed and I’m acting ridiculous. “Whatever it is, just tell me, Shay. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said any of that. Truth is, I didn’t mean a single word.”
I can tell she’s relieved by the way her body relaxes. She’s not so tense anymore since I just told her I was lying. “You’re an ass. I don’t really know how to say this so I’ll spit it out. Beau, I’m pregnant.”
Well, she’s certainly not beating around the bush anymore. She’s laying it out on the line. Wham bam, thank you ma’am. I know I already knew this but something about hearing it straight from her mouth elates me. I was beginning to wonder whether or not she was going to tell me. Just to give her the satisfaction of being able to give me the news herself, I play along in this game.
“Is he—am I—who’s the father?” I manage to stutter. Sienna said it was me, and if she made that up, well, I’m about to find out.
Shay wastes no time giving her answer. In fact, she answers with such a positive attitude that I could never doubt her. “It’s yours. After that night, I didn’t touch him again, Beau. Like I told you earlier, I didn’t choose him. You don’t have to believe me, I don’t know that I would believe me if I were in your shoes, but it’s the truth.”
“I never said I didn’t believe you. Would you have told me though if this accident never happened?”
She looks at me, hurt. “Of course I was going to tell you. I was trying to figure out the best way to do that because I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”
I have to give her props for that one. I’m not sure how I would have handled hearing this over the phone. I know just because she revealed the pregnancy doesn’t mean everything is going to be like it once was for us. That would make this entirely too good to be true.
“I should have used a condom that night, I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“Hey,” she says softly, breaking me from my guilt trip. “It wasn’t just you. It’s my fault too.”
“Please don’t tell me I ruined your nursing career.”
“No, you didn’t. I quit anyway—well, unless I can’t get in at another hospital. I’m done with this place once I get discharged. I never want to see this place again.”
“I won’t let you quit, Shay. We’ll make something work. You’ve worked too hard to get this far.”
“This is why I love you, Beau Granger,” she whispers softly. I swear I see a slight blush in her cheeks.
“Why is that, Shay?”
“Because you believe in me.”
Chapter 16
Shayleigh
“I was so scared I was going to die, Beau. It all happened so fast and all I could think about was how much I loved you and this baby.”
His somber look turns teary as he leans down and softly kisses my forehead. “Don’t scare me like that ever again, Shay. If something worse had happened to you, I’m not sure what I would have done.”
“Don’t worry, I’m okay and so is the baby.”
He gets a cheesy grin on his face. “I heard the baby’s heartbeat earlier when you were sleeping.”
“You did?” My face lights up. I can’t believe he heard it. I haven’t even heard it yet. I’ve been sleeping most of the time I’ve been in this God forsaken room. “That makes one of us. I’m glad.”
Beau looks a little uneasy for a second. It’s a little hard to read him. Just when I think I have him figured out, he lets go of my hand and gives me a gentle smile. He disappears out into the hallway and a few minutes later he emerges with a nurse. I’ve seen her around but I don’t know her name. She smiles as she approaches my bedside with a small machine in her hand. She gently raises up my hospital gown and squirts a little cool goo on my belly. She places a small wand over it and moves it around a few seconds before I get to hear the beautiful sound I’ve yet to hear. Thump thump, thump thump. Tears spring forward as the melodic rhythm continues. My baby. My heart breaks a little when she pulls away and the sound is no longer there. I could listen to it all day long and never grow tired of it. Just as quickly as she came in, she walks out and I’m left in awe.
Beau’s grin lights up my world and I want so badly to kiss him. I can’t thank him enough for what he just did. Something so simple just made my entire day. “Beau?”
“Yeah, Shay?”
“I want to go back to Louisiana with you.”
He’s taken aback by my words. Hell, so am I. I just blurted them out without really thinking what I was saying. I know for sure I don’t want to return to this hospital. I never got a chance to plan out anything else before this accident happened and leaving seems to be the best choice. My dad would be sad but it’s not like I’d never see him again.
“Shay, don’t think too rash right now. Let’s get you better and then we’ll go from there, okay?”
I nod. That’s all I can do. If I try to speak, I’m sure I’ll cry. I’ll ugly cry for sure. Maybe this is my time to be rejected. Maybe this is him politely rejecting me. A nurse comes by and sticks her head in the door, letting us know that visitation is almost over. She’s like a godsend helping me escape the awkward situation. “Okay, well hopefully they’ll get me in a real room soon and I guess we can talk about this later?”
“Of course we will,” he assures me. “I love you, Shay.”
“I love you too,” I tell him with a weak smile. He gently kisses my lips before walking out of the room.
I’m so disappointed in my actions. I just threw myself at him, pretty much begging him to take me back to Louisiana. Way to go, Shayleigh. The doctor comes into the room shortly after and hums as he checks my vitals. He stares at my chart for what seems like a lifetime and just walks out without saying a word. Ugh, what an ass. Out of sheer boredom, I close my eyes and quickly drift off to sleep.
