Page 4 of Deception (Deranged Drifters MC #22)

Chapter Four

Griffin’s Beach Hailey

H ailey Nichols lays in her room at Colt and Lex’s house. Life hasn’t been the same since she kidnapped and nearly trafficked by her college roommate’s creepy boyfriend.

For starters, she’s adopted now. And she finally admitted her love for Gavin Short, a prospect with the club. A legacy like his father is. Like her father is now that she’s officially embraced being a Nichols.

And no sooner did she decide to put the jaded side of her to bed did life prove to be the same bitch it always has been. Gavin told her he knocked up the waitress he was screwing while they were apart, and he now has a daughter named Nancy with her.

“What are you doing home?” Lex asks and walks into the room. “Did you and Gavin have a fight?”

Even a year ago, this type of comment would have elicited a snotty comeback such as I thought this was my home. I guess I can’t come home anymore, huh? She’s pushing that urge down and slowly finding it easier to be as normal as she possibly can.

While she hasn’t officially changed her address to Gavin’s apartment, she does spend most of her time there. And most of her stuff is there. She basically lives with her boyfriend, so it’s a logical question for Lex to ask.

“He has Nancy this weekend.”

“And he doesn’t want you to bond with his daughter?” she asks. “That doesn’t sound like Gavin.”

Because it’s not. “Is it wrong that I don’t want to bond with her?”

“I don’t know if I’d say it’s wrong, but it’s probably going to create problems between you two, It’s kind of inevitable. Women who don’t like their man’s children aren’t usually around for too long. Not with good men, anyway.”

Staring at Lex’s pretty blue eyes and curly blonde hair, the jealousy creeps in. The waitress is blonde. And a nymphomaniac. One night when Gavin was drunk, he told Hailey that the waitress wanted sex like a dude. Which meant she wanted it all the time. He had a hard time keeping up.

“I’m scared he’s going to decide he wants to be with the mother of his child,” Hailey admits. Something she hasn’t admitted to Gavin and probably never will.

Lex moves to sit on the bed and gives her a small smile. “I don’t think you have anything to be scared about.”

“Why do you say that?”

Please, give me a reason to stop feeling this way. Please, Lex.

“Because that boy loves you something fierce. I think he’s still scared you’re going to leave because this is a big ask of anyone.

‘Hey, I love you, and I want to be together. Oh, by the way, I’m having a kid with another chick who I banged while we were broken up but still hooking up when you’d let me. ’ I mean… come on.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Maybe I should dye my hair.”

“Why?”

“The waitress is blonde. You’re blonde. You look great blonde.”

“And I’d kill for dark hair. I do not have the complexion for it. You’re beautiful as you are, Hailey. You don’t have to be anything but you for him.”

Reaching out, she plays with one of Lex’s curls. “I love your hair.”

“It’s a pain in the ass, but it’s become my signature. When I straighten it, it almost scares people. You know, I should maybe do that soon…” She trails off as an evil smirk appears.

“I bet Dad feels like he’s cheating on you when you do.”

After Colt saved her, Hailey had to admit how wrong she was for resisting the only two people who have cared about her and Lucas since her parents died. She asked to be adopted because she wanted a permanent home with people who refused to give up on her, even when she was being difficult.

“Oh, he loves it. Feels like he’s got another woman in bed but can’t get in trouble for it,” Lex says with a giggle.

Not being blood related makes this feel almost normal. She doubts Lex will ever talk about sex like this with Calla when she’s old enough, and it oddly makes Hailey feel special. She has a bond Lex’s biological daughter won’t have with her.

“You really don’t think I have anything to worry about? I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a real family for their kid?”

Like my dad did when he knocked up Iris.

“If he wanted to be with her because they have a kid, he probably would be by now. Does he do anything that makes you think he wants the waitress?”

She loves Lex even more for jumping on the bandwagon and refusing to use her name. She knows it, and she knows Hailey refuses to hear it.

