Chapter 11

Eleven

Gabriella

T he sick feeling in my stomach didn't get any better when we got to the little pub down the street for lunch. I'm sure some of it was due to morning sickness. But not all.

As soon as we placed our orders, I excused myself to go to the ladies' room. I stayed in the bathroom stall a few minutes, waiting to see if I was going to get sick.

When my stomach calmed, leaving only the knot of tension and fear there, I took a deep breath and moved to unlatch the door. Before I could get to it, the outside door opened and I could hear a few people walk into the bathroom.

"Oh my God, did you see Trinity walk in with Mac's baby mama?"

I froze, my hand flying to my mouth. Who was out there talking about me? I hadn't even had a chance to meet many people in town outside of Mac's family and friends.

"Two peas in a pod, if you ask me. Trinity's just like her mother. Only she finally managed to get one of our men on the hook. They should leave town and leave our men to us."

"I don't know. It seems like Trinity and Sawyer were meant to be together. Did you see the promise ring on her finger and her wedding ring? Those are more than small tokens of love. Those were statements. There's no way Sawyer would claim her like that if he didn't love her."

"I don't know about that." The original speaker took up the conversational thread, cattiness and pure spite clear in her voice. "But I did notice the little baby mama isn't sporting rings of her own."

"Ugh, poor Mac. He's going to be tied to that woman forever. What happens when he finds someone he really loves? I think I'm going to find a moment and give him a reason to reconsider his options."

Another girl spoke up. "That will be interesting. Maybe once she sees she can't get anything from him, baby mama will take her little bastard and go back to that little beach town of hers."

Every protective instinct I had surged to the surface and my mama bear instincts roared to the surface.

I burst out of the stall and as one their jaws all went slack and their faces pale.

"I think there are a few important facts worth noting here. One, Mac can't keep his hands off his baby mama. Morning, noon, and night that man covers me like honey.

Two, he isn't with any of you people. And judging by the nasty attitudes, my guess is it's not for lack of trying on your part." My eyes skimmed the ring fingers of all three women. "And judging by the lack of promise rings or wedding bands on any of your fingers, I'd also guess that most of the hot guys around here aren't interested in what any of you have on offer."

The woman on the end wrinkled her nose and opened her mouth, I'm sure to spew more of her venom. But I'd be damned if I'd stand there and listen to it.

"Bless your heart," I said with the deepest southern accent I could muster. "You think you still get to talk."

I leaned into her and I knew she could see the flames of rage in my eyes.

This time when I spoke, the saccharine sweetness was gone and my words came purely from my inner warrior combined with years of defending myself as the system shuffled me from one hellhole to another.

"Shut your mouth and keep it that way or I'll shut it for you. And that instruction isn't just for today. You have opinions about Mac and me or Trinity and Sawyer, you keep that shit to yourself or it will be the last bit of vile nastiness you spew. Ever."

The three of them stared at me, fear a white mask over their expressions. Two of the three nodded. The ringleader didn't move a muscle to acknowledge my words, and I could see the loathing mixed with the fear behind her eyes. But I couldn't help but notice that she kept her mouth shut.

I straightened and smiled at the bunch. "Y'all have a good day now, ya hear."

I turned and sauntered out of the ladies' room despite the desire I had to run as fast as my feet would carry me. Putting on a show for those three was all well and good, but it didn't take away the wounds their words inflicted.

Because they might be mean and catty and a whole host of really not good things. But that didn't make the words they spoke out of pure spite any less true.

"You okay?" Trinity asked when I got back to the table.

"You know what? I am feeling a little off today. Would you mind if we got the food wrapped up to go and giving me a ride back to Mac's house?"

Her eyes clouded with concern and she hopped up from the table. "Of course. I…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes narrowed, her gaze moving to a spot over my shoulder.

I glanced back to see what grabbed her attention and saw my three new buddies shuffling out of the bathroom. Fear lingered on their faces, but the bitchiest of the bunch pushed her nose in the air and started walking in our direction.

"What did they say to you, Gabriella? Are you all right?"

"Nothing they'll ever say again if they know what's good for them," I said in a hard voice as they sashayed past.

When I glanced back at Trinity, her eyes had grown big as saucers and she had a grin to match.

"Never mind. Maybe they're the ones that should have my sympathy." She laughed and waved down our waitress. "I don't know what you said to put the fear of God into them, but boy do I wish you got here two months ago. I could have used some backup."

I laughed along with her. "Well, you've got backup now."

A little voice inside my head whispered that might not be true for much longer. How could I stay with Mac knowing he'd never trust me the way Sawyer did Trinity? What if once the baby arrived he asked me to move on? What if he hasn't asked me to marry him because he doesn't want that kind of responsibility?

Walking away from him now would break my heart. Sticking around until he decided to kick me out like all my former foster parents seemed cruel to me and my child.

"Still want to go home?" Trinity asked.

"If you don't mind. I think I've had all I can stomach today."

B ack at Mac's house—I couldn't bring myself to think of it as home anymore—I paced along the windows in the great room, agitated and a bit snarly.

My mind tossed around all the options I had. The one clear thing was this could not be my home. I could not stay here another night. I knew Mac cared about me. I knew he wanted me sexually. But now I also knew we'd moved too fast. Just as I feared. I wanted what Sawyer and Trinity had. That man's fierce protectiveness made itself clear anytime they were in the same room together. The feelings between those two were tangible.

Maybe at one time what Mac and I shared would be enough for me. We cared about each other and about the little family we were creating together. That much I knew.

But knowing we were both forced into this made the feeling unstable.

I couldn't stay here and wonder if Mac truly wanted me. So I had to go.

With my decision made, I stalked upstairs, intent on getting packed.

It didn't take long. I hadn't arrived with much, and I hadn't added anything to my meager possessions during my stay except for a few maternity clothes. I could have all the baby items shipped to wherever I ended up.

I pulled the zipper closed and then sat down on the bed next to my suitcase.

The phrase all dressed up and nowhere to go started dancing through my head. That was me. All packed up and no place to call home.

I sniffled and, startled by the sound, reached up to find my cheeks wet with tears.

Crap. This was not the time for a pity party. Damn pregnancy hormones. I wiped my cheeks with the backs of my hands.

I needed to think and come up with a plan. I'd packed up all my stuff.

I obviously wasn't cut out to have a family, and I hated to think about what that meant for my baby.

I rubbed my hand over my belly. "Sorry, Slugger. You deserve a better mommy. But I'm the one you've got. I promise I'll make sure you never feel like you don't have a family. You'll always have everything you need."

Now I just had to figure out how to keep that promise.