Chapter Nineteen
Rider
I’d never had anyone hate me enough to try and kill me before. It was unsettling to say the least. Emilia was obviously mentally unstable, and she was sent to a psychiatric ward. What had happened rattled Jax. He seemed to feel he’d somehow let me down because he hadn’t realized Emilia was nuts. That didn’t make much sense, seeing as none of us had thought she was capable of anything violent. But maybe because he was my alpha, he felt doubly responsible for not protecting me the way he’d wanted.
I had several visits to the doctor after the attack, to check on the progress of the baby. It appeared that everything was going smoothly, and each month my stomach grew bigger and bigger. By the time we had our twenty-week ultrasound, both Jax and I finally began to believe Emilia hadn’t harmed the baby after all. We were able to see all the arms and legs, toes and fingers. The heartbeat was strong, and I could attest to the fact that the baby liked to kick.
Tania and Jax had met for the first time in the hospital, after my poisoning, and it had been a good way for them to break the ice. They’d both been so concerned for me; they’d naturally bonded over their anger toward Emilia.
“I don’t know how to build a crib,” Tania complained, interrupting my thoughts as she scowled at the directions that had accompanied the baby’s bed. “I’ve read the instructions six times. They don’t make sense.”
“I knew we should have hired someone.” I laughed. She’d come over to help me finish up the nursery, but so far neither one of us was any good at reading the instructions.
“We’re teachers. We should be able to figure this out.” She squinted at the paper again. “Slot B doesn’t seem to exist.”
“Well, there’s no rush. Still three months to go before the baby arrives.”
She tossed the paper down. “Should we just have lunch and come back to this?”
I perked up. “Oh, yes. I like the sound of lunch.”
Grinning, she said. “I know.”
I stood unsteadily, holding my belly. “Mrs. Lane said she was making lasagna.”
“You sound like a kid on Christmas morning.”
“She’s a good cook.” I led the way out of the room. “She’s also making garlic toast.”
“I don’t remember you being this obsessed with food before.” She smiled affectionately at me. “Is this a pregnancy thing?”
“Well, I am eating for two.” I smirked, holding the banister as we made our way down the stairs.
“That’s a myth. The baby is tiny right now.”
I patted my stomach. “Says the girl who can touch her toes.”
She laughed. “Okay. I’ll shut up now.”
We walked into the kitchen and found the Mrs. Lane scurrying around the big space. “Oh, good. Would one of you mind carrying to garlic toast out to the patio?”
“I will.” Tania volunteered.
“Mr. Hamilton is joining you for lunch.” She smiled. “Just go sit. He’s already out there all alone.”
“Awww. Poor dear.” Tania made a face. “How will he ever survive without his omega for five minutes?”
Mrs. Lane chuckled.
We went out to the patio and found Jax sitting at the table that overlooked the expansive grounds. The sun was warm on my shoulders as I sat next to him. Tania sat across from me, after depositing the garlic toast onto the table. Jax leaned in and kissed me, and my pulse sped up. I still had to pinch myself sometimes that he was mine. That he loved me.
“Okay you two, get a room.” Tania nibbled on a piece of garlic toast.
“How are you, Tania?” Jax asked pleasantly.
“I’m good. We’re rocking the nursery.”
I laughed. “Well, other than the part about not being able to read the directions, we’re awesome.”
“Need help?” He asked, lifting one brow.
“Nah. We got this.” Tania shook her head.
I wasn’t sure why she was refusing help. If we figured out how to put the crib together, I’d eat my shoe. I helped myself to a piece of garlic bread and some iced tea. Mrs. Lane carried the bubbling lasagna out to the table.
Jax served me and Tania first, which was sweet, and then he helped himself to a generous portion. We ate in silence for a while, then Tania said, “So you two never had a honeymoon, right?”
I frowned. “No. I guess not.”
“I tried to get Rider to go skiing with me, but he didn’t want to.” Jax sipped his tea.
“We barely knew each other then. It would have been weird to go on vacation with you.” My cheeks warmed.
“You should go on a vacation before the kid-let arrives.” Tania said.
“Uh, I don’t want to go on vacation until I’m not huge, and I can drink alcohol, thank you very much.” I laughed and stuffed some more cheesy lasagna in my mouth.
“We can go somewhere after the baby is born.” Jax nodded. “A family vacation.”
“Awww. That sounds sweet.” Tania smiled. “Or, maybe Jax parents could babysit and you two could just go alone.”
I frowned. “I don’t see me wanting to leave our baby for a while.”
“Yeah. Me neither.” Jax met my gaze. “I don’t want to let you or the baby out of my sight for a while.”
Tania sighed. “Is this because of what Emilia did?”
Shrugging, Jax said, “Partly.”
“Vacations can wait. We’re together and safe. I don’t need room service and exotic beaches to be happy.” I smiled at Jax.
“Me neither.” He looked pleased.
“Then will you two please send me on an exotic vacation?” Tania grinned. “I need those things in my life.”
“Why don’t you go on vacation with that dance instructor you’re dating.” I asked.
“Was dating. I broke it off.” She avoided my gaze.
I scowled. “Seriously? I thought you really liked him?”
“I did. But he kept trying to get me to go dancing all the time, and I can’t dance.”
“He could have taught you. He was an instructor.”
She sighed. “It wasn’t working out.”
“It never does.” I laughed.
“Hey, not everyone finds what you two have.” She took a bite of food, frowning.
“Maybe you should go see Mrs. Littlebottom.”
Tania bugged her eyes. “You want me to go see a matchmaker?”
“Why not?” Jax asked. “She might help you like she did us.”
“Maybe when I get desperate. But I’m not desperate yet.” She grinned.
I scowled, and Jax laughed. “She’s right,” he said. “We were both completely desperate when we met. Why else would we have signed up to something as crazy as marrying a stranger?”
“True,” I admitted grudgingly.
“For now I’ll just take my chances and keep dating guys who I find on my own.” Tania pressed her napkin to her mouth.
“You’re only twenty-four. You still have time.” I met her gaze. “Just don’t waste four years on a loser like I did.”
Jax frowned. “I’m glad you wasted four years on him. Otherwise you might have been snapped up by someone else.”
I grinned. “I guess that’s true.” We held each other’s gazes.
“You two keep looking at each other like that and I’m going to leave,” Tania said, rolling her eyes.
Jax shrugged, and got a sappy look on his face. “You might have to leave, Tania, because I don’t think I can help it.”
She groaned. “I remember when Rider and I could talk about what jerks alphas were. Now he’s all happy and he doesn’t want to bitch about you.”
I laughed. “I’ll try to think of something Jax does that bugs me.”
“Thank you.” She grinned. “It’s the least you can do for your favorite friend.”
“I snore.” Jax volunteered.
“Yeah, he does.” I sighed. “But even that’s kind of cute. He makes these little puffing sounds. It’s adorable.”
“Oh, God. Please stop.” Tania set her fork down. “I can’t take it.”
Jax’s hand found mine under the table, and his thumb brushed over my skin. I sighed. “I’m sure after a few years together, we’ll start to see each other’s flaws.”
“Hopefully.” Tania laughed.
“Love has nothing to do with not seeing each other’s flaws.” Jax said, his expression serious. “It’s about loving someone in-spite of them. I have no illusions I’m perfect. But I think I’m perfect for Rider.”
My heart squeezed. “That was sweet.”
He grinned. “I’m a sweet guy.”
“Oh, and humble. Don’t forget humble,” Tania said sarcastically.
“Yeah. That too.” Jax smirked.