Page 172 of Fought and Freed

When they wheeled him out, he looked around in confusion. “Where’s everyone else?”

“It’s just me.” Nervousness fluttered in Maddy’s chest. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Uncertainty filled his expression. “About what?”

“Just wait.” Maddy hurried forward to take the handles of his wheelchair. “Let’s get you out of here first.”

It took about an hour to get him released from the hospital.

Maddy wanted to take him somewhere nice to tell him about the baby, so she drove them to a park that had benches to sit on.

They found one away from everyone, and Ryder gingerly settled onto it. “You’re making me nervous. What’s going on?”

She lets out a breath. “We’ve never talked about this, and it’s happening before we’re both ready...”

“What?” Ryder took her hands. “Maddy, whatever it is, we’ll work through it.”

She takes a breath. “After the warehouse, when the doctors checked me out in the hospital, I found out that I’m pregnant.”

A big smile spread over Ryder’s face before he looked at her stomach. “You are?”

She pulled out the ultrasound picture. “It’s yours.”

His hands shook as he took the photo. “Mine.”

Tears formed in his eyes, and he dropped to his knees between her legs and kissed her belly. “I promise to be the best father possible.” Then, he looked up at her. “I love you, Maddy. Thank you for making me a father.”

He got back up onto the bench and stared at the picture. “Do the guys know?”

“Yes.” Her shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry. I wanted you to be the first, but Jace was with me when I found out.”

“Hey, hey.” Ryder took her hand. “I don’t care if I wasn’t told first.”

They sat there for a while, just holding each other.

When the day turned chilly, Maddy stirred. “I better get you home.”

When they walked into the house, everyone was waiting in the living room, and the guys got up, each congratulating Ryder.

Kelly tugged on Maddy’s arm. “What’s going on?”

Maddy smiled down at her. “Well, Ryder and I are having a baby.”

She jumped with excitement. “Yay, another baby!”

Maddy’s eyes filled with tears, and her heart was overjoyed with everything.

Skylar came over. “What’s wrong, Princess?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing. Everything is perfect.”

39

MADDY

Two Years Later

The last two years were a whirlwind of activity for Maddy and the guys.

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