Friction (Oath Keepers MC Book 5) (12 page)

“Hey, Sunshine,” Twist mumbles as he comes in the room, looking surprised at me folding all of his clothes as well as mine.

“Hi.”

“You don’t need to do all that; you should be layin’ down, babe.”

“I wanted to.” I shrug and he nods, giving in. He knows I’m stubborn.

“You ‘bout ready to go see this doctor?”

“Yep, my appointment is in forty-three minutes. Is someone following me to the office?”

“I done told you woman; I’m driving you.”

“I don’t want to have you stuck there waiting on me though.”

“It’s all good. I’ll live, trust me.”

“Okay awesome, because I really didn’t want to have to go alone anyhow,” I ramble, slipping on my Toms and he chuckles, shaking his head at me.

“You’re gonna drive me crazy, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you get benefits too. For example, your new found love of peanut butter.” He’s been feeding me peanut butter quite a few times. He likes to watch me suck it off his fingers or he licks it off my nipples. Not to mention the cake I baked for him a few days ago.

“I love peanut butter,” he mutters under his breath, and I giggle.

“Can we get a strawberry sundae on the way back?”

“Yeah, baby, we can get whatever you want.”

Right answer.

We make our way through the bar to be held up by Silas. His eyebrows rise as he glances from me to Twist.

“What’s up, sister?”

“I’m heading to my doctor’s appointment.”

“Right, and what’s he doin’?” He chin-lifts to Twist.

“He’s taking me.”

His eyes meet Twist’s. “You’re takin’ her?”

“Yep.”

“To the baby’s appointment?”

“Yep.”

Silas nods and kisses my forehead, moving to the side so we can pass. That was weird, but the guys here all act like cavemen most of the time anyhow.

We get in my car and I turn to Twist. “So, what was that about?”

“Just your brother bein’ 2.” He shrugs and I leave it alone.
Whatever that means.

“I can’t wait; I get an ultrasound today. I can find out what I’m having if I want to. I could have found out sooner, but I’ve had fun waiting. I think for clothes and stuff, though, I should find out. What do you think?”

“Just do what makes you happy, Sunshine. That’s all you gotta worry ‘bout.”

He’s right, and I want to know. I’ve always wanted to find out, but I think it’s extra special holding out longer for the surprise. I can’t wait to tell my brother what I’m having. I wonder if he wants one or the other more?

I get a swift kick to the ribs, making me grunt, and Twist looks over at me concerned. I just smile and point to my tummy causing him to grin and shake his head, turning back to watch the road.

I never in a million years expected to find a man at my brother’s club like Twist. He’s so caring and protective; I wish everyone got to see him like I do at times like this when he actually smiles. I heard his rich laugh at our picnic for the first time and it was amazing. The deep timbre made my heart fill, wanting to hear him laugh like that all the time.

We get to the hospital, find the women’s clinic, and get all checked in. I have a mountain of paperwork to fill out, but eventually work through it all and get situated on the uncomfortable table to wait for them to do the ultrasound.

There’s a light knock on the door and an older gentleman pokes his head in. “You decent, my dear?”

“Not really, but I’ll try to be.” I smirk and he lets loose a booming laugh, opening the door wider, pulling a shocked Twist in by the elbow along with him.

“Oh, hi.” I smile at Twist and his eyes grow a little wider as they take me in with my shirt scrunched up, exposing my stomach.

The doctor pulls a chair next to me and gestures for Twist to sit, and then makes his way around the table toward the large, portable machine.

“I found this young man out in the waiting room and told him he better get back here to show you some support, plus most guys get a kick out of this part anyhow.” He winks at me and I’m freaking out a little inside that Twist is actually in here with me.

“I wasn’t so sure if he’d be comfortable,” I respond quietly and Dr. Marsh waves me off.

“Nonsense. This is good for men; most don’t really realize that you have an actual baby in there until they see it on the screen or hold it in their hands. Now I see on your chart, you don’t know the sex of the child, but you’re interested to learn now?”

