Page 36 of Tied up in Knots (Gummy Bear Orgy #4)

Nothing I ever did was a felony

I sit quietly in the passenger seat of Warren’s truck, eyeing him across the bench seat from me.

My doctor’s appointment seemed more emotional for him than he expected it to be.

I’m pretty sure he was on the verge of crying when he first heard the baby’s heartbeat.

To be fair I did cry the first time I heard it.

We ate lunch at my favorite Chinese food restaurant in town, the only Chinese food restaurant in town that thankfully happens to be good.

The restaurant didn’t have pickles on the menu but like a pickle ninja, Warren produced some from the glove box of his truck.

Almost like he was expecting me to ask for them.

Throughout the entire meal I caught him sneaking peeks at the ultrasound print out. But he never said anything about it. I could tell there was more going on inside that head of his. Plotting and planning just like he did before he finished his boat and sailed off to find a new life.

Now we’re driving home, and questions sit on the tip of my tongue but before I can ask any the sounds of police sirens ring out behind us, and blue and red lights flash through the window.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Warren grumbles under his breath. “I wasn’t even speeding.”

Warren pulls over and dutifully waits for the officer to approach his window, rolling it down by the manual crank. His truck is so old. If we’re going to raise this baby together, we might have to look into a larger safer vehicle.

Mine has room for a car seat bu t _ and I would never admit this to Warre n _ it’s a piece of junk. It never mattered before because I barely used it, and it was only me. Now I’m going to need a more reliable form of transportation than my bicycle.

The officer approaches, and I instantly recognize him, Sam Gardner, or officer Gardner as he prefers to be called. He’s the same age as Warren and prides himself in giving Warren as many tickets as possible and arresting him when able.

Since I know for a fact, we weren’t speeding, running a red light or stop sign, or even changing lanes without signaling, he only stopped us to pester Warren.

“Well look at who we have here. When did you get back into town? Never thought I would have to pull you over again,” Officer Gardner crows.

“And you still didn’t need to, since I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” Warren bites back flatly, a smug smile on his face.

I kind of like it when he’s being a condescending smartass. Gardner deserves it. He takes advantage of his position pulling people over just because he feels like it. He’s probably a good police officer but I’ve only ever encountered him when he’s had Warren in his sites.

“I’m sure you’ve done something, you always do,” Gardner retorts.

“No, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t doing anything wrong, Officer.” I add the title to stroke his ego.

“Raelyn. What are you doing with this felon?”

“Nothing I ever did was a felony,” Warren inserts.

Officer Gardner tongues his cheek and glares at Warren before turning his attention back to me.

“Warren was driving me to my doctor’s appointment.” I stroke my belly for emphasis.

His eyes track the motion and it has its intended effect. Clearing his throat, he looks between us.

“And you chose him to deliver you safely?”

Jeez this guy really won’t give up, will he?

I can literally feel Warren tensing in his seat next to me. Gardner has no idea what kind of an insult he just landed. I smile sweetly, forcing my face to soften so I don’t scowl at the asshat and give him the stink eye.

“I wouldn’t trust anyone more with my safety.”

He tongues his cheek again, resting his hands on his gun belt and puffing out his chest like a damn peacock. I’m not sure if he’s trying to inflate himself to try and outshine Warren or what but it’s kind of funny to watch.

I never did get an explanation from Warren about Gardner’s obsession with him. There must have been something in high school that happened between them to cause such a long-standing fixation.

“Well…” he clears his throat and turns his attention back to Warren. “You watch yourself, because I’ll be watching, closely.”

“That’s kinda creepy, Sam.” Warren calls him by his first name ignoring the whole officer title surely only to ruffle his feathers.

Officer Gardner glares at Warren but doesn’t respond to his barb, instead clapping his hand on the open window frame.

“Drive safe,” he says in farewell.

When he’s a safe distance away Warren speaks. “It’s so nice to be welcomed home so warmly.”

“Ignore him, he’s just jealous.”

That makes him smirk, the irritation fading from his expression.

“Yeah, because I have you.”

“What does that mean?”

“He had a thing for you in high school and when he approached me about asking you out, I may have adamantly and physically denied his request. I think he’s still sore about it.”

I am shocked silent as he rolls his window up and shifts back out into traffic.

I had no clue he did that. Were there more times he secretly protected me?

Defended me? Not that I don’t think I could have easily rejected Sam on my own.

He was never my type. But I kind of like that even back then he was keeping me for himself.

We lapse back into silence as he drives. After enough time passes for the flush to drain from my cheeks and irritation at Warren being pulled over for nothing, I remember Warren’s previous distraction and my curiosity.

“So, what’s been on your mind?”

“Huh? Oh, you know, stuff about the baby.”

“Oh? Like what?”

Warren shrugs and a grin tugs at the corner of his lips. “Names, cribs. If I should keep a go bag in my truck for when you go into labor just in case. That kind of stuff.”

I narrow my eyes at him because that isn’t all. “Nothing else?”

“Like what?” he chuckles.

“I don’t know. You were looking at those home listings pretty closely. You dismantled my car for unknown reasons. You have a jar of pickles in your glove box. You’re obviously thinking about more than just baby names. Which, by the way, I already have a short list of viable options.”

We turn down my street and stop at a red light. Warren turns to face me as we sit idle.

“And what would those be? Were you ever going to tell me the names and ask if I liked any of them?”

“I wasn’t originally intending to, but since you’ve decided to reinsert yourself into my life for the foreseeable future, I suppose I could.”

