Page 52 of Hatter

“Are you…?” He let the question hang in the air, unfinished, but I knew what he meant.

“I don’t know for sure,” I admitted, my heart pounding in my chest. The possibility was both exhilarating and terrifying. I didn’t know the first thing about being a mom. “But if I am, I want you to know that I’m ready to face the next chapter in our lives. And for what it’s worth, I think you’d be an amazing father.”

Hatter stared at me for a long moment, his scarred face illuminated by the soft glow of the lights above. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his lips, transforming his entire expression.

Hatter’s hand, rough and callused, cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing gently across my skin. His gaze held mine captive, a world of emotion swirling beneath the surface.

Hatter leaned in, pressing his lips softly against mine. The kiss was gentle, but it spoke volumes about what we meant to each other. And it also reminded me of why I might be pregnant. The man couldn’t seem to keep his hands off me.

As we parted, I nestled closer to him, my head resting on his solid chest. His heartbeat thrummed beneath my ear, steady and reassuring.

“I feel like nothing can tear us apart.”

As I closed my eyes, wrapped in Hatter’s embrace, I allowed myself to imagine the future. Underland MC surrounding us, laughter filling the air, and maybe one day, the sound of a child’s giggle joining the chorus. The thought brought a smile to my lips. Whatever lay ahead for Hatter and me, I knew we were ready to embrace it together.

And that was enough.

“Hey, Jo,” Cheshire called out from across the room, a grin plastered on his face. “How about you and Hatter join us for a game of pool? Give March and me a run for our money.”

I glanced up at Hatter, who nodded with a playful smirk. Together, we got to our feet and ambled over to the pool table, hands intertwined.

“Y’all aren’t ready for the beatdown we’re about to dish out,” Hatter teased, wrapping his arm around my waist. I wondered if he knew just how badly I played.

“Bring it on, boss man,” March shot back, gripping his pool cue with a determined glint in his eyes.

“Hey, darlin’,” Hatter whispered into my ear as he stepped behind me to help line up my shot. “You got this. Just breathe and focus.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, feeling a surge of warmth spread through my chest. As the balls clacked against each other, I couldn’t help but smile. Normal things like playing pool and hanging out with our family always brought me joy.

“Nice shot!” Rabbit cheered from the sidelines, raising a bottle of beer in salute.

“Damn straight,” I agreed, grinning triumphantly at March’s mock scowl.

Throughout the game, my thoughts kept drifting back to my conversation with Hatter earlier. My unspoken hope for a family echoed in my mind, painting a picture of a life filled with love, laughter, and the support of the Underland MC. It was a dream I would fight for, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.

“Hey, Jo,” Absolem called out, pulling me from my reverie. “It’s your turn again.”

“Right, thanks,” I replied, turning back to the table and lining up my shot. I saw Hatter watching me from the corner of my eye, a thoughtful look on his face.

The game continued, each player landing impressive shots and the occasional lucky break. In the end, Hatter and I emerged victorious, our laughter mingling with the groans of mock defeat from March and Cheshire. I knew it was all thanks to Hatter’s abilities, and I wasn’t quite sure, but I thought the other two had gone easy on me.

“Good game,” I said.

“Rematch tomorrow?” March suggested, a fire in his eyes.

“Count us in,” Hatter agreed, wrapping an arm around me and pressing a soft kiss to my temple.

“You know what’s missing in here?” I asked.

“What?” Cheshire asked.

“A pinball machine. I’ve always wanted to play one,” I said.

Cheshire looked over at Absolem, who rolled his eyes. “Fine. When the budget allows, I’ll try to find one. But only because our little sister requested it.”

“Can I ask you something?” Hatter’s question hung heavy in the air between us. His fingers traced lazy circles on my arm, soothing my nerves, but I could still feel the weight of what he wanted to say.

“Shoot,” I replied, bracing myself for whatever came next.

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