Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(17)

“I definitely always want to be around.”

We’re interrupted as my cell buzzes beside me. It’s been quiet since I got out of the hospital for the most part, most people just stop by.

I grab it, flipping it over, seeing a text from Ryan.

R: I’m with your sister at the hospital. This isn’t a false alarm. We’re having a baby today.

Holy shit!

T: Do you want me to come up or is this something the two of you want to remain private?

I don’t want to overstep my boundaries with them. I’ll be okay with whatever he tells me.

“Whitney’s in labor,” I glance over at Blaze, not able to help the smile of excitement that’s spread across my face.

“Oh my God! Are you going?”

“I asked what they want me to do. If they want this to be a private thing, I don’t want to go barging in there.”

She nods in understanding. “Yeah, that’s kind of a private thing. Women are usually all spread out,” she grins. “You don’t want see your sister’s stuff.”

“Oh hell no, but if she wants me there, I’ll be there.”

My cell chimes beside me again.

R: Please come up here, I think we both need you. I’m nervous as fuck man. I’m gonna be a dad.

I laugh as I see Ryan’s message. I can just imagine what he looks like right now. His eyes are probably bugged out and he’s more than likely got a vein popped on his neck.

“C’mon, we’re having a niece today,” I’m already struggling to get up.

“Are we?” she asks, holding my hand tightly.

The question is there in her eyes and I know what she’s asking me. “We are,” I tuck one of the crutches under my arm to give me a free hand, cupping her jaw with my palm. “Don’t you know I want you in every part of my life? The minute I woke up in that hospital room, my life came into clear view. I don’t want to live it without you anymore.”

She nods, closing her eyes. I take the opportunity to tilt her chin up, capturing her lips with mine. “One day we’ll make it official, Blaze, just know that’s where I’m headed. I hope you’re headed there too.”

“I am, but I also know we have a lot to work out.”

I lean in, kissing her forehead. “We’ll work it out, all I need to know is we’re headed in the same direction.”

“We are.”

*

I haven’t been in an actual hospital since I was released, and I’m not prepared for the anxiety I feel as we go toward the room I’ve been told my sister is in. At the waiting room, we saw Mom and Dad. Neither one of them wanted to be in the room – said they couldn’t deal with it. Perfectly fine, Whitney and I have kinda been each other’s cheerleader our whole lives.

Not to say our parents haven’t been supportive, but Mom wanted Whitney to do pageants and marry a rich guy. Dad wanted me to go work with him on the oil rigs in the Gulf. Whitney supported me and I supported her. We’re close.

As we get to the room, I knock on the door, not wanting to see something brain bleach won’t scrub from my subconscious.

“Man, it’s good to see you,” Ryan greets me as he pulls back the privacy curtain.

We embrace and I can feel the anxiety and fear radiating off him. “You got this my man, this is everything you’ve always wanted. It’s all good,” I clap him on the back.

He doesn’t say anything as he steps back and lets me in. In my peripheral vision I see him hugging Blaze, but my attention is captured by my sister.

I’ve never seen her look more vulnerable in her life. Not even when she came to me the night she left her husband. She’s sitting up in bed, face devoid of makeup, hair up in a ponytail. She fucking looks younger than Ryan and I both.

“How you doin’, mama?” I grin as I carefully use my crutches to get over to her side.

“Really glad you’re here.” The smile she gives me is one of relief and excitement.

“Trev, you just got out of the hospital, you didn’t have to come back,” She tells me as she reaches out to touch me when I maneuver my way over.

I lean down, letting her hug my neck. Even though she’s the older of us, I’ve always been her protector. I beat the shit out of her asshole husband when I learned what he did to her. That’s a secret the two of us will take to our graves.

Blaze moves a chair closer so I can have a seat and then offers Whitney a smile before she moves to the couch in the room. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I know Mom and Dad said to let them know when it gets closer to time, but I’ve never let you go through something on your own before. Just like you didn’t let me spend Thanksgiving by myself,” I give her hand a squeeze.

“I love you, Trev.”

“I love you too, Sis, but fair warning, if they open up your hoo ha and I even get a glimpse, I’m out. Blaze might have to carry me, out at that point.”

She laughs loudly. “Completely understood. I’m so glad you’re here. For a while there, I wasn’t sure whether you would get to see this or not.”

I’m quiet for a few minutes, going back to the days following the wreck. My eyes become unfocused as I remember laying in the hospital bed, wondering if I’d be here for this. Clearing my throat, I lay some truth down on her. “I wasn’t sure I would either, but now that I am, nothing’s going to tear me away.”