I took her home.
She woke a little after 8 with a sore tummy and a little bit of a fever. Work was the least of my worries when she wasn’t well. I gave her something to bring her temperature down, but she had been sleeping since we got home.
I was sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea arguing with myself on whether I should call Blaze. I hadn’t heard from his since this morning. He didn’t barge into my work and demand I talk to him; he didn’t blow up my phone.
He didn’t do anything I expected him to do.
With my finger hovering over his number, I tapped it. His daughter was unwell, and he had a right to know.
He answered but didn’t say anything.
“Hey”. I spoke.
“You calmed down yet?”. He asked.
“I’m home”.
“Everything okay?”.
“Everleigh isn’t well. She has a fever and has a sore stomach. She’s been sleeping on and off most of the morning”.
“You need me to come home?”.
Thats exactly what I needed. I was exhausted physically and emotionally. This pregnancy was taking it out of me. It was completely different from when I was pregnant with Everleigh.
As much as I hated to say it, but I needed a break, a long bath and a good night’s sleep.
“Babe?”.
“If you’re not busy then yes”.
“I’ll be there soon”.
I awaited his arrival but when he did finally show up, I was passed out on the couch. It wasn’t my intention to fall asleep, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
I could feel him moving me until my head was resting against his chest.
“You gotta slow down baby”.
I wasn’t sure if he knew I was awake or not. I didn’t open my eyes, didn’t want to wake up. I was so tired.
“All this stress ain’t good for you or the baby”.
“I have to work and do normal things Blaze. I can’t sit around the house all day just because I’m pregnant”. I tried to sit up, but he wouldn’t let me.
“Just stay there and chill out. Go back to sleep because I’m not going anywhere”.
Thats exactly what I did. I didn’t have to worry about anything because he was here. If Everleigh woke, he would take care of her. He would take care of us both.
When I did wake it was pitch black outside and I was tucked up in bed. Reaching my hand out I grabbed my phone from the bedside drawers to check the time.
It was almost midnight. I had slept the full day and night away and truth be told I could easily go back to sleep.
Blaze wasn’t beside me, but I knew he was still here. I could hear voices coming from downstairs. Still dressed in my dark blue scrubs I got out of bed and headed downstairs.
Obviously not before sticking my head inside Everleigh’s room.
She wasn’t there.
Walking down the stairs I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. It was like walking through mist with the amount of smoke.
“Really?”. Going straight for the back door I pulled it open.
Jared was here Casey sitting beside him.
“Casey?”. I turned to Blaze. “What’s going on and where is Everleigh?”.
“She’s with your mom. Come sit down”.
“Tell me what’s going on”. I knew something was wrong I could feel it in my gut.
“Lukes a rat”.
“What”. I frowned.
“We had no fucking idea”. Jared for the first time since I walked in looked at me. “Little pricks working for the cops”.
“That doesn’t make any sense. He was desperate to get patched in. Are you sure about this?”. I asked.
He seemed like such a sweet kid.
“Aye well the little shit played us good”. He slammed his fist off the table. “He’ll be dead before morning”.
“We gotta be smart about this brother”. Blaze got to his feet walking towards the back door. “Cops find out we know they’ll put him in protective custody”.
“Did Luke know you put that guy in the hospital?”. I asked.
Something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something felt off about this whole thing.
“Course he fucking did”. Jared spat. “He’d have heard it round the table”.
“Jared”. Blaze warned.
“Sorry darling but one thing I hate is a fucking rat. I need to cool off. I’ll drop Casey back at the clubhouse”.
I found it strange that Casey didn’t utter one word. She sat staring at her shoes never once making eye contact.
“Keep me posted and don’t do anything stupid”. As Blaze walked them out, I went about making some tea.
I was good at reading people. Usually had a good gut feeling if something was off about someone but I didn’t get that with Luke. I wasn’t sure I believed what they were saying.
Arms circled my waist his head resting against my shoulder. “Something bothering you?”. He asked.
“I’m not convinced that Luke’s a rat”.
“I knew you wouldn’t be”. His lips brushed against my neck. “Why do you think I brought her here?”.
“What?”. I spun around so I could face him.
“Luke ain’t the rat darling”.
“No”. He wasn’t telling me what I think he was telling me.
“Afraid so sweetheart”.
I didn’t know what to say. She opened up to me her story convincing. Was it all a lie? Was she looking for an in with me?