“Yes, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“None at all. This is the best part of my day, besides dinner of course.” He grins and I chuckle at the silly man.

He squirts the cold blue goop on my stomach and then uses the wand thing to go over my belly, tinkering with the machine until the heartbeat is loud enough for us to easily hear it and you can see movement on the screen.

Twist draws in a quick breath and sits forward. “That’s the baby? And the noise?” He points to the speaker.

Dr. March smiles and starts pointing out different features, telling Twist about the heartbeat and normal rates to expect. Twist gives him his full attention, resting one of his hands on my tummy while he listens to everything the doctor says.

“So you see kids, if you look right here, it appears you’ll be welcoming a little boy into the world here shortly. And he’s a strapping young man, right on schedule growth wise; looks like he may be a little on the bigger side by delivery time. With your size, Sadie, we may be forced to do a cesarean to be frank with you.”

“I was hoping to do natural, but my other doctor had mentioned it also.”

“Natural births are great, but if it comes to it, I’d hate to see you or the little one distressed above the usual in delivery. I’m sure this young man here wouldn’t want to see anything happen to either one of you either.” He nods to Twist and I tear up. I can’t help it. Twist isn’t even my baby’s father, but he’s sitting next to me right now. I wish he was the father more than anything.

“Thank you,” I let out under my breath.

“Of course! Now, any questions for me?”

I go to shake my head, ready to leave, but Twist jumps in.

“Is she still high risk?”

“She’s doing really well, but it’s in her best interest to keep taking it easy. Whatever she’s been doing, have her keep it up because it’s agreeing with her pregnancy.”

“Okay, can she have sex?”

“Of course, son; it’s not like she’s going to get pregnant.” He smiles and Twist chuckles. “You just keep making her smile a lot, and this little one will be one happy baby.”

Twist nods. “Thank you,” he says and shakes Dr. Marsh’s hand.

“My pleasure. Now Sadie, you are welcome to use the wipes here to get that gel off and then schedule an appointment in about two weeks if possible. I’d like to start seeing you regularly as the time is getting much closer.”

“All right, no problem. Thanks again.”

He nods and closes the door as Twist stands, heading for the door.

“You’re leaving?”

“I was gonna pull the car up to the curb while you make your appointment.”

“Oh. Okay, awesome. I’m, ah, I’m sorry if this made you uncomfortable.”

“It was the best fuckin’ thing I’ve done in a very long time. Thanks for letting me stick around with ya, Sunshine.”

“Umm hmm,” I answer, trying to keep the tears away. Damn hormones and him being sweet.

After I collect myself, I check out with the front desk, and then we stop and pick up the best strawberry sundae I’ve ever had, or maybe it was just because Twist fed me like half of it. Anyhow, my head hits the pillow, my body and mind worn out, content for the first time in who knows how long.

Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much,

he died every night to let her breathe.

-Unknown

I’m jeered awake by
Twist screaming again, only this time he’s thrashing around violently, covered in a sheen of sweat and you’d swear someone had died in his dreams or something by the way he sounds. He’s always upset when he sleeps, but this is a heartbreaking wail, like a man being ripped in half. I can only hold off for so long before I have to touch him, and attempt to bring him out of it.

Normally I can shake him for a good ten minutes or so before he comes out of it and sometimes he won’t wake at all, just quiet down. I end up having to sit there waiting and watching him being tormented. Tonight he takes me by surprise though, the moment I touch him, Twist’s hardened muscles easily shove me like a little rag doll, causing me to land on the hard ground in a heap.

“Ummph!” I gasp and put my hand to my back where the pain hits me first. “Shit!” I croak in a strangled voice and the next thing I know, Twist is hovering over me, gripping my neck so tightly I can barely choke a word out.

