Hooked by Love (Bellevue Bullies #3) Read online

  “Have you skipped your period?”

  I pause, squeezing the table until my knuckles turn white as I suck in breath after breath, racking my brain for that information. Closing my eyes, I feel the tears escaping from them and down the side of my face when I realize the truth.

  I did…

  “Yes.”

  Looking up at her, I hope this is all a joke. A funny scare tactic to make me never want to have sex again. But as I meet her gaze, I know it isn’t. This is happening, and holy shit, I’m pregnant.

  With a baby.

  Jace’s baby.

  Oh, crap.

  I gasp for breath, pretty damn sure I’m having a panic attack. While the doctor talks about the new meds, I’m still trying to process this. How did this happen? I mean, I know that it can, but we were safe. Well, I’m not on my own birth control, but I was going to get it after my next period that I just realized never came. Oh my God, does this mean I got pregnant the first time we did it? Shit, he is amazing at everything he does. His boys broke through a damn condom.

  This isn’t funny.

  Oh my God.

  What am I going to do?

  “Do you understand?”

  Looking at her with wide, tear-filled eyes, I shake my head. “No, I don’t fucking understand. I’m not fully understanding that I’m pregnant yet.”

  When her eyes widen, I can only shake my head as the tears fall.

  Damn it, what is Jace going to say?

  What is he going to do?

  I don’t doubt that he will stay by my side.

  But we don’t need this.

  Oh, God.

  What are we going to do?

  I’m bouncing on the tips of my toes as I wait for Avery to appear from the exit of the Southwest terminal. I may be early, and I may have to drive around since I’m on a timer, but I don’t care. I just want to see her. Hold her.

  Kiss her.

  God, I miss her.

  Moving my finger up and down the thorn on the rose I got for her, I wonder where she is. She texted me saying she was here five minutes ago, so what’s taking so long? When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I pull it out, praying it’s Avery telling me she’s coming out now. But it’s Jude.

  Jude: So I’m guessing since I haven’t gotten any calls of you crying, you and Avery are good?

  Me: We will be. She just landed.

  Jude: Good.

  Jude: I hope it works out.

  Me: It will.

  Jude: Always so damn cocky.

  Me: I know what’s up is all.

  Jude: Haha. Whatever. Let me know if you need anything.

  Me: Will do.

  I grin at that as I tuck my phone back into my pocket, lifting my gaze to watch the door. I’m glad that Jude and Jayden still like Avery after our little spat of out-of-control emotions. It was intense, but it was a long time coming. Love isn’t perfect, no matter how great it feels, and we aren’t going to agree on everything. Like Jayden said to me, it doesn’t matter how bad the fight is, it matters how you make up. Two days of pure hell is enough for me. I want my girl and I’m ready to make up.

  And we are going to make up hard.

  When I see her, my heart stops in my chest as my face splits into a huge grin. I bounce faster as my grin continues to grow. My body breaks out in gooseflesh as her lips curve, her eyes intensely on me. And I decide I’ve never missed someone so much in my life. She looks beautiful like always, wrapped up in a thick jacket, a pair of jeans, and brown boots up to her knees. Her hair is back in a ponytail and she may look carefree, but she is walking in a short skirt and red heels in my eyes.

  She’s fucking hot.

  Unable to stay in place, I start for her, meeting her right in the middle of the road and gathering her in my arms. Squeezing me, she brings her arms around my neck, and our mouths meet at the perfect moment. As her fingers thread into my hair, my hands squeeze her, the thorn of the rose stabbing me, but I don’t care. All I care about is her mouth. I swear, this girl is never, ever breaking up with me again.

  When she pulls back, I smile and she presses her forehead to mine. Sharing the same breath with her, I just feel so damn complete. But when I open my eyes, I see she is crying.

  I’m gutted. “Don’t cry, baby.”

  “I missed you,” she sobs, squeezing me tightly. “So damn much.”

  “Me too,” I say hoarsely, my heart in my throat. Looking deep into her eyes, I can’t believe it’s only been three days since I saw her last. It feels like three years. As the tears fall down her sweet cheeks, I cup her face, wiping them away. Closing my eyes, I press my mouth to hers and drink from her sweet lips, her sob vibrating against me.

  When a car beeps, we part and her eyes widen as my lips curve. I place her on her feet and wave at the disgruntled driver. I go to walk away, but I don’t like the new set of tears. That driver will just have to wait. Moving my hands along her cheeks, I wipe away her tears. “No more crying.”

  She nods slowly as I hand her the rose. “For my Avery Rose.”

  Her lips wobble as she takes it and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you.”

  I kiss her temple and she laces her fingers with mine, her other hand coming up to rest on my bicep and I smile. Laying her chin against my arm as we go to the passenger side of the car, she whispers, “Thanks for coming to get me.”

  “Of course.” I kiss her once more before opening her door. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Okay,” she says as I throw her bag in the trunk and she gets in. I look over at her, and she is still crying. I don’t understand it. Before I can even question her, though, I see the faint darkness around her nose and a certain kind of rage consumes me.

  “Your brother is on my hit list.”

  She looks at me, pressing on her nose with her two fingers. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore. It just looks bad.”

  “Still, he’s dead if I ever see him. You better hope it’s not at our wedding.”

  I want her to smile, laugh. It’s a joke, but she shakes her head, her tears coming faster down her cheeks. “Please, like he would come.”

  When a sob escapes her lips, I reach out for her, cupping the back of her neck. “Baby, are you okay? Is this about him?”

  She makes a face, shaking her head. “Hell no, I’m just really tired and we have a lot to talk about,” she says, the last word coming out as a sob.

  “We do.” I lean over and kiss her. I want to kiss away the tears, I want her to smile, but at least she melts into our kiss as my finger traces along her jaw. If she hadn’t, I would have been worried. If anything, this time apart has made me realize how much she means to me, and I’ll do anything to make it work.

  She’s it.

  As my fingers thread into her ponytail, I’m lost. For two days, I thought I’d never get to press my lips to this mouth. Because of that, I have to make up for lost time. I deepen the kiss and she moans as my tongue moves into her mouth, my fingers cupping her face.

  When she pulls back, she holds my face. “I love you.”

  I wink. “Good, ’cause I love you.”

  I go for more, but then the buzzer above me that keeps time on how long cars can wait starts sounding and I shake my head. “Man, the world doesn’t want us to make up!”

  She smiles tentatively but it still doesn’t reach her eyes, and that really bothers me. I wish she hadn’t gone because if her family did anything to change her while she was gone, I swear, I’ll blow their house up.

  Whoa, that was a little psycho.

  Clearing my throat, I put the car in reverse and ask, “You sure you’re okay? Matty didn’t try anything else, did he?”

  She shakes her head, wiping her face as I drive off. “No. Just a lot going on up here,” she says, tapping her head.

  “Like?”

  I feel her look over at me as I turn on to the interstate. “I mean, do you want to do this now?”

  I shrug. “We can, or you can wait,” I