With a shake of his head Warren turns back to watch the streetlight. “Okay then, what are they?”

“Levi.”

“Pass.”

I pause at his stark rejection of one of my favorite name choices. Blinking at him in shock I almost don’t continue with my list for fear of more immediate rejections.

Warren makes a go on gesture with his hand as the light turns green and we continue down the road towards home.

“Okay…Sebastian.”

“Pass.”

“Benjamin.”

“Maybe”

“Axel.”

“Hell no.”

“How about Ace then?”

Warren tilts his head back and laughs out loud. I wasn’t being serious about Ace, but he was beginning to irritate me with his stubborn refusal to approve of a name.

“Ace would be a great nickname, especially if he turns out to be good at sports. What else you got?”

I huff out a breath, I do have one more name, my favorite. For a moment I hesitate because I would be really deflated if he doesn’t like my last choice.

“Noah,” I finally say quietly.

“Hm.”

Warren doesn’t bark out ‘pass’ or ‘hell no’ so that’s a good sign. I’m weirdly nervous to hear what he has to say about the possible name for our son.

“Noah’s nice.”

“Really?”

I’m probably a little more surprised than I should be but I’m happy to just be having this conversation with him.

“Yeah. Let’s put that at the top of the list and then remove all the other ones you suggested so far.”

I giggle and my anxiety eases as I rub at my large baby bump under my overalls.

“Since you want to be involved in everything now, I should probably tell you Izzy and Gigi planned a baby shower in a couple weeks. It’s mainly going to be just family and a few friends like Lauren. I didn’t want to have one, but Izzy convinced me it was mandatory.”

Warren nods in agreement, apparently on Izzy’s side. Good he can be the one to open all the presents and be the center of attention while I sit to the side and watch. I don’t want to be fawned and cooed over.

It’s going to be really weird with him there though too. Now that he’s announced himself as the father to my doctor, it’ll take maybe a day or two for the word to get around. Maybe by the time of the baby shower everyone will already know, and we won’t have to talk about it. One can only hope.

“Of course I want to go to the shower. It’s not supposed to be an all-girls thing, is it?”

“No. I don’t know enough girls to fill a whole party with.” And I’m totally fine with that. My small group of family and friends is all that I need.

“I’m sure you could if you tried. You have more friends in town than you think,” he says like he knows something I don’t. Does he know something I don’t?

“What do you mean?” I make a face at him that he doesn’t see because he’s being a good driver and focusing on the road.

We’ve made it to my row of buildings, and he turns down an alley to head for the back parking area. The bump of the driveway jostling my bladder and I’m pretty sure a bit of pee comes out.

“All the ladies on your book delivery list would be pleased to join your party. Everyone I’ve been to on my deliveries has asked about you and the baby, commenting on how sweet you are and how they wish you the best.

“I know you think people in town are just nosy but most of them just want to know you’re doing well. That’s not to say there are some who are just nosy busybodies who like talking about others. You don’t have to invite those ones. But people like Mrs. Niedermeyer would love the company.”

My brow pulls tight in thought as I pick at the cuticle on my fingers. I’d never thought about it that way before. I do like Mrs. Niedermeyer, she’s talkative for sure but also nice and friendly and I would actually have something to talk about with her since we both have a love for books.

“Maybe I’ll mention that to Izzy, and she can invite a few more people.”

“I think that’s a great idea. Even if it is only Mrs. Niedermeyer.”

We park and Warren helps me out of the truck, then up the stairs to my apartment. It’s been a busy morning and with my large belly my back is killing me and all I want is to soak in a hot bath for the next hour.

When we reach the top of the stairs and enter my apartment, I press one hand to my low back and one under my stomach trying to lighten my load and stretch.

“Is your back hurting?” Warren asks, circling me like a mother hen.

“Yeah, the side effect of carrying around a watermelon on my stomach and cantaloupes on my chest.”

Okay my boobs aren’t that big but they sure as hell feel like it with how swollen and tender they are.

“Can I try something I read in one of the books, I think it might help.”

I groan and flop my hands at my side. “Anything if it helps relieve the stress on my spine.”

“Okay just stand still.”

Warren circles behind me and like before he wraps his arms around my middle.

This time he cups both his hands on the underside of my stomach and laces his fingers together.

After the count of three he performs magic, because the forward pulling weight and the pressure on my spine lightens as he lifts.

“Oh my god, that feels wonderful.”

I lean back against him and revel in the feeling of weightlessness. Warren presses a kiss to the side of my head, and I sigh. The pro side of my list of Warren living with me keeps growing with every day.

“Can you just walk around like this all day?” I ask with a chuckle.

“Whenever you need me to, I will gladly help hold the weight of our son, in or outside of your womb.”

Great, I’m going to cry again.

“Stop being so sweet,” I grumble.

“Never. You’ve rubbed off on me permanently now. No more getting arrested for misdemeanors, no more speeding, no more drunken nights at the bar, no more nights alone without you.” His arms tighten around me and his face buries in the crook of my neck. “You’re stuck with me now Bambi.”

I was always stuck with him, whether he was physically here or not. But having him claim it himself without my insistence, only makes me settle more into his embrace. And as much as I love it here, I still want that bath.

“Will you walk me to the bathroom? I want to take a bath.”

“Oh, I’ll do better than just walk you there. I’ll get in with you and rub your shoulders. I could use a relaxing bath myself.”

I want to argue, but I also don’t. Soaking in hot water with Warren at my back and his hands digging into the knots on my shoulders and neck sounds like heaven.