***
Beau
Geez. Shay and what she does to me. She wants to come back to Louisiana. Well damn, I’d scoop her up in a heartbeat and take her back if that’s what she really wanted. Truth is, I’m protecting my heart. I want to believe that’s what she really wants but part of me can’t help but think it’s just a quick fix to get her away from the doctor and this hospital. I know she caught him doing God knows what with some other nurse. I need to know she really wants to be with me before I make any rash decisions, although that’s all I seem to be making lately. Sienna is waiting on the other side of the door like a hawk waiting for its prey. She pounces on me the minute she sees me.
“Well?” she asks anxiously.
“Well, she told me about the baby. I brought in a nurse to let her hear the heartbeat and she told me she wants to come back to Louisiana.” I run my hands through my hair.
“She wants to come back? What did you tell her?”
“Easy, Sienna, let him breathe,” Rob pipes up. I shoot him an appreciative look.
I turn back to Sienna and double check to make sure Shay’s dad isn’t around. “I told her we can talk about it later.”
Sienna’s face lights up. It’d be like a dream come true for her. Her best friend back at home like the old days when they were merely kids. I have to admit, it’d be pretty sweet to have Shay back in Louisiana. I wouldn’t have to miss a minute of her pregnancy or our baby. I just need to make sure her head is where it needs to be when it comes to a big decision like this. I don’t want any more regrets, I don’t think I could handle them this time around. There are much bigger things at stake.
“I need some air, I’m going to s
tep outside.”
“I’ll come with you,” Rob says, coming to stand by me. Sienna informs us she plans to stay in here so Rob and I make our way outside.
The fresh air hits my face and I breathe it in. The hospital can really get to you once you’ve been inside for some time. The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day here in Missouri. We walk silently down a sidewalk before I find a bench to sit on. I’m about to make myself comfortable when a voice comes out of nowhere.
“Well, look who came crawling back. What are you doing here? You think she wants you?”
I look up to see Wyatt standing in front of me wearing a shitty grin on his face. Rob looks between the two of us, not sure what he’s supposed to do. I don’t blame him. “Why don’t you shut the fuck up? You’re pretty much the reason she’s lying in there right now.”
“Me?” he asks with a chuckle. “I had nothing to do with it. It’s not my fault she walked in on what she did. Maybe if she had put out that wouldn’t have happened. Who knows, maybe it still would have but you showed up and she stopped putting out.”
My fists ball up at my side. He’s fucking with the wrong person right now. I don’t like to fight, but I sure as fuck wouldn’t mind beating the shit out of this guy. “You are a worthless piece of shit. You never cared about her, did you? Did you?”
“What I did and did not do is none of your business. What was your name again? Maybe I’ll pop into her room and say hi.”
“Fuck you, asshole. You go near her room and I’ll beat your ass. Stay away from her,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Are you seriously threatening me? Go back to your swamp or wherever it is you live. Just remember she used to scream my name.”
Rob tries to hold me back but I lunge forward, connecting my fist with his face. He stumbles back and holds his jaw for a moment. “You may want to walk away pretty boy or I’ll finish what I started.”
Wyatt glares at me while Rob tries his best to restrain me. I don’t want that motherfucker going anywhere near Shay and I suddenly want to be back inside to keep him away. “I’m going to pretend this never happened because I don’t want any problems. Stay the hell away from me or I’ll ruin her career and your life,” he warns.
“Don’t worry, she doesn’t want a career near you,” I spit out. He sneers before turning away and walking off.
Rob shakes his head and finally releases his grip on me. “Damn, I was waiting for a throw down but he must really be a pussy.” He laughs.
“Shut up, man. He’s lucky I just hit him once. For all he did to her, I wanted to beat the shit out of him. Let’s go back inside, I shouldn’t have walked out here.”
Rob shakes his head, laughing. “Only you would drag us into some shit in Missouri. I’m glad I came.”
A roll of the eyes is all I can come up with. The bench is no longer looking good to me and I head back to the hospital entrance. Doctor Perfect is nowhere in sight, which I’m glad for. I don’t want to have to look at him again. Sienna is still in the same spot we left her and when she sees us, her face sours a little.
“I think that doctor just walked by. He fit the description Shay gave me.”
The thought of Shay once describing him makes me want to vomit but I push that back and look at Sienna. “Yeah, we ran into him, or should I say my fist did.”
Her eyes widen, and while I expect her to scold me, she bursts into laughter. Shay’s dad walks up, asking what’s so funny and Sienna wastes no time telling him my story. Even he laughs, which I want to find odd but I can’t seem to. He didn’t care for him from what I heard. I don’t want him to think I was out to get the guy. Hell, the guy asked for it but I don’t say anything to make my actions seem somewhat okay. I’m no bully, I don’t run around asking for trouble. I don’t like to fight. Hell, I don’t even remember the last time I got into a fight. It’s just not me. I figured some time during our visit at this hospital we were going to see him but did it have to happen on the same day that I found out I was going to be a dad?
