Annslee’s eyes meet mine and I’m confused as to why hers widen. She then proceeds to turn on her heel and rush right back out of the ER.
What the fuck?
Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to matters at hand. I don’t have time to worry about Annslee or anything else for that matter. Right now, I need to focus on making sure my family doesn’t lose another person.
Mainly Bethany or her baby.
Chapter One
Annslee
One Year, Two months, Three days ago
“What are you going to name him?” Connors asks as she stands next to my bed in the labor and delivery room holding my little boy.
“Huntson,” I murmur. The moment I found out my baby was a boy; I knew exactly what I would name him. I wanted him to have a piece of his father, didn’t matter to me that Hunter hated me or that he didn’t know about his son. I still wanted my baby to have that small little nugget.
Nine months ago, I made a mistake I won’t ever regret in sleeping with Hunter. A member of a local band called A Demons Among Us also a friend of Doctor Connors’ men. Strange as it is, she married twin brothers. It didn’t bother me one bit if she had one husband, two or three. Everyone deserved to be happy.
I grew up in a strict home. I wasn’t allowed to do anything without my father breathing down my neck making sure I did it right. For example, when I make my bed, there shouldn’t be one wrinkle showing and the corners had to be tucked neatly. Another one being my schoolwork, I made anything under an A, I was punished severely for it.
Living with my parents, life had not only been suffocating, I was scared of my own shadow, I barely survived the punishments. I bare the scars of my actions for not biding by his rules.
When I left for college, I was supposed to be going to an all girls school and coming home to marry a man more than twenty years older than me. Within the first week after being at this school, I dropped out, using this as my way of escaping a life I didn’t want. I ran as far as I could without leaving the country. I found myself in Franklin, Virginia. I figured I could easily blend in here and my father, Lawrence Richmond, wouldn’t be able to find me. Nor would Terry Nelson, the man I was supposed to vow my life to.
“I like it,” Connors states, giving me a knowing look. Both her and Jordan knew the truth of who Huntson’s father was. They both encouraged me to tell him. Only I was too scared to approach him. I don’t know what it was about Hunter, but he unnerved me. Though I enjoyed everything he’d done to my body that one night, I couldn’t approach him with this news. He didn’t even like me. The night I was in his bed I knew it would be a one-time thing and I made sure to leave before he could yell at me. Anytime I was around him he would speak to me with such a harsh tone, I didn’t want to subject my son to this.
After explaining my reasons to Connors and Jordan, they understood and didn’t push. Stated they would be there for me no matter what. They easily became close friends of mine after I started working in the clinic Connors opened. It took me a bit, but I’d worked my butt off to get myself through school to get to where I am now.
Now I have a beautiful baby boy, I love dearly, and I could not ask for anything more. Sure, it’s going to be a rough road ahead, but I can handle it. Huntson means everything to me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell him?” she asks quietly.
“I’m sure. It was a one-time only thing, and I don’t want him to feel he needs to be in our lives. He hates me and I’m willing to bet he would not be happy to know he got me pregnant,” I murmur just as quietly, dropping my gaze to where my hands are clasped together in front of me.
“Okay, your secret is safe with me but remember if you need anything, I’m here for you. Same for Jordan,” Connors states leaning in to hand me my son.
“Thank you,” I murmur, giving her a smile.
“You’re welcome, Annslee. You, Jordan, and me, we’re family. Though you might not be by blood, all the same you’re one of us. Gadget and Dragon, even Badger would do anything for you cause of our claim on you. Now you get some rest and I’ll go out and get you something to eat. I’m not about to let you eat this hospital food here. It sucks.” Tears well in my eyes as Connors makes this statement.
Family.
It’s all I ever wanted. Well one that actually, truly cared. This might not be exactly how I wanted it to be but all the same it’s a wonderful feeling to finally have.
Present Day
Crap on a stick. I want nothing more than to bang my head against the car window. Why did he have to be in there? Better yet why did he have to see me.
If it wasn’t for Huntson being sick and running a fever, I wouldn’t have even been in there. I’d done everything in my power to stay clear of Hunter and there he stood. In the midst of his friends with a look of misery dimming his eyes. Didn’t matter I only met his gaze for a brief moment, I saw it.
I don’t know why he was in the waiting room of the ER but I need to go back in there. Pulling my phone out, I pull up