“No, but it’s scary. Plus, I kind of have more experience with people not wanting me than the other way around. Present company excluded, of course.”

“Of course,” Lex says with a laugh. “I don’t think you’re necessarily scared of Gavin wanting to be with the waitress. I think you’re scared of falling in love with that little girl.”

“Why would I be scared of that?”

Leveling Hailey with a stare that only Lex is capable of, she shakes her head slightly. “Because it’s one more person to hurt you if things don’t work out the way you want them to.”

“Yeah, maybe…”

“Babe, you can’t live your life scared to love. It’s going to be so damn empty. It’s okay to be hurt. You have a huge support system to help you get through it, and it teaches you lessons. Trust me, I know how easy it is to try and shy away, but it’s not best.”

Scrunching up her nose, Hailey shakes her head. “I don’t like that answer. Can I have another one?”

Lex pulls her into a hug and squeezes. “Nope.”

“Ah, Mom!” she jokes.

“Just—”

Her cell phone rings, and Hailey gives Lex an apologetic look before answering. “Hey—”

“She left!” Gavin shouts.

“Nancy? She can’t even crawl yet. How’d she—”

“No!” he shouts again, his voice skirting on the edge of sanity. “Emme. She dropped Nancy off, who I’ve only ever had for a day before, so it’s already scary, and then said she’s not coming back.”

Looking at Lex with a shocked expression, she says, “The waitress isn’t coming back for her daughter?”

“No! She said she’s too young to be a mom, and it’s my responsibility now. Nancy’s crying, and I don’t know what she needs. She’s not hungry, and her diaper isn’t full. I tried burping her, but she didn’t eat anything, so I think I just pissed her off more.”

“Okay, Gavin, breathe—”

“She’s not coming back, Hailey!” he cries. “I don’t know what to do. Please come home. I need… Please… I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Uh, okay. I’ll be… I’ll be right there.”

Hanging up, she grabs her purse, and Lex stops her. “Hey, what’s going on? Is Nancy okay?”

“The waitress told Gavin she’s not coming back to get Nancy. And he’s freaking the hell out.”

“She abandoned her daughter?”

“I guess so. I gotta go. There’s a chance Gavin’s about to implode because Nancy won’t stop crying. Guess we answered the question about whether or not I’ll be bonding with the kid, huh?”

“Hailey, stop. Take a breath.”

She doesn’t have time for this. “What?”

“Babies feel the energy around them, and I’m a firm believer that that little girl knows her mom isn’t coming back. Not cognitively, but she knows. Keep that in mind when you try to comfort her.”

“She’s not old enough to walk yet—”

“When Colt and I were having problems, and I was upset, Calla was difficult to calm down. I swear, she knew I was upset and joined me. Sisterhood solidarity or something. She knew something wasn’t right in the house, and once I figured out how to calm myself, she calmed down, too.”

“That’s… Thanks, Lex.”

The drive to Gavin’s place takes longer than Hailey would have liked, but she finally arrives and runs down the hallway where she can hear the baby’s cries. Using her key, she walks in to find Gavin bouncing her gently in his arms.

“Please, baby, stop crying. What do you want? I’ll give you twenty bucks if you just stop crying,” Gavin pleads.

“Hold out on him, kid. You can get so much more,” Hailey says and reaches over to take Nancy from him.

“She doesn’t need your help with that,” he says.

Slowly rocking, she rubs the baby’s back. “Oh, it’s okay, little girl. Do you know your daddy’s freaking out? Yeah? He’s not really sure how this is going to work, either.”

She eventually settles down and hiccups as she nestles against Hailey’s chest. It makes her want to burst into tears. Not only is she adorable, she obviously feels safe in Hailey’s arms.

“How did you do that?” Gavin asks. “I’ve tried for an hour.”

“She can tell you’re freaking out, so she freaked out. She might also somehow know her mama’s not coming back, and I know how it feels to miss your mom.”

