Read Online Tied - Part Four (The Tied Series) by Ellen Callahan - Free Book Online

nagging at me.”
     
    “Because of your accident?”
     
    “The accident,” she agreed, “Because I’m an alcoholic.” I started to protest but she cut me off. “You said it yourself, Lockett, and whether or not you meant to say it doesn’t mean the thought wasn’t real.”
     
    “You were. You aren’t anymore.”
     
    “That’s not how it works.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. This is normally the sort of thing I would dump on Patrick, but, now I’m going to dump it on you. Lucky man.”
     
    I hated that she sounded so bitter. “I am lucky.”
     
    “Lockett-”
     
    “I might not know the right thing to say like he does. But listen, I’m a little excited, too. Terrified, but excited. And I love you. And you’re going to be an amazing mother. Know how I know?” She shook her head. “I’ve seen you with my niece and nephew. I’ve seen how you light up when you talk about your work.”
     
    “It isn’t wrong of me to be happy?”
     
    “No, sweetheart. I want you to be. And I can’t be if you aren’t.”
     
    She squeezed my hands, looked up at me with watery eyes. “I-”
     
    I pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh. Not yet,” I muttered. I snatched the tissues from the table. “Let’s finish up here. Then ice cream’s on me, okay? I’ve got some other news.”
     
    “About the apartment?”
     
    I winked. “Maybe.”
     
    ○●○●○●○●○
     
    She was so excited to hear about the apartment that she jumped into my arms right there on the sidewalk outside of the ice cream shop, nearly knocking my cone out of my hand. I took the opportunity to lick hers, eliciting an offended squeal right in my ear.
     
    “That’s so incredibly awesome of them,” she said, sliding back down to the ground. “We’ll have to really fix up the place, make it worth it on their end, too.”
     
    “Definitely.”
     
    And then I told her about the donations. The check was in the mail - and when it arrived this time, I wouldn’t tear it up.
     
    “I know it sucks but you’re doing the right thing.”
     
    We made our slow way back toward the apartment. Still stumping along in the boot, I couldn’t move as quickly as I wanted to. It’ll be off long before I’m chasing a toddler, though.
     
    “Do you want to do something this weekend?” she asked, smiling shyly, “Maybe go look at baby stuff? I know it’s still pretty early, but…”
     
    Guilt washed over me. I had plans for Saturday already - plans I wasn’t sure I wanted to share with her. But that isn’t how we’re handling things.
     
    “What is it?” she asked, eyebrows furrowed. I found us a place to sit - just a bench along the sidewalk where we could enjoy our ice cream and people-watch.
     
    “We know where Rabbit is,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “We’re paying him a visit this weekend.”
     
    I could feel the tension rolling off of her. “What are you going to do?”
     
    “Don’t worry about that.” I knew she wasn’t into the fighting in the ring - she definitely wouldn’t want to hear about anything that went on outside of it. “I’ll have Mal and Surly with me, everything will be fine.”
     
    But she was shaking her head. “Don’t do it, Lockett.”
     
    “I can’t fucking move on like this. I’ll never move on if I don’t.”
     
    “I’m asking you,” she said, her voice steady though her hands shook when she turned and gripped mine, “Please don’t.”
     
    “Or?” I asked, against my better judgment. Or she’ll never live with me. She’ll move back to Connecticut. She won’t let me see her again, and as for the baby…
     
    She surprised me, though. “I’m with you,” she whispered, “I’m not running again. I won’t quit on you if you do go through with this, but think of us. What will we do if you get arrested? Or worse, hurt again?”
     
    “I won’t,” I said, clinging to whatever arrogance I had left from my years as a fighter.
     
    “Did you see that little smudge of a