Lacey

Chapter 38 - Lacey - Saint

I spend the afternoon lounging around the pool with Lawson. Ryder, West and Saint thankfully had other things to do this afternoon, leaving me with my thoughts on how best to approach Saint and the bomb that I am about to drop on him. Dane’s reaction wasn’t expected. Well, it was and wasn’t, if that makes sense. Dane has always had a big heart, and his intentions towards me and the life he foresees for us is clear. Just thinking about how passionate he was about having a family together brightens the gloomy afternoon, and I smile despite my predicament.

“Everything ok, kitten? You seem a million moons away,” Lawson questions, sitting up in his deck chair to look at me. “Not really, Lawson”, I reply. “Anything I can help with?” he teases with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows. I can’t help but laugh. Lawson really is a great guy. The more time I spend with him, the more I love his crazy and addictive personality. It was tough seeing him so broken when he first arrived on Dane’s doorstep. Subconsciously running my hand over my stomach, I sit up and turn towards Lawson. “I don’t think anyone can help me, Lawson. I need to talk to Saint, and for the first time in my life, I don’t know what to say, and it scares me,” I admit with a deep sigh. “What do you need to talk to him about?” Lawson ponders, suddenly serious. Before I can reply, I am startled by the sound of someone behind me. “That’s what I would like to know”, Saint drawls. Startled, I watch as Saint pushes his glasses up his nose, a scowl on his face as if he is trying to figure out what is so important that I need to speak to him privately and failing miserably. “Saint”, I state, for some reason, that is the only thing I can think to say in reply. Shaking my head, I stand up on unsteady legs and walk towards him. I take a deep breath, “Can we talk, please” I rush out before losing my nerve. Best to get this over with, I think. Grabbing my towel off the outdoor timber table, I wrap it tightly around myself and head towards the door, wanting to have this conversation in private.

Walking past the family room, I note that Ryder and West are sitting in there, whispering amongst themselves. They both look up with curious expressions as we pass but don’t say anything. It is obvious that Saint has told them that I needed to talk to him this afternoon as they give him a knowing look and a slight head nod before we disappear up the stairs. I head straight for my bedroom, wanting to be in my comfort zone. I have an inkling of how well Saint will react to the news that I am pregnant, and I don’t think it will be a good one. As soon as Saint enters my bedroom, I close the door behind him and lean on it, giving myself a moment to settle my heart rate and breathing. I can do this, I tell myself repeatedly like a mantra.

“What did you want to speak to me about, Lace? If it is about me protecting you and removing you from the dire situation you were in the other weekend, I said I was sorry already. If I remember correctly, you tossed my apology in my face,” he states, his posture rigid as if gearing up for a fight. Great, just what I need right now. “No, it has nothing to do with that Saint. It has to do with the night of the prom,” I reply hesitantly, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. “The night you insist you were kidnapped and raped? That night?” he counters with a haughty look on his face. Sometimes I want to smack the glasses righy off this man’s face. “Yes, that night, Saint. The same night you lost your virginity to me. The same night you fucked me without a condom,” I snap, hating that the conversation has already gone south just as I predicted. “Should I be connecting the dots here, Lace? I don’t like guessing games,” Saint snaps back. Huffing, I walk past him and sit on the edge of my bed to gather my thoughts. “I don’t know how to say this, Saint. It isn’t like it is something I planned for, especially at my age. Especially with someone so hot and cold towards me like you are,” I mutter, wringing my hands in my lap. Saint takes several steps towards me. His eyes focused on my hands. When he is standing directly in front of me, he takes my left hand in his, running his thumb over my new ink. “What’s this, Lace?” he questions. “That isn’t important right now”, I reply, pulling my hand out of his. “On the contrary, it looks to be very important. Care to explain why you have a ring on your wedding finger?” Saint growls, his whole demeanour becoming sinister in seconds. “Saint. Can we forget about that for a second? I’m pregnant,” I blurt out in a rush, wanting to get the conversation back on track and the unspoken words out in the open. “No, we can’t, Lace”, Saint begins but pauses when my words finally register. “Excuse me? You’re what?” Saint replies, his face registering shock quickly followed by anger. “What has that got to do with me?“. “You are the father, Saint”, I whisper, heat prickling at the back of my eyelids. Saint doesn’t respond. He stands in front of me with a shocked expression.