“I don’t know how to fix that,” he says and sits on a stool at the island. “I mean, who just abandons their child?”

The chubby baby in her arms snores softly, and Hailey knows there’s no logical answer for him. “You need to call Lily.”

“Why?”

“Get papers drawn up for the waitress to sign. If she’s going to give up all parental rights, make it legal. Once Nancy gets a routine down, it helps protect her from the waitress popping in and messing it all up.”

“What routine? I’m a Prospect, Hailey. In a motorcycle club. And I’m patching in soon.”

She presses her lips against the baby’s forehead, and she walks her into the nursery. Laying her in the crib, she knows this is exactly why she didn’t want to bond with Nancy. In a matter of moments, she’s completely in love with Gavin’s daughter.

Gavin follows her, but she turns on the baby monitor and leads him out of the room before shutting the door. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Hailey—”

“You have to do what’s right by your daughter. She deserves a strong parent when the other walked away. You have to take the initiative to make sure her mother doesn’t rock her entire world once she gets settled. Trust me, I’ve had my life turned upside down, and it sucks.”

He nods and lets out a long breath. “You’re really staying?”

“Where else would I be?”

“I know this can’t be easy on you, babe. It hasn’t been easy in general, but I don’t know how I can ask you to do this. It feels too damn big.”

Cupping his face, she kisses him tenderly.

“I’m offering, Gavin. As long as you make sure things are settled on the legal front, I’m here.

But I can’t get attached if there’s a chance for the waitress to pop back in and tear her away from us.

If we’re going to do this, we need to really do this.

Make it legal. Everything to protect her and us. ”

“I’ll call her right now.”

He walks into the living room, and Hailey zones out. Did everything with Lex and Colt happen to show Hailey it’s possible to love someone who isn’t biologically related to her?

A knock at the door pulls her from her thoughts, and she walks over to answer it. Please don’t be an angry neighbor. She’s just a baby, for crying out loud.

A man wearing the same kutte as Gavin stands on the other side of the door. The only other Prospect Hailey knows is Kent Conway, and this isn’t him. She doesn’t know this man.

“Hey, you must be Hailey. I’m Cole. Cole Walsh.”

“Hey,” she says, letting him step inside.

He’s on the taller side but at least a couple of inches shorter than Gavin. And lanky. He’s cute, kind of, but he looks really boyish. Not like a biker at all.

Gavin holds up a finger to let him know he’ll be there in a minute while he talks to Lily.

“Lawyer. Domestic issue to take care,” she says, unsure why she’s explaining. “How long have you been prospecting?”

“Only about six months. I promised my parents I’d give college at least a year, but my girlfriend’s dad is in the club.”

Girlfriend’s dad, huh? “Yeah? Who’s her dad?”

“TK Nichols.”

“Colt’s dad?”

He nods and smiles. “Yeah, Colt is Klaire’s brother.”

“Colt’s my dad.”

“Oh, you’re that Hailey.”

What the fuck other Hailey do you know in the club? “Uh, sure.”

“He’s been real great to me. I think being a member of the club will be a lot of fun.”

“He hasn’t been a Prospect long enough, apparently,” Gavin says and walks up. “Got it?”

Cole hands him an envelope. “That’s everything I owe. Thanks again. See you around, Hailey.”

“I loaned him some money,” Gavin says and counts the bills. “And he paid interest. I think I can get on board with that kid. He’ll make a shit biker, but maybe it’ll toughen him up.”

Laughing, she shakes her head. “He’s weird.”

“Right?”

“What did Lily say?”

He pulls her towards him and rests his arms on her shoulders as he looks down into her eyes. “She’s drawing everything up for me.”

“That’s good.”

“Hey… I love you, you know that?”

“I do, but it’s kind of nice to hear occasionally,” she says and kisses him. “I love you, too.”

They stay there, just holding each other. The tension and anxiety of what’s to come slowly melts away as his muscles relax against Hailey, and she knows she wants this. All of this.