RYDER (Slater Brothers 4) (37 page)

“When are you going to tell that lad of yours that you’re knocked up?”

I jumped and dropped my arm to my side like I had been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

“Excuse me?” I asked, pocketing my phone.

Ash was leaning over the station.

“You can’t bullshit a midwife,” he stated with a bright smile. “You have been puking for weeks, you’re constantly smiling,
and
you keep touching your belly when you think nobody is looking. You’re with child, my dear.”

I glared at my friend. “Why are you so perceptive?”

“Because I’m brilliant.”

Smartarse.

“Look,” I said, lowering my voice. “I just found out a few days ago. I thought I was sick with the flu when me mornin’ sickness hit, being pregnant never even entered me mind. I’m so happy, and I know Ryder will be happy too, but I keep chickenin’ out when I try to tell ‘im, and I don’t know why.”

“You’ve been through a hell of a lot together, and worked hard to get to where you’re both at now after what happened to you. I know you’re happy, but maybe you’re scared of another big change?”

“Maybe,” I said, chewing on my inner cheek. “I plan on tellin’ ‘im tonight for real though because I asked Taylor to give me a quick ultrasound this mornin’ when we had some downtime. I wasn’t sure how far along I was so she just gave me a regular scan to see if she saw anythin’, and she did. The baby is measurin’ at twelve weeks
exactly
.”

With the dates, and measurements of the baby, it meant I conceived the first time Ryder and I were intimate since we were back together, and if
that
wasn’t a sign that things were meant to be, then I didn’t know what to believe.

“That’s wicked,” Ash said and bumped fists with me. “You’re officially starting your second trimester!”

“I know,” I beamed. “I’m so excited.”

I can’t believe I’m really pregnant.

Ash came around the station and gave me a big hug.

“I’m happy for you, kid, you deserve it.”

I poked him in the ribs. “I’m older than you.”

He jumped away from me. “How many times do I have to tell you that age is just a number?”

“At least once more.” I teased.

“Fine,” Ash grinned. “Age is just a number.”

I swatted at him, making him laugh.

“How did your date with Taylor go last night?” I asked him, waggling my brows.

He snorted. “Why ask when I know you were both talking about it during your ultrasound.”

I smirked. “Okay, she told me how
she
thinks it went, but how did
you
think it went?”

“We had a delicious dinner then I had her for dessert.” Ash said, winking. “We had a fucking
incredible
first date.”

I pointed my finger at him. “You’ll call her, won’t you?”

He nodded. “You think I’d sleep with her then never call her again… when we work at the same job? Really?”

I shrugged. “You’ve never mentioned that you wanted to start datin’ so I wasn’t sure.”

Ash scratched his head. “I never thought about it, and I’m
still
not thinking that way because I don’t want to label shit this early, but Taylor is a hell of girl. She’s gorgeous, her arse is to die for, she’s on fire in bed, and she can cook. Also, she supports Man United. I may eventually marry the woman.”

That delighted me.

“I better be part of the weddin’ party at your weddin’,” I warned.

“Only if I can be part of yours.” Ash countered, chuckling.

“It’s happenin’, we haven’t picked a date yet, but it’s happenin’. Eventually.”

I looked to the switchboard when a call light flashed, and a small alert to it sounded. I turned it off, poked Ash once more then headed down around the corner and down the hallway to check in on the patient who called for assistance.

When I left the woman’s room, it was ten minutes later, and I was yawning as I dragged my feet up the hallway. I checked my watched and was delighted to see it was ten to eight. It meant Ryder would be picking me up soon and bringing me home.

I thought about how I was going to tell him I was pregnant as I walked, but when I thought I heard his voice, I halted at the turn before I came to the nurses’ station.

“You’ll take care of this for me, won’t you Ash?”

It
was
him.

“Yeah,” Ash replied. “I’ll make sure everything goes good on my end. You didn’t need to remind me, I already have it sorted since last week.”

“Thanks,” Ryder exhaled. “I owe you one for this.”