Chapter 17
Shayleigh
A few days later, my body continues to ache. It’s like someone is constantly beating me with a sledgehammer. The pain medicine only numbs it momentarily and I hate that. I could think of a million different things I’d rather be feeling than this pain. My arm is just hanging on my side in a cast and I’m up and walking around the hall. I made Farrah double check that Wyatt wasn’t on shift before I would even move from the bed. I don’t want any encounters with him. I’ve been lucky to not see him and I’d like to keep it that way. I’m no fool, I know I can’t avoid him forever but I’m hoping to go home today. I’ve been monitored and now that we know the baby is fine and I’m okay, I’d like to get the hell out of this hospital. My doctor mentioned it yesterday and all my hopes shot through the ceiling. This would be a dream come true.
Sienna walks into my room, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She hands me a cup of coffee and sits in the chair next to my bed. I follow her and sit on the edge of the bed. “Thanks, this smells amazing,” I tell her before I take a sip.
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do. You really think they’re letting you out today?”
“God, I hope so. I’m so tired of being in here. I just want to be home in my own bed.”
“I hear you there. I couldn’t imagine being cooped up in here, and just think, when you have the baby, it’ll happen all over again.” She smirks.
I roll my eyes and take another sip of the coffee. “Where’s Rob and Beau?”
“Yeah, just change the subject, Shay. They’re with your dad and some guy named Branson outside talking about fishing, and I just couldn’t stand to hear another word about bait and tackle boxes. I like to fish with Rob, but geez, they just don’t let the subject rest.”
“Oh, that’s Farrah’s boyfriend. They’re men, Sienna, it’s what they do.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Sienna slides over my duffle bag and it’s my turn to light up. Real clothes. I can’t contain my excitement. I’m so sick of wearing a hospital gown. “I packed you a change of clothes for your return home.”
“Holy shit, thank you so much. I’m going to change right now.” I grab my bag with one arm and walk into the bathroom.
I sling the gown off with no effort and throw on the t-shirt from the bag. The real struggle is my jeans. I didn’t think about that, but after a little maneuvering, I’m wearing them. The softness of the denim hugs my skin and I welcome it. I grab the brush on the counter and run it through my long blonde hair before walking out of the bathroom. When I step into the room, my dad is standing there wearing a soft smile.
“Ready to go home, Shayleigh?”
“Most definitely, and please tell me this isn’t a joke,” I warn him. I’m a little too excited for this to be a joke.
“No jokes. I just talked to your friend Farrah and she said they’re getting your discharge papers ready.”
“Thank God,” I say under my breath.
A few minutes later, the doctor comes in and hands the papers over. I feel like he’s giving me a million bucks. A smile spreads across my face as I reach down for my bag. Before I can grab the handle, a hand reaches out and grabs it from me. I look up to see Beau and my eyes light up. He tosses the bag onto his shoulder and leads the way out of the room. As I walk through the halls, I look straight ahead, careful not to make eye contact with anyone. The only person I look at is Farrah, and I give her a hug and thank her for everything. As I step out of the front doors of the hospital, I don’t even look back. I’m beyond done and I couldn’t be happier.
***
Being back at home is the best feeling ever. I can do what I want when I want and no one can tell me any different. Well, Dad can, but that’s beside the point. Dad announces he’s going to order pizza and my stomach begins growling. Beau comes and sits beside me and pulls my hand into his. One glance at him and my insides turn to mush.
“Thank you again,” I tell him softly
so Rob and Sienna can’t hear.
“For what?”
“For coming up here like you did. After everything I put you through, you were the last person I expected to see.”
“I love you, Shay, even after all of that. They say true love can withstand any obstacle and we’ve been through a few, but there’s no one else on this earth that I could imagine doing this for. It’s only you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper as I close my eyes. I let my head rest against the back of the couch and soak all of this in. The last few days have been crazy and I’m glad they’re over. I don’t want to relive them at all ever again.
Beau brings my knuckles to his lips and softly kisses them. I hate having this broken arm because all I want to do right now is wrap both my arms around him and hug him tightly.
Sienna looks over and sighs. “You two are so cute. I’d like to think I am responsible for this.”
“Oh God,” Rob jokes. “You have to take credit, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, I’m like their fairy Godmother.” She laughs and soon I begin laughing too. I love this girl to death.
“You are full of it, Sienna,” I tell her, letting go of Beau’s hand for a moment. “You’re going to be a great nanny, but fairy Godmother? Yeah, I don’t know about all of that.”
“Me? Nanny? Hell yeah!” She fist pumps.
“Really? Who else did you think it would be?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.
She places her finger on her lip and pretends to think a little. If I could smack her right now, I’d do it, but I’m too comfortable sitting here on the couch next to Beau. Truth be told, I’m running all of this over and over in my mind. I have no clue if I can really just pick up and move. I’m not sure if I can transfer colleges this late. I may have no choice but to finish my schooling here in Missouri, then when I graduate I can move. What seemed like such an easy choice now weighs heavily on my mind but I don’t let Beau or Sienna see the stress I’m putting myself through. I can’t ask him to uproot his life all over again for me. That would be selfish. The last time he did that things didn’t work out at all. It was a tumultuous wreck and we’re both still picking up the pieces. I guess I’ll leave this decision for another day, it’s not like I have to decide my entire life right this second. Do I?
Destined for A Dirt Road (Dirt Road Summer #2) Page 11
