Page 116 of Tied to You

She half laughs, pointing at her stomach. “What, because of this?”

I take a steadying breath. “Yes, because of fucking that.” Looking around, my brothers who are still here begin swinging their heads.

“What’s it to you?” she asks casually, her eyes lifting.

I step in front of Mollie, no longer willing to put up with this shit. “I think you know. In fact, everyone in this fucking room appears to know what you’re on about. So, if you’ve got something to say, just fucking say it. I’m a real busy man.”

Then she laughs. “You want me to tell you this baby is yours?”

I can’t stop myself from snapping. “No!” I bark. “I don’t want you to tell me that the fucking baby is mine. I want you to tell me that you’re not here expecting handouts and love and protection. My baby or not, you’ll get fuck all from me. I don’t need a kid in my life fucking everything up, not now, not ever. So take your fucking child, and get the fuck away from here. From me. From my club. Do you hear me?”

There’s a gasp behind me. I go to turn but Mollie’s gone before I can grabher. Jesus Christ. What the fuck is going on? She’s leaving? Fuck!

Dean, who I forgot was here, follows after her. I catch a few more of the men looking at what’s unfolding. Shit like this should be dealt with in private, not for prying eyes and ears to witness.

Tanya laughs as the door slams shut. “Travis you dumb fuck.”

“What?”

“The baby isn’t yours.”

The biggest breath leaps from my chest but I keep my composure.

Sophie takes a step closer to me. “You didn’t even come inside me,” she says. “I may have been a virgin, but give me some credit.”

My arms hang heavy, my palms turned to the ceiling. “Then why the fuck did you make me think itwasmine? And why the fuck are you here?” I harshly shout, my chest rising again but feeling an unwanted weight shifting.

“My ex, he…” Sophie’s eyes scan up and down me, “well, I guess I’m a bad judge of character.” I scoff at her dig as she crosses her arms rather angrily. “Anyway, you assumed right away,” she argues, and it pisses me off because she’s right.

“You might want to go after Mollie,” Tanya tells me, interjecting, her eyes jumping to where Mollie left.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Why?” I snap.

“Again, dumb fuck, you just professed that you never want kids.”

“So?” I say, like a fucking idiot.

“So,” she says, dragging out the word. “How do think that makes Mollie feel?”

How do I think that makes Mollie feel?Mollie and I have never spoken about kids or a family. That was until she mentioned her dream and I all but had a meltdown.

Shit. Did she see that? Christ, I’m a cunt.

Without another look back I swing open the door, heading towards the sound of her car’s engine. I’m too late. Fuck. I quicken my pace, going after her.

What the fuck is happening? “Mollie!” I shout, seeing the red lights disappearing behind the smoke bellowing from the exhaust.

Dean’s stood lighting a smoke, also watching. “Why didn’t you stop her?” My breath is slightly ragged.

He passes me the smoke he just lit. “She told me not to,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders. I look at him blankly. “The kid yours then?”

I take a grateful inhale, eventually blowing out the smoke with my head pointed to the heavens, eyes closed. What the fuck is going on.Mollie wants kids? “No.”

“That’s a good thing?”

“Of course it is.” It’s just apparently not a good thing to hear the man you moved in with doesn’t want kids, period. “Why do I get the feeling the shit’s only just about to hit the fan?” My question is solemn.

Dean lights his own smoke, slipping his lighter back in his pocket once he’s done. “Do you mean with the club or with Mollie?”