I claw at his hands, gasping for breath, kicking, squirming, anything I can possibly do to get out of his forceful clutch, but it’s even more difficult with my big belly and added weight. I squirm so much that eventually I’m flat on the ground on my back, my tummy on full display, making me freak even more, when survivor mode kicks in. My body gets flooded with adrenaline, gearing up for flight or fight.

There’s no way to really fight him with my size and condition, but I won’t give up, so I start kicking and kneeing him in the nuts over and over until his hands drop away and I can crawl farther from him, panting and weeping, wanting the air to fill my lungs as quickly as possible. Once the reality of what just happened sinks in, the tears flow freely in time with my deep breathing.

He could have killed me. He could have killed my baby.

The room’s deathly silent and when I get enough nerve to pick myself off the floor and approach Twist, he’s peacefully sleeping on the ground as if nothing ever happened. My temper flairs, and without thinking, I pull my foot back and kick him harshly in his stomach. Before I get a peep in, he’s on his feet, wide awake and in my face. I stumble backwards to the wall and he follows me, staying in my face until I’m trapped all over again.

“The fuck you doin?” he barks angrily.

“I-I, I-I.” Stuttering, my eyes fill with tears so much that my vision blurs.

“I, what? Why you bein’ a fuckin’ bitch, kickin’ me an’ shit while I’m sleepin’? You was anyone else, I’d fuck you up right now,” he hisses, his fingers tapping to a beat at his side. I notice he always does this when he’s upset about something.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

The door to the bedroom’s hit so hard it shakes, wanting to blast open.

“Open the fuck up, Twist! You lost your fuckin’ mind, talkin’ to my sister like that!”

I don’t give Twist a chance to respond, shouting at my brother, “It was my fault, Silas! I got irritated and kicked him in the stomach. I’m okay, go to bed.”

“All this is fuckin’ bullshit, Sadie! “he yells through the door and then a moment later I hear his own door slam closed again.

The teardrops fall and the sobs come at me like a train. Twist pulls me into his arms, his chin resting on my head and quietly asks, “You wanna tell me how I fucked up? ‘Cause I’m guessin’ I said or did something wrong,” he rasps, calmer as he kisses my hair.

I shake my head, my tears soaking his shirt. Keeping the truth from him, because if I do, then it doesn’t have to be real. I can pretend it was just my own bad dream.

“Please tell me why you’re cryin’, baby and why my stomach and nuts hurt so fuckin’ bad. I hate seeing you upset like this. You’re too precious to cry.”

I break at his words and inhale a few deep breaths; I let it all spill out about how he was dreaming and then basically attacked me. Once I’m finished, he crowds me into the bathroom, turning on the lights and inspects my throat.

Gazing in the mirror above the sink, the marks are clear. The skin around my neck is an angry red color and already changing to a deeper shade where his hands were.

“I have no words right now,” he mutters, then he says something else, but I swear he isn’t talking to me, so that’s even stranger. He wets a towel with cold water and gently places it in my hands, bringing them to rest on my neck where the marks are.

“Twist, are you okay?” I ask softly, and he blinks, meeting my gaze.

“Am I okay? Sunshine, I just had my hands on you? How can you stand to fuckin’ look at me right now? I’m a fuckin’ piece of shit who deserves to die. I should have died years ago; I don’t get why I was left in this world to harm more people.”

“No, you don’t deserve to die. My God, you weren’t even you when it happened. I swear it was like you were possessed and I couldn’t wake you. I kicked you in your groin over and over to get you to let go until I was about to pass out. I kicked you in your stomach, because you were sleeping perfectly afterwards and I was just so angry inside that it wasn’t affecting you at all. I shouldn’t have kicked you,” I finish and grab some toilet paper for my nose.

“Yeah, you sure the fuck shouldn’t have, you shoulda’ grabbed my Glock and fuckin’ shot my ass. I’ll never forgive myself for touchin’ you like this. I can’t believe I’d hurt somethin’ so precious to me.” He shakes his head, and then rushes past me out of the bathroom, storming out his bedroom door, slamming it on his way out.