Page 76 of Still The One

‘In my condition?’ I ask with a laugh, shaking my head. ‘No, your sister brought me to a country bar,’ I say, tipping my hat playfully.

‘We went with Gen,’ Eve explains. ‘You know that guy she pretends she’s not into, Brady? He works there. And I figured Foster was getting stir-crazy in my apartment and he missed the fun we used to have together, so I brought him with.’ She suddenly turns to me, still a bit glassy-eyed. ‘Shoot! I never got to prove to you that I can ride that bull!’

I chuckle. Clearly, she’s still a little tipsy. ‘There will be other chances for bull-riding,’ I say, patting her back.

Eve’s mother, who has been watching our exchange with mild confusion, finally speaks up. ‘You two are back together?’

Eve shoots a panicked look at her sister. ‘You didn’t tell her?’

‘Why would I? He’s not my problem.’ Her words hang heavy in the air, revealing the underlying tension amongst us all.

‘Did, uh—did she do this to you?’ her father asks, his eyes crinkling in a hint of a proud smile as he takes in the sight of my bruised and bandaged body.

I shake my head, wincing at the pain that’s now breaking through, considering I’ve dialed back on the morphine and didn’t take any at all this evening, just to make sure we made it to and from the bar.

‘Motorcycle stunt gone wrong.’

‘You know Foster,’ Eve says with a fond smirk. ‘He’s a true adrenaline junkie, always pushing the limits of gravity.’

‘Not just gravity,’ Jess adds in a low murmur.

‘She wasn’t enough for you to show up before, but you came to her while you’re hurt?’ Jean – Eve’s mom – asks.

She’s never really been a beat-around-the-bush sort of woman. If she has a question, she’s asking it. The first thing she asked me when we met was how much money dirt biking could possibly make. So I pulled up my bank account and showed it to her. If that was her only worry, I had it covered.

‘Mom,’ Eve interjects, shaking her head in exasperation. ‘It wasn’t like that. I volunteered to help.’ The air around us seems tense as we wait for her mom’s response, the only sound coming from the fetal monitor. The baby’s heart thumps steadily, a soothing rhythm amid chaos. But mine feels like it’s galloping through my chest, desperately trying to escape. That family waiting room has never sounded better.

Jess groans loudly, grasping tightly onto the bed railings as she writhes in pain. ‘What’s with this breakthrough pain?’ she cries out, her eyes pleading with Kait for relief. ‘Can’t you up the meds? Is there a friend and family extra dosage that you forgot?’

‘This isn’t an oil change,’ Kait says, shaking her head. ‘Now, I’m not usually this honest with patients, but because you’re my best friend I feel the need to warn you – you’re not having a baby and feeling nothing, even with medication,’ Kait says, looking at the printout scrolling from the monitor. ‘Contractions are getting closer, though. I should probably prep the room.’

‘I’m here! I’m here!’ Suddenly, a tall blond man bursts through the doorway, his movements frantic like he’s been running. In one hand, he holds a vibrant bouquet, and over his shoulder is a bag packed to the brim. ‘I can’t believe we forgot the bags!’ he exclaims, setting them down on a nearby chair before turning toward the room and spotting me – a stranger.He furrows his brow in confusion, before blurting out, ‘Who are you?’

The attention of the entire group shifts toward me again.

‘Scott,’ Eve says, stepping closer and sliding her hand around my bicep. ‘Meet Foster, an old friend of mine. Foster, this is Jess’s baby’s daddy, Scott.’

Jess lets out an exasperated sigh and interjects. ‘Old friend my ass. Foster’s herex-husband, the one I told you about.’

A flicker of discomfort crosses Eve’s face but she quickly regains composure, forcing a tight smile onto her lips.

‘This is the FMX star?’ Scott asks, pointing at me.

My reputation precedes me, probably in more ways than just the one, too.

The whole room nods.

Scott turns to face me, his hand extended in greeting. ‘Well, howdy, partner.’ His eyes shift to my head, then to Eve, confusion filling his face.

‘We were at Achy Breaky Heart when we got the call,’ Eve informs him, flouncing her skirt with her fingertips as she explains our ‘looks’.

‘I’ve heard so much about you,’ he remarks, causing Eve’s jaw to visibly clench.

‘All good, I’m sure,’ I tease playfully, glancing at a glaring Jess while earning a hearty laugh from Scott.

Eve grins, relief painted across her face. Maybe they don’t all hate me? All this guy knows is that I showed up during an important event in Eve’s life – the birth of her nephew.

A low, guttural moan escapes Jess’s lips and she immediately clutches Scott’s hand, pressing it tightly against her chest. The pain etched on her face is evident as she lets out another cry of agony.

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