“Before you go, I want to talk to you.”

I think Ryder chuckled. “Is this a big brother kind of speech?”

“She hasn’t got a big brother, so yeah, I guess it is.” Ash countered.

I imagine Ryder folded his thick arms across his broad chest as he said, “Shoot.”

“I’m going to be blunt. Would you do anything for Branna? If you fought over the simplest of things, would you get on your knees if that would bring her home to you?” Ash asked Ryder.

What the hell was Ash doing?

“Why are you asking me this?” Ryder asked, his voice suddenly a growl.

“Because,” Ash hissed, “I care about Branna and unless you’re willing do
anything
to keep her
forever
then you don’t deserve her.”

I heard movement then a grunt.

“Go on, hit me,” Ash urged. “It won’t change anything, she’ll still always be in my life and you can’t change that so you might as well accept it.”

Silence.

“Are you trying to take her from me?” Ryder asked a few moments later, his voice dangerously low. “Think
very
carefully before you answer.”

“No, I’m not,” Ash answered almost instantly. “I won’t lie to you, I thought about it when I found out how bad things were between you both. She is incredible and I see that, even if
you
don’t.”

“I
do
see it,” Ryder spat. “No one comes close to her, you think I’d ask this of you if I didn’t know how amazing she is? I fucking
know
!”

What was he asking of Ash?

“Are you confident
she
knows that you think that of her?” Ash quizzed. “Because I’m not sure.”

“She does know, things have changed between us, and if she doesn’t know, I’ll fucking remind her every damn day!” Ryder stated.

“Good,” Ash quipped. “Because I want to see her happy, and she won’t be unless she is with you. I don’t know why, but that woman loves you something fierce and I think you’re a fucking idiot for risking your relationship with her in the first place.”

“I
was
a fucking idiot,” Ryder agreed, “but that has changed, too. I love Branna, and that has never been a question for me, and I’ll make sure it will
never
be a question for her ever again.”

My lower lip wobbled.

“Look, Ash, you seem like a nice guy, and I respect your friendship with Branna, but if you
ever
over step the line I’ve drawn, I’ll break you. Okay?”

I peeked around the corner and saw Ash blink at least ten times before he said, “Okay.”

Ryder smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “Great, happy we settled that.”

Ash looked at Ryder with a what-the-fuck-is-happening look, and it made me want to burst into laughter.

“What’s goin’ on here?” I asked when I rounded the corner.

Both men turned their attention to me.

“Nothing,” Ryder smiled and stepped away from my friend. “I was just introducing myself to Ash while I waited for you to finish up.”

Liar.

“Oh, okay,” I said, staring at them warily. “I’ll get me stuff.”

“Hey,” Ryder said and caught my arm.

I smiled. “Hi.”

“I love you,” he said then kissed my cheek.

My heart did a summersault.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

He winked and let me go as I walked into the break room and put on my coat. I buttoned it up then hooked my bag over my shoulder. Ash entered the room and grabbed his stuff too, but he was stiff.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“He just Rocky three’d me.”

I raised my brows. “Excuse me?”

“Ryder,” Ash clarified. “He said he’ll break me, and Ivan says that to Rocky in Rocky III.”

I tried and failed not to smile.

“He won’t break you—”

“I know that because from now on I’m standing at
least
five feet away from you at all times.”

With that said he took a few hefty steps backwards making me laugh.

“For the love of God it’s never, and will never, be like that between us and you
know
that. We’re friends.”

Ash nodded in agreement. “I know that, you know that, but everyone else seems to doubt it. I don’t know why though, I flirt with
everyone
. Sally has more chance of getting a seeing to by me than you do. You’re like my very hot sister.”

My laughter was loud, and joyous.

When we walked back out front, Sally and Jada walked down the hallway, greeted us then went and put their things in the break room before coming out and taking their seats behind the station. They had just come on shift, which meant Ash and I could leave and go home.

“Where is Ryder?” I asked Ash.

When he didn’t respond I looked at him and saw he held a cardboard box. I stared at it for a moment, then looked to his grinning face and eyed him.

