sequel to "Westside" read that first!
Dylan Jessica Caldwell is a 17 year old gang leader. But she has a secret. Her mental health is not good. No matter what she looks like on the outside, she's always having an internal battle with herself.
Ryder...
I'm getting close to my due date. It's becoming increasingly difficult to bend to pick stuff up because of the size of my baby belly.
"JASON!" I yell from the couch. He runs out of the kitchen. "Can you make me a bowl of cereal please? I wanna try that thing Phoebe does in Friends." He nods excitedly and soon comes out with a bowl of cheerios.
I carefully balance it on my belly and start eating.
"IT WORKED!" I exclaim when I'm done. I put the empty bowl in the sink.
"That's awesome!" He hugs me. "Listen. I gotta run some errands for your mom. Are you gonna be okay by yourself?"
I tell him yes I'll be perfectly fine and he nods before leaving in one of the Range Rovers. I walk slowly up the stairs into Kiara's room and sit in the recliner. We decided, since her room is big, that we should put a recliner and a rocking chair in here.
I start softly speaking to my belly, occasionally feeling a kick.
"Y'know kiddo, you are gonna be so badass. You have a mom who used to be the leader of a gang, a dad who's still in the gang (so am I but that's irrelevant), uncles who are in the gang, aunts who are in the gang, and parents who like to workout. I hope you realize how protected you are. We won't let anyone hurt you."
I get up slowly and fix a few things around her room. Ryder surprised me the other day with Kiara's name in wood letters, painted white with red dahlias painted on them.
I started crying when he showed me it.
Stupid goddamn hormones.
I hum softly as I rearrange some stuff in her room. I fix the blankets in her crib, on the seat in the window, I make sure all her books are in order, and that her toys are good. Then I walk to my room and adjust the crib that's in our room. Then I check the hospital bag to make sure we have everything. I'm so bored. My brothers aren't letting me do anything, my mom is doing everything for me, the gang is my bodyguards, and Ryder.
Ryder is going everywhere with me.
But I'm not complaining. I love him and his company. He can just...worry a lot. Every time I make a small noise when I adjust he's panicking that something is wrong. My due date is on Sunday, February 25th. Right now, it's February 13th.
Today is Valentine's Day. Ryder says he has something planned, but all I wanna do is lie around and honestly do nothing. He's out getting something ready I guess.
"Ow, damn Kiara relax," I laugh. Then I grab my car keys, get in my convertible, and drive to San Miguel Market for my burrito. I've been craving these, strawberry milkshakes, and pickles so fucking much it's unbelievable.
"This burrito is so good," I mumble to myself. Then a man starts to approach me as I'm in my car. "Uhm can I help you?"
"You are Dylan Caldwell, correct?" He asks in a thick accent. I shake my head and bring out my Italian accent.
"No, my name is Brooklyn Sorelli. I work for Miss Caldwell. Can I take a message?"
"You tell her," he whispers urgently. "That Lennie, leader of the Lions, is going to come after her baby. I don't know how he knows she's pregnant, but he does. You tell her to please be careful."
"I-I will, thank you," I nod to him and he disappears. What the fuck.
"DYLAN THERE YOU ARE!" Ryder runs over and engulfs me in a hug. "Where the fuck were you I was freaking out!"
"S-sorry," I mutter. "I got hungry and I was craving a burrito. I forgot to text you I'm sorry."
He kisses me and hugs me again. "It's okay, I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I just thought something happened. Your valentine's surprise is ready though. Follow me!" He puts a blindfold on me and immediately I grab him.
"Ryder what the hell?" I hiss.
"I got you I'm right here," he laughs as he guides me through what I think is the dining room into the backyard. "Ok and...tada!" He removes the blindfold and I gasp.
There's a cute little picnic like scene set up on the grass with a white screen and a projector.
"This is so cute!" I exclaim. "Aww, thanks Ry!"
"All the couples that live in this roof or that we're friends with are joining because I thought I should do a group Valentines thing. For funsies." I kiss him.
"I love you," I whisper against his lips. "I love you so so much."
"I love you more," he grins and kisses me again.
"Is this where the party is?" A voice asks and I turn to see our friends. Bri and Charlie together, my parents together, Danny and Leila, TJ and Jason.
"I KNEW IT!" I squeal and hug Piper. "I CALLED IT PEOPLE!" She laughs as Jake puts his arm around her shoulders. I see Dante and Luke with their arms around each other and I have to laugh.
Sibling love can never compare to anything.
Then, Maddy and Axel walk in, hand in hand.
"FUCKING FINALLY!" We all shriek even though we all knew. They both blush and step apart but of course, Reggie and I push them together. Then we sit down and a movie starts.
"DISNEY!" Danny and Reggie squeal excitedly. All of us get settled more, excited to watch the Lion King. I cuddle into Ryder's body, his arm around me and both of us having one hand on my belly, feeling Kiara.
I feel Ryder kiss my head and I look up at him.
"11 days," he whispers excitedly.
"11 days," I grin. "You still sure you're all in boy?"
"Baby, I've been all in since day 1. Two years ago."
I scream quietly into his cotton t shirt. God he's good at making me melt.
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