Page 67 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
Ethan chuckles, “Yeah, that’s definitely going to suck. Seeing you bunch all staring at me for hours a day.”
Callie laughs. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Ethan.”
“Me, too.”
Their friendship has blossomed again. Everything is perfect.
Perfect.
We finish up with Ethan and head out, we’re all going for some lunch and then we’ll head out to a bar for a few drinks to enjoy our new life together. A decision that feels so very right.
“Hey,” Callie says, tugging my arm as we walk down the hall. “Can we talk?”
I stop and turn to face her. The two men stop, too, but Callie waves them on and says we’ll meet them in the car in a moment. They keep walking and I look to Callie, confused. “What is it?” I ask her, narrowing my eyes.
“A few things. First one, the least important but definitely important…Tanner told his parents about us.”
“He did?” I squeal, eyes wide. “Holy shit, how did that go for you? After last time?”
She purses her lips. “I mean, they were a bit shocked but they’ve had a few years to process and have heard the truth from Chase now, so they’re a bit more understanding. It’ll probably take time, and it’s going to be weird for a while, but at least it’s not a hate blow up.”
I smile at her, squeezing her arms, “I’m so happy for you both. I really am. They’ll come around. It might take some time, but it’ll happen.”
She beams, “Yeah, I really think it will.”
“What’s the other part?”
“Oh,” she grins, “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I scream, so loudly a nurse stops in the hall and scowls at me, reminding me that I’m in a hospital and not outside.
I whisper a sorry to her, and then grab Callie, shaking her a little. “When did this happen? Why wasn’t I there when you peed on a stick? What the hell, Callie? Tell me everything, right now!”
“I only found out this morning. I was a bit late for my period, but I just didn’t feel right. Tanner and I had unprotected sex a few weeks ago and I thought surely not…but I took a test anyway and well…it was positive.”
“Have you told him?” I ask her eyes wide.
She nods, smiling. “He was so happy, you have no idea.”
“Oh my god. Oh, this is the best news ever. I’m going to be an aunty! An aunty! I can’t breathe, this is fabulous!”
She laughs and hugs me, and I squeeze her so tightly I feel like we might just explode. This is everything she deserves and more. She has been through so much, this is like the light in a really really broken tunnel.
I’m so happy for her.
“It’s still early yet,” she laughs, stepping back, “but I’m keeping everything crossed. I didn’t think I wanted kids, you know with everything, but this feels…right.”
“You’re going to make the best mom. Congratulations honey, you deserve this and so much more.”
Her cheeks are pink with happiness and I couldn’t be prouder of her in this moment.
“I love you, Jo,” she whispers. “Thank you for everything you have ever given me. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“Dammit,” I say, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “You’ll make me cry.”
She smiles, and takes my hand, walking with me down the hall.
“Oh Callie?” I say as we walk.
“Mmm?”
“I love you, too.”
26
EPILOGUE
CALLIE
8-ish months later
“I’m a whale,” I moan, rubbing my pregnant belly as I waddle through the garage, looking for Tanner.
“You’re the prettiest darn whale I’ve ever seen, baby.”
I turn and see him walking towards me, wearing those grease covered clothes that do wild things to my pregnant brain. I bite my bottom lip and stare at him, wanting to rip those clothes right off him and take him on the floor, where we stand. Though that’s not possible because right now, the garage is full of bikers.
“I swear, if you keep coming at me looking like that, I’m going to eat you alive, Tanner Yates,” I whisper, grabbing his shirt and pulling him towards me, kissing him with a ferocity that leaves us both panting.
“Get a room you two!” Someone yells.
I laugh and pull back, Tanner cups my face and growls low and throaty, “Why you gotta tease me baby, when you know I can’t fuck you?”
“You can fuck me, you’re choosing not to,” I mutter.
He reaches down, smoothing his hands over my round belly, holding our baby, our surprise. He thinks it’s a girl, in fact, he says he knows it with all his heart but I think it’s a boy. I guess we’ll find out any day now.
“Can’t risk my beautiful baby, don’t want to hurt her,” he murmurs.
“You know he’s safe in there, right?”
“She’s ready to be born, I don’t want to stress her out.”
I grin. “You’re a fucking devil.”
He chuckles. “Why are you here, honey? You should be resting. A few days from now, you won’t be.”