“Is that what Ryder gave to you?” I asked Ash.

He instantly burst out laughing.

“You’re
such
a nosey git, I’m not even surprised you eavesdropped!”

I fought off a smile and said, “Spit it out. He is gone when he is supposed to bring me home and he asked you to take care of somethin’? What?”

Ash continued to smile. “I’ll tell you, and
give
this to you now to
hold
, but first I just want you to know that you’re right.”

I blinked. “About what?”

“When you told me you were giving Ryder another chance, I was hard on you. After you were attacked and put through your ordeal, I worried you were making a rash decision, but you haven’t. I see what you see. He is loyal to you, and knows your worth.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course,”Ash nodded. “You’re his Adrian.”

That was possibly the sweetest thing I have ever heard.

I shook my head. “I feel like your theme song should be Eye of the Tiger.”

“It is now!”

I chuckled, but my eyes suddenly welled up with tears, but I quickly wiped them away before they fell.

“You’re already a hormonal mess,” Ash teased.

“Bite me,” I quipped, but had a smile on my face when I said it.

Ash pushed the cardboard box towards me, and said, “Read the card that’s stuck to the box, but
don’t
open the box. If you try, I’ll take it back from you.”

“Uh, okay.”

I placed the box on the nurses station, pulled the card off, opened it and began reading.

Don’t cry.

I repeated the thought over and over as I read Ryder’s note. I was so happy that I could have let myself cry for days, but I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to cry anymore, not even if it was happy tears. It was hard though, because his message made me giddy with excitement. I scanned my eyes over the words he wrote one more time, and did a little happy dance.

Sweetness,

I
love
you, and I’m going to prove it to you all over again. Ash is going to bring you to me so follow his
every
instruction. Don’t give him a hard time, okay? He’s helping me out.

All my love,

Ryder xxx

“What is goin’ on?” I asked my friend.”

Ash smiled as he said, “I have strict instructions for you to hold the box, but do
not
open it. You’re to come with me. No questions and no talking, just follow me.”

He turned around after he spoke and walked down the hallway. I looked from him to Sally when she laughed and said, “I’d hurry after ‘im if I were you.”

I looked back at Ash then grabbed the box and card and ran down the hallway after him, shouting for him to wait up. He didn’t slow down his pace until we reached his car that was in the car park. By the time I caught up to him, I was panting for air, which he found amusing.

“Your legs are longer than mine,” I panted. “That’s not fair!”

He opened the passenger door for me, and gestured me into the car with his hand, but I stayed rooted to the spot.

“Talk to me,” I pleaded.

“I said no questions.”

“Ash.”

“Branna.”

I stomped my foot on the ground. “You’re being horrible.”

He laughed. “I know, but the faster you get in the car, the faster you get answers.”

I glared at him for a few seconds before I turned and got into his car. I balanced my box on my knees as I buckled my seatbelt. Ash closed my door then walked around to his side of the car and slid into the driver’s seat.

He turned to face me and when I saw he had a black piece of fabric in his hand, my heart almost stopped.

“What’s that for?” I asked, warily.

“I have to blindfold you, it’s part of the instructions… is that okay?”

He wanted to blindfold me?

I cleared my throat.

“Yeah,” I said. “I trust you.”

I did trust him. This was Ash, my friend. I trusted him with my life.

He tightened the fabric around my head and I listened as he buckled his seatbelt and stuck his key in the ignition and started his car.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“How can I be ready when I don’t know where we’re goin’?” I replied.

“You’re just going to have to trust me, Angel.”

He was going to meet real angels if he didn’t give me answers soon.

Ash pulled out of the car park, and pulled onto the main road. I tapped my fingertips on the box as we drove, and I worked really hard to be patient but it was very difficult. When twenty minutes had passed I came to the conclusion that I had no more patience and felt I was near my breaking point.

“Where are you bringin’—”

“Don’t ask because I’m not telling you.”

“Ash,” I groaned. “Come on, mate, give me a break.”